PSA: Friedman Phil X in White $2200 @GC

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did I read it was based off of the Steve Stevens?
it could be ..... but then what Marshall is the SS based off of .... usually the higher gain heads he does are based off of modded Plexi and 800 circuits
or a combo of the two ..... like the JEL
 
Stripped down BE, gain structure switch to feel like Phil's 76 JMP, variac switch for EVH vibe. Fun amp.
 
It can sound like a cranked plexi, to a jcm 800, to a hot rodded jcm like Wylde in NRFTW. Sd1 gets it into modern metal.
I'm playing it right now while watching TV, low TV volume. On the lowest gain setting, gain at 3 o'clock, very much 70s rock. Lil delay, variac switch on low, kinda EJ vibe. Does that violin like sound really well.
 
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I'm starting to really like single channel amps ..... my Splawn Super Comp started that ....
Yup - that's how I started out and that's pretty much what I've gone back to . I don't appreciate the links to the philX heads because thatand the Victory Super Sheriff 100 heads are on my bucket list !! LOL
 
I'm starting to really like single channel amps ..... my Splawn Super Comp started that ....
The Chiron should go great with the X amp. Just needs a little more for certain things to go along with the tone and feel that you get from a single channel amp.
 
I had this amp in house for about a week. It's one of the best amps I've ever played that I didn't also love. I'd give this thing a glowing review to anyone that asks and absolutely recommend it but it just didn't work for me. Huge gain sweep on a single channel (which I love), agree 100% with others as to the tones that are in there. Way tighter than I was expecting and with enough gain to get most anyone where they need to go with a boost. Two reasons it went back (only one of which really matters):

1. The head is hilariously large. Tall without a ton of a depth and just looked goofy as hell sitting next to everything else I have. Does this really matter? Of course not, but for some reason it bothered the shit out of me. It's not the reason I sent it back.
2. I've always heard Friedman's are relatively smooth and polite...sort of a smoothed out Marshall. I also heard that the Phil X was the least "domesticated" in the Friedman line and played more open and raw. Unfortunately it's the only Friedman I've played so I can't really compare but it still just felt like a very refined take on a Marshall. All that jagged power in a JCM800 just wasn't there for me. To be fair my favorite amps are the ones that sound like they'll explode at any minute and rip your dick off (800s, Rectifiers, Wizards) so I probably wasn't the target audience for this amp.

Anyway, really glad you're digging this amp OP. Just missing a little raunch for me but I also didn't have much time with it and probably didn't give it a fair shake.
 
I had this amp in house for about a week. It's one of the best amps I've ever played that I didn't also love. I'd give this thing a glowing review to anyone that asks and absolutely recommend it but it just didn't work for me. Huge gain sweep on a single channel (which I love), agree 100% with others as to the tones that are in there. Way tighter than I was expecting and with enough gain to get most anyone where they need to go with a boost. Two reasons it went back (only one of which really matters:)

1. The head is hilariously large. Tall without a ton of a depth and just looked goofy as hell sitting next to everything else I have. Does this really matter? Of course not, but for some reason it bothered the shit out of me. It's not the reason I sent it back.
2. I've always heard Friedman's are relatively smooth and polite...sort of a smoothed out Marshall. I also heard that the Phil X was the least "domesticated" in the Friedman line and played more open and raw. Unfortunately it's the only Friedman I've played so I can't really compare but it still just felt like a very refined take on a Marshall. All that jagged power in a JCM800 just wasn't there for me. To be fair my favorite amps are the ones that sound like they'll explode at any minute and rip your dick off (800s, Rectifiers, Wizards) so I probably wasn't the target audience for this amp.

Anyway, really glad you're digging this amp OP. Just missing a little raunch for me but I also didn't have much time with it and probably didn't give it a fair shake.
Get all these points.
It's a big head, like JCM800 big.
It is more refined/polite than my JCM. It shaves off the bloaty lows and skreechy highs. I thought I'd flip it after the first day with it. But, after a couple of hour-long jams thru it over morning coffee, I'm holding onto it. It's a versatile single channel amp, with a great master volume and effects loop. I can play it at low TV volume, and it sounds righteous.
 
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I like how the character changes a bit with different boosts and cabs. I’ve also got an SS100. It’s amazing at what it does and probably my favorite amp. It stays pretty consistent with either of my cabs. The X can sound like a really different amp depending on the cab and boost.

They’re both definitely in the same ballpark but each is better at different things. I could easily gig with the X and not need a clean channel given how responsive it is. And I enjoy the variety I can get with different boost, cab and guitar combos.
 
I like how the character changes a bit with different boosts and cabs. I’ve also got an SS100. It’s amazing at what it does and probably my favorite amp. It stays pretty consistent with either of my cabs. The X can sound like a really different amp depending on the cab and boost.

They’re both definitely in the same ballpark but each is better at different things. I could easily gig with the X and not need a clean channel given how responsive it is. And I enjoy the variety I can get with different boost, cab and guitar combos.
I had the SS for a good while. Loved it. Probably the best clean channel of any Friedman amp, but I still didnt use it much. Didn't care for the cleans on any of the big Friedman amps, BE, JJ.
I prefer the plexi channel on the Smallbox for a pushed clean.
The SS drive channel was great. Probably the most vintage sounding of the first wave of big amps, not quite as old school as the Dirty Shirley.

Interesting the differences you point out between the X and SS. I've noticed that the sound of the X does vary quite a bit with different cabs and guitars. I've only used a klone and SD1 with it, but it takes them both great. My fav amps to play with a band have been crunchy single channel, clean up with guitar volume, pedals for more. Like a Bassman and 4-holers with ppimv. The X can do that, and with an effects loop and 2nd master volume that would def come in handy for poking out in the mix.
 
The only thing I’d change about the X is make the gain switch footswitchable but probably only 1 step. I get caught between having the rhythm too high so it works for leads too.

It would be killer to have the mid gain mode set for a great hard rock rhythm then switch to the higher mode for leads. But it’s not that big a deal since I can just set a boost for low levels. It would just be a tad better and more natural if it was all from the amp.
 
The SS100 is great. Once you put the presence to around 8 or 9 you have a much more open and marshally tone.
 
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