Friedman 4x12 vs Splawn with same speakers..unbiased opinion

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Adambomb

Adambomb

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So I'm in the stage of wanting the best possible sound out of my new BE-100. Have a couple questions. Now being this is the Friedman sub-forum, I'd like to get some unbiased opinions.

First I like cabs that cut well in a mix and that are well constructed. Thats THE main thing. I'm finding my Splawn 4x12 a little too dark, well it can be bright, but I'll say not as "alive" as I want it to be with the BE-100. Could be the speakers. Im running Creamback M65's and Small Block 55's in X-pattern. Would the two Greenback 25's and V30 mix Friedman does give me more cut and liveliness? Also I have no idea what woods they use, and if they have casters. I really need wheels on it if I'm going to get one for gigging.

Also, I love my Splawn 4x12.... You think I could just put 2 V30's on bottom and 2 Greenback 25's on top and get a similar sound as a Friedman 4x12? I could car less about having a cab that matches my head, I just want that Friedman cab sound I keep hearing on YouTube. I go to Nashville in a couple days and they have a GC Platinum Room their with all the Friedman stuff. Guess I'll piss them off and demo one of thier BE's with a Friedman 4x12.
 
I've always preferred a BE-100 with GB's. Thats just me...for "modern" stuff...V30's might be the way to go. For a choice...V30 bottom, GB top.
 
Yeah, either cab will be top quality and construction. You just need to tweak your speakers to taste. I'm running G12H30's with my BE100 and SS100 and loving them. Although I have a great affinity for a good quad of well broken-in, English Vintage 30's.
 
Well, I played the Brown Eye with a Friedman 4x12 cab today and was just blown away man. It was at Guitar Center Nashville. I'm just not sure if I put 2 V30's and 2 Greenbacks in my Splawn cab that I'd get the same sound... But you never know, could be even better.

Anybody know how they make their Friedman cabs as far as joints and wood?
 
Wood is 11 ply 5/8's Baltic birch. With tung and groove joints. Cabs all have a birch back also.
 
RACKSYSTEMS":2y5lpj38 said:
Wood is 11 ply 5/8's Baltic birch. With tung and groove joints. Cabs all have a birch back also.
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Thank you so much! Played one Yday and made the BE sound more amazing.
 
did you ever get the cab you liked? Try V30/GB in your Splawn?
 
I want ahead and pulled the trigger on a Friedman cabinet. Sounds better than my Splawn 10 fold. I was pretty skeptical about a Friedman 4x12, but it's really improved the tone of the BE.
 
wow - I had heard Splawn cabs sound pretty killer, I wonder why the Friedman cab sounds so good? I played a JJ and a BE100 through a Friedman cab and likewise, sounded really good. I figured the Splawn would be similar.
 
Oh Slawn cabs rock, but the BE cab is a little deeper and just projects way better. Its definitely tighter and has a good mid punch that cuts better than the Splawn 4x12. But some might like the more scoop and boom of a Splawn. Either way they are both top of the line boutique cabs.
 
Adambomb":104omfc5 said:
Oh Slawn cabs rock, but the BE cab is a little deeper and just projects way better. It definatly tighter and has a good mid punch that guts well. But some might like the more scoop and boom of a Splawn. Either way they are both top of the line boutiqe cabs.
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did you find the mixed speakers in the Friedman cab to be annoying or problematic when you were physically close to the cab?
 
journeyman73":2rg6wwrg said:
Adambomb":2rg6wwrg said:
Oh Slawn cabs rock, but the BE cab is a little deeper and just projects way better. It definatly tighter and has a good mid punch that guts well. But some might like the more scoop and boom of a Splawn. Either way they are both top of the line boutiqe cabs.
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did you find the mixed speakers in the Friedman cab to be annoying or problematic when you were physically close to the cab?
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annoying? no, nothing annoying about the cab regardless if your head and ears are up, down, or on the side, the sound doesn't change as much as some other cabs do. Now the cab does sound best in a band mix on stage. And with any speaker mix of two top two bottom you'll hear a little more of the certain speaker depending if your ears are above or below those two speakers (if that makes sense). Best cab I've ever played with any head by far, you just gotta try one out for yourself, hard to explain speaker frequency, trajectory, efficiency and all the tones in text.

PS: sorry halfway asleep....

I do know it cuts better than any cab/speakers I've ever played in band mixes. Band-mates even said it filled the room up nicely instead if being one directional and the drummer said it's not as hard to hear me, thus I don't have to turn it up as loud. Friedmans and Bogner cabs are my favorite and trust me I've played them all.. I worked for WGS Speakers as sound design for over 3 years. Never have played a Port City cab, but I seriously think that's one of the only ones.
 
I bet the Friedman cab sounds great but without having the same speakers in both cabs its hard to give an accurate comparison. Ive owned a few Splawn 4x12s over the years as well as Mesa, Bogner, Mills, VHT etc etc .... All nice cabs for different reasons, the Splawns are great but I do agree that they are not the most open sounding out there, however I do think they project well and sound pretty even at different angles.

I had a BE100 and have a JJ now... Ive been wanting to try the Friedman cab but two things have been keeping me from it. They only come in 16ohms and they dont come with casters....All my other cabs are 8 ohm and I like to run two cabs, one on each side of the stage. I was hoping to use my Splawn cab and Friedman cab together.......Maybe I will contact Rob and see if they can make me a cab with 8ohm speakers. I guess I could buy casters and install them.

It would be nice to hear from more Friedman cab owners on how they like theres compared to other high quality cabs.

Anyone ? :D
 
the4thlast1":2jlvh23c said:
I bet the Friedman cab sounds great but without having the same speakers in both cabs its hard to give an accurate comparison. Ive owned a few Splawn 4x12s over the years as well as Mesa, Bogner, Mills, VHT etc etc .... All nice cabs for different reasons, the Splawns are great but I do agree that they are not the most open sounding out there, however I do think they project well and sound pretty even at different angles.

I had a BE100 and have a JJ now... Ive been wanting to try the Friedman cab but two things have been keeping me from it. They only come in 16ohms and they dont come with casters....All my other cabs are 8 ohm and I like to run two cabs, one on each side of the stage. I was hoping to use my Splawn cab and Friedman cab together.......Maybe I will contact Rob and see if they can make me a cab with 8ohm speakers. I guess I could buy casters and install them.

It would be nice to hear from more Friedman cab owners on how they like theres compared to other high quality cabs.

Anyone ? :D
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I did put the same speakers in the Splawn. Well they were older Greenbacks but still same speakers. ALso tried Creambacks and Green Berets on top. I live 5 mins from WGS (cabs and speaker city galore). Also worked there for about 3 years. Companies would just send us cabs, Mesa, Marshall, Two Rock, Goodsell... mostly boutiqe amp companies looking for a quality American speaker to fit their cab design.

Yea, before I bought my cab I talked to Dave and he said casters shouldn't be a problem as long as you install them right. I know they do the 8ohms and different speakers for endorsed touring pros but not sure about the weekend gigger, atleast thats what I have settled down to now.

But I'll stand by my word, my Friedman BE100 sound WAY better with the Friedman 4x12 to me, and me ears is all that matters. You just gotta try it and find your tone. but for most it'll be hard to try with same speakers in different cabs.
 
I have a 412 Friedman with V30's that is the best cab I've EVER heard. Awesome construction and quality.
 
kalt":1fm6l06n said:
I have a 412 Friedman with V30's that is the best cab I've EVER heard. Awesome construction and quality.
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did you ever try the 'stock' mix with greenbacks and v30's?
 
I have the 2x12 Friedman cab with V30's. Sounds really good too! Probably not as full as a 4x12, but way easier to move around...
 
I was gonna go the all V30 route when I was shopping for my Friedman 4x12, but the greenback 30 mix was just what sounded best for my diverse style of playing, like classic rock/melodic hard rock-metal and blues. If I was still in a metal band I'd gotten all V30's.
 
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