I have to don a flamesuit here if I'm going to be completely honest... But here goes.
I've run through a few Friedmans (Slax, JJ, Pink...) - and I loved the JJ100 the most. I've also played through a BE100 and a Dirty Shirley (liked the DS a lot). NO doubt about the fact that Friedmans have a very special thing going on their amps - they simply sound fucking awesome. They do. But....
Looking at my Bogners, man, there's just NO comparing them when it comes to the quality of build over Friedmans stuff. No dis, just a straight up, factual honest-to-goodness claim on my personal behalf. The quality of build and layout and design components in Bogners amps compared to Friedmans? Bogner HANDS down. But "do they sound like as much as they cost" - cuz ultimately - sure, the argument can be made "it don't matter, look at Dumble, he used RadioShack parts to get his tone" it's all about how it sounds, not how it looks - fair argument. However, the Bogners have been with me since Day1 (seriously, got one of the 1st 20thA-XTC-EL34s released), and a Shiva20thA, I STILL HAVE THEM. I let the Friedmans go because a) I got to where I wanted to go with my Bogners, the Friedmans were overlapping the same zone, b) I felt the Friedmans were hot-ticket items "that month/quarter" but saw the buy/sell mania going on and just thought great marketing, I don't wanna be left holding the bag, and c) pretty much equal pricing?? If I HAD to guess which amps will be longest lasting (and hey, I'm not there yet, ask Keef about his amps), the build quality in the Bogners to me made me feel as though they'd last, and their prices would stay justified throughout time if ever the grim day came I'd have to sell 'em.
I like the feel of Bogners. I am familiar with the tone of Bogners. I know how to mic my Bogners. I've never had any desire to MOD my Bogners. I've been able to cop pretty much every imaginable TONE out of my Bogners. And they're built amazingly well - not as industrial as Diezel - but for American amps - they're fkn amazingly well built top notch quality top notch parts spec and consistent, reliable, amazing, "my familiar place" of low-mids saggy Bogner goodness.
IME, YMMV, hope this makes sense... I'd love to try out a BE100DLX if ever the day came, but I have no wont or burning "desire" to try one out - I have gobs of goodness in the amps I've got. I have zero GAS (said it, on record, there ya go...worst customer out there - NO GAS -
??)
If the BE100DLX offered the same tone as the JJ ch.1/2 (JBE was too saturated, my Shiva kicked its ass), and the same tone as 2nd channel of the Slax (even though my D-Moll destroys it), and a BUNCH of other appetite-whetting shoutouts, I'd *maybe* look at a used one, try it out, but like I said, I'm not really needing to reinvent the wheel. And I have to say again, with respect to Dave and his amps, they do sound absolutely incredible - for those people who love 'em, I do not blame them - they're awesome amps.
Peace!!
it’s never going anywhere!