Blankenship vs Friedman Small Box

[War Admiral]

Just wondering if the Variplex is the precursor to the Small Box. I know the Variplex comes with the Variac but seems very similar otherwise. I made this video a few years ago...does it sound similar? Listening back I find it had a nice grind to it...totally dry...no effects.

 

[mixn4him]

Maybe, the Variplex is a tweaked Plexi circuit but not far from original, where the SB is more of a Modded Marshall. Much more preamp gain on the SB where the VP is designed to do the cranked Plexi on 10 thing with the Variac to brown it and lower the overall volume. Maybe Apples to Apples but definitely different monsters...

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I was considering a Variplex myself, but most of the reviews I heard (from trusted sources) were not great. I've played a Smallbox and it was killer...

 

[War Admiral]

I never played a SB and would like to...wonder if its as squishy as the variplex. I was wondering because I know Freidman designed the variplex and had Roy build them. Then later he came out with the SB.

 

[mixn4him]

I would not call any of Dave's amps "Squishy". His filtering is pretty high and all the amps have some type of fixed resonance circuit on the output. The Suhr SL67 in the low voltage mode would be the closest thing to the Variplex...

 

[Bronco]

I would not call any of Dave's amps "Squishy". His filtering is pretty high and all the amps have some type of fixed resonance circuit on the output. The Suhr SL67 in the low voltage mode would be the closest thing to the Variplex...

Well the Phil X has a low voltage mode...frankly, that's probably closer to the Blankenship than the SmallBox in terms of feel.