Slow dance in a burning room is the new stairway to heaven

Now I gig with the Fender FR-12. I design my tones with it and they translate perfectly into FOH. The knobs are perfect to quick adjust into the stage boominess or harshness, the legs give flexibility, the power gives sound re-enforcement capabilities, the sound dispersion is phenomenal. It is the best gear I bought for years.

I did this similar test and I didn't care for my Revv G20 result. The SD PowerStage works great. FRFR monitor sounds great, and mixing it with a real cab is superb.

I use the Fender FR-12 with my UA Dream 65 and I love it.

Great video. For me, I use my Tone Master Pro directly connected to my Audio interface (UA Apollo 8) with Cabinet emulation when I want to record my performance in my DAW (LUNA). In that case, I'm monitoring through my Kali L6P studio monitors and it sounds great, really great. I also use my Boss Katana Head 100W as a power amp connected to the Tone Master Pro on the FX Loop 4 left channel (hence mono) when I want to jam or rehearse. In that case, the monitoring is done through my Harley Benton G112+ Thiele Cabinet (Celestion 65W Creamback made in England). I some cases, I use a SM57 to record my performance but I have to say that I prefer to use the first way to do it. The TMP cab emulation is amazing and the acoustic of my home studio is not really good so... To be completely honest, the second method is more satisfying as a guitar player, using a real cabinet is always a plus even though it's hard to explain the feeling. Anyway both ways are good and the Tone Master Pro is an amazing beast. Cheers from France.

Both guitars sound simply amaaazing 🙏

straight in to a QSC CP8....Best wedge monitor I have personally ever found. and lightyears better than every dedicated frfr speaker cab I have heard,

I'm running a Cortex into an FRFR mainly for portability. But I like that I can use the FRFR as my stage monitor and I have control over it without affecting the house sound or relying on the soundguy to get the level to my preference.

amazing video concept! great video.

this video is perfect for me. much appreciated

I for one, would have really liked to see the wiring/setup for each, accompanied by a discussion, as I am still trying to wrap my head around these “alternative” methods. Thanks.

I am using a boss katana in the acousic channel for monitoring my nux mg 30 and really like it. Also having bass, middle, trebble and presence settings to modify the sound to my preference. But using them mainly in center positions. In that way, I also have a backup. If the modeler fails. Here in the video, I most often liked the neuman mic over the head mic, but was positivly surprised by the floor monitor. Nice video!

I’d really like to give the Tonemaster FRFR a go. Looks really cool.

Thanks for the video guys

I've been running my Boss GX-100 into the effects return of my BluGuitar Amp1, and then the BluGuitar Amp1 drives a 2x12 guitar cabinet. I copied the patches I created for going to FOH or into a DAW, but then turned off the cab sim on those patches so I can go into a guitar speaker cabinet. To send my signal to FOH I just mike my guitar cabinet the old-fashioned way. It might seem kind of dumb, but it works great for me. I've used mikes like SM-57s to mike guitar amps for decades so I know how to do this and get a great tone coming through the FOH system without having to worry about special IRs or anything else. As someone else noted, if my GX-100 ever goes down I can just go straight into the BluGuitar amp and still get through the gig.

I have all options available, but I really enjoy running my Helix into the return of my Marshall DSL40cr. As an added benefit, you get to use the amp's resonance and presence controls if need be. I have found that this makes the Helix preamp models shine.

Good video. For me personally, the idea of a modeler is 1. Extreme portability and 2. Get access to play around with different amp sims without having to buy a ton of gear. For these reasons, I'd go straight into an FRFR speaker. The tube amp and pedals would be a totally separate peice of gear that's stationary in one place. Finally a tiny portable amp like the Spark for travel practice

I use the Seymour Duncan power stage with a 2x12 barefaced cab with V30’s through an axe fx fm3 and I love it 👌

I run my live amp modeler into a Mackie Thump PA speaker. It’s so loud you can amplify an entire band mix through it and be louder than a loud drummer. For guitar alone, it sounds absolutely amazing.

I had to sell my PA setup and am now plugging my Quad Cortex in to an old Fender Excelcior and it actually sounds awesome

I use the Powerstage to a 2x12. Sounds great.

I use the QC through an EVH Stealth 100 on the clean channel through 2 cabs and the sound is crushing. Nothing compares!

Running a Boss ME90 into a Headrush FRFR-108. Plenty of low end (almost too much) and it sounds great! I come right out of the headrush output into the PA and it sounds huge.

I use a modeller pedal that I play through an active speaker/powered monitor. Works flawlessly.

HX Stomp into the poweramp of an old Peavey Bandit 112 combo with Celestion T75. Sounds really good, more than loud enough and the Peavey is dirt cheap second hand. I matched a dual cab (Helix IR stuff) to the Peavey's speaker sound for direct/FOH - works well.

Great video! its so helpful to see different ways to connect to a speaker. When you are playing through the Fender, the Cab Sim of the Modeler is turned on, right? Thanks

At home I use studio monitors. Live I put it in the effects return of an old Fender Mustang 3 modeling amp. It has a neutral speaker so I can leave the IR's on.

I used a Marshall 1936 stereo cabinet with a peavey cs200x stereo power amp. Everything was from the daw (boss gt) and it sounded great.

I am equally surprised how good yet portable these Class D power amps are. Even on a budget. Kudos to you to avoid promoting Thomann's house brand in this video, however, I currently have a NUX Amp Academy hooked up to a Harley Benton GPA 100. The NUX XLR DI out feeds the FOH with IR, the 1/4 out feeds the GPA 100 without an IR. The GPA monitors out through a Blackstar 2x10 or a Thiele type 1x12 and both monitor signLs are just awesome. Playing feel is retained which is the biggest compliment to make to such non-traditional set up I think. 👍

I use a boss Gt 100 multi effects processor and run it stereo out into two Blackstar ID CORE stereo wide 100 watt amps. The spacious stereo wide from the amps give a surround effect and a richness to the effects of the boss processor. I've tried the line out and even used a Marshall amp for the on stage monitor but using the two stereo wide blackstar amps has taken the stereo effect to a new level, so that what I'm using currently.

I have been doing the power amp in on my amp into my 2x12 and I get the same issue you said, sounds good but need to make some adjustments. It’s a bit of a hassle. I really want to get the FR 12 now and be done with turning on and off cab emulator depending on the situation.

Nice video! I'm using a fractal fm3 with the power amp of a bluguitar amp1 through a 2x12. It moves walls😂 the cool thing is that you also have a backup amp on your pedalboard and it's very compact^^

8:25 ahh sending different outputs different places. I’m reminded of a chuck berry session where they had an amp for chuck set his way and another amp set up for the engineer … i love having my thunder 99 running my floor wedges from my modeler.

I use an hybrid system, analogic pedals in front of a Victory Amp V4 Duchess Amp with Two Notes built in, HX Stomp on send/return. V4 Duchess has 3 out (2 with cabinet emulations and a Speaker 4/8/16 ohm out) and this is my use: XLR direct on Mixer with Celestion 4x12 Creamback emulation, Speaker out direct on a 1x12 cabinet Celestion Creamback loaded, and the Line Out (with the same cabinet emulation) of the pedal on a FRFR monitor. Love it…

I’ve the boss GT1000 bigboy. Love the thing. I own one amp and cab for bass. For guitar live I go direct but when there is no personal monitor for me (small gigs) I send one signal to FOH and one signal to the bass amp and cab. Bass amps and cabs are also very full range so this works great. The boss has many output options that will adjust the EQ slightly to work in that chosen setup. There’s an output option that says bass amp with tweeter when choosing that it has great guitar tones from the bass amp. So I can cover guitar and bass with one amp head, cab and modeler and be lightweight, great sounding and consistent with not many compromises imho ofcourse

I'm using an Electro Harmonix Dirt Road Special (solid state combo) for amplifying the sounds coming out of my PC and audio interface. Comparing the signal straight out of my headphones connected to the audio interface with the sound coming out of the EHX setting it up everything at noon you can achieve a pretty similar result to each other.

i got an "old" firehawk 1500 amp that i use with my QC. works great

I run a HX Stomp XL into a Seymour Duncan Powerstage 170 going into an Orange closed back 2x12 with V30s. Love it.... Since I've gotten my modeler setup I haven't went back to my Revv G20/Pedalboard setup to compare yet. I don't think my modeler setup will ever replace my Revv G20 pedalboard setup, but man this modeler setup sounds wonderful.. What a time to be a guitar player.. lol

Based on the room mic, the power amp + cab and powered PA sound clearly best to my ears.

What a great video guys!

Great review and awesome talk. A question though - I have an electric guitar that has a piezo pickup as well and I use both magnetic and acoustic sound for my outside gigs as a soloist or in a duo. Is the PA Wedge Speaker or the FRFR cab the best solutions for my setup? (since I can turn off the amp sim in multi-fx anytime to use the acoustic sound directly to the speakers)

Great video! Love your energy and style! Technically i don't understand how you are able to record such clean signal from tube amps without any noise using condenser mics. Maybe a video on that would be great as well or some comments. thanks!

Playing for myself at home, my experience has been that the separate tweeter in the frfr cabs makes a noticeably different sound than a traditional cab, and I don’t care for it. Same of course is true of monitors. I finally accepted that for me (good) amp in the room tone is of greater interest than absolutely flat response and I now run into the return of a quilter superblock into a stage right 1x12 and the tone is fantastic. I still use some cab sims to pleasing effect.

I already own a Laney AH150 Audiohub. So if I was still gigging [our band is in limbo since lock downs] I'd try using that before considering spending more money on FRFR or power amp alternatives.

my humble opinion: the best way to amplify a modeler is the Laney LFR 112. it basically returns the amp in the room feeling and sounds awesome - crisp and clear and beefy (and quiet). the Fender FR-12 is ok too, but hisses too much for home use (in my opinion). it is quite fine in a band context though.

Should have tried the Pedal Baby 100 too, class A/B differs enough from class D that some would prefer it while playing. On stage, power amp with cabs as backline, DI out with custom IR loaded to pa/monitors. A 1x12 cab with a neodymn speaker set in ear height will do, propper in ear solutions are still pretty expensieve.

I have several real cabs and 2 pairs EAW passive monitors. I have a rack setup with Carvin TS100 Peavey 50/50. Ada microtube 200. Rocktron velocity. I wanted tube ss and hybrid options. Positives and negatives on all of it

The best way is what you can afford…both rigs are equally good. I run a fractal fm3 and a tonex The only people that care are other guitarist.

ive been running my Tone Master Pro into the power amp in of a hot rod deville. sounds great. I also have the FR12 - it's good but not as good as a tube power stage. Some one should make a power cab thats a couple of 6L6s (no preamp stuff) just for modellers on stage.

Im currently a bedroom player using a spark 40, and thinking of what proper setup to get. Would it make sense to get a small tube combo and a simple modeler pedal? That way you can use the amp as a speaker + its also useful as a standalone amp. And you can dial in your digital tones for use in any scenario. better option than some FRFR thing?

I like FRFR because it's close to the sound I would send to my audio interface to record. That's one problem the UA ox box has. If you use it as a load box, but then also record direct from the OX box, what comes out of your cab vs what comes line out of the OX sound totally different. The other thing that is easy with FRFR and sounds amazing, is stereo. My Helix Floor stereo effects sound killer in stereo. I run the helix floor, --> Looper --> drum machine --> stereo FRFR. I am a one man band, ha. Its great for practice.

Should we apply a 70-5k eq curve on our modeler presets to mimic a guitar cab ... optimizing the FRFR?

I use the power amp in on my Katana Artist for my UAFX dream 65.

Good stuff! I’ve recently bought a Boss GT-1000 Core from Thomann. I did, because I was looking for a unit to serve several purposes, of which one is hassle free live performances, meaning not having to carry a guitar amp AND the PA. With that in mind, it would be downright silly to then re-introduce any sort of amp or cab solution. Literally, within this next week I’m going to start rehearsing with the GT-1000, playing directly through the PA, I’m going to be using. For studio purposes, I’m afraid, I’m still a real amp kinda guy. So, within a few months the Revv D20 and the JTM 20 are going to make their way into my studio, likely through a Harley Benton “hybrid” 2x12.

Thar U67 is just sooooo good ... my winner The Duncan power amp did a great job ... real speaker is nice

I have a PowerCab+ for the rare occasion. Otherwise for my weekly gig I use in-ears to monitor myself from a send from FOH.

Was nimmt man für Boxen für zu Hause, mit der Combo im Club, auf der großen Bühne? Wo geht der Sound vom Strymon Iridium hin?

I want to use my Valeton GP 200 through active / passive combo with a and a Ch mixer why would I need the Seymour Duncan power stage 200 ? How do I route it , is it a DI BOX I’ve never used one , I also have the BOSS IR 200 which sounds great in videos … not through my Marshall DSL thinking powered stage monitors are my best route

Do you plug in directly in the input of tube amp? (after disabling cab Sim)

I use a Ritter amp in a 1x12 cab loaded with a Kemper Kone for the Stage

a pair QSC K10.2 behind me on stands facing out for my Axe-Fx III.. I love it!

nice video, thank you, I mean that clean arpeggios of pink fender is so awesome! nice Guillaume! and even Chris

I use muy Fender fr 12 with my amp and my ox . Works fine too

Thankfully I don't have such problems. My guitar amplifier is also my monitor on stage and I love the sound of it

How about an acoustic ampli (like acous for instance)? Since i use electric, classical and acoustic guitars i could use a channel for each of my gears and send them all to a pa if necessary…

JC-40 with multi effects or SC20H with multi effects. Any advice guys? Just for home use. No more gigging. I’m jamming to songs at home.

Is there an FRFR IR? What I'm saying is, is there an IR or adaptor that can go between the simulator and a regular amp to get the best from it by doing what IR's do, just with sims instead of valves?

How about the old Mesa 20/20 or other stereo amps there are lots of tube stereo offerings and can be used with a 2x12 or 4x12 wired for stereo/mono Do you guys think the frfr sounds better than regular celestians cabs?

Can you plug qc into blackstar amped 3 and then through cab?

Is it possible to run it on a regular guitar amp just turn of amp modeller and cab sim. Just use this line out for effects

I use active studio monitors and do an EQ cut to cut the low and high frequency respective to what amp I want to model. The speaker always has a frequency range in a guitar amp the limits an give the amp in a room sound. Try to simulate that. This means that you get a more realistic sound rather than reproducing all the frequencies possible. To me, the speakers then feels and sounds like an amp in the room.

I use my Fractal AX8 through a pretty neutral solid state rack-poweramp through a 2x12, but I leave all Cab-Sims switched on. Works best.

Rename it😂 and btw happy new year guys!

I just ordered a full range PA speaker from you for exactly this purpose. Since I play guitar and bass I wanted a powered speaker, which saounds great, when I feed it with profiles from my Kemper. I have ordered the EV ZLX 15P.

The best sounding is when it was going through the Newman Mike u 67 can you guys elaborate mor on that

What a missed opportunity to show off the Harley Benton GPA-400, I use it for rehearsal and it's great! plus you have the possibility to go stereo and that's a big plus!

I'm very happy with my Harley Benton products. I have the G112A-FR and the GPA-100. I have a couple of questions. How does the GPA-100 compare to the Seymour Duncan? How much louder is the Fender (1000W) than the Harley Benton G112A-FR (100W)? I like that you can use the HB speaker as a wedge.

Will this work with a Line 6 Catalyst?

Im using a helix floor 4cm into a duel rectifier with a traynor 4 12 green backs. But i kinda want to get the powerstage 200 and just use it with my cab. Thoughts?????

Hey guys I’d like to use my TMP as my all in one acoustic /electric /vocal solution for jams and pub gigs Would the fender FRFR be able to project enough sound or could you recommend a portable pa solution such as ev 30m ?? I’m open to any other suggestions

Thanks this is a great video. But i only own a tube marshall combo and a Fender Mustang combo (not tube) what are my options if i dont want to buy a separate cab or poweramp or a frfr or desktop. Can i go direct into the marshall effex loop or infront of the amp? Or maybe if i buy a poweramp and then go into the combo (back of front) or maybe into the Mustang combo? Can you fix that eq problem with/on the poweramp before the effex loop of i e the Marshall combo tube. This is rather confusing when you dont show/explain combos to head into a cab. I really want to buy the headrush. Does this mean i cant use a tube combo? Maybe the Mustang? Therefore is this two worlds that you have to buy so much stuff and restart? Dont get this. Thanks

frfr cabs dont need a poweramp? i think that would give me what i'm looking for. i have a torpedo M and some preamps I like as well as strymon iridium. i think this is the way to go for me.

What’s the best for a bedroom beginner setup? I have an electric guitar and a line 6 helix, what’s the best option to output the audio from the helix??

I would say if you gig with a modeler, setting up your presets as if would only be going through PAs is the best bet.

Rename!! Love the boomer idea

Tech 21 Power Engine 60...I use two to go stereo...

I use the HeadrusH frfr 112 on my Kemper and Quad Cortex, i am very happy with the sound, but like all the guitarists here we are always looking for something better

I usually go in the return of the amp, and yeah, true, sounds a bit different, but when I go in rehersal room it's so much easier

Could someone help me understand the signal chain when using a power amp and cab. Like what plugs into what? I'm about to buy a kemper stage but all the inputs on the back are a little bit overwhelming.

Thanks for this video. This is a very central topic given the rapid development of digital recreations of legendary amps in the recent years. One can find tons of demo videos of all these gadgets recorded through audio interfaces, which alway sounds perfect. If you are recording only, this is fine. But I think, the majority of people being interested in these devices are live musicians. And there you find very very few videos dealing with this topic. There is also no music dealer I know of at least here in Germany, offering an environment where it would be possible to really test amplification solutions for Kemper, Quad Cortex, Helix and the like. This is very surprising if one sees how many of these digital preamps are out already. Even more surprising if the respective prices of these devices are considered. I would love to have the opportunity testing the amplification options of such digital solutions extensively in a dedicated environment. Even directly comparing them to real amps would be also very useful. Whatever sounds convincing on youtube, is not particularly good in a live setup or band context.

If I’m just a bedroom player what is the best way for me to monitor my modeler besides headphones without aggravating my family? Sorry, I’m new to all this modeling stuff.

I have a Harley Benton GPA-400 I use with a Helix into a guitar cab that works well for me. Plenty of power with bass and treble eq and you have the option for stereo.

I dont't play gigs, i use a little tube-amp at home and my modeller with 4cbl method. this way i have presets with my real Amp, and other presets with the amp models out of my Ampero Stomp II

For gigs I just plug it straight into the PA, for busking I plug in a regular Bluetooth speaker into the headphones jack

1:15 ideally, you'd turn off the power amp simulation if you're using a real tube power amp. I don't think QC allows this, but Helix has pre-amp only models for each of their amp models. This is probably why the D20-amped tone sounded the most different from the DI tone...

For me, the PA wedge on my end sounded best.

Great video guys!! 🎉 IMHO I dont think the sound of a real guitar cab and speakers is a boomer thing, it is a playing experience thing. Just try it and hear for yourselves. Unfortunately full tube rigs and real speakers are so much more inpring in the room, its almost an acoustic thing, and no one argues about that a piezo sounds less inspiring than a regular miced acostic guitar ☺️

I use a Helix..Amps are just the pre-amp models...then I run from the line out to an Orange Pedalbaby 100 and in a real 2x12 cab...Killer

As an aging bass player, I decided it was time to start playing DI rather than keep carrying around my bass rigs - for smaller gigs, my bass combo weighs 89lbs, a rig for a bigger gig weighs at least another 50lbs more. FRFR for bass doesn’t give many options. My intention was to just DI and use the stage monitors at the venue to hear myself. However, not all places have a decent monitor set up, and if you trying to get on and off amongst other players, setting up a monitor mix takes too long. For situations where there the monitors were not great (some places have none) I decided I would buy an FRFR, which I would only bring out if the car if needed. I wouldn’t necessarily get the tone, but I’d hear the notes! I tried a few options and wasn’t impressed, so asked the music store to bring in a Headrush 12” for me. - it’s astonishing. I’ve never liked speakers smaller than 15” and lean towards an 'old school' tone. The Headrush is phenomenal, it gives me as much or more bass than anything I’ve ever owned, and it weighs just over 30lbs. For playing jams or pubs, even if there is no PA for my main feed, I will take the Headrush rather than a traditional bass rig. I wish I had known they would be releasing a newer version with Bluetooth, but it’s a great bit of kit. I’m now deciding which "amp in a box" I will be buying to replace my guitar amps, because I’m going to use the Headrush for guitar as well, probably without DI'ing it.

Tough choice!