Friedman BE100 - EVH 5150 III 50 watt

[thawn5150]

I presently have the EVH 50 watt and I'm quite happy with it . I put some 12at7 in V2 and V3 to tame the third channel and its much better. I tried a BE100 a few weeks ago nice amp but I was a little underwhelmed maybe its the hype. I really think I needed to spend more time with it. I also tried the small box and that amp was very impressive right off the bat. I liked the clean channel better and it seemed to have a more open sound. The bad part is up here in Canada with our crappy dollar the BE 100 is around 5000.00,smallbox around 4000.00 its a bit of coin and not everyone can afford an amp that expensive but I guess- where there is a will there is a way. Next time I get the chance I will try them again, what better way to waste a few hours !

 

[ejecta]

I tried a BE100 a few weeks ago nice amp but I was a little underwhelmed maybe its the hype.

I've owned both a BE and the 5153. IMHO and for my tastes while the 5153 isn't a perfect amp there was no justification for me in the cost difference to go for the BE. The tones were not that much better on the BE by any stretch.... different maybe a little but not at all that much money better.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

Interesting the different reactions...

 

[memberzonly]

Respectfully, where I think the 5150iii is great is the blue channel. I found the red unusable and the volume jump between the green/blue is simply a non-starter for me for gigging.

When they first came out, I bought 2 - one JUST for a clean and the 2nd for the blue/red. I have said before that if the blue/green issue were addressed and the red were an extension of the blue, it'd be a home run on the cheap.

WRT the BE100, I have owned a 2013 and a 2015. In both cases, I found the HBE unusable for my purposes. To squished/compressed for me and I never got a good balance on the gain between the BE and HBE. The same complaint that I had about the 5150iii red channel, albeit not ratty.

The BE100 felt better under the fingers to me than the 5150iii. But I think the 5150iii sounded better when rolling down your guitar volume.

Both the HBE and red channel, imho, get lost in a mix. Too much gain, too compressed. YMMV.

If you really want 3 *great* channels, look into a PT100 Signature and save some $$$. Or, if you want great tone in a smaller footprint and much more options as a gigging musician, look at a Shiva Duality:

http://www.shivaaudio.com/en/duality/

 

[ejecta]

Respectfully, where I think the 5150iii is great is the blue channel. I found the red unusable and the volume jump between the green/blue is simply a non-starter for me for gigging.

When they first came out, I bought 2 - one JUST for a clean and the 2nd for the blue/red. I have said before that if the blue/green issue were addressed and the red were an extension of the blue, it'd be a home run on the cheap.

But I think the 5150iii sounded better when rolling down your guitar volume.

Both the HBE and red channel, imho, get lost in a mix. Too much gain, too compressed. YMMV.
/

I agree with a lot you say here. I never used the red but I used the blue and green then used an effects unit to control the amp via midi and to correct the volume jump. Like I said the EVH is far from perfect but I be damn if it didn't keep me from buying other amps.. especially ones that cost way more than it does with way less features like midi and being able to play the amp silent and direct at home. Just didn't seem worth it when I compared the two. Where depart from what you said is I found the EVH a great gigging amp. I didn't have to worry about anything happening to a $2k+ amp and it sounded good IMHO.

 

[Rock Bodom]

I have both, to me the BE100 sounds very Marshall still...just need to keep the bass rolled off, and stay off the HBE.

The 5153 blue channel has never made me think Marshall, but rather more modern and compressed. If that works for you, the 5153 is a great value, and I totally agree with ejecta on being a great gigging amp. If I were playing out again, in many cases I'd probably grab my 5153 for sure and leave the Friedman safe and sound at home.

I'm one of those guys that no matter what amp I buy, I eventually find myself trying to dial in Marshall tones. I think the BE100 has it in spades, again, the 5153 is voiced differently to me.

 

[JerEvil]

I have both, to me the BE100 sounds very Marshall still...just need to keep the bass rolled off, and stay off the HBE.

The 5153 blue channel has never made me think Marshall, but rather more modern and compressed. If that works for you, the 5153 is a great value, and I totally agree with ejecta on being a great gigging amp. If I were playing out again, in many cases I'd probably grab my 5153 for sure and leave the Friedman safe and sound at home.

I'm one of those guys that no matter what amp I buy, I eventually find myself trying to dial in Marshall tones. I think the BE100 has it in spades, again, the 5153 is voiced differently to me.

Yup. That's why modern metal amps never stick around for me. I always dial dial them in to be as close to "that sound" that I am used to.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

Lots to think about here but some are right...the 5153 doesn't sound Marshally to me...it does in a way but in other ways it doesn't. It IS a great amp and I easily gig with it but I want to finally get the amp that I hear in my head and I think that's the Friedman. I'm sure the PT100 is great too but I'm dealing with Sweetwater only and waiting for their promos. If I don't dig it, I'll send it back.

The other thing I'm figuring out is my FX...currently, I'm running just a few boss pedals and using the 5153 footswitch for channel changing. I had a thought of going back to the Helix but FX ONLY as I didn't dig the modeling as much as other units. But for ease of use, routability, amp channel switching, etc...the Helix is tops in my mind after having owned one previously. Problem is the cost of the Friedman will have the helix (or something else) on the backburner for awhile.

 

[ericb]

Lots to think about here but some are right...the 5153 doesn't sound Marshally to me...it does in a way but in other ways it doesn't. It IS a great amp and I easily gig with it but I want to finally get the amp that I hear in my head and I think that's the Friedman. I'm sure the PT100 is great too but I'm dealing with Sweetwater only and waiting for their promos. If I don't dig it, I'll send it back.

The other thing I'm figuring out is my FX...currently, I'm running just a few boss pedals and using the 5153 footswitch for channel changing. I had a thought of going back to the Helix but FX ONLY as I didn't dig the modeling as much as other units. But for ease of use, routability, amp channel switching, etc...the Helix is tops in my mind after having owned one previously. Problem is the cost of the Friedman will have the helix (or something else) on the backburner for awhile.

Just curious if you've tried /owned a Splawn Pro-Mod, Quick Rod, etc? It might be exactly what you want way cheaper than a new BE100... I've followed your posts on TGP , and the FAS forum (not stalking , just for entertainment value.. lol!) . . . I have about 20 amps of all kinds, and am a diehard Modded-Marshall lover, and LOVE my Splawns. When using my AX8 I'm not that impressed with the Friedman models modeling ,like all the other guys are. . I like the Camerons and Splawns the most so far and I've had mine about 6 months or so . Anyway, just an idea in case you'd never thought of that. Best of luck , Eric

 

[crankyrayhanky]

if the blue/green issue were addressed and the red were an extension of the blue, it'd be a home run on the cheap.

Agreed open this but easily addressed... mod for dual pots on gain and volume, 12au7 cleans up the Red

That being said, many people just need that Marshall tone. For me Blue is right there and I like the more modern voicing to it. Others need that Marshall

 

[Speeddemon]

Indeed. A small tube swap is all that is needed to tame the Red channel and open it up.

I went the in-between route; 2x 5751 in V2 and V3 and a Sovtek LPS in V4, if I recall correctly.
I tried a 60's RCA 12AU7 once in V3 and that REALLY brought it down to Gary Moore type of gain. But then you'll be actually struggling to get the ultra chugg-chugga out of the red channel.