Need some advice about Friedman amps (Runt)

[JerEvil]

A few tweaks have been done to new ones going out. They can sound almost identical to the BE channel of the BE-100. It will not have more gain then that though.

Nice! Will have to check one of the newer ones out then once they start (IF they start) hitting the local GC here in Las Vegas.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Popping this back up because I traded into a like-new Runt 50.
I don't get the folks saying not enough gain. Maybe something has changed since they came out?
I have plenty of gain on this one to riff away for hours.

This clip has the gain at 8 on the dial, 3 oclock. There's more left in the tank. Personally, it like what I always wanted my JMP 2204 boosted to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/bmandrell/runt-sg-e-riff

 

[reilly]

I have a runt 50 with matching 2x12 cab and I absolutely love the tones I am getting. I sold my Mesa Boogie Jp2c and replaced it with the runt (I have been a mark series guy for ten years). My band plays in drop B and with an od in front of the Runt it does heavy just fine and still retains clarity. My Runt was purchased new July of 2017.

No regrets on selling the Jp2c, I have had quite a few high end/dollar "metal" amps, Uberschall, driftwood purple nightmare, peters halo/hydra, diezel Einstein, Mark Iv, Recto multiwatt and more.

 

[RockyStar]

OP....based on all you have mentioned I would just dial the Uberschall a different way than you are doing. That amp covers a lot more ground than it gets credit for.

IF...you have to get a new amp and are wanting a Friedman I would consider the small box over any Runt, Pink Taco, etc amps.

If you could go used and decided to not use the Uberschall then I would suggest a used BE or again the Small Box or Steve Stevens.

 

[LPMojoGL]

I have a runt 50 with matching 2x12 cab and I absolutely love the tones I am getting. I sold my Mesa Boogie Jp2c and replaced it with the runt (I have been a mark series guy for ten years). My band plays in drop B and with an od in front of the Runt it does heavy just fine and still retains clarity. My Runt was purchased new July of 2017.

No regrets on selling the Jp2c, I have had quite a few high end/dollar "metal" amps, Uberschall, driftwood purple nightmare, peters halo/hydra, diezel Einstein, Mark Iv, Recto multiwatt and more.

Glad you chimed in. That's a great endorsement for the Runt.
The more time I spend with mine, the more I'm digging it.
It's so versatile. The clean channel with a Timmy and Barber 1/2 Gainer is pretty awesome. Lovely clean channel.
The drive channel rocks so hard. I don't really need a pedal to get as heavy as I like. But, using the gain channel set to the same level of drive as a cranked plexi, and using a pedal to get more, lets me go from darn near clean to screaming.
Loving it!

 

[JerEvil]

Popping this back up because I traded into a like-new Runt 50.
I don't get the folks saying not enough gain. Maybe something has changed since they came out?
I have plenty of gain on this one to riff away for hours.

This clip has the gain at 8 on the dial, 3 oclock. There's more left in the tank. Personally, it like what I always wanted my JMP 2204 boosted to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/bmandrell/runt-sg-e-riff

Man that's solid right there. I may need to revisit the Runt series. About as much gain as I would ever use.

 

[4406cuda]

I play hard rock and keep my gain around 1:00 o'clock. That is enough gain for me.

 

[Bloodrock]

What you need is a Cameron.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Popping this back up because I traded into a like-new Runt 50.
I don't get the folks saying not enough gain. Maybe something has changed since they came out?
I have plenty of gain on this one to riff away for hours.

This clip has the gain at 8 on the dial, 3 oclock. There's more left in the tank. Personally, it like what I always wanted my JMP 2204 boosted to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/bmandrell/runt-sg-e-riff

Man that's solid right there. I may need to revisit the Runt series. About as much gain as I would ever use.

Yeah man. It's pretty awesome.
I can get it to sound close to a Germino Lead 55...Marshall 1987 plexi circuit.
Then I can flick a switch and twist a knob to get to the heavies.
It took me a day to get to know the way it reacts to different tone, volume and gain settings. Once I did...
Well, it's everything I wish the Shiva was when I had one. With a better effects loop and direct out.

 

[errrrrl]

Popping this back up because I traded into a like-new Runt 50.
I don't get the folks saying not enough gain. Maybe something has changed since they came out?
I have plenty of gain on this one to riff away for hours.

This clip has the gain at 8 on the dial, 3 oclock. There's more left in the tank. Personally, it like what I always wanted my JMP 2204 boosted to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/bmandrell/runt-sg-e-riff

I have a Pink Taco which I compared against the Runt 20 and 50 at the local shop when they first came out. My taco at that time had more gain on tap than the Runt 20 and just a tad bit more than the 50 but overall felt the taco had more bottom end chunkyness. I've been messing with it forever with different boost/od's etc and I managed to get it where I wanted mostly but I kind of wished it had more stock gain overall like the JJ or Butterslax....

So I finally got a Butterslax and I have to say channel 3 without any boost or OD sounds heavy AF to me... here is a sample I made a few days ago for the Butterslax's channel 3
https://soundcloud.com/faka-894685110/friedman-buttserslax-with-ir-test

And here is a clip of my Taco boosted with a Fortin modded SIB Cuda od pedal
https://soundcloud.com/faka-894685110/friedman-pink-taco-metal-tone-test

So I know your saying there is plenty of gain and there is for most people but I'm telling you Friedman's higher gain stuff is fricken amazing

 

[LPMojoGL]

Popping this back up because I traded into a like-new Runt 50.
I don't get the folks saying not enough gain. Maybe something has changed since they came out?
I have plenty of gain on this one to riff away for hours.

This clip has the gain at 8 on the dial, 3 oclock. There's more left in the tank. Personally, it like what I always wanted my JMP 2204 boosted to sound like.
https://soundcloud.com/bmandrell/runt-sg-e-riff

I have a Pink Taco which I compared against the Runt 20 and 50 at the local shop when they first came out. My taco at that time had more gain on tap than the Runt 20 and just a tad bit more than the 50 but overall felt the taco had more bottom end chunkyness. I've been messing with it forever with different boost/od's etc and I managed to get it where I wanted mostly but I kind of wished it had more stock gain overall like the JJ or Butterslax....

So I finally got a Butterslax and I have to say channel 3 without any boost or OD sounds heavy AF to me... here is a sample I made a few days ago for the Butterslax's channel 3
https://soundcloud.com/faka-894685110/friedman-buttserslax-with-ir-test

And here is a clip of my Taco boosted with a Fortin modded SIB Cuda od pedal
https://soundcloud.com/faka-894685110/friedman-pink-taco-metal-tone-test

So I know your saying there is plenty of gain and there is for most people but I'm telling you Friedman's higher gain stuff is fricken amazing

Nice clips! Digging the Suhr RL?
I've had the JJ, BE, SB and the PT.
The Runt I have has gain on the same level as the JJ, without sat switch engaged. It might be a bit more.
The Runt 50 is not as compressed as the PT. I didn't get along with the PT and all that compression. My fingers gliding along the strings were as loud as heavily picked notes. It didn't sound as good as the bigger amps at lower volumes.
I'd love to get my hands on a Butterslax. That seems like an amp I would enjoy.

 

[errrrrl]

Nice clips! Digging the Suhr RL?
I've had the JJ, BE, SB and the PT.
The Runt I have has gain on the same level as the JJ, without sat switch engaged. It might be a bit more.
The Runt 50 is not as compressed as the PT. I didn't get along with the PT and all that compression. My fingers gliding along the strings were as loud as heavily picked notes. It didn't sound as good as the bigger amps at lower volumes.
I'd love to get my hands on a Butterslax. That seems like an amp I would enjoy.

Thanks, and i'm doing better with the Suhr RL lately. Took me a while and a lot of testing of all my gear to get where i'm at but i'm pretty happy now. I get what you mean about the PT compression, I guess it never bothered me too much, was too busy trying to get the perfect gain and thickness by adding boost and od pedals. The JJ is pretty awesome, my buddy has one but once the Butterslax came out I knew I had to have one... I still think if Friedman made 20w or 40w JJ or Butterslaxs he would be raking it in, not that he isn't raking it in already

 

[jlb32]

Nice clips! Digging the Suhr RL?
I've had the JJ, BE, SB and the PT.
The Runt I have has gain on the same level as the JJ, without sat switch engaged. It might be a bit more.
The Runt 50 is not as compressed as the PT. I didn't get along with the PT and all that compression. My fingers gliding along the strings were as loud as heavily picked notes. It didn't sound as good as the bigger amps at lower volumes.
I'd love to get my hands on a Butterslax. That seems like an amp I would enjoy.

Thanks, and i'm doing better with the Suhr RL lately. Took me a while and a lot of testing of all my gear to get where i'm at but i'm pretty happy now. I get what you mean about the PT compression, I guess it never bothered me too much, was too busy trying to get the perfect gain and thickness by adding boost and od pedals. The JJ is pretty awesome, my buddy has one but once the Butterslax came out I knew I had to have one... I still think if Friedman made 20w or 40w JJ or Butterslaxs he would be raking it in, not that he isn't raking it in already

I agree. A 25-40 watt JJ or even better Butterslax, even with only one channel, would sell big time.

I personally just could never love the Runt's, unless they have changed drastically since their release. They just didn't have that hot rodded Marshall/Friedman signature tone IMO. Of course it's been a while since I tried a Runt. Friedman could have changed them some since then.

I would definitely love to see a really high gainer like the JJ or Butterslax in a lower wattage form though. IMO most would.