BE100 DLX - JJ or Slax Dirty Comparisons

[Junk Yard Dog]

Hey Team:

Who's owned, played, compared the BE100 DLX to the BE/HBE, JBE, 2 and 3 of the JJ and Slax?

Now that the DLX has the Thump and Frequency switch (to the left is JJ/Slax mode - more punchy, it's awesome), Can you get 90% close to the JJ and/or Slax aggression, gain, PUNCH with the DLX? ...Obviously, for JBE, Slax 2 and 3, the DLX has to have SAT on.

Cheers!

 

[ClintN667]

Following. All the demos I've seen of the BE100DLX have been more hard rock

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Following. All the demos I've seen of the BE100DLX have been more hard rock

Yup, exactly. No Sat on, boosted, or in-room, or discussions on how it compares to those two amps.

I played it and really liked it, but didn't have my JJ side-by-side with it.

 

[ClintN667]

When I had a Kemper my favorite profiles where of a BE-100 Deluxe that reampzone did. I'm not sure what was deluxe about his BE-100 but it was in my opinion the perfect profile. I'm not sure how that translates if at all to the production deluxe but that is the tone I'm always chasing. If I had that a Mesa Mark, a 5150, and something from Orange I could quit tone chasing with amps.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Very interested.

 

[fusedbrain]

Hey Team:
Now that the DLX has the Thump and Frequency switch (to the left is JJ/Slax mode - more punchy, it's awesome), Can you get 90% close to the JJ and/or Slax aggression, gain, PUNCH with the DLX?

As the base circuit of all the big boy Friedman amps is pretty much the same, I would say the answer would be yes.
With the addition of the thump and freq. switches to the BE deluxe, the BE100 DEluxe should be able to achieve all the gain tones from both the JJ and the Slax' by using the SAT switch and adjusting the thump and response controls.
The main considerations for what amp to get now seems to be: how much gain do you need, and what clean channel do you want?
BE100 deluxe - Max gain = 4 stages + diodes & plexi clean like the smallbox
Slax - Max gain = 4 stages + diodes ( same as BE100 deluxe ) & a kind of plexi-ish clean with diode clipping
JJ - Max gain = 3 stages + diodes & AC30-ish clean. ( 3 stages + diodes is still a lot of gain. Enough for Jerry )

Note that Slax cannot do traditional Friedman "BE mode" ( 3 stages, no diodes) like other 2 amps as diodes remain engaged on Slax channel 2
Other secondary features like Structure, C-45, Fat, and # of channels will also affect the decision.
The BE100 deluxe looks like a no-brainer unless the Slax & JJ amps start showing up at crazy prices on the used market.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Just came back from playing the Slax and BE-100 DLX side by side. Other than the obvious differences like all the switches and modes and global master volume on the Deluxe, they do have a difference in sound and feel. The Slax is more aggressive to me, more bright and sizzly and it does appear to have more gain on tap in Ch 3 than you can get in HBE mode with SAT engaged, which seemed wrong to me, but me, my dad and my son all agreed. Not tons more gain, but it is more... grainy, sizzling, and extreme.

I’ve owned a Butterslax and sold it and now having played both I’d love a BE-100 Deluxe.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Just came back from playing the Slax and BE-100 DLX side by side. Other than the obvious differences like all the switches and modes and global master volume on the Deluxe, they do have a difference in sound and feel. The Slax is more aggressive to me, more bright and sizzly and it does appear to have more gain on tap in Ch 3 than you can get in HBE mode with SAT engaged, which seemed wrong to me, but me, my dad and my son all agreed. Not tons more gain, but it is more... grainy, sizzling, and extreme.

I’ve owned a Butterslax and sold it and now having played both I’d love a BE-100 Deluxe.

I’ve owned a Butterslax and sold it and now having played both I’d love a BE-100 Deluxe.[/quote]

Great feedback! Actually, my benchmark is the JBE or channel 2 of the Slax. Currently, I’m boosting the BE channel of my JJ100 and occasionally using JBE as my “HBE” channel.

For my band, I’d never use Slax, Channel 3, so it seems like the DLX can get close to JBE and BE of the JJ100.

I spent about 30 mins with the DLX 3 weeks ago and to me, with the Frequency switch to the Left, it had that more immediate punch of the JJ vs the regular BE.

 

[RyeDaddy]

I’ve never played a JJ so I’m no help there.

To be more descriptive on the Slax vs BE-100 Deluxe though I wanted to add that the Slax in addition to what I said above also has more of that metallic “clank” sound is how I would express it. Does everybody know what I mean?

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Brought my JJ100 to compare to the DLX today. I was there with Robbie from GC Plat Room (Dallas) and he and I had the same thoughts.

First, one wasn’t “better” than the other; it’s all relative. Both were slamming through the Friedman 4x12. I had one, btw, that was used, but it had H30s on the bottom and it did not sound as badass as this one. Go figure. But that cab does rock.

Back to the amps. To me, the DLX was really aggressive. We both agreed: Response in the middle is where it’s at. It softens slightly to the left and right, depending on your flavor: great for tweaking and substantial, not subtle. It’s raw and aggressive and you can lower treble and presence if you like. That was without Sat in. I would be very happy with C45 on, Response middle, Frequency to the Left or Middle, and everything else to taste. Those settlings alone got amazing early AIC Facelift tones BE and HBE. Again, without Sat and even C45. It was chugg and dirty riff city. Of course it cleaned up well with guitar volume.

...We engaged Sat and C45 and it was just more. We upped the mids a bit.

We had the Masters between 4 and 5 and System Volume at 9:00 and 12:00. It was great at both volumes, but more and it got Beastly. It just got bigger.

My take: it’s not exact to the Slax or JJ, but you get there by 80+%, in my opinion. It does great clean, Blues, Rock, hard rock, and metal. Again: it can do a mean, aggressive metal.

So we plugged into my JJ100. 2014 and has JBE MV knob: 3 channel amp. We set the EQ the exact same. A bit thicker mids to our ears. We increased the presence slightly to give it that DLX “edge”. So we riffed on it for about 3 minutes and stopped. Same volume test of 9:00, 12:00, and then just over 12:00 and it got bigger. Robbie said with a blank stare at the cab, “Fuck. Killer, man. I wanna sell you that DLX, but your JJ’s a monster too. Have both!”

So, I left with my JJ and a smile and without money leaving my pocket. If I wasn’t in save mode, I would have grabbed the DLX.

So yeah, if I HAD to choose one, DLX all the way. It’s just amazing. But I’m very happy with my JJ. ...and yes, we cranked Plexi channel and riffed AC/DC and then boosted it with an OD. Just killer. We had several patrons and GC staff coming in to hear it and all nodded and jaw-dropped. Ya gotta play these with some volume to hear it...and feel it.

The DLX is a desert island amp. Of course, Dave nailed it.

 

[RyeDaddy]

Now THAT’S a great comparison