Tell me about the Friedman 20 watt amps please

[ledvedder]

I started a thread a few days ago, looking for opinions on a 20 watt or lower amp that could get me great plexi-like classic rock tones, up to early VH type tones. Well, that led me down the Friedman rabbit hole. So now, I'm trying to decide which would be the best one. No stores near me have them to try, so I'm relying on user's opinions.

The 4 I'm considering are the Dirty Shirley Mini, the Pink Taco Mini, the Runt 20, and the JJ Jr.

I emailed Friedman, asking for their recommendations, and they said I'd probably be happiest with the JJ Jr. Initially, that was my last choice because I thought it was pretty much higher gain for AIC type tones. So now I'm really questioning which would be best.

 

[fek]

I had a JJ Jr for a few months. The general consensus I guess is that the JJ Jr is a bit darker and has a little more gain than the others once you click into the JBE side. The BE channel can do mid gain and classic rock tones very well in my opinion.

Probably should have kept it but I like a bit more Marshall'ish high end crunch these days and the JJ Jr just stayed refined and polished even with the presence and treble up high. Not a bad thing at all but not what I have been wanting lately.

 

[DeathbyButterslax]

Had a Runt 20 1x2 combo for little awhile. It was a great amp, really loud for what it was. I enjoyed it, just wish it had a resonance, I had the bass cranked and it was still a little light on the low end for me. Also felt the same way about the JJ combo, I spent some time with one of those as well. A bit smoother, less piercing than the runt. That I could see myself buying just to have that Friedman sound around again.

 

[acidvoodoo]

The PT20 is a highly underrated amp imo. I’ve been rocking one as my main amp for over three years. It just recently got pushed to the side since getting a Bogner 3534. I’ve also owned the JJ jr. Being a huge Jerry Cantrell fan, I had high hopes it was going to replace my PT20 and be my main amp for the foreseeable future. When I finally got it after months of waiting I was kinda underwhelmed with it. I prefer the smoother sounding high gain of the PT20, to my ears the JJ jr had a sizzle I could not dial out.

Some people say the PT20 is a one trick poney, I disagree. With the structure switch, a few pedals (which it takes extremely well) and rolling your volume down, there’s lots of tones to had.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I thought you had decided on the Blu amp?

 

[ledvedder]

I thought you had decided on the Blu amp?

I received the Blu Amp1 on Saturday, but I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it. I'm still trying to dial it in.

 

[MrDowntown]

with all love and respect my man... this tone quest is surreal...
i hope you can find what you're looking for!?

 

[ClintN667]

I bought a JJ jr since zzounds had them. I was hoping it could fill the void left after having to sell my Monomyth modded 1974 Superlead. It didnt. Nowhere close. I know its hard to compare a 20 vs a 100 watt but it sounded a bit too polite for my taste or maybe polished is the word Im looking for. I just never bonded with it. Will your Ceriatone Chupa not do those kinds of tones? I had a Molecular and it could pretty much do all of those tones with ease.

 

[ledvedder]

I bought a JJ jr since zzounds had them. I was hoping it could fill the void left after having to sell my Monomyth modded 1974 Superlead. It didnt. Nowhere close. I know its hard to compare a 20 vs a 100 watt but it sounded a bit too polite for my taste or maybe polished is the word Im looking for. I just never bonded with it. Will your Ceriatone Chupa not do those kinds of tones? I had a Molecular and it could pretty much do all of those tones with ease.

The Chupa gets me close, but it's just become too big for what I need.

 

[ledvedder]

with all love and respect my man... this tone quest is surreal...
i hope you can find what you're looking for!?

What can I say? It's fun for me!

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Sounds like what you want is a Superlead or good JMP but at low volume. SOoooooooo... why not take those amps with a load and take the speaker out into another power amp and lower the volume. (my slaving thread rears it's ugly head once again!) Essentially crank that first marshall and bring the volume down with the slave poweramp.

PS- What about the Granger Nitro https://grangeramp.com/product/v20-nitro-head/

 

[MrDowntown]

with all love and respect my man... this tone quest is surreal...
i hope you can find what you're looking for!?

What can I say? It's fun for me!

i get it dude... i'm digging the same tone-age of amp you do...i'm living vicariously via your quest!

 

[El Mariachi]

The PT20 is a highly underrated amp imo. I’ve been rocking one as my main amp for over three years. It just recently got pushed to the side since getting a Bogner 3534. I’ve also owned the JJ jr. Being a huge Jerry Cantrell fan, I had high hopes it was going to replace my PT20 and be my main amp for the foreseeable future. When I finally got it after months of waiting I was kinda underwhelmed with it. I prefer the smoother sounding high gain of the PT20, to my ears the JJ jr had a sizzle I could not dial out.

Some people say the PT20 is a one trick poney, I disagree. With the structure switch, a few pedals (which it takes extremely well) and rolling your volume down, there’s lots of tones to had.

Totally agree with regard to both the JJ jr and the PT20.
I have a WIldwood Taco with an added simple clean. It's all I need. I play in an 80's hard rock/metal cover band. (when the world is open to live music)

 

[ledvedder]

The PT20 is a highly underrated amp imo. I’ve been rocking one as my main amp for over three years. It just recently got pushed to the side since getting a Bogner 3534. I’ve also owned the JJ jr. Being a huge Jerry Cantrell fan, I had high hopes it was going to replace my PT20 and be my main amp for the foreseeable future. When I finally got it after months of waiting I was kinda underwhelmed with it. I prefer the smoother sounding high gain of the PT20, to my ears the JJ jr had a sizzle I could not dial out.

Some people say the PT20 is a one trick poney, I disagree. With the structure switch, a few pedals (which it takes extremely well) and rolling your volume down, there’s lots of tones to had.

Totally agree with regard to both the JJ jr and the PT20.
I have a WIldwood Taco with an added simple clean. It's all I need. I play in an 80's hard rock/metal cover band. (when the world is open to live music)

I've been looking at the Wildwood version with the clean channel. Seems like the perfect amp. But close to $1800!!

 

[harddriver]

ERRRRRRL's Dirty Shirley clips always sounds like a great Marshall.......... I would say if you could play one first it may be the vintagey Marshall tones to JCM 800 style tones you are looking for.
Here's one from Doug Rappoport. Dave Friedman has basically built all of his designs around obtaining some of the best Marshall tone out there.

Here's ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRL's dirty shirley

 

[155]

pt20 to me is the best amp out there,,just feels so good not a bad tone in there

 

[romanianreaper]

I have the Friedman JJ Jr. and freaking love it. I just got a 5150-III EL34 combo but the JJ Jr. isn't going anywhere.

Here are a few points, etc.:

- You can either do the "JJ" or "BE" tones with the flick of a switch. The JJ is darker but has more gain. I like both
- The clean channel is not like a Fender clean but still fine. Nobody is going to buy a Cantrell amp for the cleans. LOL
- I can get a great Van Halen type tone with the gain down at 9 o'clock, easily. It has a ton of gain but keep in mind it has EL84s so is tamed a bit and not overwhelming.

You can't go wrong with a Friedman in my opinion. Just nice modded Marshall tones. Can definitely get heavy but can do rock, etc. Here are two clips I did with the Friedman direct into my computer, using the cab emulation. No cab needed.:

https://mikepuskas.bandcamp.com/track/a-rain-is-comin (bluesy feel)

https://mikepuskas.bandcamp.com/track/beyond-the-sky (heavier crap)

 

[ClintN667]

If the Chupa gets you close get a Son of Yeti for $675 then buy another amp or guitar with the other 600 you save by not buying a friedman.

 

[ClintN667]

A 20 watt Splawn would do the trick too imho. Get a quick rod version of a super sport. With the 3 gears and loop volume you should be able to get as loud or as quiet as you need.

 

[ledvedder]

A 20 watt Splawn would do the trick too imho. Get a quick rod version of a super sport. With the 3 gears and loop volume you should be able to get as loud or as quiet as you need.

I had a quick rod a while back. It felt too stiff to me.