Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

PFDarkside

PFDarkside

of the Forum
Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

I’m getting the itch.... ;)

All the Friedman clips I’ve heard sound great, but I’m still a little confused on what each model is and what exactly it does/differentiates it from the other models. From my understanding, his big mod is the Brown Eye Mod, and this forms the basis of the high gain channel on the big amps? Here’s what I can gather:


Buxom Betty: Single Channel, cross between American/British; Lowest Gain
Dirty Shirley: Single Channel, modded JTM45; Mid Gain
Small Box: 2 Channel, Plexi style clean plus BE
Runt: 2 Channel, Quasi-American clean amp plus BE
BE-100: 2 Channel Plus Boost, signature Friedman amp, (clean channel based on?)
Signature amps, what are they based on?

Then there are the Minis, Mini Runt, Mini Dirty Shirley, Mini Pink Taco, seems to be mini versions of the big amps.

Ok Friedman fans, clear me up and fill in the gaps...

EDIT - Also, not to imply that his lineup seems all that complicated, just looking for some clarity.
 
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Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

You have pretty much got it. I am not intimately familiar with all of the amps, but the two main "do it all" are the BE-100 and BE-50.

I have played the Cantrell amp and the BE-100 covers maybe 85%-90% of that "AIC Sound". The "JBE" or "Jerry Blonde Eye" was the mod Dave used to offer. The fact that I already had a modded Marshall with the JBE and a BE-100, I passed on the JJ.

You can find preowned BE-100 in the mid twos (there was one here locally for $2300 recently) and I don't know how you could be unhappy with it (assuming you are into the Marshall based sound)

If I remember correctly, the BE clean channel is based on a Vox AC, however, you can send the amp to Dave and have it changed to the Steve Stevens clean which is a Fender Twin sound.

One of the great things about buying a Friedman is you have constant support from Dave himself. You can email or PM him and get questions answered, and if you want changes or updates, you can send the amp in.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Sounds cool. If I weren’t so hell-bent on wasting my money on piddly little stuff, I would totally check them out.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

The other big thing to know about Friedman amps is that Dave gives them his smooth, rich, refined gain. If you want more raw, authentic Marshall then Metropoulos, Germino, Wizard, etc are better. I prefer Dave's take on 80s nodded Marshall.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Only the BE-100 sounds like the BE-100. The Pink Taco, Smallbox and JJ all have a BE channel, but do not sound or feel the same as the BE. I don't know if the BE clean channel is necessarily based on anything, but it's a very pleasing and flexible clean tone. The JJ is the best Friedman in my opinion. It's better clean and dirty in every respect. However, if you're into a bit more vintage, maybe a little more refined, the BE-100 has it all. The Smallbox lacks in the high-gain department, but has the best overall sound clean and dirty aside from the JJ. The Dirty Shirley is great if you're into that Tone King Majesty 45 kind of thing, but I'd take a TK Majesty 45 MKII any day over a Dirty Shirley. The SS is not quite as gainy as the JJ. The JJ has the most gain and aggression except for the Mastodon amp which I've forgotten the name of off the top of my head, the Buttermax or something. However, that amp doesn't have a clean channel. I played it with a Custom/Hybrid humbucker and it wasn't all that great for clean tones, but you can get them if you really want to. Never tried the Buxom Betty, but heard it live with a Dirty Shirley pedal, so I can't tell you how great it was on its own.

The Phil X is kind of in the Metropoulos Metroplex kind of realm as it has a very open sound. It gets some decent gain, but I wouldn't call it high gain. Still, even gainy it's not compressed sounding or anything. Really kind of cool, unique amp. It doesn't seem too popular because it's only a single channel. However, from what I've played of it, it gets better cleans than the Dirty Shirley. I'd take a Phil X over the Dirty Shirley any day.

I've played the Runt 20 and Runt 50. I liked the Runt 20 better. The Runt 50 was OK, but set it next to a handwired Friedman and you'll realize real quick that it doesn't have the same magic. Maybe I'm just not great at dialing it in or maybe I didn't put much effort into it, but it was the least impressive Friedman. The Runt 20 is fascinating for the price. Really great sound, cool clean channel, fairly versatile. Better than the Pink Taco, hell no! However, if you need the flexibility and can pick one up used, it's a great little amp. So there's my quick and dirty guide for you.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Perhaps a stupid question, but how do people reckon these sound compared to Soldanos? I've been gassing for one of those for ages, but Friedmans seem a lot easier to find in Europe these days...
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Sirion said:
Perhaps a stupid question, but how do people reckon these sound compared to Soldanos? I've been gassing for one of those for ages, but Friedmans seem a lot easier to find in Europe these days...
Click to expand...

What? They're totally different man. Soldanos are no doubt badass, but if you want the Soldano sound, that's not going to sound anything like a Friedman. If anything, and I mean by the faintest similarities, the Lucky 13 dirty tones might compare with the Dirty Shirley. You cannot beat Soldano, but if you want something that sounds similar, check out Mezzbarba. They remind me more of Soldanos than any other amp. However, I gotta tell you that there is nothing like an SLO, Decatone, Lucky 13, or even a Hot Rod. Soldano is unique and the best at that sort of thing, so I'm warning you that if you love that tone, there is no substitute. Check out some videos of the Mezzabarba Skill or MZero. They're made in Italy so probably much easier to get in Europe.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

The SLO 100 is a fantastic amp, and I would have no problem having another one. The Friedman to me is a better all around amp than the SLO for that chewy midrange Marshall thing.

I would say it is really more preference than one being "better" than the other.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Red_Label said:
The other big thing to know about Friedman amps is that Dave gives them his smooth, rich, refined gain. If you want more raw, authentic Marshall then Metropoulos, Germino, Wizard, etc are better. I prefer Dave's take on 80s nodded Marshall.
Click to expand...
Outstanding point, I wonder if a Metropoulos Metro-Plex is actually the sound I’m hearing. I want true Plexi cleans/crunch then a not-over-the-top Gain Channel, I keep my Splawn in gear 1 or 2 with gain under half.

I will say, clips of the Dirty Shirley sound awesome, and the Small Box itches my channel switching hangup with a Plexi Channel and high gain Channel.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

I have no idea what the Friedman Butterslax is based on strictly. I understand Bill Kelliher borrowed a Friedman head from Jerry Cantrell first, and used a HBE + a modified signature Jerry Cantrell head for a while. So no clue what was the starting point for his signature nodel, really.

It might not have much of a clean channel but I don't give a damn about that.
It sounds insane in every demo I've heard of it and I want it so bad it's not even funny.


That's just pornography.
 
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Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Dumbest amp names ever!!
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

JOLLY said:
Dumbest amp names ever!!
Click to expand...


I think that Dave came up with the names when he hit puberty and just held on to them until he created the amps... LOL!

Anyways... I don't even think about the names most of the time because the amps are so freakin' good. Dave's the that special magic that very few amp builders have. He's amazing.

P.S. If I had created amps as great as Dave has, I would be calling them WOW!, Eargasm, Shangri La, Heaven, Paradise, etc. They really are that good. And hey... Reinhold Bogner used Ecstasy for his wonder flagship.

Also... Dave Friedman's amps have made me pretty much forget about Reinhold's amps. But I would still like to have a 20th Anniversary XTC. I had an XTC Classic and long term possession of the XTC 101B. I liked both. But based on the tones I was able to get out of my two XTC Red pedals when in 20th Anniversary mode (running into the clean channel of a Fender Supersonic Twin), I think that I'd like to try the real thing at some point. But I can't imagine an XTC displacing my BE for my favorite. XTCs are awesome amps. But the problem with them is that you always have that XTC flavor. You can't get away from it. Friedman's amps certainly have a flavor, but they seem to be more "mainstream" in terms of the Marshall-based tones that you can get by adjusting your tone controls, gain, and especially the volume on your guitar. I've never had amps that were as responsive to guitar volume and pick attack as the Friedmans are. They truly are works of art.
 
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Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

PFDarkside said:
Outstanding point, I wonder if a Metropoulos Metro-Plex is actually the sound I’m hearing. I want true Plexi cleans/crunch then a not-over-the-top Gain Channel, I keep my Splawn in gear 1 or 2 with gain under half.

I will say, clips of the Dirty Shirley sound awesome, and the Small Box itches my channel switching hangup with a Plexi Channel and high gain Channel.
Click to expand...

I have definitely been curious about the Metroplex for a while now. As well as the Wizard Vintage Modern. But I am so happy with my BE100 (and now my Wildwood Taco) that my curiosity about those is at an all-time low.

I had a Dirty Shirley and really liked it. I've also demo'd a DS Mini in the man cave for a couple of weeks and it's awesome too. In the end though, I needed a tighter tone with more immediate response... and the BE delivers that in spades. Once I have Dave modify my BE100's clean channel to be like the new BE50's glassy clean channel... I'll have what I need in an amp. It's truly amazing and despite having been through MANY boutique channel switchers... I can honestly say that I've never been happier or more satisfied than I am with the BE. Every single time I plug in, I am inspired. This past week I have been strictly playing my Wildwood Taco (for about 3 hours a day) and will be curious about my impressions of the BE now that I've been enjoying a different amp for a while. The Wildwood really does sound like a slightly looser, dare I say more musical (for leads) BE100. It's been amazing me for the week that I've had it. If it had the glassy Fender cleans of the BE50, I would never even need to plug into another amp.

I'll post my thoughts of the BE100 (which I've had since last May) the next time I play it... in the interest of a fresh comparison after playing the Wildwood for the past week.
 
Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

Re: Idiot’s Guide to Friedman amps?

I just checked out a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe at a store in Calgary after reading lots of posts online, and holy crap! Spent about 45 min with it at a good volume, enough to drown out any conversation.

There hasn't been another amp in years that I felt could replace my Mark IV. This BE-50 would be it.

It has more going on to my ears than a pushed or modded JCM800 2203/4, cleans up really well, very dynamic. My god. I played with the EQ knobs and the voicing/bright switches, and everything just sounded great from clean to mid and high gain! This was through the matching Friedman 2x12 with V30s.

Help me guys. Not sure if I want to drop 5k but I am having a hard time convincing myself not to.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
 
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