Cannot decide betwenn BE and SS!!! Any help?

[QOTSA_Lover]

Hey guys,

my next amp is definitely a Friedman. But cannot decide betwee the BE-100 and the SS-100.

I like the open, raw and articulate tone from the BE100. But also like the chewier, darker and juicy tone from the SS-100.
I really don't know which amp is the right one for me...

I'm playing in two Bands as Lead-Guitarist but doing some serious rhythm things as well. I'm play most of the time with one channel doing the rest with the guitars vol. pot.

I'm playing Bluesrock to Hardrock. Bonamassa, Gary Moore... to AlterBridge and BlackStoneCherry. Sometimes LedZep and Hendrix.
My Guitars are a 57 Les Paul CS RI and a 61 Fender CS Telecaster...

Do you have any advice?

 

[King Guitar]

pm sent

 

[ReloadZ]

i had the BE-100 and now the SS-100 i really really like it. Best purchase i ever made...

Make sure to use it with V30 speakers and with Motor city pickups is tone from heaven.

Simple head, really like the chewier and juicy tone compare to the BE-100...

I'm playing mostly 80' metal... Priest, Maiden, early Metallica ... but if you back up the gain it will get you to Bluesrock to Hardrock

Both head will get you there and they both sound really really good.

Here`s my settings

Presence - 6
Bass - 3
Middle - 8
Treble - 7
Gain - 8

 

[QOTSA_Lover]

Oh, interesting... THX for your help

I'm testing the SS100 actually and I've noticed one interesting thing:
I'm playing with gain on 6 most of the time and that's enough for some serious rhythm stuff...

BUT: You really cannot dial the gain out of this amp. The Amp seems to come alive as from gain on 2 and above. But betwen 2 and 6 there isn't really much going on. From 6 to 8 it gets more saturated. But, all gain settings are quite similar. It's very gainy and juicy over the entire Gain-Knob-Level...

How's that on the BE?!? Can do achieve different drive sounds by turning back the gain knob?

 

[mixn4him]

It is about the same on a BE, it is just the way Dave designed the OD channel..

 

[ReloadZ]

Small box

 

[yankeebulldog]

i had the BE-100 and now the SS-100 i really really like it. Best purchase i ever made...

Make sure to use it with V30 speakers and with Motor city pickups is tone from heaven.

Simple head, really like the chewier and juicy tone compare to the BE-100...

I'm playing mostly 80' metal... Priest, Maiden, early Metallica ... but if you back up the gain it will get you to Bluesrock to Hardrock

Both head will get you there and they both sound really really good.

I was in the same boat, had the BE with the simple clean, and now have the SS. I really missed the full clean on the BE and sold it when I ordered the SS. I assume the new BE's clean is comparable to the SS from what I've seen so that's not really an issue anymore. That said, the clean on the SS is the best I've ever had in a high gainer. Like it better than the Suhr PT100 or Bogner Goldfinger cleans. I like the simplicity of the SS vs the BE since it's missing a few switches but I suspect the BE might get you a wider variety of tones. I really like the thicker/darker tone of the SS vs. the BE/HBE. With the boost on the SS you can easily cover most modern hard rock easily. I'm mostly using mine with a quad of Scumback BM75s. That's giving me a little more early VH and 80s hard rock tones but for heavier tones, I do like my V30 4x12.

 

[Greg Riley]

Both amps are great I've played all of them The Phil X and JJ-100 (Cantrell) are monsters also. The JJ-100 has more low end bloom compared to the BE-100. The SS-100 has a better more fenderish clean IMO. Either amp you choose is a WIN

 

[reverymike]

Dave modded my 71 Superlead to have a mix of the two mods. It's a beast!

I don't think you can go wrong with either, honestly.