Has anyone tried the Fryette Valvulator Mini tube guitar buffer with your Quad Cortex? Did you notice a positive difference in the tone or feel? Any problems?
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Same question…
I have tried various buffers in front of the QC, and the difference they make is minute to barely perceivable at best. So, splurging on a tube-based buffer isn’t worth the cost IMHO, UNLESS you like the colour it adds to your tone (but then, be aware that it’s colouring your tone substantially).
I currently use a Cornish-type buffer (discrete transistors), but only because 1) I like its tone; 2) I have pretty long cable runs going from the wireless receiver to the QC.
JMHO though.
Mason from Vertex posted a video, raving about the Valvulator Mini. I couldn’t hear any noticeable difference. Maybe it’s more of a “feel” thing. All the major dealers in the US are out of stock right now. I may give one a try, once they’re back in stock. I only have a Crybaby and a Strymon Compadre before the QC and most of my guitars are active so I doubt that the buffering would make much of a difference for me.
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Honestly I think these sorts of things are kinda bullshit. The idea is cool, but there’s no way this is really replicating the feel of a tube amp. Way more goes into it than a preamp tube. Fryette is a legendary company, but some of the recent releases are so off the mark. That 1 watt recording amp is also absolute snake oil junk.
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The biggest difference is that it converts a high impedance signal (your guitar) to a low impedance one (like a D.I. box does). For that purpose alone, it’s utterly unnecessary going into a modeler.
I don’t doubt that it imparts some tonal character, but if you’re clever with dialing in your QC (including compressors and EQ), it’s probably not worth the trouble.
The only use case I would ever want this for, is recording dry guitar tracks directly into a DAW.
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Cmon, its a buffer. Even the description at Fryette doesnt make it sound like it would be appropriate as just something to stick between a guitar and QC.
Tbh, it sounds like a product for modeller converts with lingering tube envy.
If you really want to inject tube into your signal chain id look at something like a Kingsley or similar preamp.
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Tub the quad has always felt fine. It doesn’t really need that but it does need a tube source of power like I keep saying the pedalhead. I can’t keep using my amps. I know there’s a Laney or victory I can’t remember but I’m a waiting it out.
I’m surprised that no one has built a tube powered FRFR cab. If they could use DSP to level the response and maybe a 50 watt tube power section, I think that would be the most effective place to add tube juice to a modeling rig. It would be tough to do it right and keep the weight down, though.
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Class D solid state amp built into an FRFR cab:
- Clean power
- Lightweight
- Proven and effective solution for modelers
Tube-driven amp (most likely Class AB) built into an FRFR cab:
- Carryover from the hi-fi world
- Bulky and fragile
- Would require the cab to have some sort of open or open-back design to help with heat dissipation
- Would significantly increase the weight
- Would probably have to cost over $2K
…Not impossible, but it’s a really tough sell. I’m sure some engineer out there who’s smarter than us is trying it, though.
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There are folks using their QC with heavy, expensive tube amps already. If they could get that tube amp authenticity but with the benifits of FRFR, I think some would spend the money. I used to use a Line 6 POD Pro (rack mount) through an all tube combo amp that I’d built from a kit. That old modeling tech sounded pretty crappy compared to the QC but run through that tube amp, it sounded pretty great.
I’m not saying that I would be willing to haul a heavy rig again but I think there are those who would. I’m just surprised that nobody has produced a tube FRFR yet.
Anyway, sorry to drag us off topic.
There’s something like this.
Tube power amps like this in the guitar world are not new–but they’re not designed for FRFR specifically.
Indeed. My (rich) high school friend in the 90s had this and I think like an Axe FX rack. It was awesome. But this is an option of people want to have tubes in their QC system, a guitar player doesnt need FRFR. Personally I am looking at the stereo Audio Flux FRFR, a major consideration being it is light weight.
Hey STLP, you’re going to anger McIntosh users with that kind of talk. 
I’m not sure how flat the response is of stand alone guitar power amps from Mesa, Fryette, etc but inexpensive high output drivers like you’ll find in most FRFR and consumer PA cabs are far from flat. That’s why they all use DSP to compensate for the lumpy response and phase issues of those drivers. Most are essentially glorified guitar speakers and cheap horns. They’re relatively efficient and can handle some power but they’re not what you’d call “high fidelity” without some help.
I just got home from playing a three hour show and I was reminded again of how lucky we are as guitarists (and bass players), to live in an age where one small device and a light weight cab (two in my case) can creat the illusion of playing through a host of cool vintage and modern gear with a bunch of great sounding effects. It’s a slightly different experience from playing through “the real thing” but, if we can except it for what it is, it be an equally enjoyable experience, in spite of the lack of vacuum tubes. Sorry for rambling, just having a moment here. 
Yeah, I’ve been running one since right after it was released.
Quick context first: the Valvulator Mini isn’t a drive or gain pedal — it’s a tube input stage / DI. Mine sits first in the chain, before the QC.
What sent me looking for it: I run QC into Tonex Cabs, and the QC’s input stage always felt a little stiff and tight in the lows to me, with picking coming across slightly muddy. I went through a few options trying to fix that and ended up pulling the trigger on the Valvulator Mini as soon as I saw it.
What I noticed after plugging it in: the biggest thing is that the whole sound settles down. There’s a bit of tube color in there, sure, but I wouldn’t lead with that — the real change for me is that the digital amp texture reads more analog and more relaxed. Getting vintage-leaning tones out of the QC alone was always a struggle for me, and the Mini made that a lot easier to get to. Picking feel is more stable too.
The other thing worth mentioning: with QC + Tonex Cab I had this barky, honking tail that followed palm mutes — that “wumph” after the note stops. Never liked it. That’s much calmer now.
No problems to report on my end. Bottom line, I bought it as glue between the QC and the Tonex Cabs, and I’m happy with the result. Honestly I think it stays on my board until the day I stop playing guitar.
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Thanks for the review. I was starting to wonder if anyone on the forum had tried one. What kind of music and/or tones do you use? I had assumed that any differences would be most noticeable on clean to EOB tones. By your discription, maybe I’m wrong about that.
Are you saying that your (rich) friend had a Valvulator Mini? I think that they only released the Mini last year. The larger, more elaborate Valvulator has been available for a few years.
I just looked up the Audio Flux FRFR. It’s an intriguing design even though I’m not generally a fan of Piezo tweeters. Have you heard or tried one? They’re certainly light weight for 2-10" and 2-12" cabinets.
No, he had some sort of Mesa Boogie stereo tube rack amp.
I haven’t heard the Audio Flux, not really any opportunity to do so, which is a reason I have been hesitant