Friedman BE-100 Deluxe vs Marshall JCM800 | VIDEO

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zzwish

zzwish

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Decided to make a part 2 of this shootout. These two amps are pretty different so it's not really an apples to apples comparison but I love them both. I don't think one is necessarily better than the other. Both great for different applications. But riffs galore!

 
Love it. I can't decide which I like more though, which is good. I can't fit any more amps in my house or budget.
 
Hah! Now I feel bad here as I much prefer playing the Friedman. They can definitely be dialed to sound more similar to one another. Comparison videos are always a little goofy in that respect because it's just a snapshot of two different amp settings but it's good fun! Personally, I'm going with the Friedman as it's my main recording / gigging amp, but I do love them both for different reasons. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
 
Great vid and excellent playing dude! Both great amps!
 
halomojo":1le3xc6c said:
Hah! Now I feel bad here as I much prefer playing the Friedman. They can definitely be dialed to sound more similar to one another. Comparison videos are always a little goofy in that respect because it's just a snapshot of two different amp settings but it's good fun! Personally, I'm going with the Friedman as it's my main recording / gigging amp, but I do love them both for different reasons. Thanks so much for checking out the video!
Click to expand...
Agreed,
The main thing for me is the Friedman's bottom end is tighter than the 800. At a level that is actually pushing the output section (say 10:30 to 11) and the bass controls actually being used, the Friedman can run those with zero flub or squish in the attack. The 800 is no slouch at all, I still love them and use them, but Ive had the DLX for a bit now and got my settings really dialed in, and its seriously good. The BE channel is about as perfect a rhythm channel as I have used, been messing with songs off the Mindcrime album, and it does that rhythm tone in spades :yes:
And the loop is amazing...


But I still love a stock 800, been trying to get one a buddy has that's mint for a few years now, it is inevitable that it will be mine.. I just don't know why he keeps fighting it :lol: :LOL:
 
Friedman sounds much better to me here, thicker, good punch just overall nice and heavy. I prefer modern tones though. Great video as always man!
 
I would be happy with either of these. Great tones!
 
Great comparison! I like the 800 best; but both sound great and are different enough to own both.
 
I am a fan of the BE-100 Deluxe. Great amp! There is no question on how loved the 800 is though and for good reason.
 
Both amps sound great...but I have no idea why dude set up the Friedman like he did....look at the controls...he's not setting them up for a comparable amount of cut. That's what I hate about these demos(stop looking at the knobs and use you ears)....the JCM800 in inherently brighter and you have to basically fight to keep it from being too bright(presence and treble are BELOW noon) ...The BE100 is more balanced, but look at the controls.....he's barely above 12 oclock on the treble and presence....there's room to add some cut and he's just not doing it.

Wish folks would stop looking at where the dial is set and use your ears.

As far as feel and attack I like the Friedman better but he needs to dial in more cut(really I'd dial in the Friedman completely differently than him)

I'd choose the BE100 and put the treble or presence at 1 oclock on both or close(maybe 1 and 1:30...wouldn't take much to balance the difference....the 800 is brighter by nature he has the presence treble below noon.
 
Purpleibby":3d6v79ni said:
Both amps sound great...but I have no idea why dude set up the Friedman like he did....look at the controls...he's not setting them up for a comparable amount of cut. That's what I hate about these demos(stop looking at the knobs and use you ears)....the JCM800 in inherently brighter and you have to basically fight to keep it from being too bright(presence and treble are BELOW noon) ...The BE100 is more balanced, but look at the controls.....he's barely above 12 oclock on the treble and presence....there's room to add some cut and he's just not doing it.

Wish folks would stop looking at where the dial is set and use your ears.

As far as feel and attack I like the Friedman better but he needs to dial in more cut(really I'd dial in the Friedman completely differently than him)

I'd choose the BE100 and put the treble or presence at 1 oclock on both or close(maybe 1 and 1:30...wouldn't take much to balance the difference....the 800 is brighter by nature he has the presence treble below noon.
Click to expand...
I didn't set the EQ by looking at it. I turned on the amp and played through what I thought sounded good. And then I did the same with the Marshall. When I play the Friedman live, that's generally where I have the EQ set. In this recording (to my ears) the Marshall has too much high end that I would probably end up cutting out with a post EQ if I was putting it in a mix anyways. If you'll look back in the thread, I made this post:

"They can definitely be dialed to sound more similar to one another. Comparison videos are always a little goofy in that respect because it's just a snapshot of two different amp settings but it's good fun! Personally, I'm going with the Friedman as it's my main recording / gigging amp, but I do love them both for different reasons. Thanks so much for checking out the video!"
 
halomojo":3h0ck3j4 said:
Purpleibby":3h0ck3j4 said:
Both amps sound great...but I have no idea why dude set up the Friedman like he did....look at the controls...he's not setting them up for a comparable amount of cut. That's what I hate about these demos(stop looking at the knobs and use you ears)....the JCM800 in inherently brighter and you have to basically fight to keep it from being too bright(presence and treble are BELOW noon) ...The BE100 is more balanced, but look at the controls.....he's barely above 12 oclock on the treble and presence....there's room to add some cut and he's just not doing it.

Wish folks would stop looking at where the dial is set and use your ears.

As far as feel and attack I like the Friedman better but he needs to dial in more cut(really I'd dial in the Friedman completely differently than him)

I'd choose the BE100 and put the treble or presence at 1 oclock on both or close(maybe 1 and 1:30...wouldn't take much to balance the difference....the 800 is brighter by nature he has the presence treble below noon.
Click to expand...
I didn't set the EQ by looking at it. I turned on the amp and played through what I thought sounded good. And then I did the same with the Marshall. When I play the Friedman live, that's generally where I have the EQ set. In this recording (to my ears) the Marshall has too much high end that I would probably end up cutting out with a post EQ if I was putting it in a mix anyways. If you'll look back in the thread, I made this post:

"They can definitely be dialed to sound more similar to one another. Comparison videos are always a little goofy in that respect because it's just a snapshot of two different amp settings but it's good fun! Personally, I'm going with the Friedman as it's my main recording / gigging amp, but I do love them both for different reasons. Thanks so much for checking out the video!"
Click to expand...

Hey thank YOU for making the video! Probably just my taste then, I tend to go for a more clear tone(I'm an 80's guy)....and when I think JCM 800 so many of the tones I love come from that amp...and I tend to think of the Friedman as a refined Marshall so i'd set it up for "that" sound but on steroids. In general IMO, vs. videos focus too much on keeping things tone controls at 12:00...or even some will compare amps to having their tone controls put exactly the same and obviously circuits are different, pots are different tapers and many other factors....drives me nuts ha! Again, thanks for making the video.
 
Yeah good vid
I have a BE50dlx and 2204. For me, the 2204 is better in a live band mix i find, more cut when the power amp is overdriving. But the BE is a bit thicker in the mids and nicer at lower volumes.
If I had 100W power amps it might be a different story
 
Flavatrocious":1khwcujd said:
Is that a Suhr PT 2x12 cab broski?

Sounds good man :rock:
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Thanks! Yep, that's the Pete Thorn cab. My main cabs are a Marshall 4x12 w/ Creambacks on top and V30s in the bottom and an EVH 4x12 with V30s but I keep the Suhr 2x12 at home for recording. Great cab!
 
Definitely the Friedman for me! Highs can be boosted more if that's what you're after, so I really don't get the people commenting on that :lol: :LOL: On the DLX especially you have so many switches you can literally make it sound as open and airy as you like! The low end is way tighter on the BE, better note definition, and it's got a great mid push to my ears. Plus something that can't get through a Youtube video is the feel, Friedmans have a certain sponginess/sag that makes those amps super fun to play! Great video dude :rock:
 
Purpleibby":2cg8sit2 said:
Both amps sound great...but I have no idea why dude set up the Friedman like he did....look at the controls...he's not setting them up for a comparable amount of cut. That's what I hate about these demos(stop looking at the knobs and use you ears)....the JCM800 in inherently brighter and you have to basically fight to keep it from being too bright(presence and treble are BELOW noon) ...The BE100 is more balanced, but look at the controls.....he's barely above 12 oclock on the treble and presence....there's room to add some cut and he's just not doing it.

Wish folks would stop looking at where the dial is set and use your ears.

As far as feel and attack I like the Friedman better but he needs to dial in more cut(really I'd dial in the Friedman completely differently than him)

I'd choose the BE100 and put the treble or presence at 1 oclock on both or close(maybe 1 and 1:30...wouldn't take much to balance the difference....the 800 is brighter by nature he has the presence treble below noon.
Click to expand...


I too favour the more brighter, bitey sounds. The Akira Takasaki settings shows that the BE100 can certainly be bright and aggressive. I guess the BE100 deluxe can cope similar if not the same tones.

 
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