Friedman Jose First Impressions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yehuda
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Jdub said:
I have yet to hear a clip of this amp that makes me even remotely interested in buying one.
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I agree. Why not just use a 50-dollar overdrive pedal if you want more? Sounds better to me than the mods.
 
I don’t think anyone looking for modern metal is going to make this their first choice. It’s a plexi with Dave’s take on Jose’s mods. And it starts out with a damn good plexi platform. So yes, it wants to be turned up loud to get the goods. I’m really digging it for what I like to play. Here’s a clip with my phone on top of the amp testing one of my vibes. It’s through my new Friedman 4x12 with Greenbacks and V30’s:
 
Sounds good! I wonder how close a good plexi and a few pedals can get? I’ve been jonesing for a clean 50w plexi of some flavor. Was thinking am SL67 as the OG Marshalls are too hard to find.
 
Jccobb2 said:
Sounds good! I wonder how close a good plexi and a few pedals can get? I’ve been jonesing for a clean 50w plexi of some flavor. Was thinking am SL67 as the OG Marshalls are too hard to find.
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The Suhr SL67 is a KILLER take on a plexi. I use a Giffin Super Doopah drive (basically an SD-1 with some additional tonal/ clipping options) to push it into 80's/ modded Marshall territory. Is it the same as a Jose? Dunno, but it has to be in the same zip code.
 
R Weaver FX said:
I don’t think anyone looking for modern metal is going to make this their first choice. It’s a plexi with Dave’s take on Jose’s mods. And it starts out with a damn good plexi platform. So yes, it wants to be turned up loud to get the goods. I’m really digging it for what I like to play. Here’s a clip with my phone on top of the amp testing one of my vibes. It’s through my new Friedman 4x12 with Greenbacks and V30’s:
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That sounds a little better. I can't stand modern metal and would like to hear the Friedman/Jose set up in an attempt to sound like a Plexi. From my experience, no amp does Marshall better than Marshall. Although some of the clones such as Suhr, Metro, Germino and PLEX do sound quite good to me as well. Can the Jose sound like a good Marshall? If so, I have yet to hear it. You say it starts off with a damn good Plexi platform.. maybe on paper but it does not sound like one.... at all. Have you owned a Plexi? All the clips sounds way too synthetic, boomy, modern and hollow in the mids to me. Maybe dialed in different and in person would change my mind, but so far that amp sounds totally meh to me..
 
Jdub said:
That sounds a little better. I can't stand modern metal and would like to hear the Friedman/Jose set up in an attempt to sound like a Plexi. From my experience, no amp does Marshall better than Marshall. Although some of the clones such as Suhr, Metro, Germino and PLEX do sound quite good to me as well. Can the Jose sound like a good Marshall? If so, I have yet to hear it. You say it starts off with a damn good Plexi platform.. maybe on paper but it does not sound like one.... at all. Have you owned a Plexi? All the clips sounds way too synthetic, boomy, modern and hollow in the mids to me. Maybe dialed in different and in person would change my mind, but so far that amp sounds totally meh to me..
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Well I had my phone on top of the amp as stated so it’s muffled from how it sounds in the room of course. Yes, I have owned a ‘69 Plexi in the past. 20 years ago or so. Would I say this sounds just like it? Absolutely not from recollection. That thing was so loud and so brash. They were all so different back then as well so what are we gauging a perfect “plexi” on? Do I think it’s a good take on a Plexi sound with what’s available today? Yes I do. Clips never do things justice especially not a phone clip recorded on top of said amp and then YouTube compression etc. You have your opinion of the amp and that won’t change no matter what and that’s cool. That won’t change my enjoyment of this amp. As guitar players we tend to make our minds up pretty quick about what we’ll like and what we won’t without even trying it. I’ve done it.However, I’ve played this for a while now and I’m enjoying it more and more each day. To each his own. I dont post clips often (mainly now only to show what my pedals can do) and I’m fairly certain I had the right frame of mind about that.
 
R Weaver FX said:
Well I had my phone on top of the amp as stated so it’s muffled from how it sounds in the room of course. Yes, I have owned a ‘69 Plexi in the past. 20 years ago or so. Would I say this sounds just like it? Absolutely not from recollection. That thing was so loud and so brash. They were all so different back then as well so what are we gauging a perfect “plexi” on? Do I think it’s a good take on a Plexi sound with what’s available today? Yes I do. Clips never do things justice especially not a phone clip recorded on top of said amp and then YouTube compression etc. You have your opinion of the amp and that won’t change no matter what and that’s cool. That won’t change my enjoyment of this amp. As guitar players we tend to make our minds up pretty quick about what we’ll like and what we won’t without even trying it. I’ve done it.However, I’ve played this for a while now and I’m enjoying it more and more each day. To each his own. I dont post clips often (mainly now only to show what my pedals can do) and I’m fairly certain I had the right frame of mind about that.
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Glad you like it and thanks for posting the clip. Yes to each his own and clips are not really a basis for a final verdict, but can be a good indicator of what an amp sounds like in the room. Did you miss this part of my post? "Maybe dialed in different and in person would change my mind, but so far that amp sounds totally meh to me.." Lastly, I am not trying to sway you to dislike it.. I am stating my observations thus far. This is a discussion forum right?
 
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Jdub said:
Glad you like it and thanks for posting the clip. Yes to each his own and clips are not really a basis for a final verdict, but can be a good indicator of what an amp sounds like in the room. Did you miss this part of my post? "Maybe dialed in different and in person would change my mind, but so far that amp sounds totally meh to me.." Lastly, I am not trying to sway you to dislike it.. I am stating my observations thus far. This is a discussion forum right?
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Didn’t miss anything. I guess you would have to have it in a room and dial it in the way that you like. Yes I’m also aware it’s a discussion forum. Not stupid or dense here, I’m simply giving my observations so far as an owner.
 
R Weaver FX said:
Didn’t miss anything. I guess you would have to have it in a room and dial it in the way that you like. Yes I’m also aware it’s a discussion forum. Not stupid or dense here, I’m simply giving my observations so far as an owner.
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Right right right... this must have been a typo or a brain fart? " You have your opinion of the amp and that won’t change no matter what and that’s cool. " Enjoy your pedals and your amp..
 
Jdub said:
Right right right... this must have been a typo or a brain fart? " You have your opinion of the amp and that won’t change no matter what and that’s cool. " Enjoy your pedals and your amp..
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Ok man I get it. If I’m wrong about that, I recommend you do try it in person. It’s a great amp. Peace man.
 
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R Weaver FX said:
I don’t think anyone looking for modern metal is going to make this their first choice. It’s a plexi with Dave’s take on Jose’s mods. And it starts out with a damn good plexi platform. So yes, it wants to be turned up loud to get the goods. I’m really digging it for what I like to play. Here’s a clip with my phone on top of the amp testing one of my vibes. It’s through my new Friedman 4x12 with Greenbacks and V30’s:
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Amp sounds good, and yeah, its not a metal amp, and isn't supposed to be a metal amp.
But let's cut to the chase...
That fukking vibe sounds incredible!
In fact, I just hit Google, found one in stock in Canada (Electric Mojo) and ordered one.
Thanks for posting!
 
fusedbrain said:
Amp sounds good, and yeah, its not a metal amp, and isn't supposed to be a metal amp.
But let's cut to the chase...
That fukking vibe sounds incredible!
In fact, I just hit Google, found one in stock in Canada (Electric Mojo) and ordered one.
Thanks for posting!
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Oh that’s awesome man! I just restocked them two weeks ago. And thanks for the kind words, I hope you enjoy it!
 
Nashville Riff Co said:
FWIW, i have a 1977 JMP that dave modded to Jose specs a while back.

With an EMG equipped guitar, i can get fantastic Ride The Lightning style tones

not modern metal, but a terrific tone for those who like that era of tones
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@Nashville Riff Co that's similar to my experience. Early Metallica tones can be had, but that's about as high gain as you're going to get with that amp.

At the end of the day, I found myself wanting more gain. Friedman's Jose is a cool amp. But I ended up landing a Ground Zero Hellion v2.

Completely different amps sound wise. The GZ is more modern with a lot more gain & flexibility, whereas the Jose is better at low to moderate gain.

The Jose is much easier to dial in. Dave did a fantastic job of laying out all the switches, which makes it easy to compensate for the different clippers.

The GZ Hellion v2 takes some time to figure out. The amp has so much flexibility that it takes time to find the sweet spots with all the switches.
 
Bossman415 said:
@Nashville Riff Co that's similar to my experience. Early Metallica tones can be had, but that's about as high gain as you're going to get with that amp.

At the end of the day, I found myself wanting more gain. Friedman's Jose is a cool amp. But I ended up landing a Ground Zero Hellion v2.

Completely different amps sound wise. The GZ is more modern with a lot more gain & flexibility, whereas the Jose is better at low to moderate gain.

The Jose is much easier to dial in. Dave did a fantastic job of laying out all the switches, which makes it easy to compensate for the different clippers.

The GZ Hellion v2 takes some time to figure out. The amp has so much flexibility that it takes time to find the sweet spots with all the switches.
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Agreed 100%...ive only "played" Hellion through modelers but have heard nothing but terrific things from all the hellion owners on here, they certainly don't last long in the classifies on the rare event they pop up!

i'd never use the Jose for modern metal, best case as an amp to layer on top if anything. but yea, as a 80s thrash lover, EMG through Jose style mod is just the absolute best...closest you can get to time travel haha!
 
Well, I'm sure you could get a modern metal-ish sound if you use an overdrive or boost with the Jose. I bet the amp sounds awesome with just the plexi mode and a Boss SD1. But yeah, probably not the best choice if you want a 5150 kind of thing. I'm still flirting with the idea of signing up for a Jose. I just wish Dave made it channel switching from the Plexi to the Drive modes.
 
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