Friedman JJ-100 where’s the hype?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chuggs_The_Barbarian
  • Start date Start date
I think that amp was voiced specifically for live use. Jerry gets the most jaw droppingly awesome live tones I’ve ever heard in person. At one point he was using a Marsha and 20th Shiva and it was just incredible to hear, and his JJ100 tones are amazing. A lot of that is the iso cab and mic as well. That man knows how to get a killer live tone that’s for sure.

Recorded, it comes off a little to smooth and undefined for my taste. Those latest records sound kinda boring.

Point is, it’s a tool for a job.
 
Chuggs_The_Barbarian said:
Who all loves this amp? Having a hard time with it. Played a BE-100. Same. They sound like a recording of a amp. Very dark and not that responsive.
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The Friedman sound is a produced Marshall-based sound. It's the highly produced Marshall sound you hear on records brought to life in the room. This is literally the exact thing Dave was going for, and he achieved it (to great success). You clearly are hearing the amp as it is intended -- you literally used the words "they sound like a recording of an amp" -- you just don't like it. To me, it sounds like you want it to be a Marshall. It's not intended to be a Marshall. So you want it to be something it's not. So it's not the amp for you. That's fine.

I don't understand people who buy a Friedman expecting a Marshall. If you want a Marshall, buy a Marshall. Friedmans are based on Marshalls, but they aren't Marshalls. They are more refined, smoother, more compressed, and have the harsh frequencies that "take your head off" rolled off. As you said, they sound like a recording of a really great modded Marshall. That's the sound. That's what Dave was going for.

If you want something bright and uncompressed and gnarly, then buy an old Marshall. ?‍♂️
 
I've never played a Friedman anything, but I saw the Dead Daisies live several years back when Rich Fortus was in the band and he was using BE stacks.

Fuckin shit sounded fuckin amazing


I'd love to try one but I'm just too poor
 
With a good mid boost the JJ is ok. For less polished try the Small box, very raw and in your face! Still having owned 2 BE dleuxes and an X, SB, and taco I sold them all. 3rd power kitchen sink has the open mids I like!
 
I don't like Friedmans with V30's, that may be part of the issue some have. G12M or H all the way for rock n' roll tones.
 
Beandust said:
Never tried a JJ, it's a signature amp. Does it sound like AIC? Isnt that what your purchasing? He is a highly respected player, bitching about a signature amp not sounding like another brand or what's all the hype post when there are tons of threads and information from owners and users in the Friedman section about the JJ. Oh well I guess it's easier to ignore that stuff and just make a thread leaving out the signature on the mentioned signature amp. Maybe it's a cash thing and Cantrell absolutely hates the fucking thing. I kind of have doubts on that tho. I still want that signature amp that makes me sound like an artist that's never even been born but I got his signature amp already. His name will be Richard Troll
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Kinda hits the nail on the head here. Now, regardless of my being a fan of the AIC toanz (which I most certainly am), the JJ did sound and do a lot more than *just* TheJerry. Like I'd said, I liked it way better than the BE, and the Slax to me was, well, I dunno - that clipping was just too smooth but Ch.1 raunched up was magnificent. Again, bits and pieces of this amp and that amp were really fkn choice, but the amp(s) in their entirety - only the JJ was - for me - where it was at. But @Beandust makes a valid point here - it *is* a signature amp - Jerry did have a lot of (all?) of his input into making the amp - he uses it for a shit tonne of his recordings and live performances - so, Friedman made an amp that the artist it was made for is stoked on, and to the specs of that artist, and perhaps engaging up a buying demographic who also appreciates that tone (good luck sounding like TheJerry though, lad's got steez in his fingers and DECADES under his knuckles!!) for open market sales.

It's business. And Dave knows how to move amps...he's the master of release - tease a tweak - tweak - release update - 50W - then 100W - then new revision - he's a master at keeping the assembly line moving.

I don't think the OP was intentionally trolling - I saw it more as a "not just an artist's siggy amp, but so much more" amp question. Cuz I felt the JJ did do a helluva lot more than JustJerry.
 
I
Ventura said:
Kinda hits the nail on the head here. Now, regardless of my being a fan of the AIC toanz (which I most certainly am), the JJ did sound and do a lot more than *just* TheJerry. Like I'd said, I liked it way better than the BE, and the Slax to me was, well, I dunno - that clipping was just too smooth but Ch.1 raunched up was magnificent. Again, bits and pieces of this amp and that amp were really fkn choice, but the amp(s) in their entirety - only the JJ was - for me - where it was at. But @Beandust makes a valid point here - it *is* a signature amp - Jerry did have a lot of (all?) of his input into making the amp - he uses it for a shit tonne of his recordings and live performances - so, Friedman made an amp that the artist it was made for is stoked on, and to the specs of that artist, and perhaps engaging up a buying demographic who also appreciates that tone (good luck sounding like TheJerry though, lad's got steez in his fingers and DECADES under his knuckles!!) for open market sales.

It's business. And Dave knows how to move amps...he's the master of release - tease a tweak - tweak - release update - 50W - then 100W - then new revision - he's a master at keeping the assembly line moving.

I don't think the OP was intentionally trolling - I saw it more as a "not just an artist's siggy amp, but so much more" amp question. Cuz I felt the JJ did do a helluva lot more than JustJerry.
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i wasn’t trashing it. It’s a ver good sounding amp. Just different. I seen him twice this year. His sound Was great.
 
Most of my recordings a few years ago were my JJ Jr. with a line out, into a computer interface and I think it sounded killer. No other company was getting that type of grind with el84s, no way.

I love the sound of Friedmans and how the knobs can be turned all the way up or down and always remains usable.

I have met Dave and he actually modified one of my Marshalls back before he started with the amps he is making today. I really respect the guy for always trying new things and covering a lot of ground and price points. He has stage ready 100 watt heads, mid priced smaller heads, combos, and pedals that sound like the tones in his amps. Everyone can get something that fits their price point.

I've had the ASM12 FRFR when I had my Fractal, thr BE pedal, and JJ Jr. Amp. All solid. I have to admit I'm a Friedman tone lover bit I do love Marshalls too.
 
I enjoyed my Butterslax (got from Uncle Mo) when I had it. Great channel 1, but did not have the MAIN sound I was looking for it. It went after the 1 st Monomyth came in. No channel switching, but the tonez is there!

Would love to try a SB.
 
Mikeyboyeee said:
I enjoyed my Butterslax (got from Uncle Mo) when I had it. Great channel 1, but did not have the MAIN sound I was looking for it. It went after the 1 st Monomyth came in. No channel switching, but the tonez is there!

Would love to try a SB.
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I just go a Monomyth modded metro 100w. It definitely has the sound! Switching would be nice though.
 
Chuggs_The_Barbarian said:
I

i wasn’t trashing it. It’s a ver good sounding amp. Just different. I seen him twice this year. His sound Was great.
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All good, I didnt read it as trashing the amp, it seemed to be questioning why the amp is highly regarded and mention of the tone stack not being Marshall enough. I personally dont buy sig gear because I dont have the skills of any of these pros. The Friedman debate has been around for quite a while from the 1st bit of hype over the BE100, so your quite late to the party from my findings. I always thought the JJ was bad ass and deserves to be considered in a class by itself. Lots of opinions out there, it's close to being 10 years old. Get a Larry. I want to see that thread reach another milestone
 
All talk without tone samples! This is when I had a JJ 100w

 
Mikeyboyeee said:
I enjoyed my Butterslax (got from Uncle Mo) when I had it. Great channel 1, but did not have the MAIN sound I was looking for it. It went after the 1 st Monomyth came in. No channel switching, but the tonez is there!

Would love to try a SB.
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M'MAN!!!!!!!!!!! ?✊

That Ch.1 really was tits wasn't it?!?!?!
 
Necrobump for anyone who hasn't figured it out... I was pretty disappointed at first with my JJ100 BUT, after messing with it, I realized quickly that the standard knob settings gave me the same results... Dark, too smooth and polished but I leaned to stopping using my eyes with the knobs. Also added the nfb and depth knobs to adjust things a little. It's basically a jj100 deluxe, now with a second channel with it's own gain volume and JBE/sat switch.
I don't suggest trying to mod a 4000 dollar amp right off the bat, but I've been building for a minute. This thing is killer and even has the deluxe switchable mods on the back. I LOVE the amp and have an additional channel. It kicks MAJOR ass.
 
Dirty Shirley for the win. I do have Marsha #29 with 2 masters and 100 watts that is absolutely the baddest tone I have heard, even my poor technique can’t hide it. David can get it done…
 
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