Mailman1971":3pl94xzw said:
Damn bro. Congrats.
Have read all your reviews. All your amps.
Have never seen you praise one like this.
Not even close. I trust your ears. And sounds like I need to purge some things and save my pennies
Well, I usually describe my gear with lengthy, thought out, detailed prose. It was late last night and I was super tired. We all know what amps do and how they [often] sound. This is an amp - the Slax - like many other amps. It just makes loud guitar noises. I want to simply state that here's a 100 amps, and here's what sets the 5 unique ones apart, the other 95 can all comfortably fall under the umbrella of a Mesa style, Marshall style, Fender style, 5150/6505, Soldano, Fryette - boom - that about "generalizes" 90% of amps out there. What grabs my nuts about the Bogners, Diezel and now Friedman is how they separate themselves from the pack.
The JJ seriously does have Cantrell's vibe ALL over it - and for me - I love this. Because hey, I play every AIC song there is anyway - always loved it.
I love the VH4 + Marshall tone of the Jones (Adam) - but he's got some serious signal chain going on in there and also a unique approach to playing, so I'll never really get into copping Adam Jones' tone or their music for that matter - it's fucking brilliant, just not my place to try and copy or jam out to...but they're my fave band, let's be clear.
Bogners took typical and made them chewy and grinding and lush and rich - I fell head over heels in love with this new juiciness.
VH4 - Diezel - NOTHING can touch or replicate Ch.3, period.
Now Friedman comes along and he's got more "uniqueness" that separate him from the pack - I dove in, and? Am blown away with what I'm hearing because not only is it rich, thick, articulate, lush and juicy; it's also *different* from the pack.
I like different.
The Friedmans are just on their own a really great design and the tones they offer are "the tones in my head" - really nice to get that... I know that sounds cliche and it likely is, but whatever, it's fact. Furthermore, there's mojo going on with these amps - things I really pick up on with amps that I've come to love are touch sensitivity, dynamics, articulation, bloom and definition, range, etc. May seem like ALL AMPS OFFER THIS, but lemme tell ya, they don't. Or at least not in the ways that I find preferential in my playing, wants and styles.
Don't go off selling shit to buy a Butterslax just because of me. There's no honeymoon phase with me - I just know what I like and I know what I don't. Friedmans' amps are new ground (more or less) to me, and it's only in playing them that I've really gotten to appreciate the inherent mojo. As mentioned to a friend, I thought Dave's amps were over-hyped glam boxes for quite a number of years. I came to realize I was ignorant. And I have NO problem stating when I'm wrong or in err. These really are special amps - to me - maybe not for everyone - but to me they're fucking great. Just like Diezel, and Bogner and Mako have been over the years. They're special.
I just have to say - the Butterslax has delivered hi-gain brutality in a way that I've not really heard before - it's thick, powerful as a fucking tornado, loud as a jet, but throughout all of this you can hear each note - tell me know this is possible?? I'm serious - the "range" on this amp has my legs feeling like they're getting batted with pillows when I'm playing - it's funny and surprising and quite unbelievable al the same - but the notes are all there with lots of gain should one so choose.
I still don't like Mastodon and not really keen on Kelliher's playing - no offence. Not my guy. Just really dig the amp.
Hope this makes sense.
Peace
Mo
