This is the purest "fundamental amp" of all the Friedman Amps in my opinion. You made a good choice. The louder the better too. I like my master on 3 or 4 and the gain around 7 or 8. I wish the bright switch worked on the BE channel is my only gripe, but I get it. But if you're using the plexi channel and pedals the bright switch really helps the tone. I've had mine for about 8 or 9 years now and it's still here! I have a cool red marshall 1960a with a set of g12C greenbacks (the jimi hendrix ones) in it and it's awesome with this amp. I really like greenbacks with this. They make the amp sound so much more full. Enjoy it! You can't take it with you!
Hey Johnny thank's for sharing your perspective. Sounds like a sick setup you have! I need to use the power soak when I am here in my home studio... but I love turning it up! Cheers man enjoy your amp as well! 😎🤘
@@joapguitar It's really nice with a simple cheap tc flashback mini with the 2290 tone print and a strymon big sky reverb. Then the amp really comes alive. Sometimes hearing the amp dry doesnt tell you everything you need to know. It sounds really good with anything time based in the loop. But I like to just keep it simple.
@@johnnyb3987 hey Johnny I have to admit that I haven't gigged the amp so far and have not used the FX Loop! Just recorded dry amp sound 😁 But I actually took the SB50 because I wanted to have the FX Loop for concerts. Thanks for the reminder!
This amp sounds amazing! I've never played a Smallbox, but I have the BE-100 Deluxe and I have heard that the "BE" channel on the Smallbox is voiced slightly more vintage than the BE Channel(s) on the Deluxe models. Would you say there is any truth to this?
Hey man, I haven't played the BE-100 so far! It is on my list though ;) I played the BE-50 DLX and felt that this one sounds a bit more modern than the Smallbox 50. I think it has a bit more gain and tightness. I usually get that extra gain and tightness from my pedals, but if I'd need the chug some extra low and heavy metal chords the BE-50 would be a better fit in my opinion.
@ no not yet, when I first found out it was being released I was super stoked and I wanted one, because I'm a huge Jimmy Page and Van Halen fan, but then I realized that I want a little more versatility, because even though I love the Plexi sound, that's really all you get out of it, which is fine and I don't use effects loops anyway. I'm a dirty player and like to slam everything into the front of the amp, I just like different tonal options by having a second or in some cases even a 3rd channel, so that started my journey towards either the Smallbox 50, the Wildwood edition Smallbox 50 or even the JEL 50. I'm heavily gravitating towards that circle of 3. Play everything from that late 60's early 70's classic rock tone all way into the late 80's metal style. I'm really not into modern metal at all. E flat tuning and occasional drop D is as low as I play.
@@The2ndProtectsTheRest I heard from 4 different people that the SB50 Wildwood Edition is a killer amp. Never tried one though ;) I also don't need the modern chug tone in a tube amp at the moment. The SB50 really covers a wide area of tone, I love it ;)
@@leftygtrplr6184 hey lefty! I'd use the Smallbox 50 for any lead guitar stuff. And heavy rock rhythm guitar. The bogner I'd use for more classic rock rhythm when it's supposed to sound more like a traditional Marshall
hey guitar fellows,
skip the blabla and go straight to the tones here:
2:52 Channel1 (settings@ noon)
This is the purest "fundamental amp" of all the Friedman Amps in my opinion. You made a good choice. The louder the better too. I like my master on 3 or 4 and the gain around 7 or 8. I wish the bright switch worked on the BE channel is my only gripe, but I get it. But if you're using the plexi channel and pedals the bright switch really helps the tone. I've had mine for about 8 or 9 years now and it's still here! I have a cool red marshall 1960a with a set of g12C greenbacks (the jimi hendrix ones) in it and it's awesome with this amp. I really like greenbacks with this. They make the amp sound so much more full. Enjoy it! You can't take it with you!
Hey Johnny thank's for sharing your perspective. Sounds like a sick setup you have! I need to use the power soak when I am here in my home studio... but I love turning it up! Cheers man enjoy your amp as well! 😎🤘
@@joapguitar It's really nice with a simple cheap tc flashback mini with the 2290 tone print and a strymon big sky reverb. Then the amp really comes alive. Sometimes hearing the amp dry doesnt tell you everything you need to know. It sounds really good with anything time based in the loop. But I like to just keep it simple.
@@johnnyb3987 hey Johnny I have to admit that I haven't gigged the amp so far and have not used the FX Loop! Just recorded dry amp sound 😁 But I actually took the SB50 because I wanted to have the FX Loop for concerts. Thanks for the reminder!
Great choice. Sounds really nice. Love how natural and unprocessed it sounds.
glad you enjoyed it, mate! 🤟
This amp sounds amazing! I've never played a Smallbox, but I have the BE-100 Deluxe and I have heard that the "BE" channel on the Smallbox is voiced slightly more vintage than the BE Channel(s) on the Deluxe models. Would you say there is any truth to this?
Hey man, I haven't played the BE-100 so far! It is on my list though ;)
I played the BE-50 DLX and felt that this one sounds a bit more modern than the Smallbox 50. I think it has a bit more gain and tightness. I usually get that extra gain and tightness from my pedals, but if I'd need the chug some extra low and heavy metal chords the BE-50 would be a better fit in my opinion.
@ yeah I had a BE50 and traded for the 100 cause I wanted the Plexi channel but I honestly think I like the tone of the Smallbox better
@The2ndProtectsTheRest interesting! Have you tried the PLEX as well?
@ no not yet, when I first found out it was being released I was super stoked and I wanted one, because I'm a huge Jimmy Page and Van Halen fan, but then I realized that I want a little more versatility, because even though I love the Plexi sound, that's really all you get out of it, which is fine and I don't use effects loops anyway. I'm a dirty player and like to slam everything into the front of the amp, I just like different tonal options by having a second or in some cases even a 3rd channel, so that started my journey towards either the Smallbox 50, the Wildwood edition Smallbox 50 or even the JEL 50. I'm heavily gravitating towards that circle of 3.
Play everything from that late 60's early 70's classic rock tone all way into the late 80's metal style. I'm really not into modern metal at all. E flat tuning and occasional drop D is as low as I play.
@@The2ndProtectsTheRest I heard from 4 different people that the SB50 Wildwood Edition is a killer amp. Never tried one though ;)
I also don't need the modern chug tone in a tube amp at the moment. The SB50 really covers a wide area of tone, I love it ;)
Comparing the Friedman Smallbox and the Bogner Helios, which would you choose as #1?
@@leftygtrplr6184 hey lefty! I'd use the Smallbox 50 for any lead guitar stuff. And heavy rock rhythm guitar. The bogner I'd use for more classic rock rhythm when it's supposed to sound more like a traditional Marshall