Fender TM FR12 Cab

  • I pulled the trigger today and just came out of a 2 hours session in Studio. Man, this thing is LOUD! Sounds and feels like a guitar cab and works well even with the Imprints. The infamous hiss is there, but is only about 30dB. With the Stage it sounds glorious. Definitely better (to me) then all what I had 'till now (QSC, Blue Amp, CLR, EV, DXR..and...sorry...the Kab).

    It moves some serious air and I'm sure it can keep up even with Jason Bonham.

    If something is too complicated, then you need to learn it better

  • I've tried so many different monitors and settled with an Eminence EM12, sounds pretty good but still looses a little something. Been eyeing the Fender, it's really tempting me and you just made it worse 🤣!

  • Kellerblues, I was curious how the Fender FR-12 is working out for you after a few weeks? I've seen quite a few people saying it sounds good, but that there's a hiss present and it's loud when playing at lower levels, has this been an issue?

  • Kellerblues, I was curious how the Fender FR-12 is working out for you after a few weeks? I've seen quite a few people saying it sounds good, but that there's a hiss present and it's loud when playing at lower levels, has this been an issue?

    Hi Howard. All good here, still very happy. This thing is a monster, never heard any FR box that reproduce the different emulated cabs like this one does. The punch and the low freq gives really the feel of a real cab and the on-board EQ makes the setup for a different room a matter of 2 minutes. The hiss is there, but for me absolutely negligeable (a real amp is worse), measured in my studio at 32-34dB (3' distance) with ambience noise of 30dB. Even if you play at room level (65dB) you don't hear it. Heck, even the strings noise is a lot louder then that. Still, it looks like some box has a louder hiss the others, so it would be better to try it in the shop first

    If something is too complicated, then you need to learn it better

  • Please let us know what you think. I’ve had great luck with my CLR NEO, But always lookin for something better

    The CLR is about the only one that I've never had, but it beats hands down any other one. As a reference I had: Blue Amps, L6 PowerCab, DXR-10, EV 12, Mission Engineering 2x12, Laney 2x12 (very impressive, but weight and size are excessive, like a 4x12), HR 108 (this one was so bad!), QSC FR12a, Powered Kabinet, Catalyst 100. The main thing is that it doesn't sounds and feels like a PA speaker, but like an actual amp. Particularly impressive is that it's a closed back speaker, but with the Cab emulation of an open-back one, it really sounds like the back panel dropped off. Same when you use a 4x12, you just can't believe the sound is coming out of this 1x12. I can only recommend at least to try it.

    If something is too complicated, then you need to learn it better

  • Please let us know what you think. I’ve had great luck with my CLR NEO, But always lookin for something better

    I have used the Clr in the past and loved the way the rigs translated to the FOH. I have sold them since we've moved to a smaller house in retirement. I am going to try tweeking on studio monitors and see how that goes.


    The guy I sold them to has used them for stage monitoring, as well as FOH for small venues.

  • The CLR is about the only one that I've never had, but it beats hands down any other one. As a reference I had: Blue Amps, L6 PowerCab, DXR-10, EV 12, Mission Engineering 2x12, Laney 2x12 (very impressive, but weight and size are excessive, like a 4x12), HR 108 (this one was so bad!), QSC FR12a, Powered Kabinet, Catalyst 100. The main thing is that it doesn't sounds and feels like a PA speaker, but like an actual amp. Particularly impressive is that it's a closed back speaker, but with the Cab emulation of an open-back one, it really sounds like the back panel dropped off. Same when you use a 4x12, you just can't believe the sound is coming out of this 1x12. I can only recommend at least to try it.

    Thanks for your input, I gotta try the Fender. I can't find one within a reasonable driving distance so I'll have to order one. I'm at the point that this may be my last effort, if it doesn't work for me I'm considering going back old school.

    I got the Kemper rack in 2017 and for four years I ran it into the effects return of a Fender Mustang III, picked a stock rig and just played. I had an EV ZLX12 at the time of purchase and tried it but didn't care for it.

    In the last two years at stores I tried a passive Kabinet and the Headrush units. I ended up purchasing a matching rack and two 112 cabs to load my own speakers in for a stereo setup. So far I've bought and tried the first generation Kones, the Neo Kone, but settled with the Eminence EM12's.

    I'm almost embarrassed to include the other's I've bought in that time frame but here they are nonetheless. Two Yamaha CBR10" passive, a powered Kabinet, a QSC CP8 powered, and last week an ISP Vector FS-8 that the power section shorted out on after four hours of use yesterday, so back it goes.

    By the way, it looks like the hiss can be fixed if a person is willing to open the unit up, remove and solder in a couple of replacement parts. Details are on the Fractal Audio forum, but it would be a little daunting without pictures or maybe a video for reference, at least for me.

  • By the way, it looks like the hiss can be fixed if a person is willing to open the unit up, r

    Seen that, but not worth the hassle, IMO. Really nothing disturbing, you just notice that is on (at home, alone in a very quiet room). Any low wattage tube amp would be the same/louder when you flip on the standby switch (not to mention when you kick on any pedal). This is really an internet-inflated non issue. I've been gigging and recording with a Super Sonic Twin 100W for years (and a couple dozens other tube amps before it) and that beast was hissing like a snake's nest everytime I was hitting Ch.2, the FR-12 is really nothing

    If something is too complicated, then you need to learn it better

  • That hiss would drive me nuts. I've read you can make it disappear by turning down the pressence knob. Not ideal but at least something.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

  • I have that "hiss" in my headphone amp. It drives me nuts but the amp sounds great. When the headphones come off, I still hear that damn hiss for 30 minutes.

    Larry Mar @ Lonegun Studios. Neither one famous yet.

  • Sounnds the same, no?


    The imprints may sound okay with that cab but I don't beleive they are accurate to the Kone?

    No idea... Looked it up and the speaker is


    Aktiv, 2-Wege

    • Total Impedance N/A - Active Speaker
    • Frequency Response 70Hz – 20kHz (-3dB)
    • HF Transducers 1” Compression
    • LF Transducers 12" Special Design



    Never heard of it, but so what. Super happy with my Kabinets, but it would be interesting to A/B these...