educate me on the Friedman BE

[screamindemon]

Hey guys just wondering about the Friedman BE and the different versions. Also the HBE is this an added tube gain stage over the BE?
So how many gain stages in the BE ? How many in the HBE ? I take it both amp use Diode clipping ? Is there and independent clean on all models ?

Thanks for the help

Brian

 

[scottosan]

Hey guys just wondering about the Friedman BE and the different versions. Also the HBE is this an added tube gain stage over the BE?
So how many gain stages in the BE ? How many in the HBE ? I take it both amp use Diode clipping ? Is there and independent clean on all models ?

Thanks for the help

Brian

BE is 3 gain stage , HBE is 4 gain stage. The BE, SS, JJ, and Butterslax all share the same circuit board with various tweaks and have a clean channel. The Phil X does not. The SAT switch can be used with BE or HBE

 

[CrazyNutz]

BE = 2 gain stages
HBE = 3 gain stages

Diode clipping only occurs if you engage the SAT switch on the BE100, BE50delux
On the JJ100 diode clipping occurs on the JBE mode.
SS100 has no diode clipping.

Most models have an independent clean, however the smallbox clean/plexi mode I think shares the eq.

 

[romanianreaper]

I played one of these in person about a year ago and was so impressed. It is the type of amp that has a great amount of gain but not like the gain in some "other-the-top" gain type of amp. It is like it is so articulate and great for palm mutes that you don't need a ton of gain. Dave recently adjusted the low mids for the 50-watter.

 

[screamindemon]

Cool, Thanks for the replies. So does the original version and the current have an independent clean channel ?

 

[Mattfig]

I have a BE-100 and simply adore it....It has a 2015/2016 toggle to go between the different negative feedback settings and a Phil X Sag mod to boot!

FWIW, I prefer the open sound of the 2015 to the more compressed 2016 tone....But both are amazing!

 

[Racerxrated]

They are smooth Marshally amps that are easier to play than a vintage boosted Marshall. Nice amps but I like the more raw boosted Marshall thing. I've had 2 older ones and played a 2016. My favorite was an early ptp version with a mod to make it more open sounding. Nice amps, especially if you dig a smooth refined Marshall tone best.

 

[SpiderWars]

FWIW, scottosan and Crazynutz are both correct (imo) but it may not look like it. The BE/HBE both have a cathode follower (typ Marshall type with gain stage preceeding it). Some people don't count that as a 'gain' stage because the gain is slightly less than 1. I like counting it as a gain stage because typically when people ask that question they really want to know "How many triodes?".

BE=4 triodes
HBE=5 triodes (the 5th is just inserted in front of BE)

The Friedman SAT is slightly different and way easier to implement into an amp that doesn't have SAT than the Jose/Cameron way, although the circuit values can look very similar/exact. Also, imo with SAT you don't need the extra gain stage.

 

[LP Freak]

FWIW, scottosan and Crazynutz are both correct (imo) but it may not look like it. The BE/HBE both have a cathode follower (typ Marshall type with gain stage preceeding it). Some people don't count that as a 'gain' stage because the gain is slightly less than 1. I like counting it as a gain stage because typically when people ask that question they really want to know "How many triodes?".

BE=4 triodes
HBE=5 triodes (the 5th is just inserted in front of BE)

The Friedman SAT is slightly different and way easier to implement into an amp that doesn't have SAT than the Jose/Cameron way, although the circuit values can look very similar/exact. Also, imo with SAT you don't need the extra gain stage.

I’m gonna gonna go on a limb and say most people think like Scottosan

 

[Browns Fan]

You Need One!!! That is your lesson for today?

 

[CrazyNutz]

FWIW, scottosan and Crazynutz are both correct (imo) but it may not look like it. The BE/HBE both have a cathode follower (typ Marshall type with gain stage preceeding it). Some people don't count that as a 'gain' stage because the gain is slightly less than 1. I like counting it as a gain stage because typically when people ask that question they really want to know "How many triodes?".

BE=4 triodes
HBE=5 triodes (the 5th is just inserted in front of BE)

The Friedman SAT is slightly different and way easier to implement into an amp that doesn't have SAT than the Jose/Cameron way, although the circuit values can look very similar/exact. Also, imo with SAT you don't need the extra gain stage.

Yeah, It just depends on how you look at it. I typically omit the CF as a gain stage, I think of it as a buffer for driving tonestacks & loops, which is mainly what it's used for.

BTW guy's I wasn't trying to correct scott, we were just posting at the same time, so I had not seen his post yet while I was writing mine.

 

[BYTOR]

Buy the BE-50 Deluxe......it has everything you could need.

 

[Geranamo]

I bought the Runt 50 with a factory mod and a factory footswitch mod, I replaced the preamp tubes with JJ high gain, balance and noise & microphonics......the Clean channel did not like that addition so I went back to the factory tube with no problems any advice on the others?

 

[philb]

Great amp. The best i’ve ever owned. Still have it after 4 years.
Best Marshall tone. It’s incredible live.

 

[Geranamo]

Agree the Runt has a ballsy clean and a deep Marshall crunch