Knuckledraggers, tell me about the Friedman JEL-20

Doing the old school Marshall thing between the Bogner and the JEL, I'd say the JEL wins in sounding bigger and more dynamic. But using the DRECT and SLO modules, I'm surprised at how hard the bottom hits with this tiny setup. They both out rock my Ceriatone 2204 and Marshall 1960B 4x12 at bedroom levels.

I've put my modelers into the loop of the SYN20IR and it is the best experience I've had with them... so it makes a great power amp too... And the reactance and power structure features and master volume work here too.
What I’m trying to figure out is between those two, which one is gonna have the bigger thump in a live setting. I love the idea of the SYN 20 IR for variety, and the clips I’ve heard of the JEL 20 make it sound like it’s bigger than other EL 84 A I’ve had and played in the past.

Previous experience with the EL 84 A prevents me from ever looking at them, but I know advancements have been made in the last 10 years.

I lean towards the SYN20IR because I can get a variety of tone through different modules.
 
What I’m trying to figure out is between those two, which one is gonna have the bigger thump in a live setting. I love the idea of the SYN 20 IR for variety, and the clips I’ve heard of the JEL 20 make it sound like it’s bigger than other EL 84 A I’ve had and played in the past.

Previous experience with the EL 84 A prevents me from ever looking at them, but I know advancements have been made in the last 10 years.

I lean towards the SYN20IR because I can get a variety of tone through different modules.
I can't see them not being really close because both are using el84 power tubes and preamp tubes. But to my ears, the Synergy has more thump, especially if you are using a low end focused module.

Here is the way I'm looking at it, because I was getting ready to buy a JEL-20, and I think they both would be something I dig:
- Synergy has more preamp flexibility
- Synergy has more power options. If I decide I need more power, I grab my preamp modules and pop them into a rack, bigger amp, etc.
- The Synergy is cheaper initially.
- Maybe if we beg, Dave will create a Jake module.

I think you really can't go wrong either way.
 
I think I'm going to get the SLO II to start and then will move into other arenas, lol. That one seems to have a great tone that is really representative of what the amp can do.
Let me know how it is. I would probably get the SLO II as well, maybe over the Killer Kali.
 
I got both! They both kick ass in different ways. No real clean sounds to be had an SLO II, but from dirty clean to crunch to all out balls to the wall it’s a great module and the Marshall kicks ass. In fact, I like the Marshall module better than most of these Marshall heads I’ve had in my house for years.
View attachment 424639
I'm the opposite, I really am not loving the Synergy/Marshall JMP. I think it sounds like shit through my gt75 / V30 1960 cab. I should probably run it into my greenback/ weber 65 cab in my amp closet before I slag it more though. But even with iR's, I find it bass heavy and too much useless gain on tap. The shitty sound Fluff gets in his demo is what I also hear from mine. I think it should be tighter.
 
I'm the opposite, I really am not loving the Synergy/Marshall JMP. I think it sounds like shit through my gt75 / V30 1960 cab. I should probably run it into my greenback/ weber 65 cab in my amp closet before I slag it more though. But even with iR's, I find it bass heavy and too much useless gain on tap. The shitty sound Fluff gets in his demo is what I also hear from mine. I think it should be tighter.
That is crazy you say that because I just stumbled on this today and thought it sounded pretty good. What power amp do you use out of curiosity?

 
I'm the opposite, I really am not loving the Synergy/Marshall JMP. I think it sounds like shit through my gt75 / V30 1960 cab. I should probably run it into my greenback/ weber 65 cab in my amp closet before I slag it more though. But even with iR's, I find it bass heavy and too much useless gain on tap. The shitty sound Fluff gets in his demo is what I also hear from mine. I think it should be tighter.
I don’t use the bass channel part of the module. I just turn that off.
Treble channel, and the highest bright cap.
I wouldn’t make a determination based on the way Fluff dial it in I even play. I don’t even watch his videos. Watch the Leon Todd demos.
 
Back
Top