Hushhog1 The only reason you need to get another amp, is the same reason I have for having 5 guitars, and getting close to buy another one...either a USA Gibson 61 reissue SG, x_ or a Les Paul Classic, is that you have G.A.S. like me ....Gear Acquisition Syndrome...😂😂😂.....Very common amongst guitarists. Technically, at the end of the day, unless you're married, or a professional musician, You Don't Even Need a Reason..If you're married, Keep Your Wife Happy In The Bedroom, 24/7, and she'll most likely let you buy whatever you want, and not try to argue with you about it. lol
Great video. I was just looking around to see the difference between the BE-100 and the Be-100 Deluxe and you cleared it up for me...and I need the deluxe for the same reasons you mentioned. Loved the Ghost riffs too.
Nice playing man that amp sounds killer. Respect for playing Failure in your video especially something off of Fantastic Planet. One of the best records ever made.
Great playing Zach. I just picked up the PT 2x12 cab for mine. I'm looking forward to it. I have the Friedman 4x12 with greenbacks and V30s, but I've always loved creambacks.
@@ZachWish it definitely does, but I think v30s, and to some extent greenbacks, are much better suited for a mix. I play mainly at home, which might explain my love for creambacks. The low end is addictive.
Here's a photo of my current board: instagram.com/p/B2SFhwBF0Gh/ I'm going to switch up a few things because I think I'm going to incorporate a loop switcher when we can start playing shows again. Thanks for the kind words!
Cool cool playthrough. I’ve had a BE Deluxe for a month, and enjoy it a lot. I’ll say it is for certain a tweaker amp: there are in insane amount of options. The plexi stuff on the clean channel is rad, the HBE with sat and fat on is insane, and using Dave’s settings on the BE (it’s on several forums if you google it), it get’s pretty close to the JJ. I’m about to grab a JJ and a/b them; can only keep one. I’ve been told the BE gets 80% there, and having owned a JJ Jr and played the 100 on full tilt I do notice a difference in low end throatiness, low mids, and a smoother saturation. It’s voiced to Jerry so go figure. But the not so discerning player who just wants to make their own sound inspired by others or from scratch will have a ton of fun with the BE DXE. Feeds my AIC/Tool/Opeth/Mastodon/hair metal/trad heavy metal ich perfectly.
Great riff choices. Nice to hear something other than overplayed 80s stuff you get with a lot of the friedman demos. Throw some tool in there next time 🤘🏻
dude, exactly... it amazes me how many guitar reviewers are stuck in the 60's-80's, riff-choice, tone-wise... there have been many decades of great bands, songs, guitar tones in recent times and it's refreshing to hear a RUclipsr representing that material for us.
I love my Friedman’s as well. Favorite amps of all I’ve played. I have a SmallBox and DS40, just placed an order for a JJ-100. Also have 2 1x12 Friedman Cabs and one of the Friedman 2x12 Slant cabs. Amazing, stoked to hear the 4x12.
Great tones and playing. It was like... AC/DC? Cool. Then. Rats! (And more Ghost). The icing on the cake was Maiden. Found your vid because my BE-100 Deluxe should be arriving by this weekend. It was the BE-100D vs an ENGL Savage and the BE-100D won out. Until it arrives, I'm getting a nice tone fix with your vid.
Awesome! Congrats. It is a monster amp and definitely my #1. I just tracked a 10 song album with this amp. Let me know what you think of yours when you get it!
This is actually a really informative review. I've seen all the (paid) reviews by the big name RUclipsrs but without having history on why mods were made, I have no idea what's going on.
Streets of Rage II yes!!! Baaaare Knuckle!!! Great demo vid/explanation. Cheers and grats on the killer new amp. I only got a little bit with one of these at a local GC at low volume but was impressed. Seems tighter, or can be made tighter, than the previous BE-100.
I remember one day my son and I were at our favorite used guitar shop and a guy behind us cranked this amp that filled the entire store, if i hadn't turned around i would have sworn he was playing through a 15 x12 or something huge but it was a 4x12, I then saw it was a Friedman which i had never heard in person. I'm thinking of adding the Friedman Buxom boost to my rig because that pedal is sweet and i need to sweeten up my Blackstar HT 60 👍
Dave said he’s coming out with another amp soon , plexi like with a variack built in. I was listening to his live podcast today. A few other bells and whistles too.
Thanks a bunch! Would love to spend some time with an AxeFX at some point. I borrowed an AxeFX II for a week a few years ago, but didn't get to dive in too deep. The allure of digital is strong though! Thanks for watching!
@@ZachWish They are very very powerful, sometimes a bit too powerful as you can get caught tweaking longer than you hoped but it has some amazing features, thats why i bought one, coz it has all the effects and amps one could want. Although nothing beats the sound of a real amp.
@@MarkPritchardGuitar I'm always curious about them because I play in a few different bands, and it'd be nice to have one rig for all options. Also there's always the pedalboard conundrum. I do a lot of tap dancing on effects live. I could either go the Loop Switcher option which would make my board huge, or go with a digital solution like the AxeFX or Helix. Decisions decisions.
Man that sounds great. In your experience, how did the JJ100 stack up to the BE Deluxe? I just bought one that has been modded to have a separate gain and volume for the JBE mode and has a thump knob added. I can’t wait for It to arrive.
Thanks a bunch Brandon! I LOVE the JJ100. I'd say it's probably my other favorite Friedman. With the Deluxe, you can pretty much get the sound of the JJ100 with the Frequency & Response switches as well as the Thump control on the front. I found the JJ100 to be a bit punchier than the older BE-100 model, a hair more aggressive, and it also had a bigger low end to it which suited the kind of music that I play really well. I honestly could have just kept that amp and stopped there, but I like checking different amps out which is why I picked up the Deluxe. I also had a Smallbox at one point and I really liked the Plexi channel of it which is in the BE-100 Deluxe. It's a great sounding clean channel that goes up to AC/DC-ish levels of gain. Having owned most of the amps in the lineup, all the different amps in that 100W head category are just slightly different shades of a great amp in my opinion, so it's hard to go wrong. Sounds like you got yourself a pretty killer amp! Thanks for checking out the video!
Between your three videos - Suhr PT BE DLX and 5150II the suhr is OK for me. The BE and PV are very different. The BE has some grit but very articulate at the same time. The 5150II on the other hand has a level saturation and spongy feel that the BE doesn’t have. No bad amps here btw just different flavors and preferences. Cheers.
I hope this isn't a weird comparison, but the Peavy invective reminds me of a more accessible variation of this amp almost but specifically for metal. The versatility they both have in kinda similar ways almost. Not as many switches on the peavy so not quite as many options, but similar versatility on the invective side just more plug in and play non boutique version and also has a kickass Footswitch.
Hey Zach, amazing chops and cool riffin is the norm in your vids. Any opinion on the Jet City amps designed by Soldano? Seems like in the gainier side of the spectrum and would fit in the tones you are preaching. Keep em videos coming!
Thanks for the kind words. It's been a long time since I've played a Jet City but I remember thinking they were really cool. I had played a JCA100H and a Friedman Modded JCA20H. Both were pretty ripping!
Hey Zack question for you ? based on the stuff you riff on the the channel . If you had a choice between a 100 deluxe or a EVH 5150iii EL 34 100 watt head which would you choose and why .... I guess I’m asking your opinion I’m down w/ both and can’t make decision 🙄ugh ... waiting for Friedman to deliver the orders so there hard to get so far like everything
Hey Ernie! That's a tough one since they're both great amps. I think it'd come down to what kind of music I was playing for the majority of the time. I think for an all around versatile rock amp that can go into metal territories, I'd go with the BE-100 Deluxe. If I was playing in a straight up tight, fast, technical metal band, I'd go with the 5150 III. It's voiced a bit more modern to my ears with a more immediate attack and a bit more punch which lends itself well to fast riffing. Not that the Friedman couldn't do that as well, but they just have their subtle strengths. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Great review as usual Zach. How would you say this compares to the SS110V2 or SLO 100, as I'm stuck between all 3 to choose THE one! I now they're all Monster gain amps and roughly in the same ballpark dollar wise. I guess I haven't tried all 3 yet, hence your opinion matters. Thanks
Great video as usual, what do you prefer the be deluxe or the JJ? Anything to note about either amp? Your videos got me to buy a bb preamp and now I’m looking at a JJ.
Thanks so much Vance! Tonally, most of the Friedman 100W heads are all fairly similar. You can kind of EQ them to resemble one another so it really depends on what initial flavor and features you're after. I think the BE-100 Deluxe is the most flexible and versatile of the bunch. Having said that, I'd be happy with any of them. I'm kind of a simpleton when it comes to amps and generally live on one channel and ride my volume knob so pretty much all of the Friedman amps will do that for me. I'd say if you're a huge Cantrell fan, go for the JJ, it is awesome, if you're looking for maximum versatility and still get that JJ tone, the BE-Deluxe will do that for you. Thanks for checking out the video!
Hey Zach, at around the 11:20 mark you kicked in a bell like modulation. I need to know what it is so I can get une! Also brfore amp or in the loop? Thank you for a great demo!
Thanks! That's a combination of an EVH Phase 90 and a Walrus Audio Fathom Reverb! The Phase 90 is in front of the amp and the Walrus is in the loop. Pretty cool sound!
Hey Zach! love your videos, man. Thinking of what else to get amp-wise beyond my new Mesa Badlander, and i feel like i'm digging Friedmans so much that it might be worth parting w/ the Mesa brand and making the switch. (Love Marshall, too.. and Orange, and Vox), but this might be an all-rounder head here, the BE 100 Deluxe... seems there's nothing it can't do! Thanks for playing rad new bands and cooler-than-usual shit from the post-2000's, not just 80's butt rock like most ppl on youtube seem to! (and for tuning well! lol) haha.. So, in case you see this comment, I love your Silverburst LP Custom and was just curious if it's the stock Gib pickup in there you have and are using on this video.. and if you know which one it is exactly. i had the same guitar but put a SD JB in the bridge spot.. i usually do. and then once i tried a Lindy Fralin hi-gain pup in another Les Paul and it was awesome too.. but damn, the Gib factory pup is really fine/great sounding as you're playing here.. sounds so good with this amp. I play melodic punk rock (Bad Religion/Lagwagon) and do a lot of home recordings, and play in a few bands.. just looking for perfection like most of us are. Thanks for a super killer video.. def subscribed! cheers :)
Thanks so much for the kind words Steven! I'm actually working on a Badlander video at the moment! Really cool amp. I'd say both the Badlander and the Friedman cover a ton of ground, just slightly different flavors. I could be happy with either honestly. The Friedman has a little bit more gain on tap and I don't really feel the need to use a boost pedal with it. I've been using a Maxon OD808 for higher gain stuff with the Badlander and it sounds awesome! But I wouldn't really say that one is better than the other. As for the Les Paul Custom, it has the stock Gibson 490R/498T pickups. I've tried a few other pickups in there over the years but always ended up coming back to the stock pickups. I'm not too picky with pickups these days. I find that if I'm recording or mixing something, I can always EQ things a bit to get what I'm after. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@ZachWish that's awesome, man! thanks for the great reply. Good point about being able to mix what you need freq-wise in the end.. why not keep the chosen pickups by the guitar-maker, esp on such a superb axe as a Custom. That's a funny coincidence about you making a video for the Badlander... yea it does do a lot.. definitely a Mesa for 2020+/the future. I sometimes use just a Tube Screamer.. the Maxon's sibling lol.. works well. Yea, i'll prob have to stay put for now, be happy w/ the Mesa I have, yet keep an eye on the BE-100 Deluxe down the road. Happy content-creating! great videos/reviews all-around! cheers
Butt rock? Just what exactly about 80s hard rock/metal has anything to do with your butt? Do you mean it is confident and not trying to pretend you’re mean and tough when you’re not? You know, by detuning and fake growling and pretending your a dragon in fantasyland? Lots of attractive women at those types of shows. Growl on. No vocal harmony necessary. I also love how detuned players overuse the word brutal to describe a sound. Lol. What are the violent descriptors trying to make up for? The fact that most of those people are wusses and have never been in a physical fight before? Never had your mettle tested, so you pretend by detuning your guitar and calling it violent? 😂
Thanks for the review, these Friedman amps aren't in Australia yet(my town). In your opinion, what's the underlying difference between this and the SS+ V2? Which would you recommend? Or are they 2 different animals? My tone is like yours in that I hardly play clean tones. More Satch, Vai, Judas, ACDC, Ratt, etc. So I'm guessing the BE100 is more to m y liking than the SS+ ?
Dual Recs are great amps! I owned a Roadster a long time ago but I've been trying to track one down for a video. Definitely classic amps. Thanks for watching!
How do you have your BE100 Deluxe set? I have one too. I can't seem to quite get it to my sweet spot. Your settings sound pretty close to what I'm after. I use a LP Custom, a Custom Shop LP R9 or a CS SG 64' Reissue as my main guitars. And you running the 490R/498T in your LP Custom? That's what came in mine. It doesn't sound like that. I also have the Friedman 4x12 cab with the 2 Greenbacks and 2 V30s. That could also be a difference I guess.
Awesome video Zach. If a guys going to spend the money necessary to pick up this head do you recommend going all the way and grabbing the 4x12 from Friedman that has the Greenbacks up top and the Vintage's down low? Congrats on getting your new amp. It sounds great.
Thanks a bunch! They're definitely pricey but it's my favorite amp I've come across by a pretty big margin. I've never owned a Friedman 4x12 cab unfortunately. I've only played through them at the NAMM show which isn't always the best environment to really check something out but they sounded great there! Cabs are tricky because they can be had for pretty cheap on the used market. I have 3 cabs at the moment: 1) Marshall 1960A 4x12 with 2 Creamback H75's on top and 2 V30s on the bottom. 2) EVH 4x12 with V30s 3) Suhr Pete Thorn 2x12 that I keep at home for recording If a Friedman cab popped up locally, I might jump on it but I don't like that they don't have casters (wheels on the bottom). I know some people say that having casters sacrifices tone, but I've never noticed a difference in my 4x12s. I'm not at the level that someone else is carrying my gear for me, so having wheels is a big help for me & the bandmates. Having said all that, I know Dave Friedman knows what he's doing and I'm sure those cabs rip!
@@ZachWish Hi Zach, awesome tones you got here. I also happen to have a 1960A which has a pair of T75s and V30s in a X pattern and I plan on swapping the T75s with H75s. Is there a reason you put the H75s on top pf V30s instead of mixing them in a X pattern?
@@caca_spaniel_1239jumping in here: the frequency highs of the V30s is sharp, and I swapped a H75 into an Soldano vertical 2x12 thinking 75 watt bottom 60 watt top. Then I reversed it and preferred the almost scooped H75 up top and the mid pushed and high sizzle V30 on the bottom. Try both ways to taste. Also I have a Germino 4x12 with UK greenback 25s on top, 2 Mesa V30s in the bottom. Can sounds god-tier, but the 25s do hit breakup quicker, and it’s more noticeable like how the Friedman cabs are. I might try an X pattern with those to see the difference. In all cases I’m talking about in room only, not mic’ing. V30s on the bottom a cool for having a bigger but tighter low end thump.
Zack thank you for your demos. I'm familiar with the BEOD 50 Deluxe, but this amp makes me smile. it's like a Mac truck! Would you say you can get this amp ripping at any volume using the system volume knob? Just in case volume is an issue based on the room. Is the System knob like an attenuator, same tone just lower? Also people say its a great tone with the master down, in my experience with the 50w, it loses the Gian until you turn it up to 8 or higher when it opens up. Is the 100 any different? Thats why I ask about the system knob. Thanks again.
Hey man, nice video.. 👍😎 it’s kinda hard to hear right in the video, but I see the jcm800 as kind of the reference model in the high gain segment... how would you compare this Friedman to the jcm800? Older marshals need a certain level of volume to make the high gain really sound right.. how is this one doing at lower levels - like when just jammin at home.. thanks
Thanks! The Friedman is a lot easier to get along with in tons of different applications. The master volume is great so you can use the amp easily at low volumes and things only sound better when you start to turn it up. It's much more flexible than the Marshall in terms of range of gain, channel switching, voicing options, effects loop, much tighter bottom end, etc. Having said that, there's something awesome about the 800. It's a classic sound, but yes, you do need to turn it up pretty loud before it opens up and starts sounding right to my ears. If you were looking for an amp to play at home, the Friedman would be the choice in my opinion since the master volume is so good and it feels right to play at all volume levels. There are lots of options out there to tame loud amps through a cab or recording like the Fryette Power Station, Suhr Reactive Load, UA OX, Boss Tube Amp Expander, etc. Just depends on your needs. Thanks for watching!
How would you say the master volume works- satisfied playing at low volume?? Thinking getting this but in order to do so might have to ditch my “bedroom” level amp Carr mercury v
Friedman amps have crazy good master volumes and the BE-100 Deluxe is no exception. They sound great even way down at low bedroom and tv volumes. No harsh fizziness or stiff feel.
Anthony Ziomek....I have a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe, and I'm here to tell you Zack is 100% correct. You can get a dimed gain tone on a Friedman, even at a whispering volume, and it will sound just as good, as if you have the amp cranked wide open. Don't hesitate to buy a Friedman. They're the best around, with the most and best tonal options, besides Metropoulos Metroplexes. Good luck on your hunt. My jaw hit the floor, when I first got my BE-50 Deluxe. As good as their tones are on You Tube videos, they sound twice as good in person. I'm quite sure that Zack will back me up on that statement. Dave Friedman and George Metropoulos are both Tone Gods, that used to work together, with both of them being from Michigan.
Okay so I’ve watched this video at least 8 times (with your other BE vids) and just received my BE 100 Deluxe. Using a buddies VHT 212 cab but need to order a cab for myself. More in the classic heavier genre can you recommend a cab? If you could only have one. I need to feel it. 4x12, 2x12? Tempted to get the matching 412 from Friedman. I know you have a few. I subscribed and look forward to more!
Right on! Congrats on the new amp and thanks for watching! As for cabs, I still have yet to try the Friedman 4x12 but I'm sure they're great. I personally prefer 4x12's to 2x12 but they're a pain to haul around if you don't have bandmates helping you out so that's something to consider. I have two 4x12's that I use with my band but usually only bring one to a shows. It's a Marshall 1960a 4x12 with Creambacks up top and V30s on the bottom as well as an EVH 4x12 cab with V30s. I like that both of these cabs have casters on the bottom which makes load in and load out a bit easier. I use the Suhr 2x12 at home for recording and it's a great cab! Money no object, I'd probably grab a matching Friedman 4x12 with the Greenback/V30 combo which sounds killer! Bogner & Mesa also make great 4x12 cabs. You can usually find a Marshall 4x12 1960a or 1960b cab used for not too much, but if you sprung for a BE100, might as well grab something snazzy. Thanks for checking out the video!
Zach Wish Thanks, and you’re supporting what I’ve been thinking. Had the Bogner 4x12 and dreaded the days I needed to drag it out of the basement even with casters. I usually play Fractal live now but miss shaking the walls at home. I’d rather not spend big but in the end I’d rather just spend an extra 20% and get what I really want even if it means waiting for it. Thanks again for the great videos, I look forward to more!
My birthday is coming up and I really want to get a new amp. I’m thinking about getting a Friedman. Maybe a Runt 20 or Pink Taco. The 100 watt heads are overkill since I just play at home. Do you have any experience with the smaller heads?
It's definitely a bit overkill for an apartment, but honestly, Friedman master volumes are so good that it sounds great even at apartment volumes. I went through a bunch of amps trying to find a big 100W amp that would work equally well in both a band context & at home 6 or 7 years ago. Kind of a fool's errand, but Friedman amps were the first I found that were up to the task!
@@ZachWish i was wondering whether this amp would be able to give convincing Hendrix tones too? I play stuff ranging from Hendrix to Ac/Dc, to Slash, Ozzy and Metallica. Would this amp be able doing this? Thanks!
@@1981SG I definitely think a Strat into the Plexi channel with the gain pushed up a bit would get you a pretty solid Hendrix tone. Throw a little reverb and maybe a vibe pedal in there 👌. As for the AC/DC, Slash, Ozzy, and Metallica, it can definitely get those tones. Maybe not the exact Metallica tones where they were using Boogie MK IIC+ or Diezel VH4's, but it'll definitely get you in the ballpark! I've owned both of those amps and would personally take the Friedman over those two. They're all GREAT amps though.
Zach Wish interesting point. Have you tried the Orange Rockerverb 100 MKiii? With a great built in attenuator? Would be great to have you review the amp! But the BE-100 is amazing, great playing.
Love your channel, Zack. Do you like the sounds and tonal features from Friedman Amps more than Wizard Amps? I own a BE-50 Deluxe, that I'm in love with, and will Never sell. Do you think the prices for Wizard Amps are Justifiable, in your opinion, when you might pay 1k more for one than a Friedman?
Thanks so much! I would have to play a few more Wizards to make any real judgement on it. I had an old Modern Classic I 100W head a while back and it was punishingly loud. It sounded killer when you were able to crank it, but it just wasn't practical for the gigs I was playing at the time. The Modern Classic II has been on my list of amps to check out for a long time, so hopefully I can do that in the not too distant future. Having said that, I've really dug every Friedman I've played and they're really easy to get along with. I'm sure you can't really go wrong with either. All different flavors of awesome, but I see an MCII in the future! Thanks for checking out the video!
2 questions for you, brother. First is What kind of pickups do you have in that beautiful silverburst custom Les Paul? Secondly, Do you think that the tone circuits for the BE-100 and BE-50 deluxe, gain wise, are based off of Modified High Gain Plexis, or based off of modified JCM 800's?
The pickups are the stock Gibson 490R/489T set. Dave Friedman actually commented on another video and said "...Things that people don't realize is the BE is more plexi like than 800.. You could dial it it to be almost the same (as a JCM800) though.. C45 is closer and the middle on the response switch. Maybe the gain structure reduced to match up to the 800.."
@@ZachWish Thanks Bro. I was asking out of curiousity, and because, in the next few months, FRIEDMAN IS COMING OUT WITH A SMALLBOX PLEXI PEDAL..DAVE SAID THAT THE PEDAL WILL HAVE THE EXACT SAME SOUND AS THE PLEXI CHANNEL (CHANNEL 1) ON THE SMALLBOX AMP..MY FINAL QUESTION TO YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND.....DO YOU THINK THE TONE WOULD BE THAT MUCH, NOTICABLY DIFFERENT, THAN THE TONE I GET ON MY BE CHANNEL, ON MY BE-50 DELUXE, TO JUSTIFY BUYING IT? EVEN THOUGH NOBODY HAS HEARD THIS PEDAL YET, SINCE IT STILL HASN'T COME OUT......IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FRIEDMAN SMALLBOX AMP'S CHANNEL ONE, PLEXI TONE, DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE OR AREN'T, OTHER THAN IT BEING LESS GAINY, THAN THE BE CHANNEL DIMED....DO YOU THINK THAT THE SMALLBOX PLEXI CHANNEL SOUND, (I NEVER HEARD THE SMALLBOX BEFORE IN PERSON..JUST ON VIDEOS), IS SIMILAR TO THE TONE CIRCUIT OF THE BE CHANNEL? JUST WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR OPINION, SINCE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A BIGGER KNOWLEDGE BASE THAN MYSELF. IF THERE WERE TO BE A BIG TONAL DIFFERENCE, IN THAT SOON TO BE RELEASED PEDAL, THAN THE TONE OF MY BE CHANNEL, I WOULD GLADLY BUY IT, BUT IF THERE WOULDN'T BE A BIG TONAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO...I WOULDN'T BOTHER BUYING IT. THANKS IN ADVANCE.
Thoughts on the EVH 5150 iii 50 watt 6L6? Just ordered one in ivory and pretty excited to try it out. Heard great things about it, would just be wondering how it stacks up against all the amps you've owned/played. Cheers.
It's been a long time since I've played one but I remember really liking that amp. I'd love to check out EVH amps again soon though. That amp felt good under the fingers. Enjoy, and thanks for watching the video!
Hey buddy, How are you ? i hope you're well ! have u checked out that new mlsoundlab Flagship ( friedman be100 dlx ) ? would be nice to see what you think of it . Take care !
Hey Zach! I am considering getting this amp as well. Do you feel this amp needs a boost to be tight? I am torn between this amp and the Butterslax, but leaning towards the BE-100 Deluxe as the Butterslax seems like a one-trick pony. I play similar music as you, (Kvelertak, Red Fang, Sylosis, The Agony Scene, Russian Circles, The Haunted).
Hey there!! I hope you are doing great, i have seen many videos of your channel and i’m interested on buying a friedman be 100 deluxe or a soldano slo 100 but i’m not available to go and check them in a store, how do you compare this two amps? Which one do you this that works for rock and modern metal? Thanks!!
Hi bud. Not sure if you still have the amp or willing to answer questions but I was wondering how's the noise floor with BE Deluxe? I'm currently running trough Boogie Fillmore but I'm craving for good sounding amp with Marshall-ish flavour. Most of the high gain amps I had pleasure to play had a high noise floor and I was wondering how this amp does? Tone you got is absolutely amazing BTW
I'd say the noise floor is pretty low when you've got the gain up. Definitely lower than a handful of other high gain amps I've played like a 5150 or Dual Rec, but I'll still occasionally run a noise gate on my board if I'm playing at a noisy venue or looking for that dead quiet sound. Thanks!
Im trying to decide between the BE and the JJ. I played the JJ and dig it but havent played the BE . The jj clean better than the BE im guessing? I play 80s metal ..dio, megadeath, iron maiden and some newer metal stuff. ( i have a mesa dual rec as well).
Ultimately it's down to personal preference, but if it were me I'd say BE-100 Deluxe > JJ100 > Regular BE-100. With the Thump/Frequency/Sat controls on the BE-100 Deluxe you can basically turn it into the JJ-100. Overall, the amp is just a little bit more flexible in terms of versatility. I personally like the clean the best on the Deluxe as well which is the Smallbox Plexi channel. It can get super clean or add a little bit of touch sensitive hair on the tone which is what I prefer. Having said that, I LOVE all of those amps and could be pretty content with any of them. If you get a sec, check out the Rock N Roll Relics video or Friedman Vs JCM800 part 2 videos that I posted recently. I think they feature the BE-100 Deluxe pretty well. Thanks for watching!
Zach, great name. Now are these direct through recording? I've been A/ B Ceriatone Chupacabra vs Be100 Deluxe. Well Friedman definitely sound s brilliant in comparison.. ugh! On the hunt for these tones but the $$$. Probably worth every penny though.
I'm recording these two amps with a Suhr Reactive Load and a Celestion Impulse Response. Normally I record everything with normal microphones, but because the JCM800 is so loud, I opted for the Reactive Load in this case. Thanks for checking out the video!
I have a Smallbox combo and I can say that yes, Friedman amps are expensive, but the build quality is totally first rate. Awesome down to the tiniest of details, and the components are first rate. The thing that told me going Friedman was the right choice, was when I sent an email on a Sunday afternoon to the service desk with some kind of idiotic question, went for lunch,and came home to see a response from Dave Friedman himself in my in box. Mr Friedman was also personally helpful when again I emailed with a really rinky dink question regarding trying to run a stereo flanger with returns coming into the front of the amp and the loop and blah blah and Dave got back to me a few days later with questions about what was on my board etc in trying to get more information on my whole rig to get a grip on my rather convoluted wiring idea. The point being, Dave Friedman is also a highly renowned pedal board/rack genius. I bought one of his amps from a store here in Calgary. I never thought that would entitle me to a consult with a top of the industry rack effects/pedalboard professional,/amp designer genius. They no doubt charge by the hour. But Dave pretty much gave me one. Phone Marshall and ask how a certain brand pedal can be wired through this amp etc and see what response you get. This type of service PLUS the stellar tone from any amp they make has earned my loyalty for life. Oh, one more thing: All of the rave reviews have made Friedman the target for the "oh, it's so overrated" trolls. Dissing amps they have never been able to try. Or my personal anti-favourite forum poster an a thread about Friedman amps not being point to point hysteria fanning the flames of that little bit of reputation dqamaging mud slinging by typing in Chinese? as a non-informed , ignorant of any real knowledge of Friedman amps as a reply to the country of origin manufacturer of the transformers. Wrong answer. U.S.A, all the way baby. But the world is full of ill informed naysayers, the rave reviews are spot on. I don't regret spending every of the 400,000 CDN pennies I ndropped on tha combo. Fact is, if I has it, I would spend another truckload of change on the Smallbox Combo's ultimate foil: a Friedman Dirty Shirley Combo of course! A fat bottom girl who will get down and nasty to compliment the melodic but fierce tight bottom assault from the Smallbox. Such a great line of amps.You can't go wrong!
Thanks Zach for your most in depth answer on my question. I agree and will be saving for the deluxe like yours. I never heard it sound bad in any demo, yours I believe is the absolute best. I definitely don't care what the idiots say that have never played one. I played JJ mini, Pink Taco and the D.S.. I must say that Friedman s do have such a beautiful feel sustain that is so nice and clear. Friedman, Suhr and the Bogner were a list .I think you made my mind up. Thank You. .Dave emailing you does make all the difference.
Since you said that you have owned all of the Friedman amps; I'm looking for a 20 watt head from Friedman (PT, JJ, DS), which one would you recommend? I generally play progressive rock/metal at home. Also, do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks so much! I've owned most of the big 100W heads and the 50W Smallbox, but I haven't had the chance to try any of the 20W heads yet. They all seem really cool though. If I were going to get one now, I'd probably lean towards the JJ100. I found the 100W head to be really versatile and it seems like folks say the 20W versions is pretty damn close. If you're playing prog rock / metal, you'd probably want to the extra gain that the JJ offers when compared to the Dirty Shirley. Best of luck and thanks for checking out the video!
Sure. I needed anymore reason to get the BE 100 Deluxe. Awesome sound man!
Haha right on. Thanks for watching!
Hushhog1 The only reason you need to get another amp, is the same reason I have for having 5 guitars, and getting close to buy another one...either a USA Gibson 61 reissue SG, x_ or a Les Paul Classic, is that you have G.A.S. like me
....Gear Acquisition Syndrome...😂😂😂.....Very common amongst guitarists. Technically, at the end of the day, unless you're married, or a professional musician, You Don't Even Need a Reason..If you're married, Keep Your Wife Happy In The Bedroom, 24/7, and she'll most likely let you buy whatever you want, and not try to argue with you about it. lol
man... i buyed today one its insane its so extrem versatile and so cool to play
“Beating Around the Bush”!!!! Love that tune....but few ever do it justice. Bravo!
Hell yeah! One of my favs. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Opeth riff too! This amp is phenomenal
Great video. I was just looking around to see the difference between the BE-100 and the Be-100 Deluxe and you cleared it up for me...and I need the deluxe for the same reasons you mentioned. Loved the Ghost riffs too.
Great demo! Love your playing and song choices.
Thanks a bunch!
Nice playing man that amp sounds killer. Respect for playing Failure in your video especially something off of Fantastic Planet. One of the best records ever made.
Right on! Thanks so much for checking out the video.
You immediately won me over with that the Darkness riff
Hell yeah! And that user name... 👌 Thanks for checking out the video!
Dude that’s some sick tone 🔥🔥
Thanks!
Great playing Zach. I just picked up the PT 2x12 cab for mine. I'm looking forward to it. I have the Friedman 4x12 with greenbacks and V30s, but I've always loved creambacks.
Nice! The Suhr is definitely a great cab. I'd bet that Friedman 4x12 sounds great as well.
@@ZachWish it definitely does, but I think v30s, and to some extent greenbacks, are much better suited for a mix. I play mainly at home, which might explain my love for creambacks. The low end is addictive.
Ordered one the other day. Excited to be blown away since I’m blown away by the JJ Jr.
Also would love to see your pedal board.
Right on! I'm sure you'll love it. Thanks for checking out the video!
Here's a photo of my current board: instagram.com/p/B2SFhwBF0Gh/
I'm going to switch up a few things because I think I'm going to incorporate a loop switcher when we can start playing shows again. Thanks for the kind words!
These amps definitely got that magic distortion .
Sweet sounding and i love that amp sounds really good!
Sounds amazing! Nice to hear something other than Van Halen on a Friedman 🤣
Cool cool playthrough. I’ve had a BE Deluxe for a month, and enjoy it a lot. I’ll say it is for certain a tweaker amp: there are in insane amount of options. The plexi stuff on the clean channel is rad, the HBE with sat and fat on is insane, and using Dave’s settings on the BE (it’s on several forums if you google it), it get’s pretty close to the JJ. I’m about to grab a JJ and a/b them; can only keep one. I’ve been told the BE gets 80% there, and having owned a JJ Jr and played the 100 on full tilt I do notice a difference in low end throatiness, low mids, and a smoother saturation. It’s voiced to Jerry so go figure. But the not so discerning player who just wants to make their own sound inspired by others or from scratch will have a ton of fun with the BE DXE. Feeds my AIC/Tool/Opeth/Mastodon/hair metal/trad heavy metal ich perfectly.
Going to order one Monday. Thanks for all the BE vids, it helped make the choice easy seeing as they're made to order here in Canuckland
damn, those doom riffs at the 9 minute mark were pretty sick. I like your style, dude. Seems like we've got a lot in common.
Right on! Thanks a bunch for checking it out.
THANK YOU FOR TURNING ME ON TO TORCHE!
Yoooo that thing sounds great. Nice playing, too.
Great riff choices. Nice to hear something other than overplayed 80s stuff you get with a lot of the friedman demos. Throw some tool in there next time 🤘🏻
Right on! I'll see what I can do. Thanks a bunch for checking out the video.
dude, exactly... it amazes me how many guitar reviewers are stuck in the 60's-80's, riff-choice, tone-wise... there have been many decades of great bands, songs, guitar tones in recent times and it's refreshing to hear a RUclipsr representing that material for us.
I love my Friedman’s as well. Favorite amps of all I’ve played. I have a SmallBox and DS40, just placed an order for a JJ-100. Also have 2 1x12 Friedman Cabs and one of the Friedman 2x12 Slant cabs. Amazing, stoked to hear the 4x12.
Awesome! Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Great tones and playing. It was like... AC/DC? Cool. Then. Rats! (And more Ghost). The icing on the cake was Maiden. Found your vid because my BE-100 Deluxe should be arriving by this weekend. It was the BE-100D vs an ENGL Savage and the BE-100D won out. Until it arrives, I'm getting a nice tone fix with your vid.
You are going to like the Friedman! I’m still waiting for the speaker cabinet to go with it but it sounds great with my old vintage 30 loaded one.
I just picked one up!! Should be here Monday!!! Awesome video, was one of the videos that helped me finally choose the deluxe!!!
Awesome! Congrats. It is a monster amp and definitely my #1. I just tracked a 10 song album with this amp. Let me know what you think of yours when you get it!
@@ZachWish all I can say is best amp ever!
@@ZachWish Where may we listen 😃
What an amp! Great riffing also!
Thanks very much!
This is actually a really informative review. I've seen all the (paid) reviews by the big name RUclipsrs but without having history on why mods were made, I have no idea what's going on.
Right on! Thanks a bunch for watching.
Streets of Rage II yes!!! Baaaare Knuckle!!! Great demo vid/explanation. Cheers and grats on the killer new amp. I only got a little bit with one of these at a local GC at low volume but was impressed. Seems tighter, or can be made tighter, than the previous BE-100.
Hah awesome! Yeah I feel like it's a little bit more open sounding than the standard BE-100. Thanks for watching!
Very classy riff choices man. Really cool
Awesome! Thanks very much.
Sounds killer and loved all the ghost riffs!
Thanks so much for checking out the video!
@@ZachWish have you ever played the be 50 deluxe? I'm trying to decide between those two
Sounds great, man!
Thank you!
nice playing. this vid makes me want one more than anything else ive seen. dont really need it though. : )
Thanks a bunch!
Of course you need it. “Don’t need it” is a phrase to be avoided in gear! Lol
+ 1 for riffing on Deliverance :)
Yes!!
I remember one day my son and I were at our favorite used guitar shop and a guy behind us cranked this amp that filled the entire store, if i hadn't turned around i would have sworn he was playing through a 15 x12 or something huge but it was a 4x12, I then saw it was a Friedman which i had never heard in person. I'm thinking of adding the Friedman Buxom boost to my rig because that pedal is sweet and i need to sweeten up my Blackstar HT 60 👍
Right on! I love those moments where something really blows your mind. Thanks for checking out the video.
"produced feel" is what we used to call "hifi" which doesn't always work/cut in a band situation.
GHOST Riffs plus all others of course! 🤘🏻 Well done!
Thanks so much Jim!
Dave said he’s coming out with another amp soon , plexi like with a variack built in. I was listening to his live podcast today. A few other bells and whistles too.
I love these amps...just wish they were MIDI capable.
My goal amp. Sounds great.
Amazing tone & nice riffs!
Right on! Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Zach Wish you’re giving me more gas for a Friedman! Have you tried the JJ Jr?
Great video! Loved that you had a Ghost riff in there :) Have a JJ-100 but if I ever win the lottery and buy another Friedman, it'll be this one.
Love Ghost! The JJ-100 is a an absolute monster. Thanks for checking out the video!
This is a great video for this amp. Thanks
Very high praise man. Thanks Wes!
Love your lespaul love your playing
Great playing.
Awesome tone!
Thanks a bunch!
Sounds great mate, congratulations! I had a Friedman Runt 20 and my go to amp on my Axe Fx is always Friedman!
Thanks a bunch! Would love to spend some time with an AxeFX at some point. I borrowed an AxeFX II for a week a few years ago, but didn't get to dive in too deep. The allure of digital is strong though! Thanks for watching!
@@ZachWish They are very very powerful, sometimes a bit too powerful as you can get caught tweaking longer than you hoped but it has some amazing features, thats why i bought one, coz it has all the effects and amps one could want. Although nothing beats the sound of a real amp.
@@MarkPritchardGuitar I'm always curious about them because I play in a few different bands, and it'd be nice to have one rig for all options. Also there's always the pedalboard conundrum. I do a lot of tap dancing on effects live. I could either go the Loop Switcher option which would make my board huge, or go with a digital solution like the AxeFX or Helix. Decisions decisions.
Great riffing!
Thanks Tom!
Sick Streets of Rage record. And Torche too.
"I always want a tiny bit of hair (in the clean channel)" ah, a fellow man of culture.
Did I hear Stuck on you by Failure? ^_^
The best.
When you played hells bells it took me back to my childhood
Man that sounds great. In your experience, how did the JJ100 stack up to the BE Deluxe? I just bought one that has been modded to have a separate gain and volume for the JBE mode and has a thump knob added. I can’t wait for It to arrive.
Thanks a bunch Brandon! I LOVE the JJ100. I'd say it's probably my other favorite Friedman. With the Deluxe, you can pretty much get the sound of the JJ100 with the Frequency & Response switches as well as the Thump control on the front. I found the JJ100 to be a bit punchier than the older BE-100 model, a hair more aggressive, and it also had a bigger low end to it which suited the kind of music that I play really well. I honestly could have just kept that amp and stopped there, but I like checking different amps out which is why I picked up the Deluxe. I also had a Smallbox at one point and I really liked the Plexi channel of it which is in the BE-100 Deluxe. It's a great sounding clean channel that goes up to AC/DC-ish levels of gain. Having owned most of the amps in the lineup, all the different amps in that 100W head category are just slightly different shades of a great amp in my opinion, so it's hard to go wrong. Sounds like you got yourself a pretty killer amp! Thanks for checking out the video!
Came to hear the amp. Stayed for the Inferno shirt.
Between your three videos - Suhr PT BE DLX and 5150II the suhr is OK for me. The BE and PV are very different. The BE has some grit but very articulate at the same time. The 5150II on the other hand has a level saturation and spongy feel that the BE doesn’t have. No bad amps here btw just different flavors and preferences. Cheers.
What is the song at 4:40? It's driving me crazy.
"Out Again" by Torche. Thanks for checking out the video!
What are your present day thoughts on the BE100 Deluxe vs the PT100? Arguments for one over the other?
I hope this isn't a weird comparison, but the Peavy invective reminds me of a more accessible variation of this amp almost but specifically for metal. The versatility they both have in kinda similar ways almost. Not as many switches on the peavy so not quite as many options, but similar versatility on the invective side just more plug in and play non boutique version and also has a kickass Footswitch.
I could see that! I've only briefly played the Invective, but I thought it was awesome. Big Peavey fan. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@ZachWish Yessir, thanks for replying you put out quality content and your covers are spot on with your playing and tone
Man would I love to see a review like this with a Friedman Jake E Lee 100W
Hey Zach, amazing chops and cool riffin is the norm in your vids. Any opinion on the Jet City amps designed by Soldano? Seems like in the gainier side of the spectrum and would fit in the tones you are preaching. Keep em videos coming!
Thanks for the kind words. It's been a long time since I've played a Jet City but I remember thinking they were really cool. I had played a JCA100H and a Friedman Modded JCA20H. Both were pretty ripping!
I need this amp man....
And Now You Do!
@@clemguitar63Came to say this! Haha
Hey Zack question for you ? based on the stuff you riff on the the channel . If you had a choice between a 100 deluxe or a EVH 5150iii EL 34 100 watt head which would you choose and why .... I guess I’m asking your opinion I’m down w/ both and can’t make decision 🙄ugh ... waiting for Friedman to deliver the orders so there hard to get so far like everything
Hey Ernie! That's a tough one since they're both great amps. I think it'd come down to what kind of music I was playing for the majority of the time. I think for an all around versatile rock amp that can go into metal territories, I'd go with the BE-100 Deluxe. If I was playing in a straight up tight, fast, technical metal band, I'd go with the 5150 III. It's voiced a bit more modern to my ears with a more immediate attack and a bit more punch which lends itself well to fast riffing. Not that the Friedman couldn't do that as well, but they just have their subtle strengths. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Great review as usual Zach. How would you say this compares to the SS110V2 or SLO 100, as I'm stuck between all 3 to choose THE one! I now they're all Monster gain amps and roughly in the same ballpark dollar wise. I guess I haven't tried all 3 yet, hence your opinion matters. Thanks
Great video as usual, what do you prefer the be deluxe or the JJ? Anything to note about either amp? Your videos got me to buy a bb preamp and now I’m looking at a JJ.
Thanks so much Vance! Tonally, most of the Friedman 100W heads are all fairly similar. You can kind of EQ them to resemble one another so it really depends on what initial flavor and features you're after. I think the BE-100 Deluxe is the most flexible and versatile of the bunch. Having said that, I'd be happy with any of them. I'm kind of a simpleton when it comes to amps and generally live on one channel and ride my volume knob so pretty much all of the Friedman amps will do that for me. I'd say if you're a huge Cantrell fan, go for the JJ, it is awesome, if you're looking for maximum versatility and still get that JJ tone, the BE-Deluxe will do that for you. Thanks for checking out the video!
Hey Zach, at around the 11:20 mark you kicked in a bell like modulation. I need to know what it is so I can get une! Also brfore amp or in the loop? Thank you for a great demo!
Thanks! That's a combination of an EVH Phase 90 and a Walrus Audio Fathom Reverb! The Phase 90 is in front of the amp and the Walrus is in the loop. Pretty cool sound!
@@ZachWish I've been around a while and I could not peg that as a phase shifter for the life of me. I'm a bit embarassed actually!
Hey Zach! love your videos, man. Thinking of what else to get amp-wise beyond my new Mesa Badlander, and i feel like i'm digging Friedmans so much that it might be worth parting w/ the Mesa brand and making the switch. (Love Marshall, too.. and Orange, and Vox), but this might be an all-rounder head here, the BE 100 Deluxe... seems there's nothing it can't do!
Thanks for playing rad new bands and cooler-than-usual shit from the post-2000's, not just 80's butt rock like most ppl on youtube seem to! (and for tuning well! lol) haha..
So, in case you see this comment, I love your Silverburst LP Custom and was just curious if it's the stock Gib pickup in there you have and are using on this video.. and if you know which one it is exactly. i had the same guitar but put a SD JB in the bridge spot.. i usually do. and then once i tried a Lindy Fralin hi-gain pup in another Les Paul and it was awesome too.. but damn, the Gib factory pup is really fine/great sounding as you're playing here.. sounds so good with this amp. I play melodic punk rock (Bad Religion/Lagwagon) and do a lot of home recordings, and play in a few bands.. just looking for perfection like most of us are. Thanks for a super killer video.. def subscribed! cheers :)
Thanks so much for the kind words Steven! I'm actually working on a Badlander video at the moment! Really cool amp. I'd say both the Badlander and the Friedman cover a ton of ground, just slightly different flavors. I could be happy with either honestly. The Friedman has a little bit more gain on tap and I don't really feel the need to use a boost pedal with it. I've been using a Maxon OD808 for higher gain stuff with the Badlander and it sounds awesome! But I wouldn't really say that one is better than the other.
As for the Les Paul Custom, it has the stock Gibson 490R/498T pickups. I've tried a few other pickups in there over the years but always ended up coming back to the stock pickups. I'm not too picky with pickups these days. I find that if I'm recording or mixing something, I can always EQ things a bit to get what I'm after. Thanks for checking out the video!
@@ZachWish that's awesome, man! thanks for the great reply. Good point about being able to mix what you need freq-wise in the end.. why not keep the chosen pickups by the guitar-maker, esp on such a superb axe as a Custom. That's a funny coincidence about you making a video for the Badlander... yea it does do a lot.. definitely a Mesa for 2020+/the future. I sometimes use just a Tube Screamer.. the Maxon's sibling lol.. works well. Yea, i'll prob have to stay put for now, be happy w/ the Mesa I have, yet keep an eye on the BE-100 Deluxe down the road. Happy content-creating! great videos/reviews all-around! cheers
Butt rock? Just what exactly about 80s hard rock/metal has anything to do with your butt? Do you mean it is confident and not trying to pretend you’re mean and tough when you’re not? You know, by detuning and fake growling and pretending your a dragon in fantasyland? Lots of attractive women at those types of shows. Growl on. No vocal
harmony necessary.
I also love how detuned players overuse the word brutal to describe a sound. Lol. What are the violent descriptors trying to make up for? The fact that most of those people are wusses and have never been in a physical fight before? Never had your mettle tested, so you pretend by detuning your guitar and calling it violent? 😂
I feel the same way! Got the 50 Deluxe.
Right on! Still have yet to play the 50W version but it sounds KILLER in videos. Thanks for checking out the video!
Thanks for the review, these Friedman amps aren't in Australia yet(my town). In your opinion, what's the underlying difference between this and the SS+ V2? Which would you recommend? Or are they 2 different animals? My tone is like yours in that I hardly play clean tones. More Satch, Vai, Judas, ACDC, Ratt, etc. So I'm guessing the BE100 is more to m y liking than the SS+ ?
Thanks so much for the kind words. Appreciate it.
@@ZachWishthe guy is still waiting for a reply.
What do you think of the Dual Rectifier? Have you ever owned one? It would be killer to see a demo from you.
Dual Recs are great amps! I owned a Roadster a long time ago but I've been trying to track one down for a video. Definitely classic amps. Thanks for watching!
Beast
How do you have your BE100 Deluxe set? I have one too. I can't seem to quite get it to my sweet spot. Your settings sound pretty close to what I'm after. I use a LP Custom, a Custom Shop LP R9 or a CS SG 64' Reissue as my main guitars. And you running the 490R/498T in your LP Custom? That's what came in mine. It doesn't sound like that. I also have the Friedman 4x12 cab with the 2 Greenbacks and 2 V30s. That could also be a difference I guess.
If you still have the jj 100, would you do a video on it?
Awesome video Zach. If a guys going to spend the money necessary to pick up this head do you recommend going all the way and grabbing the 4x12 from Friedman that has the Greenbacks up top and the Vintage's down low? Congrats on getting your new amp. It sounds great.
Thanks a bunch! They're definitely pricey but it's my favorite amp I've come across by a pretty big margin. I've never owned a Friedman 4x12 cab unfortunately. I've only played through them at the NAMM show which isn't always the best environment to really check something out but they sounded great there! Cabs are tricky because they can be had for pretty cheap on the used market. I have 3 cabs at the moment:
1) Marshall 1960A 4x12 with 2 Creamback H75's on top and 2 V30s on the bottom.
2) EVH 4x12 with V30s
3) Suhr Pete Thorn 2x12 that I keep at home for recording
If a Friedman cab popped up locally, I might jump on it but I don't like that they don't have casters (wheels on the bottom). I know some people say that having casters sacrifices tone, but I've never noticed a difference in my 4x12s. I'm not at the level that someone else is carrying my gear for me, so having wheels is a big help for me & the bandmates. Having said all that, I know Dave Friedman knows what he's doing and I'm sure those cabs rip!
Zach Wish Thanks for the detailed response Zach. Keep up the great work with your channel.
@@ZachWish Hi Zach, awesome tones you got here. I also happen to have a 1960A which has a pair of T75s and V30s in a X pattern and I plan on swapping the T75s with H75s. Is there a reason you put the H75s on top pf V30s instead of mixing them in a X pattern?
@@caca_spaniel_1239jumping in here: the frequency highs of the V30s is sharp, and I swapped a H75 into an Soldano vertical 2x12 thinking 75 watt bottom 60 watt top. Then I reversed it and preferred the almost scooped H75 up top and the mid pushed and high sizzle V30 on the bottom. Try both ways to taste. Also I have a Germino 4x12 with UK greenback 25s on top, 2 Mesa V30s in the bottom. Can sounds god-tier, but the 25s do hit breakup quicker, and it’s more noticeable like how the Friedman cabs are. I might try an X pattern with those to see the difference. In all cases I’m talking about in room only, not mic’ing. V30s on the bottom a cool for having a bigger but tighter low end thump.
Zack thank you for your demos. I'm familiar with the BEOD 50 Deluxe, but this amp makes me smile. it's like a Mac truck! Would you say you can get this amp ripping at any volume using the system volume knob? Just in case volume is an issue based on the room. Is the System knob like an attenuator, same tone just lower? Also people say its a great tone with the master down, in my experience with the 50w, it loses the Gian until you turn it up to 8 or higher when it opens up. Is the 100 any different? Thats why I ask about the system knob. Thanks again.
Great tones. Noticed that you also had a pt-100 around this time. How do the two amps compare tonally? Thanks.
How do you only have 230 subs? Just subbed from both of my channels ☺️🙏
whats that riff on 08:12 cuz thats sick man
Hi. Great video. I ordered a BE 100 deluxe and I am also looking at the SS100 V2. Do you think having both would redundant?
Jeff
Hey man, nice video.. 👍😎 it’s kinda hard to hear right in the video, but I see the jcm800 as kind of the reference model in the high gain segment... how would you compare this Friedman to the jcm800? Older marshals need a certain level of volume to make the high gain really sound right.. how is this one doing at lower levels - like when just jammin at home.. thanks
Thanks! The Friedman is a lot easier to get along with in tons of different applications. The master volume is great so you can use the amp easily at low volumes and things only sound better when you start to turn it up. It's much more flexible than the Marshall in terms of range of gain, channel switching, voicing options, effects loop, much tighter bottom end, etc. Having said that, there's something awesome about the 800. It's a classic sound, but yes, you do need to turn it up pretty loud before it opens up and starts sounding right to my ears. If you were looking for an amp to play at home, the Friedman would be the choice in my opinion since the master volume is so good and it feels right to play at all volume levels. There are lots of options out there to tame loud amps through a cab or recording like the Fryette Power Station, Suhr Reactive Load, UA OX, Boss Tube Amp Expander, etc. Just depends on your needs. Thanks for watching!
@@ZachWish thanks for the answer! It was exactly what I hoped to hear, maybe I’ll rob a bank and get that Friedman 🤘🤘🤘😎😎😎
How would you say the master volume works- satisfied playing at low volume?? Thinking getting this but in order to do so might have to ditch my “bedroom” level amp Carr mercury v
Friedman amps have crazy good master volumes and the BE-100 Deluxe is no exception. They sound great even way down at low bedroom and tv volumes. No harsh fizziness or stiff feel.
Anthony Ziomek....I have a Friedman BE-50 Deluxe, and I'm here to tell you Zack is 100% correct. You can get a dimed gain tone on a Friedman, even at a whispering volume, and it will sound just as good, as if you have the amp cranked wide open. Don't hesitate to buy a Friedman. They're the best around, with the most and best tonal options, besides Metropoulos Metroplexes. Good luck on your hunt. My jaw hit the floor, when I first got my BE-50 Deluxe. As good as their tones are on You Tube videos, they sound twice as good in person. I'm quite sure that Zack will back me up on that statement. Dave Friedman and George Metropoulos are both Tone Gods, that used to work together, with both of them being from Michigan.
Is it my imagination or do you think the BE-100 and Friedman SS sounds like the Marshall JMP 800 and 2203?
Okay so I’ve watched this video at least 8 times (with your other BE vids) and just received my BE 100 Deluxe. Using a buddies VHT 212 cab but need to order a cab for myself. More in the classic heavier genre can you recommend a cab? If you could only have one. I need to feel it. 4x12, 2x12? Tempted to get the matching 412 from Friedman. I know you have a few. I subscribed and look forward to more!
Right on! Congrats on the new amp and thanks for watching! As for cabs, I still have yet to try the Friedman 4x12 but I'm sure they're great. I personally prefer 4x12's to 2x12 but they're a pain to haul around if you don't have bandmates helping you out so that's something to consider. I have two 4x12's that I use with my band but usually only bring one to a shows. It's a Marshall 1960a 4x12 with Creambacks up top and V30s on the bottom as well as an EVH 4x12 cab with V30s. I like that both of these cabs have casters on the bottom which makes load in and load out a bit easier. I use the Suhr 2x12 at home for recording and it's a great cab! Money no object, I'd probably grab a matching Friedman 4x12 with the Greenback/V30 combo which sounds killer! Bogner & Mesa also make great 4x12 cabs. You can usually find a Marshall 4x12 1960a or 1960b cab used for not too much, but if you sprung for a BE100, might as well grab something snazzy. Thanks for checking out the video!
Zach Wish Thanks, and you’re supporting what I’ve been thinking. Had the Bogner 4x12 and dreaded the days I needed to drag it out of the basement even with casters. I usually play Fractal live now but miss shaking the walls at home. I’d rather not spend big but in the end I’d rather just spend an extra 20% and get what I really want even if it means waiting for it. Thanks again for the great videos, I look forward to more!
My birthday is coming up and I really want to get a new amp. I’m thinking about getting a Friedman. Maybe a Runt 20 or Pink Taco. The 100 watt heads are overkill since I just play at home. Do you have any experience with the smaller heads?
Killer playing, killer amp!
Would love to get one myself but it's too loud for my apartment I quess :/
It's definitely a bit overkill for an apartment, but honestly, Friedman master volumes are so good that it sounds great even at apartment volumes. I went through a bunch of amps trying to find a big 100W amp that would work equally well in both a band context & at home 6 or 7 years ago. Kind of a fool's errand, but Friedman amps were the first I found that were up to the task!
@@ZachWish i was wondering whether this amp would be able to give convincing Hendrix tones too? I play stuff ranging from Hendrix to Ac/Dc, to Slash, Ozzy and Metallica. Would this amp be able doing this?
Thanks!
@@1981SG I definitely think a Strat into the Plexi channel with the gain pushed up a bit would get you a pretty solid Hendrix tone. Throw a little reverb and maybe a vibe pedal in there 👌. As for the AC/DC, Slash, Ozzy, and Metallica, it can definitely get those tones. Maybe not the exact Metallica tones where they were using Boogie MK IIC+ or Diezel VH4's, but it'll definitely get you in the ballpark! I've owned both of those amps and would personally take the Friedman over those two. They're all GREAT amps though.
Zach Wish interesting point. Have you tried the Orange Rockerverb 100 MKiii? With a great built in attenuator? Would be great to have you review the amp! But the BE-100 is amazing, great playing.
You prefer this over the Soldano?
Love your channel, Zack. Do you like the sounds and tonal features from Friedman Amps more than Wizard Amps? I own a BE-50 Deluxe, that I'm in love with, and will Never sell. Do you think the prices for Wizard Amps are Justifiable, in your opinion, when you might pay 1k more for one than a Friedman?
Thanks so much! I would have to play a few more Wizards to make any real judgement on it. I had an old Modern Classic I 100W head a while back and it was punishingly loud. It sounded killer when you were able to crank it, but it just wasn't practical for the gigs I was playing at the time. The Modern Classic II has been on my list of amps to check out for a long time, so hopefully I can do that in the not too distant future. Having said that, I've really dug every Friedman I've played and they're really easy to get along with. I'm sure you can't really go wrong with either. All different flavors of awesome, but I see an MCII in the future! Thanks for checking out the video!
2 questions for you, brother. First is What kind of pickups do you have in that beautiful silverburst custom Les Paul? Secondly, Do you think that the tone circuits for the BE-100 and BE-50 deluxe, gain wise, are based off of Modified High Gain Plexis, or based off of modified JCM 800's?
The pickups are the stock Gibson 490R/489T set. Dave Friedman actually commented on another video and said "...Things that people don't realize is the BE is more plexi like than 800.. You could dial it it to be almost the same (as a JCM800) though.. C45 is closer and the middle on the response switch. Maybe the gain structure reduced to match up to the 800.."
@@ZachWish Thanks Bro. I was asking out of curiousity, and because, in the next few months, FRIEDMAN IS COMING OUT WITH A SMALLBOX PLEXI PEDAL..DAVE SAID THAT THE PEDAL WILL HAVE THE EXACT SAME SOUND AS THE PLEXI CHANNEL (CHANNEL 1) ON THE SMALLBOX AMP..MY FINAL QUESTION TO YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND.....DO YOU THINK THE TONE WOULD BE THAT MUCH, NOTICABLY DIFFERENT, THAN THE TONE I GET ON MY BE CHANNEL, ON MY BE-50 DELUXE, TO JUSTIFY BUYING IT? EVEN THOUGH NOBODY HAS HEARD THIS PEDAL YET, SINCE IT STILL HASN'T COME OUT......IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FRIEDMAN SMALLBOX AMP'S CHANNEL ONE, PLEXI TONE, DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE OR AREN'T, OTHER THAN IT BEING LESS GAINY, THAN THE BE CHANNEL DIMED....DO YOU THINK THAT THE SMALLBOX PLEXI CHANNEL SOUND, (I NEVER HEARD THE SMALLBOX BEFORE IN PERSON..JUST ON VIDEOS), IS SIMILAR TO THE TONE CIRCUIT OF THE BE CHANNEL? JUST WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR OPINION, SINCE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A BIGGER KNOWLEDGE BASE THAN MYSELF. IF THERE WERE TO BE A BIG TONAL DIFFERENCE, IN THAT SOON TO BE RELEASED PEDAL, THAN THE TONE OF MY BE CHANNEL, I WOULD GLADLY BUY IT, BUT IF THERE WOULDN'T BE A BIG TONAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO...I WOULDN'T BOTHER BUYING IT. THANKS IN ADVANCE.
I'd like a comparison between the jj and the be d
Waiting on your ss v2 demo thanks
👀 ruclips.net/video/iWX1bJS9BTs/видео.html
I can not believe I missed this. Thanks 😊
Badass
Thoughts on the EVH 5150 iii 50 watt 6L6? Just ordered one in ivory and pretty excited to try it out. Heard great things about it, would just be wondering how it stacks up against all the amps you've owned/played. Cheers.
It's been a long time since I've played one but I remember really liking that amp. I'd love to check out EVH amps again soon though. That amp felt good under the fingers. Enjoy, and thanks for watching the video!
Great presentation, dude. Killer playing, crushing tone. What's not to like?
Thanks very much!
@@ZachWish anytime, bro. Keep it up.
Great rundown! Were you using any OD into the front for the Plexi tones or at the12-' mark? Sounded great!! V-30 in the cab or? thanks!!
Nice one
Hey buddy, How are you ? i hope you're well ! have u checked out that new mlsoundlab Flagship ( friedman be100 dlx ) ? would be nice to see what you think of it .
Take care !
Have you had any experience with any of the 20 watt Friedman’s? Would love to see a video of you testing them out.
Haven't had the chance to play them yet! Would love to though. If I ever get my hands on one, I'll definitely make a video.
Hey Zach! I am considering getting this amp as well. Do you feel this amp needs a boost to be tight? I am torn between this amp and the Butterslax, but leaning towards the BE-100 Deluxe as the Butterslax seems like a one-trick pony. I play similar music as you, (Kvelertak, Red Fang, Sylosis, The Agony Scene, Russian Circles, The Haunted).
Is rhe SAT switch mostly on in here ? Kinda feels like it. Awesome tones man.
What speakers in the Shur cab?!
Hey there!! I hope you are doing great, i have seen many videos of your channel and i’m interested on buying a friedman be 100 deluxe or a soldano slo 100 but i’m not available to go and check them in a store, how do you compare this two amps? Which one do you this that works for rock and modern metal? Thanks!!
Between those two…Friedman BE-100 Deluxe, but do some research into the Mezzabarba Trinity as well. Both have significantly more versatility…
Hi bud. Not sure if you still have the amp or willing to answer questions but I was wondering how's the noise floor with BE Deluxe? I'm currently running trough Boogie Fillmore but I'm craving for good sounding amp with Marshall-ish flavour. Most of the high gain amps I had pleasure to play had a high noise floor and I was wondering how this amp does? Tone you got is absolutely amazing BTW
I'd say the noise floor is pretty low when you've got the gain up. Definitely lower than a handful of other high gain amps I've played like a 5150 or Dual Rec, but I'll still occasionally run a noise gate on my board if I'm playing at a noisy venue or looking for that dead quiet sound. Thanks!
Im trying to decide between the BE and the JJ. I played the JJ and dig it but havent played the BE . The jj clean better than the BE im guessing? I play 80s metal ..dio, megadeath, iron maiden and some newer metal stuff. ( i have a mesa dual rec as well).
Ultimately it's down to personal preference, but if it were me I'd say BE-100 Deluxe > JJ100 > Regular BE-100. With the Thump/Frequency/Sat controls on the BE-100 Deluxe you can basically turn it into the JJ-100. Overall, the amp is just a little bit more flexible in terms of versatility. I personally like the clean the best on the Deluxe as well which is the Smallbox Plexi channel. It can get super clean or add a little bit of touch sensitive hair on the tone which is what I prefer. Having said that, I LOVE all of those amps and could be pretty content with any of them. If you get a sec, check out the Rock N Roll Relics video or Friedman Vs JCM800 part 2 videos that I posted recently. I think they feature the BE-100 Deluxe pretty well. Thanks for watching!
Zach Wish Thanks so much for the detailed reply! Deluxe it is then! Love the channel!🤘🏼
Zach, great name. Now are these direct through recording? I've been A/ B Ceriatone Chupacabra vs Be100 Deluxe. Well Friedman definitely sound s brilliant in comparison.. ugh! On the hunt for these tones but the $$$. Probably worth every penny though.
I'm recording these two amps with a Suhr Reactive Load and a Celestion Impulse Response. Normally I record everything with normal microphones, but because the JCM800 is so loud, I opted for the Reactive Load in this case. Thanks for checking out the video!
I have a Smallbox combo and I can say that yes, Friedman amps are expensive, but the build quality is totally first rate. Awesome down to the tiniest of details, and the components are first rate. The thing that told me going Friedman was the right choice, was when I sent an email on a Sunday afternoon to the service desk with some kind of idiotic question, went for lunch,and came home to see a response from Dave Friedman himself in my in box. Mr Friedman was also personally helpful when again I emailed with a really rinky dink question regarding trying to run a stereo flanger with returns coming into the front of the amp and the loop and blah blah and Dave got back to me a few days later with questions about what was on my board etc in trying to get more information on my whole rig to get a grip on my rather convoluted wiring idea. The point being, Dave Friedman is also a highly renowned pedal board/rack genius. I bought one of his amps from a store here in Calgary. I never thought that would entitle me to a consult with a top of the industry rack effects/pedalboard professional,/amp designer genius. They no doubt charge by the hour. But Dave pretty much gave me one. Phone Marshall and ask how a certain brand pedal can be wired through this amp etc and see what response you get. This type of service PLUS the stellar tone from any amp they make has earned my loyalty for life. Oh, one more thing: All of the rave reviews have made Friedman the target for the "oh, it's so overrated" trolls. Dissing amps they have never been able to try. Or my personal anti-favourite forum poster an a thread about Friedman amps not being point to point hysteria fanning the flames of that little bit of reputation dqamaging mud slinging by typing in Chinese? as a non-informed , ignorant of any real knowledge of Friedman amps as a reply to the country of origin manufacturer of the transformers. Wrong answer. U.S.A, all the way baby. But the world is full of ill informed naysayers, the rave reviews are spot on. I don't regret spending every of the 400,000 CDN pennies I ndropped on tha combo. Fact is, if I has it, I would spend another truckload of change on the Smallbox Combo's ultimate foil: a Friedman Dirty Shirley Combo of course! A fat bottom girl who will get down and nasty to compliment the melodic but fierce tight bottom assault from the Smallbox. Such a great line of amps.You can't go wrong!
Thanks Zach for your most in depth answer on my question. I agree and will be saving for the deluxe like yours. I never heard it sound bad in any demo, yours I believe is the absolute best. I definitely don't care what the idiots say that have never played one. I played JJ mini, Pink Taco and the D.S.. I must say that Friedman s do have such a beautiful feel sustain that is so nice and clear. Friedman, Suhr and the Bogner were a list .I think you made my mind up. Thank You. .Dave emailing you does make all the difference.
@@zachmcgrain7815 Right on bud! That's the whole reason I started making videos was to just nerd out with like minded folks. Happy playing. ⚡️
Wow, the Friedman was really a bunch better? Good to know.
Since you said that you have owned all of the Friedman amps; I'm looking for a 20 watt head from Friedman (PT, JJ, DS), which one would you recommend? I generally play progressive rock/metal at home. Also, do you have any other suggestions?
Forgot to mention; amazing channel and content, fun to watch and listen to you :)
Thanks so much! I've owned most of the big 100W heads and the 50W Smallbox, but I haven't had the chance to try any of the 20W heads yet. They all seem really cool though. If I were going to get one now, I'd probably lean towards the JJ100. I found the 100W head to be really versatile and it seems like folks say the 20W versions is pretty damn close. If you're playing prog rock / metal, you'd probably want to the extra gain that the JJ offers when compared to the Dirty Shirley. Best of luck and thanks for checking out the video!
Where do you set your gain on this amp? Half way?... all the way?