Anyone with Friedman preamp experience?

[dcburn mk.ii]

I recently borrowed my friends Friedman IR-X and I’m finding it super cool. Running it into my Motu and using the loop as well.

The plexi side is fantastic, really responds to guitar volume well. The boost sounds great. I need a little more time with the ganier second channel, but it’s cool so far…

Was just wondering what am I missing out on with the IR-D and IR-J?

I’ve owned both the Dirty Shirley and Twin Sister heads previously.

Really like the channel one plexi, I know the IR-J also has that as the first channel. Does the second channel sound better on the “J” over the “X”? Haven’t looked to see what the IR-D has to offer channel wise.

I am enjoying plugging directly in and not needing to open Logic or Garage Band. The loop is also another great feature! Plug and play, grab a track off YouTube to play along with, it’s super simple.

 

[dcburn]

You’re too old for new technology!
Turd.

 

[dcburn mk.ii]

Well, zero responses.
Ordered the IR-J to compare to the IR-X.

 

[SoooRad]

I had an X for a few months, it was fine for low volume screwing around, but ultimately didn't keep me enthused.

 

[dcburn mk.ii]

I had an X for a few months, it was fine for low volume screwing around, but ultimately didn't keep me enthused.

Im just using it as an way way to go into my interface and then into my ipad.
No plans on using with an amp/cab for the time being.

 

[romanianreaper]

I had an X for a few months, it was fine for low volume screwing around, but ultimately didn't keep me enthused.

Yeah that was me too. I think i would dig the IR-J better to be honest.

 

[dcburn mk.ii]

Yeah that was me too. I think i would dig the IR-J better to be honest.

IR-J being delivered tomorrow.
Gotta say though, as much as I am enjoying putting on the headphones and jamming along to tracks and having the ability to record some, it wont take place of my amps.
I dont have a need to be quiet or low volume on my property, so amps win.
Its not the same playing thru headphones, but cool gear none the less...

 

[Wayniac3]

I wonder how it would sound going through a Boogie Simul Satellite...

 

[blackba]

I wish the Friedman IR-X would have come out a few years before it did. I am currently using a Kingsley JTM/Plexi tube preamp pedal into a two notes cabm as my live direct to the PA rig. I also have a Kingsley Squire BF preamp that I use too.

The Friedman IR-X would have been cheaper and would be more compact. I am also curious how those Vox Valvenergy pedals would do compared to the Friedman and my current rig.

 

[Devin]

Its not the same playing thru headphones, but cool gear none the less...

I personally fucking hate playing guitar through headphones

Would rather just play my electric guitar unplugged

 

[dcburn mk.ii]

I personally fucking hate playing guitar through headphones

Would rather just play my electric guitar unplugged

I am a 4am riser everyday.
I have zero neighbors.
Only time I am considerate about volume is early morn with my coffee or later at night with a beer.
Comes in handy at those times.

But definitely not the same as playing an amp!

 

[cragginshred]

Had and returned both J and X. Both plexi side can get really close to real ones, however both ch 2 very compressed and dark. Hated internal boost j has. But if you wanting a heavy dark metal tone on ch2 and a clean on 1 it could be killer. I wanted a boosted plexi rock on ch 1 and solo tone on 2.
Nope 2 is such a different tone it did not work for me

 

[dcburn mk.ii]

Had and returned both J and X. Both plexi side can get really close to real ones, however both ch 2 very compressed and dark. Hated internal boost j has. But if you wanting a heavy dark metal tone on ch2 and a clean on 1 it could be killer. I wanted a boosted plexi rock on ch 1 and solo tone on 2.
Nope 2 is such a different tone it did not work for me

Actually, whether it sounds like a real plexi or not, I really like channel one of the IR-X with the gain up a bit.
Rolling the guitar volume back is clean enough for me. Picking dynamics from there...

Been to many shows with real plexis, but I can't say I have ever played thru a real one to know the exact tone.
I like channel one boosted as well.
I don't disagree with you on the second channel.
I was thinking the IR-J channel two might be a tad brighter than the X?

I think bottom line, I'm no expert on tone, but I'm trying to make true what I hear in my head.

 

[Shask]

I like the Synergy Be-Dlx preamp module

 

[tallcoolone]

I ditched the Tonex and picked up an IR-D a few weeks ago. It's pretty badass running through the TAE into a couple cabs. I'm sure it would sound great through a PS as well (just no reverb or delay ). After hearing all three on YT demos the D seemed more my cup. Great little box.

 

[mentoneman]

Had and returned both J and X. Both plexi side can get really close to real ones, however both ch 2 very compressed and dark. Hated internal boost j has. But if you wanting a heavy dark metal tone on ch2 and a clean on 1 it could be killer. I wanted a boosted plexi rock on ch 1 and solo tone on 2.
Nope 2 is such a different tone it did not work for me

i had my friend’s ir-j for a while. tried it as a pedal in front of a clean/dirty amp, ran it as a preamp in the return of my mark III, but it sounded best DI to mixer using the IR stuff. i can see it working for some folks, but A/B i preferred my UA Lion both in front of an amp and DI.

that said,
i’m awaiting delivery of a syn be-dlx module any day now….!

 

[romanianreaper]

I wanted to like the IR-X but it didn't blow me away and folks would be like "sounds great in the loop of my Diezel", etc. I'm like why even own a preamp if I've got to go into a tube amp? I need something that sounds great with anything.

 

[Smash]

I am a 4am riser everyday.
I have zero neighbors.
Only time I am considerate about volume is early morn with my coffee or later at night with a beer.
Comes in handy at those times.

But definitely not the same as playing an amp!

I play a lot through headphones when practicing. I dont want to spam my family with the same thing adnauseum. When i want to play, though, it is shaking walls

 

[gritstogroats]

Their IRs weren't great. But then again I don't use IRs a lot and havent had motivation to find ones I really like. That's going to be consistent across the board.

That said. I have an ir-x. I am ok with it. Does it's thing. I think of it sort of like a mesa throttle or a be od pedal. It does a thing. Not the same as actually owning the amp. But it does a decent job kicking things up a notch. And beats a spark for headphone playing.

 

[PDC]

I've got the IR-J in front of my non-MV 1973 50-watt Marshall. That old Marshall is just the ultimate 'blank canvas' for Amp-In-A-Box style pedals. I've cycled a Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe, BE-OD Deluxe, and a Suhr Eclipse in front of this head with fantastic results. Each one sounds distinctly different, but once dialed in they all provide that 'I could play all day' quality. The IR-J just sounds amazing through the '73. Extremely organic and amp-like. The power section and tone stack of the '73 brings a nice open rawness to what some have described a maybe just a bit too much 'polish' in Friedman's core tone. Sounds like they very best OG late 80's JCM800 you've ever heard with a TS out front. (Hmmmm ... isn't that the tone we've all been chasing all along???)

My one complaint that others have noted - there is no pedal bypass option on the IR-J. Its either on the JTM channel for clean to light crunch or the JCM channel for heavier rhythm and lead. Other pedals can all be bypassed to let you use the amp as your 'clean' channel - and then you have the 2 distinct channels of the pedal, so you really have a 3-channel amp. Not so with the IR-J.

I am a cave man, so I have no experience recording direct with this thing.