Friedman BE-100 DLX - Short Review...

[Junk Yard Dog]

Walked into GC Saturday and low and behold the 100 DLX was sitting there on top of a brand new Friedman 4x12.

For reference, I still have a 2017 BE100 / 2018 BE50 DLX / JJ100 and I've had the Slax. I know these amps pretty well.

I, for one, am not planning to get a 100 DLX as I'm happy with the JJ100 right now. That said...

Hell. Fuggin. Yeah. BE100 DLX is really awesome. It has everything i wanted to mod/add in the BE100. The biggest features for me are, and in order...

1) Thump with Frequency Knob. My favorite is Freq: Left. That's that deep, JJ/Slax gut punch.
2) Smallbox Plexi
3) Feels like a more aggressive BE and HBE Channel in general. Can anyone confirm this or that Dave tweaked? Maybe it was just my ears on the day.
4) Response switch, middle position.... If anyone tries this and still feels the Friedman's or BE100 DLX does not have enough 'raw mids/Marshall type buzzsaw cut' I don't know what else you would need. It's crazy in your face.

The Frequency and Response knob are NOT subtle. They make a very marked difference to sound, feel, and tone. Many options. You can get it very bright and aggressive, in your face.

Do you NEED to dump your other Friedman's, that's up to you. But If you have the chance, go play one. Dave did a great job, as always.

Cheers.

 

[ClintN667]

Awesome! My GC or Sam Ash never has anything cool. Although the local Sam Ash has a Blades(complete with Snakeskin tolex and drink holder)

 

[Bad.Seed]

Awesome! My GC or Sam Ash never has anything cool. Although the local Sam Ash has a Blades(complete with Snakeskin tolex and drink holder)

Friedman only stands in the shadow of Billy Blades. You know what to do.

 

[Bad.Seed]

I really need to hear this thing in person. The more I see it or read about it, the more it induces the Gasses (Not the bad kind, depending on how you look at it)

 

[Giga.Blast]

Played the brown eye 100 DLX at 8 Ohm through a 4x12 V30 loaded cab over the past 2 days in my studio against my rig.

It's a decent head but a little too busy on the shaping (gimmick) switches - IMO they aren't necessary and more of a distraction.

Overall the clean channel is decent. The BE channel is the key for me. BE can be dialed in for that Halen VH1 tight crunch and some good slightly spongy Maiden/Priest tight drive with very natural impressive volume gain roll-off. The HBE channel for me is too compressed almost like a Boss MT-2. Unlike the BE it feels inarticulate and audibly very brittle, almost to the point of becoming very "raspy/shrill" without setting the presence at 9 o'clock and the treble there too. I also need to set the bass at 3 o'clock to get it to fill evenly. The thump (or deep) sounds more like a omnidirectional sub wolfer and adds a boominess which is useless in recordings.

Last, I did bring to the studio a single Friedman 4x12 2xG12M/2xV30 loaded cab. Makes a world of difference. The blending of the Greenback with the V30 is beautiful. 2 G12Ms in the top, 2 V30s at the bottom. The G12M adds just enough existence to slightly sooth the center dominate mid apex of the V30 whereas retaining its classic chug while pedaling and muting.

It's obvious why Dave offers his 4 main 4x12 cabs loaded with this hybrid configuration once you get some time with it. Talk about a cab winner.

As for the brown eye 100 DLX, it's not my cup of tea but definitely worth testing it for a few days before moving on, if in fact you do.

 

[romanianreaper]

Awesome! My GC or Sam Ash never has anything cool. Although the local Sam Ash has a Blades(complete with Snakeskin tolex and drink holder)

Yeah my local Guitar Center has 8,000 Epiphones, 4,000 Fender Squier guitars, 2 Gibsons, and 1,000 books like "How to Wear Leather and Gold Like Yngwie" and "Crabcore: First Stop, the Local Bar, Last Stop Superstardom".

 

[Buckeyedog]

Awesome! My GC or Sam Ash never has anything cool. Although the local Sam Ash has a Blades(complete with Snakeskin tolex and drink holder)

Yeah my local Guitar Center has 8,000 Epiphones, 4,000 Fender Squier guitars, 2 Gibsons, and 1,000 books like "How to Wear Leather and Gold Like Yngwie" and "Crabcore: First Stop, the Local Bar, Last Stop Superstardom".

It's true!!!!!!

 

[romanianreaper]

It's true!!!!!!

Dude, I knew out of anyone you would appreciate this. LOL!

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I agree with Giga.blast that the Friedman 4x12 is a great cab all around and definitely a match for the Friedman amps. Appreciate your experience with the amp as well, mate. That's why I love RT. I've learned some much from others on here.