Friedman amps quality

  • Thread starter Thread starter BadCat
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BadCat

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I am in the market for buying a new amp. Could be a Friedman. Wondered how these amps are considered quality wise, quality of transformers, build, etc.
I understand Friedman gets the amps build at boutique amp distribution factory.
 
Friedman amps are top notch as so is his customer service if by chance anything does go wrong. Most issues I have seen involved the shipping company punting these amps around like footballs.
 
Top Shelf all the way. Both the hand-wired and PCB stuff.
Zero worries.
 
Great amps, nicely built and Dave is very supportive if you ever have any issues.
 
PBGas said:
Dave is very supportive if you ever have any issues.
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Got my Dirty Shirley Mini and the bass was too much, even with the knob on zero.
Emailed Dave.
He asked me to send a picture of the PCB - so he could tell the revision -
and then pointed out which cap to change and what value to use.

Perfect.
 
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[ Donnie B. ] said:
Got my Dirty Shirley Mini and the bass was too much, even with the knob on zero.
Emailed Dave.
He asked me to send a picture of the PCB - so he could tell the revision -
and then pointed out which cap to change and what value to use.

Perfect.
Click to expand...

Same! I got my BE-50 used and there was an issue with the treble control on the clean channel. Dave sent me a new pot to solder in and all was good. Great service!
 
Tube amps in general are imperfect creatures, so many soldered parts, heat and high voltages. That's why people always have backups. So many variables, outlet voltage etc...

I am sure Friedman amps build quality is up with the best, but anything can happen. As long as he stands by his product, you have nothing to worry about.

Now, as far as a quality build, I have never seen an amp built better than Mojave Ampworks, but they went out of business. Quality isn't everything in a guitar amp. Marshalls are built like crap, and they will be around forever.
 
Geo said:
Tube amps in general are imperfect creatures, so many soldered parts, heat and high voltages. That's why people always have backups. So many variables, outlet voltage etc...

I am sure Friedman amps build quality is up with the best, but anything can happen. As long as he stands by his product, you have nothing to worry about.

Now, as far as a quality build, I have never seen an amp built better than Mojave Ampworks, but they went out of business. Quality isn't everything in a guitar amp. Marshalls are built like crap, and they will be around forever.
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Marshall’s are built like crap?

Yeah, ok, whatever. Haven’t had one fail me yet. While a hand wired Ceriatone shit the bed the day after a gig.
Saying something is ‘built like crap’ and ‘they will be around forever’ doesn’t make much sense.
My 72 Tremolo would disagree with you. No cold solder joints like say, in a Splawn like I’ve read more than a few times.
 
Racerxrated said:
Marshall’s are built like crap?

Yeah, ok, whatever. Haven’t had one fail me yet. While a hand wired Ceriatone shit the bed the day after a gig.
Saying something is ‘built like crap’ and ‘they will be around forever’ doesn’t make much sense.
My 72 Tremolo would disagree with you. No cold solder joints like say, in a Splawn like I’ve read more than a few times.
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Don't get your fanboy panties in a bunch, I should have said most not all.

Most of the newer type Marshalls, like the DSL's ARE built like crap.

What I meant was the brand "will be around forever".
 
Geo said:
Don't get your fanboy panties in a bunch, I should have said most not all.

Most of the newer type Marshalls, like the DSL's ARE built like crap.

What I meant was the brand "will be around forever".
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When you say ‘built like crap’ is that coming from experience as a builder? Or someone who’s had them break down on them in the past? Just curious. Ironically the only Marshall that had issues (that wasn’t easily resolved by tube replacement) was a British made DSL in the 90s. Bad PCB.
Oh, and I did have a Friedman break down on me once. It was a hand wired early BE (done by the Metro guys) and the half power switch would only work in one position. But Dave is super helpful and it was an easy fix, a resistor on a power tube socket.
 
Racerxrated said:
When you say ‘built like crap’ is that coming from experience as a builder? Or someone who’s had them break down on them in the past? Just curious. Ironically the only Marshall that had issues (that wasn’t easily resolved by tube replacement) was a British made DSL in the 90s. Bad PCB.
Oh, and I did have a Friedman break down on me once. It was a hand wired early BE (done by the Metro guys) and the half power switch would only work in one position. But Dave is super helpful and it was an easy fix, a resistor on a power tube socket.
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Yes, I do repair amps, have only built a few.

In general the trend towards mounting tube sockets and potentiometers directly to the PCB's makes them crap IMHO. Marshall is not alone with that, but yes, crap.

I will work on anything except some Mesa Boogie stuff, talk about a whole bucket of crap.
 
Let me preface this with

I'm not really a huge fan of the Friedman sound. They seem to excel for juicy Marshall style leads, and I'm more of a songwriter/rhythm guy. My interests are.... unconventional. 😉

But their build quality is quite good, and from all accounts their customer service is EXCEPTIONAL.

I don't even have time to list all the anecdotes about Dave's customer service excellence in a forum post - he's got to be one of the best.
 
Geo said:
Yes, I do repair amps, have only built a few.

In general the trend towards mounting tube sockets and potentiometers directly to the PCB's makes them crap IMHO. Marshall is not alone with that, but yes, crap.

I will work on anything except some Mesa Boogie stuff, talk about a whole bucket of crap.
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Hmm...interesting. Millions of players worldwide might disagree with you on the ‘crap’ comment. Is it too hard for you to work on one? I’m an amateur at best when it comes to working on amp circuits; but I’ve had no problems swapping out filter caps in Marshalls. Or even bypass some resistors in my rectifier. Not a lot of room to work with the Mesa but got it done.
Marshall or Mesa must’ve really hurt your feelings at some point, for you to label them as ‘crap’.
Hard for you to play on one?
 
Racerxrated said:
Hmm...interesting. Millions of players worldwide might disagree with you on the ‘crap’ comment. Is it too hard for you to work on one? I’m an amateur at best when it comes to working on amp circuits; but I’ve had no problems swapping out filter caps in Marshalls. Or even bypass some resistors in my rectifier. Not a lot of room to work with the Mesa but got it done.
Marshall or Mesa must’ve really hurt your feelings at some point, for you to label them as ‘crap’.
Hard for you to play on one?
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Sorry my opinions have hurt your feelings.

Maybe someday when you have done a few thousand repairs, you will understand.

Until then, let's just agree that we like how they sound, which has nothing to do with how they are built.
 
Geo said:
Sorry my opinions have hurt your feelings.

Maybe someday when you have done a few thousand repairs, you will understand.

Until then, let's just agree that we like how they sound, which has nothing to do with how they are built.
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Nah, my feelings aren’t hurt. But yours clearly are..seeing that you say two of the biggest selling/popular amp lines are all ‘built like crap’ when every other manufacturer uses pretty much the same process nowadays anyway. And Marshall still has the HW 1959 for guys who can’t stand the ‘built like crap’ pcb amps.
Marshall and Mesa now apologize to you specifically for hurting your feelings.
There. All better!
Carry on.
 
Racerxrated said:
Nah, my feelings aren’t hurt. But yours clearly are..seeing that you say two of the biggest selling/popular amp lines are all ‘built like crap’ when every other manufacturer uses pretty much the same process nowadays anyway. And Marshall still has the HW 1959 for guys who can’t stand the ‘built like crap’ pcb amps.
Marshall and Mesa now apologize to you specifically for hurting your feelings.
There. All better!
Carry on.
Click to expand...
Are you 15 years old?
 
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