BE100/Metroplex/Helios

[Adambomb]

I appreciate all the response, guys...they are very helpful...there is a Guitar Center down the street that is now selling the Friedman stuff...

While they don't have any in their showroom, there is a 30 day money back guarantee if I don't like what I bought, etc...

It's down to the Metroplex or the BE100 now...

I am sure I won't be able to give the MP a test drive because I am pretty much homebound, taking care of my aging mother...I can't make a trip anywhere, basically...

I am going by the Lance Keltner video for the most part with the Metroplex, plus your advice...

If I can dial in even a decent semblance of plexi tone with the BE100, I will probably go with that because it does alot of other stuff too...

But, that Metroplex sounds sooo plexi and then some...sheesh...

I do have cabinet choices...If I get the BE100, I'll get the cabinet with it...the 4X12 w/V30s and Greenbacks...but I also have a Marshall cab at home w/4X12 V30s...

If I buy the Metroplex, what cabinet(s) do you guys recommend?

I would pick up some type of greenback cab...G12 65s, or even older well used Marshall cabs with G12T75s....broken in can sound greenbackish to me. Scumbacks are nice for a higher wattage GB. Look on Guitar Center.com under Marshall and if you find a cab that says 'classic' next to it its a GB reissue cab from the 90s. Those are nice. Or the EVH 4x12 has the EVH Heritage GBs in there. Nice cab.

I've listened to the Greenback Heritage series, vintage ones, and the reissues Dave uses. I like the regular Greenback 25's current production over all of them currently. Not much on Scumbacks or Eminence. Having worked as a guitar speaker factory, I think the Friedmans sound best with three speakers... Creamback 65's, Greenback G12M, and good broken in V30's.

 

[Ventura]

Metroplex as is.
Helios with some stomps up front to shape the tone.

That'd be my direction. Helios has range man, just gotta dial it in. And since I know Bogner's committment to quality and have owned many for many years, I'd drop my coin on the Helios.

Just IMHO.

 

[Leotis]

Leotis....Jake should call you up to get his tone back over those EVH's he's using...cuz that sounds tits!

Hahahaha! Thanks!

Sadly, I think Jake sold off all his gear from his Ozzy and Badlands days when he was in the throes of a substance issue during his total recluse period. I've heard that that even included his famous "Whitey" Charvelized Fender.

Damn that sucks. I heard something about that too..if he had only held onto it and waited to sell. Can you imagine what he'd get if he ebayed some of that stuff?? BTW nice playing/tone!

Thanks man! While I don't know any of that stuff firsthand, that's just what I've gathered from looking around at the Jake forum. Sad...I hate it when things like that get the better of someone so talented.

 

[fusoid]

I'm ordering the BE100 half stack next week. Thank you all for your input...I will report in once I get it to the house...

 

[skoora]

Even though the BE-100 has a good master you might want to experiment treating it like a plexi and getting the master way up there and bring up the preamp gradually. Granted it will be loud as fuck but so is a good plexi. Not all MV amps work well this way but some just come alive when you crank them up with a little less preamp involved.

This a noodle from GC when I tried one a while back...not dialed in like described above though.

 

[VC4Ever]

The Metroplex sounds really nice. Definitely on the radar.

 

[fusoid]

Guys, I picked up my BE100 and 4X12 cab at GC today...It sounds as good as I had hoped...I am using the BE channel with the gain cranked to get a badass cranked plexi sound that is through the roof...

I have no frame of reference to compare this amp to other top end ones as I haven't tried out any...All I know is this thing is doing what I had hoped it would do and that is, it's making it hard for me to put my guitar down...

I can't emphasize enough how badass that cranked BE channel is...Holy crap, this one's a keeper...

 

[Badronald]

Awesome! Congrats.

 

[Badronald]

Even though the BE-100 has a good master you might want to experiment treating it like a plexi and getting the master way up there and bring up the preamp gradually. Granted it will be loud as fuck but so is a good plexi. Not all MV amps work well this way but some just come alive when you crank them up with a little less preamp involved.

This a noodle from GC when I tried one a while back...not dialed in like described above though.

Sounds great!

 

[RockyStar]

Guys, I picked up my BE100 and 4X12 cab at GC today...It sounds as good as I had hoped...I am using the BE channel with the gain cranked to get a badass cranked plexi sound that is through the roof...

I have no frame of reference to compare this amp to other top end ones as I haven't tried out any...All I know is this thing is doing what I had hoped it would do and that is, it's making it hard for me to put my guitar down...

I can't emphasize enough how badass that cranked BE channel is...Holy crap, this one's a keeper...

Good for you! I hope you enjoy it. It is an awesome amp.

 

[atrox]

Guys, I picked up my BE100 and 4X12 cab at GC today...It sounds as good as I had hoped...I am using the BE channel with the gain cranked to get a badass cranked plexi sound that is through the roof...

I have no frame of reference to compare this amp to other top end ones as I haven't tried out any...All I know is this thing is doing what I had hoped it would do and that is, it's making it hard for me to put my guitar down...

I can't emphasize enough how badass that cranked BE channel is...Holy crap, this one's a keeper...

Nice. I was just about to post that you can absolutely get that sizzle on the BE. It's a darker voiced amp, so you gotta get those presence and terrible controls up a bit more and turn on the voice switch on the front perhaps. Being a Marshall guy for decades, I got used to kinda turning the high end knobs way down, but the BE EQ is so sensitive that the slightest knob twitch makes a huge difference. Really great amps and congrats!

 

[iggs]

Guys, I picked up my BE100 and 4X12 cab at GC today...It sounds as good as I had hoped...I am using the BE channel with the gain cranked to get a badass cranked plexi sound that is through the roof...

I have no frame of reference to compare this amp to other top end ones as I haven't tried out any...All I know is this thing is doing what I had hoped it would do and that is, it's making it hard for me to put my guitar down...

I can't emphasize enough how badass that cranked BE channel is...Holy crap, this one's a keeper...

Awesomeness! Enjoy!!!