Fender FR-12 preamp mod : The Hissterectomy

2 months in with mine in my two fr12 and I still am blown away by how good it sounds. Had a jam tonight and between the helix stadium and my fr-12 that’s probably the best tone I’ve ever been able to coax out of my meager playing.


Sorry for the dumb Question for @WKSmith . I saw in an earlier post on the fr12 your settings for getting a flat response form the fr12 stock board . Do those same settings apply to the v3 board?

I believe those were Treble at 6, mids at 6.5, bass at 2.5 and cut at 1


I tried them tonight and instantly the sparkle I had been missing from my fender models was back, but wasn’t sure if there was a better suggested setttings for the knobs with the mod installed.

I’ve always played with the knobs at 5 because I’m too lazy /tone deaf to mess with them other then occasionally turning the bass or cut knobs to taste.
 
Pryvatezero said:
2 months in with mine in my two fr12 and I still am blown away by how good it sounds. Had a jam tonight and between the helix stadium and my fr-12 that’s probably the best tone I’ve ever been able to coax out of my meager playing.


Sorry for the dumb Question for @WKSmith . I saw in an earlier post on the fr12 your settings for getting a flat response form the fr12 stock board . Do those same settings apply to the v3 board?

I believe those were Treble at 6, mids at 6.5, bass at 2.5 and cut at 1


I tried them tonight and instantly the sparkle I had been missing from my fender models was back, but wasn’t sure if there was a better suggested setttings for the knobs with the mod installed.

I’ve always played with the knobs at 5 because I’m too lazy /tone deaf to mess with them other then occasionally turning the bass or cut knobs to taste.
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I am glad that you are finding your tone. The V3 is even easier to dial in to flatish settings than earlier versions.
Try these from the V3 Manual.

  • Mid: 2:00
  • Treble: 2:00
  • Bass: 11:00
  • Cut: 7:00 (off)
This EQ shape represents a flattened response with shelving highs and lows — a voicing that modelers tend to love. It’s tight, controlled, and much louder — up to +15dB louder than flat noon settings. (I need to fix that in the manual 🧐)

✅ Recommended Starting Point for High SPL / Stage Use. This setting gives you maximum headroom and clarity at live gig volumes. Be sure to check the Clip LED when dialing in at this level.
 
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I've been really enjoying the V3 preamp after several weeks of use.

One thing I'm noticing is that the Cut knob seems to take down the high end FAST. Kicks in early then doesn't have a ton of effect through a majority of the knob sweep. Is that typical behavior? Not a big deal as I've found it sounds great wide open anyway, but am curious.
 
AmbientOwl said:
I've been really enjoying the V3 preamp after several weeks of use.

One thing I'm noticing is that the Cut knob seems to take down the high end FAST. Kicks in early then doesn't have a ton of effect through a majority of the knob sweep. Is that typical behavior? Not a big deal as I've found it sounds great wide open anyway, but am curious.
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Yes I completely re-designed the cut control away from the stock preamp cut.. which was originally a 4th eq stage designed to cut the high eq band only (instead of cut and boost like the other 3 bands.

The V3 preamp cut control can turn the horn completely off at full rotation, unlike the stock cut which only attenuates the level .

This made the circuit have one less eq stage and lowered the noise floor even more. Plus the added benefit of completely turning the horn off gives the user ultimate control of the compression driver and its amplifier.

The knob from full counter -clockwise to noon is almost exactly the same range as the stock cut controls full rotation.

The taper of the custom pots lean heavier on one side of the noon setting. For the 3 eq bands it is the boost side past noon, for the cut it is the side below noon.

It is intentional. But it takes a little while to get used to how it supposed to work.

😎👍
 
WKSmith said:
Yes I completely re-designed the cut control away from the stock preamp cut.. which was originally a 4th eq stage designed to cut the high eq band only (instead of cut and boost like the other 3 bands.

The V3 preamp cut control can turn the horn completely off at full rotation, unlike the stock cut which only attenuates the level .

This made the circuit have one less eq stage and lowered the noise floor even more. Plus the added benefit of completely turning the horn off gives the user ultimate control of the compression driver and its amplifier.

The knob from full counter -clockwise to noon is almost exactly the same range as the stock cut controls full rotation.

The taper of the custom pots lean heavier on one side of the noon setting. For the 3 eq bands it is the boost side past noon, for the cut it is the side below noon.

It is intentional. But it takes a little while to get used to how it supposed to work.

😎👍
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Thank you for the detailed reply. Honestly, the only reason I even wondered about it is due to my own insecurity about botching something on install! Glad it is working as intended.

Wonderful product. Highly recommend for anyone using an FR10/12.
 
Chiming in just say thanks and Happy 2026 to all, and that I keep spreading the word in various groups. There's an r/AxeFX, and I've mentioned the V3 preamp on there. It's amazing how many Fractal owners don't know about this forum, though it's understandable those who are looking into the FR-10/12 haven't found this thread yet.
 
pima1234 said:
Chiming in just say thanks and Happy 2026 to all, and that I keep spreading the word in various groups. There's an r/AxeFX, and I've mentioned the V3 preamp on there. It's amazing how many Fractal owners don't know about this forum, though it's understandable those who are looking into the FR-10/12 haven't found this thread yet.
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Thank you friends! The V3 has been a great performing design and it has sold really quite well, even without advertising. I am grateful to you all for following this design from its humble inception, and for the referrals to friends. It has been a blessing to the business, and to me personally.

This year is bringing some awesome new preamp designs from the shop! I am designing and protyping several new tube preamps and power supplies.. and I am releasing an updated Archangel X7 acoustic preamp for it's 15th anniversary.

2026 is going to be a great year!
Much Love! ❤️
Liam
 
WKSmith said:
Thank you friends! The V3 has been a great performing design and it has sold really quite well, even without advertising. I am grateful to you all for following this design from its humble inception, and for the referrals to friends. It has been a blessing to the business, and to me personally.

This year is bringing some awesome new preamp designs from the shop! I am designing and protyping several new tube preamps and power supplies.. and I am releasing an updated Archangel X7 acoustic preamp for it's 15th anniversary.

2026 is going to be a great year!
Much Love! ❤️
Liam
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That will be absolutely wonderful, Liam!

Count me in for one of your acoustic preamps, for sure.
 
WKSmith said:
Thank you friends! The V3 has been a great performing design and it has sold really quite well, even without advertising. I am grateful to you all for following this design from its humble inception, and for the referrals to friends. It has been a blessing to the business, and to me personally.

This year is bringing some awesome new preamp designs from the shop! I am designing and protyping several new tube preamps and power supplies.. and I am releasing an updated Archangel X7 acoustic preamp for it's 15th anniversary.

2026 is going to be a great year!
Much Love! ❤️
Liam
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Count me in for the acoustic preamp as well!
 
Hello all!

I LOVE my FR-12. What's the general consensus on it versus the FR-212 for live shows? I've got a few shows coming up that are amp only (no line to the board) and curious if I should upgrade to the FR-212 or not. I know that the FR-12 seemed fine to me last show we played last year.
 
WKSmith said:
Thank you friends! The V3 has been a great performing design and it has sold really quite well, even without advertising. I am grateful to you all for following this design from its humble inception, and for the referrals to friends. It has been a blessing to the business, and to me personally.

This year is bringing some awesome new preamp designs from the shop! I am designing and protyping several new tube preamps and power supplies.. and I am releasing an updated Archangel X7 acoustic preamp for it's 15th anniversary.

2026 is going to be a great year!
Much Love! ❤️
Liam
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What are rhe odds that you'd make a small stereo power amp like the raezer's edge but with your genius?
 
WKSmith said:
Thank you friends! The V3 has been a great performing design and it has sold really quite well, even without advertising. I am grateful to you all for following this design from its humble inception, and for the referrals to friends. It has been a blessing to the business, and to me personally.

This year is bringing some awesome new preamp designs from the shop! I am designing and protyping several new tube preamps and power supplies.. and I am releasing an updated Archangel X7 acoustic preamp for it's 15th anniversary.

2026 is going to be a great year!
Much Love! ❤️
Liam
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Oh I need the acoustic preamp!!!!
 
warlockII said:
What are rhe odds that you'd make a small stereo power amp like the raezer's edge but with your genius?
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It would be after the new stuff settles down. It's been crazy for the last few months. Here is some of what I am working on..
I am currently building several tube preamps and designing several crazy power supplies to keep them authentic to the original designs at really high voltage. I have some power supplies being assembled right now. It's going to be pretty awesome.

I am also building versions of the mystery black box on my pedalboard that has Edcor 1:1 transformers to make the VP4 outs balanced. Those transformers are flat from 20-20k and have super low distortion. ..And I am doing a similar version that steps up the output voltage x2 for my Tnx one playing friends.

The tube pres use a different Edcor interstage transformer which lets me use the PI at full volume with both differential output phases ..so they can keep the post PI master and cut, without changing the AC load of the PI. And output it as balanced xlr or unbalanced 1/4" at +4.

The power supplies are adjustable from 100-366v currently, with dual outputs, another supply is for EF86 filaments that need 6.3v and another supply takes 12v in and regulates and filters it twice and outputs 12.6v to power the other modules and 12AX7 filaments.

I am building 2 tube versions and 4 tube versions that will do the complete 1995 DC-30 circuit , minus the EL84s . So BadCat, Matchless, and some original takes on the hot rod Vox circuits. and some cool other stuff in the works.

V3s are still in assembly. I have a new contractor that I brought online that should speed thing up a lot.

More ummm soon? 🤣

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