dxlxntxxlxr
New member
Ive been looking for the be/hbe sound for metal but without spending 4 grand. Ive had the quickrod recommended to me several times. Thoughts?
Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
- Thread starter dxlxntxxlxr
- Start date
metlking
Well-known member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
I picked up a used Friedman Runt 50 for a steal! After owning the BE100, JJ100, Smallbox and 2 PT20's I have to say the Runt is my favorite. Best Friedman bang for the buck and happiness to cost ratio! It will get into HBE territory with a overdrive. I had a Splawn Quickrod . I tried it for over a year but I just couldn't make it work for me. Too stiff and unforgiving. Showed my flaws IE: lack of talent!
I picked up a used Friedman Runt 50 for a steal! After owning the BE100, JJ100, Smallbox and 2 PT20's I have to say the Runt is my favorite. Best Friedman bang for the buck and happiness to cost ratio! It will get into HBE territory with a overdrive. I had a Splawn Quickrod . I tried it for over a year but I just couldn't make it work for me. Too stiff and unforgiving. Showed my flaws IE: lack of talent!
dxlxntxxlxr
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
Stiff and unforgiving...sounds like my laney...no thanks lol
Stiff and unforgiving...sounds like my laney...no thanks lol
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
It depends what you are looking for and what your budget is... I have a a Splawn QR and love it!! I love the hotrodded Marshall tone and even had a modded JCM 800 at one time.. sold the Marshall..
I love the Splawn, but really want a Friedman BE. The Splawn is awesome, but the Friedman seems to be exactly what Im looking for.
I can see what the Metlking says about the Splawn. I love the tone, but it def wont mask playing flaws.. But... my playing is very subpar, (barely above a beginner) and I still enjoy my tone
It depends what you are looking for and what your budget is... I have a a Splawn QR and love it!! I love the hotrodded Marshall tone and even had a modded JCM 800 at one time.. sold the Marshall..
I love the Splawn, but really want a Friedman BE. The Splawn is awesome, but the Friedman seems to be exactly what Im looking for.
I can see what the Metlking says about the Splawn. I love the tone, but it def wont mask playing flaws.. But... my playing is very subpar, (barely above a beginner) and I still enjoy my tone
Red_Label
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
I've never understood the Splawn's rep for being stiff and unforgiving. I loved my QR half stack... that I picked up used for $850 total. It was awesome. Yes... I do prefer how the Friedman amps clean up with guitar volume. They are so awesome at that. But the QR was preferable in a couple of ways. I did sell the QR to make room for my Wildwood Pink Taco, which is like the smaller brother to my BE100. But I would be fine if I was still "stuck" with my QR. It's an awesome amp.
I've never understood the Splawn's rep for being stiff and unforgiving. I loved my QR half stack... that I picked up used for $850 total. It was awesome. Yes... I do prefer how the Friedman amps clean up with guitar volume. They are so awesome at that. But the QR was preferable in a couple of ways. I did sell the QR to make room for my Wildwood Pink Taco, which is like the smaller brother to my BE100. But I would be fine if I was still "stuck" with my QR. It's an awesome amp.
dxlxntxxlxr
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
Well now im just lost lol. everyone says theyre very unforgiving and dynamic which is a lot like my ironheart. Im trying to get away from that, i wanna stick with fairly compressed amps with dynamic pickups
Well now im just lost lol. everyone says theyre very unforgiving and dynamic which is a lot like my ironheart. Im trying to get away from that, i wanna stick with fairly compressed amps with dynamic pickups
Red_Label
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
My QR was a 2012 spec I believe. It had plenty of compression going on... whether on the clean channel or any of the three gears. I loved it and would still have it if my Friedmans hadn't replaced it.
My QR was a 2012 spec I believe. It had plenty of compression going on... whether on the clean channel or any of the three gears. I loved it and would still have it if my Friedmans hadn't replaced it.
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
I agree with Red Label.. And also, trust his judgement very much. I dont find my Splawn stiff or unforgiving. No more so than the JCM 800 I used to have. If I came across as making it sound like mine is unforgiving, I ONLY meant that as to say I know where the weakness in my tone is, and that is my playing skills. Its a loud and powerful amp and it amplifies my lack of skills.
By the same token, when I do something right, it sounds glorious!!
I agree with Red Label.. And also, trust his judgement very much. I dont find my Splawn stiff or unforgiving. No more so than the JCM 800 I used to have. If I came across as making it sound like mine is unforgiving, I ONLY meant that as to say I know where the weakness in my tone is, and that is my playing skills. Its a loud and powerful amp and it amplifies my lack of skills.
By the same token, when I do something right, it sounds glorious!!
dxlxntxxlxr
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
Ive narrowed it down to a few options.
1. Get the synergy hbe preamp ($900)
2. splawn Quickrod
3. splawn nitro
Thoughts? Experience w synergy or the nitro?
Ive narrowed it down to a few options.
1. Get the synergy hbe preamp ($900)
2. splawn Quickrod
3. splawn nitro
Thoughts? Experience w synergy or the nitro?
Red_Label
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
Agreed. If you're into modern metal, the Nitro would be the way to go. If you're more into classic rock/metal, grunge, etc... then the QR is hard to beat. I usually fired my QR up when I played darker, more modern stuff ala AIC, Tool, Alter Bridge, etc. The Friedman amps that I've had have all done all of those tones great as well. But they seemed to be the QR's strength. Whereas the Friedman stuff's strengths were more along the lines of anything made between 1972 and 1992. Not that I don't play all of that stuff on my current BE100 and Wildwood Pink Taco just fine. Because I do... and the tone is glorious. if I had never tried the Friedman stuff and came to love their touch sensitivity, versatility, etc... then I would be 100% satisfied with the QR. Scott Splawn's creation take a back seat only to Friedman, Metropolous, and maybe Wizard in my opinion. But even then... they're still all in the same sweet ass car!
Regarding the choice of going with a module setup... I've never been a fan of those, since Bruce Egnator first started doing it. Pre-amps and power amps all work together to create a finished product. It seems to take something away from it when you just lump one thing with another. I'd rather own a great pedal platform tube amp and get my tones with pedals, than a modular setup. I'm playing around doing some of that with my Tone King Metropolitan at the moment. It's so damn good. But I'll only go so far with spending money on various OD pedals because I already have the best Marshall-style tube amps that money can buy. So why waste a bunch of money trying to recreate that on a [magnificent] Fender blackface style amp like the Tone King? I'll probably just end-up putting another Friedman Dirty Shirley pedal or Bogner La Grange in front of the Tone King and calling that good. I could always try a Bogner XTC red/blue or Carl Martin Plexitone... but I've already owned several of each of those as well, so I'm not in the mood to buy a 3rd or 4th at this point. Right now I only have a Full Tone OCD (my 3rd?) for an OD pedal.
Agreed. If you're into modern metal, the Nitro would be the way to go. If you're more into classic rock/metal, grunge, etc... then the QR is hard to beat. I usually fired my QR up when I played darker, more modern stuff ala AIC, Tool, Alter Bridge, etc. The Friedman amps that I've had have all done all of those tones great as well. But they seemed to be the QR's strength. Whereas the Friedman stuff's strengths were more along the lines of anything made between 1972 and 1992. Not that I don't play all of that stuff on my current BE100 and Wildwood Pink Taco just fine. Because I do... and the tone is glorious. if I had never tried the Friedman stuff and came to love their touch sensitivity, versatility, etc... then I would be 100% satisfied with the QR. Scott Splawn's creation take a back seat only to Friedman, Metropolous, and maybe Wizard in my opinion. But even then... they're still all in the same sweet ass car!
Regarding the choice of going with a module setup... I've never been a fan of those, since Bruce Egnator first started doing it. Pre-amps and power amps all work together to create a finished product. It seems to take something away from it when you just lump one thing with another. I'd rather own a great pedal platform tube amp and get my tones with pedals, than a modular setup. I'm playing around doing some of that with my Tone King Metropolitan at the moment. It's so damn good. But I'll only go so far with spending money on various OD pedals because I already have the best Marshall-style tube amps that money can buy. So why waste a bunch of money trying to recreate that on a [magnificent] Fender blackface style amp like the Tone King? I'll probably just end-up putting another Friedman Dirty Shirley pedal or Bogner La Grange in front of the Tone King and calling that good. I could always try a Bogner XTC red/blue or Carl Martin Plexitone... but I've already owned several of each of those as well, so I'm not in the mood to buy a 3rd or 4th at this point. Right now I only have a Full Tone OCD (my 3rd?) for an OD pedal.
Last edited:
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
I LOVE my Quickrod. Scott offers a Drop B+ option which makes the amp more forgiving with more sag. IMO, the Quickrod the the amp Marshall couldn’t/wouldn’t build. It’s everything a modded Marshall should be.
I’ve also played the BE-100. It too is a killer amp, no doubt. But a little ridiculous at $4K. The Quickrod is half that price.
I LOVE my Quickrod. Scott offers a Drop B+ option which makes the amp more forgiving with more sag. IMO, the Quickrod the the amp Marshall couldn’t/wouldn’t build. It’s everything a modded Marshall should be.
I’ve also played the BE-100. It too is a killer amp, no doubt. But a little ridiculous at $4K. The Quickrod is half that price.
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
I recently went back to playing a stock Marshall after a near 20 year hiatus. I've owned Splawn, Soldano, Cornford, Bogner, etc... I don't want to say my journey was a waste, but coming back to Marshall is like finding my way home. That being said, all three of my Splawn amps were great! A bit dry, but perfect for building upon. The key to getting the most out of a Splawn QR, is adding Lexicon plate reverb. I'd like to try a Splawn QR with some Classic Tone transformers. Not a fan of Heyboer iron.
I recently went back to playing a stock Marshall after a near 20 year hiatus. I've owned Splawn, Soldano, Cornford, Bogner, etc... I don't want to say my journey was a waste, but coming back to Marshall is like finding my way home. That being said, all three of my Splawn amps were great! A bit dry, but perfect for building upon. The key to getting the most out of a Splawn QR, is adding Lexicon plate reverb. I'd like to try a Splawn QR with some Classic Tone transformers. Not a fan of Heyboer iron.
Gtrjunior
New member
Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
Talk to me about the Lexicon plate reverb. I’ve been using a HOF on the plate setting. It does the job but I’m not in love with it.
Edit: Nevermind, I see you’re talking about a plugin
Talk to me about the Lexicon plate reverb. I’ve been using a HOF on the plate setting. It does the job but I’m not in love with it.
Edit: Nevermind, I see you’re talking about a plugin
Last edited:
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
What diff does the drop B+ mod make??
What diff does the drop B+ mod make??
Gtrjunior
New member
Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
It lowers plate voltage to give the amp more sag. It doesn’t feel so stiff.
Doesn’t change anything tonally. But the “feel” is better...a little more squishy, in a good way.
It lowers plate voltage to give the amp more sag. It doesn’t feel so stiff.
Doesn’t change anything tonally. But the “feel” is better...a little more squishy, in a good way.
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
I was ready to off my first Splawn, until I incorporated reverb. I believe at that time I was using a PCM80? The best pedal reverb I've ever used was Hardwire Supernatural. As long as I ran the Splawn with reverb/delay, all was good. In the end, I just couldn't get along with its dry sound and fast attack.
I've never found a reverb in pedal form that delivers like a Lexicon rack, of course, so my experience is limited. As far as racks go, my personal favorite verbs are the room and plate verbs in the Lexicon PCM60 and PCM70. The later Lexicon verbs are great as well, but are too polished sounding, IMO. The PCM70 is just magical! The PCM60 is a great set-and-forget pushbutton box, but I wouldn't pay more than $350.00 for a mint one. Not when you can land a PCM70 for $550.00 to $650.00 USD. I've owned TC2290, Lexicon PCM42, and just about every other top-shelf delay out there. For me, the PCM70 is it.
I was ready to off my first Splawn, until I incorporated reverb. I believe at that time I was using a PCM80? The best pedal reverb I've ever used was Hardwire Supernatural. As long as I ran the Splawn with reverb/delay, all was good. In the end, I just couldn't get along with its dry sound and fast attack.
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Friedman Brown Eye vs Splawn Quickrod vs alternatives
^^^^ I’ve been on the hunt for a good reverb for a while now. The Strymon Big Sky is killer but I just can’t Drop the coin for it.
I jus need one good reverb sound. I can use delay for extra ambiance if needed.
I like what I’ve heard for Neunaber. I’ll have to dig deeper into their stuff.
^^^^ I’ve been on the hunt for a good reverb for a while now. The Strymon Big Sky is killer but I just can’t Drop the coin for it.
I jus need one good reverb sound. I can use delay for extra ambiance if needed.
I like what I’ve heard for Neunaber. I’ll have to dig deeper into their stuff.
