Line 6 Catalyst CX 100

J

Jipps0525

Power User
I bought this amp for fun with some guitar center trade in credit and wanting to try the helix modeling. Within the next few weeks when I have more time, I definitely plan to try using the catalyst cx as a power amp with my fm9. I’m wondering if this will sound better than my fm9 through the fender Fr-12. Anyone trying the catalyst as a power amp and can share their experiences?
 
I'm a big hell yeah for trying something out of the box. It might be badass!.

If you get bored .. take it apart and post some pics and let's have a look under the hood.

There are a lot of similarities between L6 and FR12/10 amp looking FRFRs
 
Jipps0525 said:
I bought this amp for fun with some guitar center trade in credit and wanting to try the helix modeling. Within the next few weeks when I have more time, I definitely plan to try using the catalyst cx as a power amp with my fm9.
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I'll be interested to hear your thoughts. I had a pre-CX Catalyst for about a week and was very underwhelmed.
Jipps0525 said:
I’m wondering if this will sound better than my fm9 through the fender Fr-12. Anyone trying the catalyst as a power amp and can share their experiences?
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I'd be very surprised if the Catalyst CX compares well with the FR-12, but that's because I wasn't impressed with how the original Catalyst sounded with the FM9. The CX might be a significant upgrade though so again I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts.
 
Deadpool_25 said:
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts. I had a pre-CX Catalyst for about a week and was very underwhelmed.

I'd be very surprised if the Catalyst CX compares well with the FR-12, but that's because I wasn't impressed with how the original Catalyst sounded with the FM9. The CX might be a significant upgrade though so again I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts.
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What made you underwhelmed about the original catalyst? So far I very much so like the tones I’ve gotten. I think with a solid midi controller I could def gig this. But I’m very interested in hearing my fm9 through it
 
Jipps0525 said:
What made you underwhelmed about the original catalyst? So far I very much so like the tones I’ve gotten. I think with a solid midi controller I could def gig this. But I’m very interested in hearing my fm9 through it
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From an old post I made on another forum:

"It’s quite good at lower gain stuff and the effects seem pretty good but I can’t get a high gain sound I actually like. At least not compared to the Vypyr 60. On the Catalyst, the low end is comparatively anemic, I can’t get the mids to sound even decent, and the high end doesn’t seem pleasant.

To reiterate, I’m just talking high gain. I haven’t tried it with pedals yet so it might be okay with those."

But I believe there were some changes made after I tried it. For example, I read they added the Badonk amp which could definitely address my problem with the Catalyst's high gain.

Also, I still have and love the Peavey Vypyr 60. That thing sets a really high bar for modeling combos imo, especially with the effects loop mod which was necessary for me regardless but also makes it play quite well with the FM9. I have yet to find another modeling amp that I like as much as that one.
 
Deadpool_25 said:
From an old post I made on another forum:

"It’s quite good at lower gain stuff and the effects seem pretty good but I can’t get a high gain sound I actually like. At least not compared to the Vypyr 60. On the Catalyst, the low end is comparatively anemic, I can’t get the mids to sound even decent, and the high end doesn’t seem pleasant.

To reiterate, I’m just talking high gain. I haven’t tried it with pedals yet so it might be okay with those."

But I believe there were some changes made after I tried it. For example, I read they added the Badonk amp which could definitely address my problem with the Catalyst's high gain.

Also, I still have and love the Peavey Vypyr 60. That thing sets a really high bar for modeling combos imo, especially with the effects loop mod which was necessary for me regardless but also makes it play quite well with the FM9. I have yet to find another modeling amp that I like as much as that one.
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What's the fx loop mod entail on that Vypyr? I'd probably go to the aux in for my modeler?
 
JTI said:
What's the fx loop mod entail on that Vypyr? I'd probably go to the aux in for my modeler?
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It was a little touchy as it involved soldering and some tiny SMD parts. Well worth it though. It was this IIRC.

I either use it as traditionally for reverb and delay or I just plug my FM9 into the return. I think theee might've been some issue with using the Aux in? Hmmm. I can't remember. Maybe not.
 
Deadpool_25 said:
It was a little touchy as it involved soldering and some tiny SMD parts. Well worth it though. It was this IIRC.

I either use it as traditionally for reverb and delay or I just plug my FM9 into the return. I think theee might've been some issue with using the Aux in? Hmmm. I can't remember. Maybe not.
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Verrrrry interesting! I ran my FM through the Stealth fx return into my Celestion F12 cabs today. Very pleasing \m/
 
Deadpool_25 said:
It was a little touchy as it involved soldering and some tiny SMD parts. Well worth it though. It was this IIRC.

I either use it as traditionally for reverb and delay or I just plug my FM9 into the return. I think theee might've been some issue with using the Aux in? Hmmm. I can't remember. Maybe not.
Click to expand...
My old job used to have a peavey vypyr laying around that I would mess around with. Loved it’s high gain tones honestly; it was a cool amp wonder why it’s not marketed more
 
Jipps0525 said:
My old job used to have a peavey vypyr laying around that I would mess around with. Loved it’s high gain tones honestly; it was a cool amp wonder why it’s not marketed more
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They're badass. The 60w and 120w versions with tubes were freaking awesome. I wish they'd continued developing them. The Vypyr line is kinda unique in the modeling space because the distortion/gain is analog. Additionally, the effects are digital and were developed by the Damage Control folks (who later became Strymon).
 
JTI said:
Verrrrry interesting! I ran my FM through the Stealth fx return into my Celestion F12 cabs today. Very pleasing \m/
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If it's the 50w Stealth you're definitely speaking my language. Fractal into EVH into real cabs is freaking ridiculous.
 
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Have not had a chance to try my original idea yet since my gear is in different locations at the moment. The Catalyst Cx 100 is a solid amp though and could easily gig with it. Some really cool Helix driven sounds on there.

Also, for a great price, I picked up a used Peavey VYPYR Pro 100 combo amp which uses a trans-tube technology and somehow uses analog distortion for its gain staging. Used it at rehearsal for the first time last night with the Sanpera Pro controller it came with. I gotta say… this amp has some seriously solid tones and has an easy workflow to it. I really hope they come out with an updated vypyr pro model soon. Legit in awe of the tones from it
 
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