Gonna try and see if I can make the switch over to the FRFR world from a tube amp background. Let me know if you all have any tips! Would love to hear your own stories!
@@gabrielviana88 sorry for the late response. I do feel it sounds more like a cab than a traditional PA speaker. I actually sold the cab soon after making this video and went back to traditional cabs.
@@poison4822 I just preferred the “amp in the room” feel so I went back to my tube setup. I do plan on using FRFR in other projects that are not hard rock/metal. I don’t seem to be bothered by not having the “amp in room” sound for non heavy gain sounds.
I tested the Matrix GT800FX with the Matrix cab as well. Still wasn’t doing it for me. I could go with the tube power amp route, but that would defeat the purpose for me haha. I’m gonna still fiddle around with this setup. I really want to love it!
@@retorgere3718 I think a real tube amp will sound different, depending on how you use it. With the Laney you leave your amp and cab sims on, or use the Laney cab sim. How are you using the tube amp now… just for the power amp, or are you also using a traditional cab as well?
@@zinkferd I used running the 4cm but now I use the amp return so I can avoid the mix sound in between the amp and helix . My amp is H&K 36 grandmeister
Hey! So I ended up selling it and went back to my Mesa. I will definitely revisit FRFR at some point, but I'd want a lighter cab in that case. The Laney is really heavy so I'd want something more convenient.
Thank you for video. I have the powercab 212 and fractal fm9. My powercab is missing all the highs and mids. I was thinking about getting the laney to solve that issue. Any input would be greatly appreciated
The Laney was miles better than the Powercab to me, which sounded a bit too brittle. You’ll definitely get a richer low end with the Laney and a more pronounced high end that isn’t too piercing. I also liked the way the cab interacted with the guitar. Closer to a real cab than any of the other FRFR solutions I’ve tried as of now.
Greetings from India 🇮🇳 Wanted to see more detailed videos on your Laney lfr2/12 and the Fm9. I am a Helix user and wanted a budged frfr system to use it for band rehersals. Also thinking to upgrade my Helix for Fm9
@@zinkferd I wanted to know about theFm9 using scenes, when you change preset using scenes from clean to drive does it have a large amount of Audio lag ?
Why not stick with your Mesa cab and use a solid state power amp? You should get a similar (or identical) sound. You definitely need some additional EQs to shape the low and high end, but again - its possible. Route your signal without a cab block to out 2 with an additional EQ and test again.
@@zinkferd I also played tube amps (JCM, Rectifier, ...) with my Orange 4x12 and a huge pedalboard in the past. Now, i have a small temple audio 24 and a FM3 with the power stage 170 power amp and everything is great. Running this in both FOH and a PPC 212, best of both worlds and reduced massively in weight and size :)
Hey thanks so much for making this video! I have a fractal fm3 and looking to pick one of these up! What do you use to carry your laney fr around? Cab Case or flight case? Any suggestions, names? Cheers!
Hi, Matt! I actually never used the cab live so I never had to consider that. I went back to a traditional Mesa cab soon after recording this vid. I don’t use a case with my current cab so I doubt I would have bought one for the Laney either. But my cab definitely has battle scars on it so I did sacrifice that. I imagine you can get flight case for the Laney though. I remember seeing one for the LFR-112.
SO did it replace your traditional rig? I have purchased a couple things in the past few years and I just cant part with my Archon and My Peavey Cab. It doesnt come close to me. AND if you have someone else grab an opposite end of an 80 pound cab, Your only lifting 40 pounds! lol
Buddy, I've been using my helix on a mackie thump active box. I have never used an frfr case and the opportunity arose to pick up a laney lfr112. Does it make a big difference in sound quality? Worth to buy? 
Honestly, I don't think it will make that big of a difference. The 2x12 version does give it a little more of an "amp in the room" vibe though. Would this be for bedroom/rehearsal play or for live? FRFR speakers are essentially like PA speakers.
@@zinkferd ,It would be for use in the bedroom and with band. I had thought about getting the 1x12 version due to the practicality of transportation. I've been using the Helix a makie thump 12a, sounds good but something is missing.
@@zinkferd Buddy, I play a little bit of everything in my projects. Mostly rock and reggae music. I really like British tones and in reggae I use fender simulation.
@@gabrielviana88 Honestly, I think the Mackie will be sufficient. The LFR might be a little more bass heavy. I actually sold my LFR-212 because I felt something was missing. What I was missing was the feel of a real amp in the room. Maybe that's the same thing you feel is missing? The LFR might help a little, but it wasn't substantial enough for me.
do you think this amp would be loud enought to jam witha drummer and full band?also have you found ro can you reccomend any lightweight amps that would work great for giggin with drummer that i can run my multi effects unit out of and still get enought sound... also you said the laney is heavy?? of
Sorry for the late response! It's definitely loud enough to play with a drummer. HeadRush makes lighter ones, but they definitely don't sound as good as the Laney. But again the Laney weighs a lot!!
I use a headrush 112 with my FM9. But I added an EQ pedal to shape the headrush sound for live. I run the FM9 into the EQ then eq straight to frfr112. Sounds really good. Narrow but good. I run the 112 in back of me and th 108 in front.
Hey man have you still enjoyed this set up? I’ve been running a FM3 into a SD PowerStage into a 1x12 V30. It sounds great but I do limit myself with the modeling capabilities because the real cab colors the tone. I’ve tried some cheaper FRFR set ups before like the Headrush and didn’t get along with it. Does something like this add some more authenticity to the tone ?
I definitely felt this added more to the in the room sound vs the Headrush. I haven’t used it since I made the video though. I still use my traditional tube amp setup.
I'm using a pair of these Laney LFR-212 in a stereo setup with my headrush pedalboard. What i've noticed while virtually rebuilding my 1959 full stack: Even with two of these Laney's LFR-212 at 550W each (800W sinus -> ~550W RMS) you won't get the serious punch of a 100W Marshall in the room. You can compensate for this with hotter IR files, but it still not entirely there. But in a recording this doesn't matter, because no mic in the world will ever capture these masses of air moving. Btw. If you really crank the Laneys to the max, the integrated LED lights will start to flicker.
Hey how do you feel about the cab 3 months on? I am running a helix into Powercab 112 / Katana MK2 (pwr amp in) in stereo. I’d like to use this behind me and the PC112 as wedge in front of me.
It's actually sitting in the original box. I went back to my tube amp/cab setup for live shows and sold my Fractal FM9 as well. Honestly, the LFR-212 is the best FRFR cab I've tried so far. It really packs a punch and moves air, compared to some of the other ones I've tried, and it's a bit less brittle sounding. Unfortunately for my back, I am still partial to real amps. I love most of the amp modelers for recording though!
@@zinkferd I love the combo of my current two cabs and love my sounds ;) Just love the look of a 212 vertical. Tried few stores in Australia but they wont order to test only for me to buy it, which I wont without testing it! Would love two in Stereo :D Actually sold my Two Rock once I got the helix ;) Some of my sounds... Both with AZ HH and AZ HSS. Let me know what you think? czcams.com/video/jbFqTXnRw1A/video.html
I sold the Fractal FM9 and went back to my tube amps. I am thinking I might regret that decision. I am curious to try the Neural Quad Cortex so maybe I will get an FRFR cabinet again. Not sure which one just yet though. I did like the Laney, but it was so heavy.
@@zinkferd Man Im in the exact same place. Love tubes but want to explore my Helix completely and not be slave a certain sound. The 212 is cooler than 112 (which for the 412 oldies a 112 seems like a toy). But in term of sound , does the frfr performs differently than normal cabs? Does a 212 frfr sound better than a 112 or is just a matter of looks? Honestly, deciding if: a) keep tubes or go to FRFR and b) if FRFR , then 112 or 212 (for gigs). Thanks a lot for your time and comments.
@@williyG70 Sorry for the late resposne! I never really tried a 112, but I imagine the 212 would push more air for sure! For heavier music I'd suggest a 212 over a 112. But honestly I also heard that 8 inch speakers really help keep the focus on the mids so you don't get those woofy bass sounds and piercing highs like you do when you crank an FRFR patch. Of course you can also take care of that by adjusting the EQ on your patch directly. But you'd need to do it at your live level to make sure it translates properly. If you are going direct to the front of the house then maybe the 112 would be sufficient as something to monitor your sound a bit and feel like you are playing an amp. At the moment I am back with my Tube setup. But I really want to give FRFR another chance sometime soon. The Laney FR212 was definitely loud enough to cut through the drums!
I’m doing the exact same thing with a fractal fm3 and the laney 212, just sold my Mesa boogie dual rectifier to fund the purchase
Oh wow awesome! I still prefer the sound of my Mesa head. Can't seem to part with it haha
Are you still liking this setup? I have an FM3 as well.
I love my Laney LFR 212 in combination with my Helix Floor. Just sounds awesome.
How high are you setting your high trim?
Do you think you sound better than a PA speaker? Do you have a video so I can hear your sound?
@@gabrielviana88 sorry for the late response. I do feel it sounds more like a cab than a traditional PA speaker. I actually sold the cab soon after making this video and went back to traditional cabs.
Why?@@zinkferd
@@poison4822 I just preferred the “amp in the room” feel so I went back to my tube setup. I do plan on using FRFR in other projects that are not hard rock/metal. I don’t seem to be bothered by not having the “amp in room” sound for non heavy gain sounds.
Love the Operation Mindcrime poster!!
Thanks man, it's signed by all the original dudes!
Great info. I’ve been testing a BUNCH of solid state power amps with my real cabs but they all lack something so far compared to my amps.
I tested the Matrix GT800FX with the Matrix cab as well. Still wasn’t doing it for me. I could go with the tube power amp route, but that would defeat the purpose for me haha. I’m gonna still fiddle around with this setup. I really want to love it!
@@zinkferd Yeah I am the same. I did try a tube power amp and still didn’t love it, plus it was heavy and expensive.
@@zinkferd I have a question? Dose the LFR 212 sound like a tube amp? I use the helix with tube amp and I get that hair blowing feeling .
@@retorgere3718 I think a real tube amp will sound different, depending on how you use it. With the Laney you leave your amp and cab sims on, or use the Laney cab sim. How are you using the tube amp now… just for the power amp, or are you also using a traditional cab as well?
@@zinkferd I used running the 4cm but now I use the amp return so I can avoid the mix sound in between the amp and helix . My amp is H&K 36 grandmeister
Any updates on this?
Dig my Mesa tooooo, but want frfr
Hey! So I ended up selling it and went back to my Mesa. I will definitely revisit FRFR at some point, but I'd want a lighter cab in that case. The Laney is really heavy so I'd want something more convenient.
Thank you for video. I have the powercab 212 and fractal fm9. My powercab is missing all the highs and mids. I was thinking about getting the laney to solve that issue. Any input would be greatly appreciated
The Laney was miles better than the Powercab to me, which sounded a bit too brittle. You’ll definitely get a richer low end with the Laney and a more pronounced high end that isn’t too piercing. I also liked the way the cab interacted with the guitar. Closer to a real cab than any of the other FRFR solutions I’ve tried as of now.
Greetings from India 🇮🇳 Wanted to see more detailed videos on your Laney lfr2/12 and the Fm9. I am a Helix user and wanted a budged frfr system to use it for band rehersals. Also thinking to upgrade my Helix for Fm9
Greetings! I actually sold the Laney and the FM9. But if you have any specific questions I can try my best to answer them!
@@zinkferd I wanted to know about theFm9 using scenes, when you change preset using scenes from clean to drive does it have a large amount of Audio lag ?
@@gauravlama2079 So sorry for the late response! In Scenes I don't remember it having a lag. It definitely did outside scenes.
Great video!
I'm undecided between this Laney and a Line 6 PowerCab. Do you suggest the Laney?
Thanks
Definitely prefer the Laney over the Line 6. It was by a lot for me.
Why not stick with your Mesa cab and use a solid state power amp? You should get a similar (or identical) sound. You definitely need some additional EQs to shape the low and high end, but again - its possible. Route your signal without a cab block to out 2 with an additional EQ and test again.
The point was actually to lighten the load haha.
@@zinkferd I also played tube amps (JCM, Rectifier, ...) with my Orange 4x12 and a huge pedalboard in the past. Now, i have a small temple audio 24 and a FM3 with the power stage 170 power amp and everything is great. Running this in both FOH and a PPC 212, best of both worlds and reduced massively in weight and size :)
Hey thanks so much for making this video! I have a fractal fm3 and looking to pick one of these up! What do you use to carry your laney fr around? Cab Case or flight case? Any suggestions, names? Cheers!
Also have you tried plugging in an Aux? How does it treat backing tracks?
Hi, Matt! I actually never used the cab live so I never had to consider that. I went back to a traditional Mesa cab soon after recording this vid. I don’t use a case with my current cab so I doubt I would have bought one for the Laney either. But my cab definitely has battle scars on it so I did sacrifice that. I imagine you can get flight case for the Laney though. I remember seeing one for the LFR-112.
SO did it replace your traditional rig? I have purchased a couple things in the past few years and I just cant part with my Archon and My Peavey Cab. It doesnt come close to me. AND if you have someone else grab an opposite end of an 80 pound cab, Your only lifting 40 pounds! lol
I went back to my Mesa head, haha. So… no 😂 I still have hope for one day though hehe.
Buddy, I've been using my helix on a mackie thump active box. I have never used an frfr case and the opportunity arose to pick up a laney lfr112. Does it make a big difference in sound quality? Worth to buy?

Honestly, I don't think it will make that big of a difference. The 2x12 version does give it a little more of an "amp in the room" vibe though. Would this be for bedroom/rehearsal play or for live? FRFR speakers are essentially like PA speakers.
@@zinkferd ,It would be for use in the bedroom and with band. I had thought about getting the 1x12 version due to the practicality of transportation. I've been using the Helix a makie thump 12a, sounds good but something is missing.
@@gabrielviana88 What kind of music are you playing, mainly?
@@zinkferd Buddy, I play a little bit of everything in my projects. Mostly rock and reggae music. I really like British tones and in reggae I use fender simulation.
@@gabrielviana88 Honestly, I think the Mackie will be sufficient. The LFR might be a little more bass heavy. I actually sold my LFR-212 because I felt something was missing. What I was missing was the feel of a real amp in the room. Maybe that's the same thing you feel is missing? The LFR might help a little, but it wasn't substantial enough for me.
do you think this amp would be loud enought to jam witha drummer and full band?also have you found ro can you reccomend any lightweight amps that would work great for giggin with drummer that i can run my multi effects unit out of and still get enought sound... also you said the laney is heavy?? of
Sorry for the late response! It's definitely loud enough to play with a drummer. HeadRush makes lighter ones, but they definitely don't sound as good as the Laney. But again the Laney weighs a lot!!
I use a headrush 112 with my FM9. But I added an EQ pedal to shape the headrush sound for live. I run the FM9 into the EQ then eq straight to frfr112. Sounds really good. Narrow but good. I run the 112 in back of me and th 108 in front.
Hey man have you still enjoyed this set up? I’ve been running a FM3 into a SD PowerStage into a 1x12 V30. It sounds great but I do limit myself with the modeling capabilities because the real cab colors the tone. I’ve tried some cheaper FRFR set ups before like the Headrush and didn’t get along with it. Does something like this add some more authenticity to the tone ?
I definitely felt this added more to the in the room sound vs the Headrush. I haven’t used it since I made the video though. I still use my traditional tube amp setup.
I'm using a pair of these Laney LFR-212 in a stereo setup with my headrush pedalboard. What i've noticed while virtually rebuilding my 1959 full stack: Even with two of these Laney's LFR-212 at 550W each (800W sinus -> ~550W RMS) you won't get the serious punch of a 100W Marshall in the room. You can compensate for this with hotter IR files, but it still not entirely there. But in a recording this doesn't matter, because no mic in the world will ever capture these masses of air moving. Btw. If you really crank the Laneys to the max, the integrated LED lights will start to flicker.
Friend, what's the best sound? Irs from Helix, kemper and similar or simulation from lfr laney itself?

Hey! I preferred straight from my Fractal FM9 using IRs I purchased for it. Bogren Digital and the ToneMission IRs that I really like.
A review would be awesome, there’s literally no reviews on CZcams.
Anything in particular that you're curious about?
@@zinkferd ice picky high end, boomy low end, reasons for not liking going digital, and possibly differences compared to a real amp and cab
Hey how do you feel about the cab 3 months on? I am running a helix into Powercab 112 / Katana MK2 (pwr amp in) in stereo. I’d like to use this behind me and the PC112 as wedge in front of me.
It's actually sitting in the original box. I went back to my tube amp/cab setup for live shows and sold my Fractal FM9 as well. Honestly, the LFR-212 is the best FRFR cab I've tried so far. It really packs a punch and moves air, compared to some of the other ones I've tried, and it's a bit less brittle sounding. Unfortunately for my back, I am still partial to real amps. I love most of the amp modelers for recording though!
@@zinkferd I love the combo of my current two cabs and love my sounds ;) Just love the look of a 212 vertical. Tried few stores in Australia but they wont order to test only for me to buy it, which I wont without testing it! Would love two in Stereo :D
Actually sold my Two Rock once I got the helix ;)
Some of my sounds... Both with AZ HH and AZ HSS. Let me know what you think?
czcams.com/video/jbFqTXnRw1A/video.html
@@zinkferd unfortunately for your back? But the LFR212 is still a hefty thing right?
@@bruunm1975 yeah it is heavy, but not as heavy as my 4x12 and amp head haha.
@@bruunm1975 Great lead tone!
are you going to get the Laney LFR 4x12? it just came out
I think that’d be too heavy for me. I am curious how it sounds though!
@@zinkferd I know, right!
mmmm hmmm, haha@@jamesryder9158
You need air pushing get an hairdryer !!! lol 😆
hahaha
Hi, why you sold the Laney? just thinking of getting one....
I sold the Fractal FM9 and went back to my tube amps. I am thinking I might regret that decision. I am curious to try the Neural Quad Cortex so maybe I will get an FRFR cabinet again. Not sure which one just yet though. I did like the Laney, but it was so heavy.
@@zinkferd Man Im in the exact same place. Love tubes but want to explore my Helix completely and not be slave a certain sound. The 212 is cooler than 112 (which for the 412 oldies a 112 seems like a toy). But in term of sound , does the frfr performs differently than normal cabs? Does a 212 frfr sound better than a 112 or is just a matter of looks?
Honestly, deciding if: a) keep tubes or go to FRFR and b) if FRFR , then 112 or 212 (for gigs).
Thanks a lot for your time and comments.
@@williyG70 Sorry for the late resposne! I never really tried a 112, but I imagine the 212 would push more air for sure! For heavier music I'd suggest a 212 over a 112. But honestly I also heard that 8 inch speakers really help keep the focus on the mids so you don't get those woofy bass sounds and piercing highs like you do when you crank an FRFR patch. Of course you can also take care of that by adjusting the EQ on your patch directly. But you'd need to do it at your live level to make sure it translates properly. If you are going direct to the front of the house then maybe the 112 would be sufficient as something to monitor your sound a bit and feel like you are playing an amp.
At the moment I am back with my Tube setup. But I really want to give FRFR another chance sometime soon. The Laney FR212 was definitely loud enough to cut through the drums!
@@zinkferd thanks a lot!
LFR + QC ?
Never tried the QC, actually.