Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

[Plazmawine]

Anyone play them or tried them?

[Venomboy]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

I have a Framus Cobra head and 4x12 cab. AMAZING. Ultra high gain. 3 channel. What I wished a Recto sounded like.

I posted this review on another forum:

This is a 3 channel all tube head (12AX7s, EL34s) with a matching 4x12 straight cab with Celestion Vintage 25s. The cab can be split in stereo. 4 Button footswitch and the cab has removeable casters. Each channel has Gain, Presence, Volume, Bass, Middle, and Treble. The clean channel has a Bright switch while the Crunch and Lead Channels each have a notch switch. There's also a master Deep knob, 2 switchable Master Volumes, and an effects loop level knob. This amp can also accept a MIDI controller.

I love this freaking amp. In the past 2 years I've owned a Mesa Single Recto, Mesa DC5, and VHT combo. While they're all great, reliable amps, I was always wanting something more. More gain with less mud, more sizzle with less buzz...you get the idea.

On to the sounds:

Clean Channel: Nice! The bright switch seems to make the most difference when I'm playing on the neck pickup. It adds a nice tingle to the sound, even in the low frequencies. My only complaint about this channel is that it breaks up easily with EMGs. Other than that it's a very nice channel.

Crunch: With the Gain maxed, it won't get muddy. Very articulate and sounds, well, tubey!!! Sorta Marshall-esque. Flick the notch, and it scoops the mids and sounds brutal as hell. Nothing loses definition on this channel. Without the notch, you get a more warmer, vintage type sound best suited for Maiden type stuff, where you don't need the sizzle. The tone controls work very well. I have the bass, mid, and treble just past 1/2 and there's thump and sizzle for days.

Lead: Take the Crunch channel, double the gain and make it a little deeper. With the gain between 1/2 and 75% you will have all the gain you ever need. I'm a gain freak and I never thought I'd say an amp has too much gain. Notch this channel and you will sound fucking BRUTAL. When I first played this at home last weekend, I played this channel for like a minute, turned to my wife and said "holy shit I love this fucking amp!" Without the notch it's still killer. A little warmer and very open.

I'm hoping to jam with a drummer in the coming weeks to really put this amp through it's paces. So far, the sound is really consistent at all volume levels. And what I LOVE is there is NO volume jump. All my other tube amps had 2 levels: quiet and undefined and LOUD AS FUCK. I can play at bedroom and stadium levels with this summbitch. Another great thing is when I boost the mids, it doesn't start to sound hollow, you just feel the sound more.

If you want a very very brutal sound, this is your amp. I play mostly with the notch engaged but am realy warming up to the regular setting.

That's all for now. I'll probably add some more stuff and my pics later.

[Matt]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

i couldn't have described it any better venomboy. I have a cobra head and it is awesome! Best amp ever.

[Venomboy]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

I jammed with a drummer 2 weeks ago. After a few riffs he told me that my amp sounded awesome and said it was super clear. That was with the Cobra cab.

Today I auditioned for a thrash band. The other guitarist had a Triple XXX with a Peavey cab. He had a good sound. When I played, he was like "damn, that sounds great." All the guys in the band said it was crystal clear. I played through a Marshall 1960 cab that wasn't mine.

I have to say, even at loud volumes, the tone remains the same and does not mush out.

I don't yet have my footswitch but I'm using my Peavey PFC-10 MIDI foot controller to change channels and it works great.

[deviltronix]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

Where did you guys get your Framus amps? I am looking to get one.

thanks,

Rich

[Plazmawine]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

There are hardly any US dealers around. I checked their websites and none of them are nearby NY.
Any clues?

[Venomboy]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

Currently there's only 6 US dealers. I hear good things about Rock Solid Amps: www.rocksolidamps.com

You'll probably have to go mail order.

I got mine used but in brand new condition from a local guy.

[deviltronix]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

Thanks.. I don't mind going mail order. Hopefully I can start making calls as soon as my tax refund arrives!

rich

[Matt]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

if you can find one used go for it... they dont have great resell since they arent real big. I scored my cobra for 1300 shipped.

[Venomboy]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

There was a Cobra on ebay a few days ago that sold for $1650. There was a Dragon on ebay that went for less than $1300 a while back.

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

Hmmmm...gonna look into a Cobra now!
You've successfully piqued my interest!

[prolead]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

Venomboy,thanks for the great review.I know you said the cobra sounds good at all volumes and this is a real important part of the decision making process for me.Can you really get a nice high gain tone at low volume levels?Thanks.

[Venomboy]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

One of the reasons I got it is because of the high gain at low volumes. I can honestly say the gain is ALWAYS there [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Venomboy]

Re: Framus Dragon & Cobra Tops

This morning I played a bit with the Lead channel with the notch switch off. Immediately there's more mids and a more open sound. I boosted the treble and presence and cut the mids a bit and was able to get to a similar sound as with the notch engaged.