164. "UPDATE": BOSS IR-200 & FENDER TONEMASTER FR-12..."YOU CAN KEEP YOUR TUBES & HAVE MINE TOO"!

[@ZalMoxis]

Excellent advice and insight... Thanks Dan. I've just bought an IR-200 cheap 2nd hand after watching your videos.... now I've got to learn how to use it.

[@musicmandan1717]

Brother Zal...this is all by memory (which surely can be wrong) but in the "Menu/Settings" area is where the "Line Level" option is that you will select to provide the proper signal to the FR-12. At that point, I am using Preset 001 with the only adjustment is cranking the "Level" signal to 100 (not the "Gain" which defaults at 60 and goes to 120). This change insures the IR-200 is "outputting" at full capacity...and this Preset is an extremely "out of the box" clean sound that works perfect for me both "Live" and in the studio of which I have used it for the past 4 days (including yesterday) recording "directly out" of the Boss IR-200 for these sessions. You will find that the Boss IR-200 is the "Perfect Platform" for your pedals to go into...thinking of it as the "Front End" of any amplifier you have used. And when it finally goes thru the FR-12...be prepared;) The "Sweet Spot" of "Volume" regarding the FR-12 is between 12 noon and 2 p.m. on the Volume knob for "Live" performing as the cabinet and speaker really "opens up" at that range. I am excited for you...let me know how this "Tonal Journey" continues for you...and my prayers to you, your family and friends... Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@gibpaul]

Hi Dan, I purchased an IR 200 about 6 months ago and have been very happy with it. I have been using it at home as a practice tool but I am going to buy the FR12 for use in my cover band. Thanks for helping me make up my mind. Great channel and advice!

[@musicmandan1717]

Brother Gibpaul...I truly believe you will find the FR-12 to be so far beyond expectations...and an incredible combination with the Boss IR-200...I am excited for you! I have only used Preset 001 (as it instantly provided "what" I was looking for)...and I turn up the "Level" up to 100...not touching anything else on that Preset. All of my "tonal structuring" i.e. EQ & effects is either done at the cabinet by adjusting the Bass, Middle, Treble and Cut knobs (which I dial the Cut all the way to the right) and/or on my pedal board which includes a variety of gain pedals, an EQ pedal, a tremolo & reverb pedal, a reverb & delay pedal and a compressor. All in all...this combination as absolutely be the MOST SATISFYING TONE that I have ever experienced "Live...On Stage"...regardless of the guitar...as this setup is very EASILY ADJUSTED to "dial in" what you are "sonically searching" for;) Congratulations...and please let me know how it's going once you get everything in place;) My prayers to you, your family and friends. Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@rodneyyarbrough6524]

Good info Brother. Clean sound can be very elusive and it looks like you’ve found the perfect combo to make it work. Thanks for putting all of the “lessons learned” out there for us.

[@musicmandan1717]

My Brother Rodney, thank you for watching. I know you understand "how" it feels to be able to "keep learning"...even when so much as been "learned" already...but so much more to "learn";) My prayers to you both, your family and friends... Sincerely I am...Dan;) PS) We are headed back to the Hills of Tennessee next week. Once I get settled in back home, I will be recording a version of "How's My Ex Treatin' You" within a few weeks of my arrival;)

[@chuckbouscaren3898]

I always enjoy your playing Dan and the gear sounds pretty darned good on my end. Have a good weekend man!

[@musicmandan1717]

Thank you Brother Chuck;) My prayers to you, your family and friends... Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@mojo6778]

Dan, this was very interesting to me and thank you for sharing your experience. I have been thinking about "dipping my toes into the world of IR", and this just got me that much closer to taking the plunge. 😅Your rig always sounds great! Have a great weekend!!

[@musicmandan1717]

Thank you Brother Mojo...you won't be disappointed especially with the IR-200;) My prayers to you, your family and friends...Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@toneydavis9802]

Happy Day! The algorithym brought me to this video. Love the looks of your home. I dont play live anywhere. I used to play in church some and struggled with tone and volume because of all the key changes, fills needed to compliment what instrument or vocal. I would have loved to have had your rig then or what I am I am playing now which is my Tonex. My board is very simple now - tuner, Taurus Servo, ST Revv Tilt, Boss DD7 into the Tonex Mesa MK 5 IR. I can do just about anything with this set up. Glad you found your tones with your new set up.

[@musicmandan1717]

Brother Toney...thank you for your comment along with watching this video. My beautiful bride and I are fortunate to have 2 beautiful homes...one in the Nashville area & one here in the Florida Keys...where this video was filmed;) It sounds like your Tonex is providing the much sought-after "Sonic Foundation" that we search for to build our own "sound" off of. The Tonex One along with the Helix Stomp are the 2 others I am "sonically familiar" with in addition to the 3 Boss IR-200's I use on 2 "Live" rigs and one "Studio" rig I use. The Boss IR-200 has way more "technical depth" to it than I access as I simply have not "needed" to do so since the very 1st time I plugged it in. It was exactly "what" I was looking for within that very 1st 001 Preset. Once I started adding my pedal configuration to it...thinking of the Boss IR-200 as an "amp" and hitting the "front end" of it with the pedals...the result ended in me immediately purchasing 2 more units as I "knew" I finally found what I was searching for. There are so many "ways" for us as guitar pickers to "get there" sonically...and I surely don't think there is a "wrong way". But...after years and years and years...now into my 49th year of playing "professionally", I am so very grateful and satisfied to have "narrowed" the "Search for Tone" down to at least a street I can "navigate" with beneficial "Tone Stops" along the way of this never-ending joyful journey;) Thank you again for your comment...and I hope you enjoy the content you will find on my channel as I sincerely appreciate your time. My prayers to you, your family and friends... Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@TheOrchardParkBand]

Thank you for the great playing and demo of the fr12 and ir200. I may just have to get one . your tone makes a convincing case to get the fr12 and ir-200 and you are the first one I have seen that described very well in the comments why the 12 vs the 10.. You said you have the deluxe tone master and twin. do you not use them any more because of this set up? and do you feel this sounds better. By the way love your looping explanations....I'm so glad i found your page.. thank you

[@musicmandan1717]

Thank you for these very kind words Brother Thomas as I sincerely I appreciate your time. Yes, I own both the Tonemaster Twin & Deluxe along with the Super Reverb too...and all wonderful amps that truly provide an extremely close replication of their "design" based upon their legendary "Tube" parents. I use the Twin (with my "Live" IR-200 based pedal boards similar to the board used in this video) with frequency "Live" in addition to the "Super Reverb"...and they both provide "excellent" tonal options and works flawlessly with the pedal. The "Deluxe Reverb"...although a wonderful sounding amp in addition to working well with the pedal board...simply does not provide enough "stage volume" that remains "clean"...and I mean "clean"...with no "dirt" in the signal unless I provide it. Keep in mind...a "Deluxe Reverb" is designed to begin "breaking up" around 4 to 5 on the volume knob which provides that "Deluxe Reverb" sound. But for me...I simply need "more stage volume"...direct from the amp...not monitors...as I play venues that are spacious most of the time in the Florida Keys. When I perform in a smaller venue...I have no issues using the "Deluxe"...but most of the time, I am playing those larger venues. All these amps are EXCELLENT "can't go wrong" amps...but this FR-12 cab is DESIGNED for the "MODELER/IR" handshake...and with it's 1000W single 12" closed back speaker design, it is simply the LOUDEST, CLEANEST, HIGH HEADROOM, FULL SOUND I personally have ever experienced out a single 12" cabinet...and therefore fits my "Live" needs perfectly. It sounds INCREDIBLE...as do the amps. It handles the IR-200 based pedal platform PERFECTLY...and at this point...with now over 200 "LIVE" hours of performing on it...I am still simply "amazed" that I look back..and it's not a TUBE amp but SOUNDS like one...a testimony to it's "translation thru design" in addition to the quality sounds provided within the Boss IR-200. I have 2 FR-12's in addition to the 3 Tonemasters...and ALL are WONDERUL as I am PERFECTLY COVERED from "SMALL to BIG"...without EVER SACRIFICING THE PURSUIT of TONE. Now...if I could just play better;) Thank you again for your kind words and I hope this helps. My prayers to you, your family and friends...and if you have any more questions...please ask;) Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@jasonlee8497]

I use just high rez IRs on the Boss. I turn off the preamp and reverb. I use different preamps and delays and reverbs. The Celestion IRs do sound fantastic. For direct recording these are amongst the better tones I’ve gotten through the years. Happy Jamming

[@musicmandan1717]

Brother Jason...thank you for this information regarding another method & combination of using the Boss IR-200...it sounds like you have spent some time with this unit refining your method & tone results. My prayers to you, your family and friends...and we sure are "Happy Jamming";) Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@lordsfreebsd]

Hello Dan, Thanks you very much for your videos about the Fender FR12 with Boss IR-200. Do you think this setup and the clean sound it produces could be used at low volume (bedroom practice) ? Do you notice any hum or noise floor when playing alone at low volume ? Thanks in advance for your answers. All the best.

[@musicmandan1717]

Thank you for questions. Here's the answers: The IR-200/FR-12 "Combo" works wonderful at literally ANY volume...hi or low. There is NO HUM emitted from this combo...until you ADD your guitar or ADDITIONAL PEDALS to the FRONT END of this combo...for if these have an "existing issue" regarding pickups or bad cabling, the "end result" will, more than likely, be a "hum" in your signal path...at ANY volume. I also use a Furman "Voltage Regulator" that "powers" everything & provides "clean power"...one of the MOST OVERLOOKED ISSUES we deal with as Musicians. This device is a "Lifesaver"...and there is a video here on my channel explaining "why"...I believe it's titled "The Most Important Piece of Gear I Have Ever Purchased"...you may want to watch it for more information. All in all...this COMBO is "SONICALLY PERFECT & EXTREMELY CLEAN";) Thank you again and my prayers to you, your family and friends...and any other questions...please ask. Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@lordsfreebsd]

Hello Dan, Thank you very much for your answer : i really appreciate you attention to details ! And thanks again for your advise regarding the Furman "Voltage Regulator". I will definitely give a try to the Fender FR-12 / Boss IR-200 combo as soon as my music store got some in stock. By the way, did you also try the fender FR-10 ? If so did you notice differences between the FR10 and the FR12 ? Keep the good work going. All the best.

[@musicmandan1717]

I do not have any experience with the FR-10. The decision to purchase the FR-12 was an easy choice for me due to my "on-stage sonic needs" of which I have never achieved with a 10" speaker in an amp or cabinet. I have performed many "Live" shows with a single 12" speaker in an amplifier or cabinet and was hopeful that this 1000W speaker designed cabinet would at least "be in the same ballpark" as my previous experiences. By all accounts...the FR-12 has FAR EXCEEDED ANY SINGLE 12" SPEAKER AMP/CAB I have EVER used or heard...simply CLEAN & LOUD...depending on your "Input" source. Thank you again for the question...and my prayers to you, your family and friends. Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@writewheel]

@@musicmandan1717 Hello Dan, first thanks for your inspired playing. I have a question about the FR-12: Have you tried taking off the back for an "open back sound." Seems like most of your favored/reference amps are open back. There aren't any KZbin videos on this and I would really value your point of view.

[@musicmandan1717]

My Brother, I personally have not taken the back off the FR-12 for 2 main reasons: First...the enclosed cabinet is providing an incredible "FULLNESS" of sound coming out of this 1000W due to the fact that ALL the sound is being "reflected" forward with nowhere to "escape" backwards. Second...I did think about doing this...out of curiousity. And when I went to remove the back, there are no screws. The back panel is "glued" in place...or maybe requires the "front grille" to be removed..and then the speaker removed...to access that back panel. Either way...there did not seem to be a "simple method" of removal...of which I was not expecting. And I bet that is why there are no videos on this;) Thank you for your question...and if you find one...please let me know;) My prayers to you, your family and friends. Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@RichardLuna2025]

Does the 12" have an effects loop?

[@musicmandan1717]

Brother Richard, thank you for the question. The FR-12 is not5 an amplifier...but a cabinet...with a few control knobs that make one think it's an amp. It cannot be "used alone" effectively...as it requires a "Line Level Signal" to perform as designed. In my setup, the "Line Level Signal" is coming from the Boss IR-200...a great device that features an "Effects Loop" option of which I used for a short time...as I have with most "Effect Loop" opportunities in the past within other amplifiers...and found myself preferring a "Straight In-Line Signal Path" from all my pedals due to the "ease" of finding a problem "Live"...should it arrive. For me...the FR-12/Boss IR-200 combo in conjunction with my pedal board setup (featuring all of the pedals going into the Boss IR-200 first...and the Boss IR-200 being the "last" in the signal chain...and then into the FR-12) has proven to be UNDOUBTEDLY the FINEST "LIVE" sound I have ever experienced that is REPEATABLE...show after show. My setup is INCREDIBLY CLEAN...INCREDIBLY LOUD (when desired)...and INCREDIBLY STABLE...therefore making this a joy to setup and perform on. I hope this helps and my prayers to you, your family and friends...Happy Thanksgiving. Sincerely I am...Dan;)

[@RichardLuna2025]

@musicmandan1717 Thanks happy thanks giving to you as well. I picked up an ampero 2 that does have an effects loop. I can add other amp in a box pedals into that and still be able to have post effects. I know the fender fr is a beast.