BE 100 Gen 1 vs Gen 2 Observations +

[BrentSP]

did you end up removing a few 500p caps off the plates that were filtering out the highs since you went to Synergy caps? Or maybe by going to the 4 ohm tap made up for it.

Don't think he remove any of the 500pf plate caps. Not at least from the ones i've seen. Going to the 4ohm tap def makes the amp less dark and more raw.

So any info on the voicing switch update since you've seen the new revision?

 

[CrazyNutz]

did you end up removing a few 500p caps off the plates that were filtering out the highs since you went to Synergy caps? Or maybe by going to the 4 ohm tap made up for it.

Don't think he remove any of the 500pf plate caps. Not at least from the ones i've seen. Going to the 4ohm tap def makes the amp less dark and more raw.

So any info on the voicing switch update since you've seen the new revision?

I don't know what he changed in the voicing switch as of yet, I haven't seen one new enough to have those changes. I do however know info on the structure switch.

 

[NewWorldMan]

Well, I owned a Marsha for a while back in the day, had an original BE-100 (dual input), bought a new 2014 BE-100, and also had a late 2015 BE-100 (right before the 2016 updates). I now have a 2017 BE-100 on the way, so we'll see how it goes...

 

[LP Freak]

Looking forward to your opinion

 

[NewReligion]

Well, I owned a Marsha for a while back in the day, had an original BE-100 (dual input), bought a new 2014 BE-100, and also had a late 2015 BE-100 (right before the 2016 updates). I now have a 2017 BE-100 on the way, so we'll see how it goes...

I have 2013 Gen 1 (?) and 2014 Gen 2 (?) BE 100's. They are great and very road worthy but I just acquired a killer 1976 SLP Friedman Kitchen Sink. (Marshall before removing LL?) Holy smokes this thing is open and killer. Live I will use this and my Cameron Cantrell non cathode follower One Off (One off due to tone stack).

Huge difference between the factory BE 100's and the modded SLP. Both are great. The BE 100's are smoother but the SLP KS just has the perfect raw sizzle to it, not fizz but growling sizzle...

I installed a Metro Zero loss in it as the 1976 SLP had the 2 extra UL required speaker jacks and the loop mated up for that layout. My 1980 JMP 2203 had less distance between speaker jacks.

 

[CrazyNutz]

Well, I owned a Marsha for a while back in the day, had an original BE-100 (dual input), bought a new 2014 BE-100, and also had a late 2015 BE-100 (right before the 2016 updates). I now have a 2017 BE-100 on the way, so we'll see how it goes...

I have 2013 Gen 1 (?) and 2014 Gen 2 (?) BE 100's. They are great and very road worthy but I just acquired a killer 1976 SLP Friedman Kitchen Sink. (Marshall before removing LL?) Holy smokes this thing is open and killer. Live I will use this and my Cameron Cantrell non cathode follower One Off (One off due to tone stack).

Huge difference between the factory BE 100's and the modded SLP. Both are great. The BE 100's are smoother but the SLP KS just has the perfect raw sizzle to it, not fizz but growling sizzle...

I installed a Metro Zero loss in it as the 1976 SLP had the 2 extra UL required speaker jacks and the loop mated up for that layout. My 1980 JMP 2203 had less distance between speaker jacks.

That year SLP would have more filtering, closer to what the current BE100 has. Also a different choke that would be more aggressive.

 

[NewReligion]

Just picked up a 1976 Marshall SL Friedman Kitchen Sink. I had to correct the SAT mod and Install a Metro Zero Loss Loop as it fits right in the two extra speaker jacks at 1.5" on center. I prefer it over my 2013 and 2014 BE 100's even though it is a single channel amps. Great mid's but a bit more raw with greater highs and lows...

Don't get me wrong I will not part with any of the three but the KS or Marsha what ever it is to be known as just cries and blooms where the factory BE 100's do not. ♫

 

[BrentSP]

Just picked up a 1976 Marshall SL Friedman Kitchen Sink. I had to correct the SAT mod and Install a Metro Zero Loss Loop as it fits right in the two extra speaker jacks at 1.5" on center. I prefer it over my 2013 and 2014 BE 100's even though it is a single channel amps. Great mid's but a bit more raw with greater highs and lows...

Don't get me wrong I will not part with any of the three but the KS or Marsha what ever it is to be known as just cries and blooms where the factory BE 100's do not. ♫

Nice! Can you make out where he’s getting the extra highs from in the circuit? Cathodes and grids all the same? Plate resistors have 500p peak caps? NFB resistor value? To which ohm tap?

 

[CrazyNutz]

Nice! Can you make out where he’s getting the extra highs from in the circuit? Cathodes and grids all the same? Plate resistors have 500p peak caps? NFB resistor value? To which ohm tap?

The KS mods I've seen, do not have the 500pf snubbers on the plates. They have 330k plate resistors. The NFB comes off the speaker jack.

The cathode follower does however have the 500pf.

 

[NewReligion]

Just picked up a 1976 Marshall SL Friedman Kitchen Sink. I had to correct the SAT mod and Install a Metro Zero Loss Loop as it fits right in the two extra speaker jacks at 1.5" on center. I prefer it over my 2013 and 2014 BE 100's even though it is a single channel amps. Great mid's but a bit more raw with greater highs and lows...

Don't get me wrong I will not part with any of the three but the KS or Marsha what ever it is to be known as just cries and blooms where the factory BE 100's do not. ♫

Nice! Can you make out where he’s getting the extra highs from in the circuit? Cathodes and grids all the same? Plate resistors have 500p peak caps? NFB resistor value? To which ohm tap?

NFB is 47K. VX Plate has a 500PF paralleled over the 220k in series with a 100k instead of the usual 100pf paralleled with the 500pf in series with a 220k.

I dont think that is enough to make this difference. This does not have the 220k off the wiper of the Treble to a 1meg like my stock Friedman BE100's do. I would look more closely at that IMO. I use that mod to darken and smooth out some ratty amps I have worked.

Keep me in the loop.

 

[LP Freak]

^^ I couldn’t agree more.

 

[NewReligion]

David, I can tell you that I just "Love" my BE100 (2015 modified) in this photo side by side with my sons SLO even he stated that he thought the BE100 sounded better for the "Modified Marshall" meets Fender clean, and I still love the SLO. I still own a Marshall 50w that was modified by J. Arrendondo (from way back in the '80s) just haven't let it go, it's a bit noisy. I had a 100w Marshall modded by Cameron it was good for a certain sound as he tried to copy Jose's design but I felt it was centered around "One Certain Tone" and it didn't remind me of any of the Great Marshall tones that I love, as Jose seemed to modified it with more Gain, tighter lows and Not trying to copy "Someone else's" like so many try to copy EVH (early days) even Ed after a couple of albums didn't like "His Tone" which is funny because I loved his playing first then his tone? I felt that my Cameron nailed DOKKEN - UNCHAIN THE NIGHT tone but that's George's Tone! (which is awesome) Unfortunately it wasn't versatile enough to get much else. My BE100 can get the EVH/Lynch and so much more and what I love the most I can find "My Tone" what's awesome I can do Pat Metheny, Allan Holdsworth, EJ, G. Moore, to early R. Blackmore MIJ live plexi-tone "WOW", it's so genuinely versatile with the great Marshall/Fender heritage, love it!

Well damn lol...looks like I will now need a 2015 BE 100 to go with my 2013, 2014 and 1976 Friedman KS HBE SL 100. Stepping off track for a minute Mark Cameron has been really good to me as an individual. I have reverse engineered most of his work. It is obvious to me that he aims to please the ear of the customer. I have a 50 watt Cantrell non CF with a unique tone stack (one off) that just sings when it is not crying. The Cameron Jose/Atomica is the EVH all around tone to my ear. I can hear the zener's...It allows the clarity of low gain with amazing amounts of smooth clipping. Not really a fan of the Aldrich/Old Bitch as due to the way the signal feeds into V2 (a bit fizzy were the 3 I owned).

The BE 100 HBE (+ or- the SAT & C45) is cool but deviations on the theme of a 4 stage non CF with traditional TS is incredible once you learn how to stabilize the oscillation and noise. I feel fortunate to know enough to work on these circuits. Just my $.02...I will make a point to locate a 2015,2016, and 2017 BE 100 and try them out but my 1976 Friedman HBE KS spanks the 2013 and 2014 hands down as a single channel amp. Peace...♫

 

[Rdodson]

I have the 2015. Love it - and it would make sense that I would as I was a long-term 101b player. Plus, my favorite tones are Eric Johnson, Cream-era Clapton and Fair Warning VH. Those are all dark tones.

I do wish I had either the SS100 or Buxom Betty cleans.

 

[Adambomb]

I have yet to send my BE100 in for updates but if it makes the amp more open and less dark then I'm all for it. That being said though, I've still yet to hear clips that make a big difference between the new updates and the older BE.

 

[RedPlated]

I have yet to send my BE100 in for updates but if it makes the amp more open and less dark then I'm all for it. That being said though, I've still yet to hear clips that make a big difference between the new updates and the older BE.

It’s a huge difference. Forget about clips.

If you really want to open up the amp, have Dave add the Response control.

 

[atrox]

Nice difference in tone and feel. Do it!

 

[JerEvil]

I have yet to send my BE100 in for updates but if it makes the amp more open and less dark then I'm all for it. That being said though, I've still yet to hear clips that make a big difference between the new updates and the older BE.

It’s a huge difference. Forget about clips.

If you really want to open up the amp, have Dave add the Response control.

Yeah I am trying to decide if I should buy the BE-50 or have Dave mod a used BE-100. A few have come up for great prices used.

 

[CrazyNutz]

The Synergy caps, and NFB change is super worth it. I had my reservation at first, but I have totally change my tune.

 

[RedPlated]

I have yet to send my BE100 in for updates but if it makes the amp more open and less dark then I'm all for it. That being said though, I've still yet to hear clips that make a big difference between the new updates and the older BE.

It’s a huge difference. Forget about clips.

If you really want to open up the amp, have Dave add the Response control.

Yeah I am trying to decide if I should buy the BE-50 or have Dave mod a used BE-100. A few have come up for great prices used.

I've played both. Wouldn't ever give up my modded BE-100 for the BE-50. I greatly prefer the aesthetics of my BE-100 in a smaller head shell to the BE-50 as well. That gold line running through the middle of the BE-50 head shell drives me nuts.

The BE-50 is all the rage right now because it’s new. Adding the “Deluxe” features to the 100 will get you a killer amp. There’s a mint BE-100 on my local Craigslist right now for $2350.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have yet to send my BE100 in for updates but if it makes the amp more open and less dark then I'm all for it. That being said though, I've still yet to hear clips that make a big difference between the new updates and the older BE.

It’s a huge difference. Forget about clips.

If you really want to open up the amp, have Dave add the Response control.

Yeah I am trying to decide if I should buy the BE-50 or have Dave mod a used BE-100. A few have come up for great prices used.

I've played both. Wouldn't ever give up my modded BE-100 for the BE-50. I greatly prefer the aesthetics of my BE-100 in a smaller head shell to the BE-50 as well. That gold line running through the middle of the BE-50 head shell drives me nuts.

The BE-50 is all the rage right now because it’s new. Adding the “Deluxe” features to the 100 will get you a killer amp. There’s a mint BE-100 on my local Craigslist right now for $2350.

RedPlated: what version/year BE100 did you have modded and what mods did you add?