Friedman BE 50 Deluxe...Thoughts?

[braintheory]

Ya...the amp hype train is real. Go a little earlier and I remember when Diezel VH4's were touted as the "be all, end all" high gainer. Around that same time, everybody raved about SLO's still. Friedman came a little later, but for sure guys were hyping them up as the pinnacle of high gain Marshall tone.

I think in general a lot more amps were overhyped back then and on average we’re a bit more levelheaded these days

 

[angelspade]

I actually feel like his amps sound really good, and the build quality seems stellar. It's just that I play quite a bit of modernesque metal and tend to prefer amps that are on the brighter side and have an aggressive attack to them. These are the only things that have kept me away from his products. Another example might be the Diezel stuff...Fantastic amps in my option, but just too compressed for many.

 

[glpg80]

Kinda funny how RT goes.. Seems like it is popular here to rag on Friedman these days. When his stuff was less obtainable, it was the pinnacle here but now that it is plentiful, it's time to hype something else.

His new Jose based Swiss Army knife model is leaps and bounds better than his deluxe and way more aggressive as well as versatile. It’s everything I wished my metroplex was and then some. I’ll likely be grabbing one to replace my ecstasy I just sold.

 

[yngHL]

His new Jose based Swiss Army knife model is leaps and bounds better than his deluxe and way more aggressive as well as versatile. It’s everything I wished my metroplex was and then some. I’ll likely be grabbing one to replace my ecstasy I just sold.

Have you had a chance to play it?

 

[glpg80]

Have you had a chance to play it?

Are they even available for purchase yet?

I’ve owned both an ecstasy and a metroplex and know how they both sound recorded. I have not played one but under a mic it sounds better than the amps I’m comparing against.

 

[yngHL]

Are they even available for purchase yet?

I’ve owned both an ecstasy and a metroplex and know how they both sound recorded. I have not played one but under a mic it sounds better than the amps I’m comparing against.

I thought maybe you played one at NAMM. I don’t necessarily disagree but saying amp X which you’ve never played is better than amp Y is pretty wild.

 

[glpg80]

I thought maybe you played one at NAMM. I don’t necessarily disagree but saying amp X which you’ve never played is better than amp Y is pretty wild.

It was one of the most discussed amps at NAMM made by one of the most well known amp designers on the planet manufactured by the most common amplifier manufacturer in the world. Why the hell wouldn’t you be interested in buying one based on the plethora of recordings?

 

[VHTStark]

I think in general a lot more amps were overhyped back then and on average we’re a bit more levelheaded these days

There was some of that back then for sure. I mean, there just wasn't as much stuff available overall, so when you combine that with an amp doing something novel/unique combined with rarity....you get hype. Taking a VH4, for example, in 2002 not many players would have played one in N.America. In 2025, I bet most players here on RT have played one and have an opinion on its tone/feel.

You can't discount the effect of rarity though. Back when I was playing as a kid starting in the mid 90's, you saw 2203's and 2204's everywhere. Why? They were plentiful and cheap. Doesn't take away from them being great amps (classics)...but they weren't considered magical or special by any means. Alot of guys then would say,"Man....I am saving up for a Recto or an SLO....my jcm 800 only has 1 channel and not enough gain!!" Nowdays....with an unmolested old 800 being rarer, the dialogue is different:" I would take an old early 800's over anything....way more raw and aggressive...just boost it and it kills a Wizard!"

Us guitar players are a funny lot....

 

[braintheory]

There was some of that back then for sure. I mean, there just wasn't as much stuff available overall, so when you combine that with an amp doing something novel/unique combined with rarity....you get hype. Taking a VH4, for example, in 2002 not many players would have played one in N.America. In 2025, I bet most players here on RT have played one and have an opinion on its tone/feel.

You can't discount the effect of rarity though. Back when I was playing as a kid starting in the mid 90's, you saw 2203's and 2204's everywhere. Why? They were plentiful and cheap. Doesn't take away from them being great amps (classics)...but they weren't considered magical or special by any means. Alot of guys then would say,"Man....I am saving up for a Recto or an SLO....my jcm 800 only has 1 channel and not enough gain!!" Nowdays....with an unmolested old 800 being rarer, the dialogue is different:" I would take an old early 800's over anything....way more raw and aggressive...just boost it and it kills a Wizard!"

Us guitar players are a funny lot....

I'm guessing those guy's opinions aren't really coming from a proper place of lots of AB comparisons with reference points to make their conclusions. This is why my opinions haven't hugely changed the last ~12 years or so except for when I come across an amp here and there that is sort of a game changer to what I previously thought I understood, but that's just been a few amps once in a while over the years

I guess I'm lucky I got a IIC+ early on in the gear journey 12 years ago and a few years before that my appreciation for '70's JMP2203/4's started when I went to Tone Merchants where I got to first try several Friedman's, Mojave's and a Cameron Atomica. I was so excited to try something so "boutique" and rare for me at the time just to have my expectations really let down with how lacking these amps were in rawness/personality and aggression, I just didn't get it. I then went right after to visit Luxxtone where he had me plug into his 1979 JMP2203 (first time trying one at the time) and I was thinking this is basically the sound I fantasized those amps before to have had, but didn't

 

[Corey James]

I love mine, though it seems people are over the BE thing lately.

This is my BE50 with low gain settings:


This is it with mid gain in one ear and the DS40 in the other:

 

[The~Kid]

Honestly they are fucking badass......



Just put an SD1-W infront of it and a 6 band EQ at the end of your chain...... thats all you'll ever need aside from some reverb IMO

 

[yngHL]

It was one of the most discussed amps at NAMM made by one of the most well known amp designers on the planet manufactured by the most common amplifier manufacturer in the world. Why the hell wouldn’t you be interested in buying one based on the plethora of recordings?

I don’t disagree. My point is that you’re saying amp X shits on amp Y when you’ve never played amp X. You’re not in a position to say one’s better than the other.

He was smart securing that Jose name look how much hype it’s got already and nobodies played it.

 

[glpg80]

I don’t disagree. My point is that you’re saying amp X shits on amp Y when you’ve never played amp X. You’re not in a position to say one’s better than the other.

He was smart securing that Jose name look how much hype it’s got already and nobodies played it.

I’m in a position to say whatever the fuck I want about whatever amp I please.

Your opinion or lack thereof doesn’t automatically nullify any opinion of my own or anyone else’s for that matter. Just because you disagree doesn’t mean no opinion is allowed and your not in any position to say otherwise.

So here’s an opinion you’re really not going to like. if you don’t like opinions of others talking about gear on a site named Rig Talk, then shut your fucking ass up and keep it to yourself if your first inclination is to tell others to do the same.

 

[yngHL]

I’m in a position to say whatever the fuck I want about whatever amp I please.

Your opinion or lack thereof doesn’t automatically nullify any opinion of my own or anyone else’s for that matter. Just because you disagree doesn’t mean no opinion is allowed and your not in any position to say otherwise.

So here’s an opinion you’re really not going to like. if you don’t like opinions of others talking about gear on a site named Rig Talk, then shut your fucking ass up and keep it to yourself if your first inclination is to tell others to do the same.

I disagreed with one of your opinions shut up you sook.

 

[jasonP]

His new Jose based Swiss Army knife model is leaps and bounds better than his deluxe and way more aggressive as well as versatile. It’s everything I wished my metroplex was and then some. I’ll likely be grabbing one to replace my ecstasy I just sold.

How is the Jose leaps and bounds better and more versatile then the deluxe which is a channel switching amp and has all sorts of different switching modes and options on various controls? The updated deluxe are a lot more aggressive sounding and so much that I sent it back.

 

[angelspade]

How is the Jose leaps and bounds better and more versatile then the deluxe which is a channel switching amp and has all sorts of different switching modes and options on various controls? The updated deluxe are a lot more aggressive sounding and so much that I sent it back.

When was the updated version introduced?

 

[PSGuitar]

Interesting how some people can love an amp and some hate an amp. One man's aggression is another man's polite.

I'm in the market to add an amp to my stable, this summer and the BE-50 Deluxe is on my list, along with the Bogner 3534 50w, Diezel D-Mol, and EVH 5150 III EL34. I really like the aggression in the EVH EL34, yet it has an organic old school feel and vibe that I really like. I like that old school vibe.

I like the features of the Friedman, especially the Reaponse or negative feedback control. I also like the Saturation control. My PWE EH had that feature. It's great for having the ability to dial in a tight, percussive and bright punch or dial it back for a softer, darker and chewier tone, closer to a Bogner.
You can really get the feel and vibe you like with these controls.

Worried with the Friedman I'd miss the juicy goodness of a Bogner. Love my Shiva and have wanted an Ecstacy for a while.

Not sure it will give me fat, warm aggression of the EVH

But, I live the core tone and features of the Friedman.

Lately I've been playing my Bogner Shiva 20th EL34 and Revv Gen MKIII the most. Love my Shiva with EL34s.

I don't know the difference between the 5150 EL34 and Stealth EL34.

I tend to favor more what I call, more vintage or old school tones. I like thick and juicy with some good chew and sag.

 

[glpg80]

How is the Jose leaps and bounds better and more versatile then the deluxe which is a channel switching amp and has all sorts of different switching modes and options on various controls? The updated deluxe are a lot more aggressive sounding and so much that I sent it back.

The Jose mods he’s assembled into one amp are all over countless records that are well known. I don’t think as many deluxe recordings exist on record albeit the amps are versatile.

Features don’t make a good sounding amp as you know first hand. I wasn’t aware the Deluxe was updated to be more aggressive though? That sounds interesting, is there a release note or review?

 

[DanTravis62]

It has nothing to do with that. I was saying this stuff about Friedman since I first tried them back in 2012. Nothing personal against them, he seems like a great guy with amazing customer service, just not what I like to hear in an amp. I think it was just overhyped back in the day since there were less known options for hot rodded Marshall type amps besides Cameron, it was a fresh new product back then, and guys just knew less (including myself). Especially since 2020 guys just learned a lot from maybe more time on their hands and realized there are just better amps out there for similar prices or some even less on the used market. For obtainable amps I really enjoy the new Bogner Snorkler 50 and '90's Recto Reissue. I think anyone who likes the Friedman's should give the Snorklers a shot as it's darker voiced like most Friedman's, but with a lot more character, growl and feel to it, not polite or bland. Just my opinion. Naylor is another great one for this criteria

I don’t think anyone is ragging on him. It’s just enough people have played his amps now to form an opinion on them. Dave is an awesome builder and his customer service is exceptional.

Absolutely, by all accounts dave has great customer service and has a great business model.

It's possible to not care for a particular amp's sound and not be "ragging" on the builder.

I personally don't like the entire BE range of amps - but I love the dirty shirley, and the clips i've heard of the Plex and Jose are awesome.

People are allowed to not like the sound of something, especially when it costs as much as a wizard or larry.

 

[PSGuitar]

The Jose mods he’s assembled into one amp are all over countless records that are well known. I don’t think as many deluxe recordings exist on record albeit the amps are versatile.

Features don’t make a good sounding amp as you know first hand. I wasn’t aware the Deluxe was updated to be more aggressive though? That sounds interesting, is there a release note or review?

I also didn't know the Deluxe amps were designed to be more aggressive.
I'm assuming some of you find that increase in aggression to destroy the great tone of the BE.

Dave claims the BE-50 Deluxe is the best amp he's built. Depends what he means by best amp.