So, I’ve had my BE50DLX for a few weeks now, and I am absolutely loving it!! I feel like it’s the first 3 channel amp I’ve had where the channels truly work together in an organic/logical way. They each deliver fantastic tones and give you a simple roadmap to go from clean, to rhythm and to lead. There have been a number of great reviews, so I’ll to give my own little summary of my impressions and at the end I have a question to other owners regarding pedals on the BB clean channel. For context, I’ve had a Small Box as my primary amp for the past few years - felt it was the best amp I ever had and wasn’t sure I “needed” the upgrade. Well, GAS hit, and I just had to go for this new amp. And I’m pleased to report, that for me, the upgrade has absolutely been worth every penny.
So, coming from the Small Box, it’s a blast just to have the full complement of the Friedman BE tone sculpting switches. I like this BE channel better than the SB - a little more gain, and cuts through in a different way (probably due to things like the voice switch, etc..). I used to need boosts with my SB, either for a bit more gain, or something in the loop for a volume/solo boost. Well, with the BE50DLX I can get all the gain I need from the amp, which is just a cool feeling and lends those higher gain lead tones a certain purity. Even when I had a Bogner XTC, I would boost the blue channel, as I just liked the inherent tone better than the red channel. So, feeling like the amp has everything I need as far as M-style gain is just very satisfying after having other 3 channel amps that just didn’t quite deliver on all fronts.
The new output section tone knobs - Thump and Response are very cool. It’s nice to be able to roll off the Bass some when it needs tightening, but still get that floor shaking low-end by bringing Thump up. The Response knob seems very unique, and while it can sometimes seem subtle (I think it may be more noticeable at higher volumes) it does let you go from a bit of the softer “blanket over the amp” tone at one extreme to really direct and in your face on the other extreme. It’s fun to adjust depending on guitar, pickups, gain level, or just your playing mood. It’s a quick and convenient way to help cut through a live mix as you’re playing, without messing around with the tone stack - much like its neighbor, Presence. I can’t think of an experience with another amp that’s comparable to this level of control over its “feel”. I also think the gain structure switch is very interesting and useful. The BE/HBE don’t have to be fire breathers in lower settings and their character changes and actually has a different feel. This is an area I’m looking forward to playing around with more.
That brings me to the biggest “upgrade” of this amp imho - the Buxom Betty clean channel. I had gotten so used to the shared EQ of the Small Box, that I didn’t realize how much I had to compromise at times to find a balance that worked for both channels. Well, no more! Just having the separate EQ makes a huge difference - now I can tailor things, without compromise, to get the best pure sparking clean tone out of any given guitar. As compared to the clean range of the SB’s plexi channel - it has a lot more body, and headroom - which is helpful for certain modulation effects that would begin to break up the SB’s plexi channel, even at its cleanest settings. So, now I can hear my choruses, flangers, etc.. in a beautiful pristine manner that I didn’t even realize was there. As many have said, the channel is akin to a blackface Fender - which is brilliant for an EL-34 amp. It just sounds great next to the fire breathing BE channels.
The other major benefit of this improved, self contained clean channel is the other the dirt pedals I like to use to get a different drive flavor - fuzzes, D-style OD. Again, the separate EQ is really helpful here - tames that quirky fuzz so it cuts through, or sounds better. For D-Style tones I have found the J Rockett Dude to sound great - even better than on the plexi channel of the SB. I have a Fuchs ODS, and this gives a good approximation, with a large gain range, yet still sounds and feels like the BB channel. I also use a Buffalo FX TD-X, which is a little more sensitive to your guitar and gain level. This might be one of the only ones that may have worked better on the plexi channel of the SB. Fuzz pedals - Buffalo FX M-1 sounds great for those Gilmour leads, the extra body and headroom of the BB cleans makes this fuzz sound very full and musical. Also have a Wren & Cuff Eye See Pi - which nails Smashing Pumpkins and other 90s stuff.
Now, the only thing I miss about the SB is the plexi channel, cranked up for that classic style of dirt. Even with the gain structure switches, it doesn’t seem, at least yet, like you can approximate this tone on the BE channel.
So this is where I was wondering if anyone is using a “plexi in a box” type pedal on the BB clean channel? Maybe one of the various JTM-style pedals, including the Dirty Shirley pedal? Do these pedals hold up at volume, next to the awesome purity of the BE channel? Or have people found other ways to get that type of tone from the amp that I just haven’t figured out yet? Thanks for any ideas or thoughts - about any pedals you are really liking with this amp.
So in sum, this amp is amazing and even after nearly a month of throwing all kinds of guitars, pedals and styles at it, I feel like I’m still scratching the surface of its sculpting power. It’s so easy to great tones across all the modes, using the extra knobs and switches - It really does seem like it’s Dave’s best, to date - which is saying a lot, considering all of his great amps. So, don’t hestitate - go out and get one of these babies!
So, coming from the Small Box, it’s a blast just to have the full complement of the Friedman BE tone sculpting switches. I like this BE channel better than the SB - a little more gain, and cuts through in a different way (probably due to things like the voice switch, etc..). I used to need boosts with my SB, either for a bit more gain, or something in the loop for a volume/solo boost. Well, with the BE50DLX I can get all the gain I need from the amp, which is just a cool feeling and lends those higher gain lead tones a certain purity. Even when I had a Bogner XTC, I would boost the blue channel, as I just liked the inherent tone better than the red channel. So, feeling like the amp has everything I need as far as M-style gain is just very satisfying after having other 3 channel amps that just didn’t quite deliver on all fronts.
The new output section tone knobs - Thump and Response are very cool. It’s nice to be able to roll off the Bass some when it needs tightening, but still get that floor shaking low-end by bringing Thump up. The Response knob seems very unique, and while it can sometimes seem subtle (I think it may be more noticeable at higher volumes) it does let you go from a bit of the softer “blanket over the amp” tone at one extreme to really direct and in your face on the other extreme. It’s fun to adjust depending on guitar, pickups, gain level, or just your playing mood. It’s a quick and convenient way to help cut through a live mix as you’re playing, without messing around with the tone stack - much like its neighbor, Presence. I can’t think of an experience with another amp that’s comparable to this level of control over its “feel”. I also think the gain structure switch is very interesting and useful. The BE/HBE don’t have to be fire breathers in lower settings and their character changes and actually has a different feel. This is an area I’m looking forward to playing around with more.
That brings me to the biggest “upgrade” of this amp imho - the Buxom Betty clean channel. I had gotten so used to the shared EQ of the Small Box, that I didn’t realize how much I had to compromise at times to find a balance that worked for both channels. Well, no more! Just having the separate EQ makes a huge difference - now I can tailor things, without compromise, to get the best pure sparking clean tone out of any given guitar. As compared to the clean range of the SB’s plexi channel - it has a lot more body, and headroom - which is helpful for certain modulation effects that would begin to break up the SB’s plexi channel, even at its cleanest settings. So, now I can hear my choruses, flangers, etc.. in a beautiful pristine manner that I didn’t even realize was there. As many have said, the channel is akin to a blackface Fender - which is brilliant for an EL-34 amp. It just sounds great next to the fire breathing BE channels.
The other major benefit of this improved, self contained clean channel is the other the dirt pedals I like to use to get a different drive flavor - fuzzes, D-style OD. Again, the separate EQ is really helpful here - tames that quirky fuzz so it cuts through, or sounds better. For D-Style tones I have found the J Rockett Dude to sound great - even better than on the plexi channel of the SB. I have a Fuchs ODS, and this gives a good approximation, with a large gain range, yet still sounds and feels like the BB channel. I also use a Buffalo FX TD-X, which is a little more sensitive to your guitar and gain level. This might be one of the only ones that may have worked better on the plexi channel of the SB. Fuzz pedals - Buffalo FX M-1 sounds great for those Gilmour leads, the extra body and headroom of the BB cleans makes this fuzz sound very full and musical. Also have a Wren & Cuff Eye See Pi - which nails Smashing Pumpkins and other 90s stuff.
Now, the only thing I miss about the SB is the plexi channel, cranked up for that classic style of dirt. Even with the gain structure switches, it doesn’t seem, at least yet, like you can approximate this tone on the BE channel.
So this is where I was wondering if anyone is using a “plexi in a box” type pedal on the BB clean channel? Maybe one of the various JTM-style pedals, including the Dirty Shirley pedal? Do these pedals hold up at volume, next to the awesome purity of the BE channel? Or have people found other ways to get that type of tone from the amp that I just haven’t figured out yet? Thanks for any ideas or thoughts - about any pedals you are really liking with this amp.
So in sum, this amp is amazing and even after nearly a month of throwing all kinds of guitars, pedals and styles at it, I feel like I’m still scratching the surface of its sculpting power. It’s so easy to great tones across all the modes, using the extra knobs and switches - It really does seem like it’s Dave’s best, to date - which is saying a lot, considering all of his great amps. So, don’t hestitate - go out and get one of these babies!