Friedman Smallbox 50

[wahoo]

Thanks David,
well now I just have to wait for Smallbox to arrive. Hope that I will find some time to make some audioclips, to make comparison to existing JCM800. Hopefully make someone easier decission in the future

 

[Growlsearcher]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

 

[wahoo]

Yeaaaeeeyyy !!!

I recieved my Smallbox today ! I'll just say for now I'm lovin it ....

Ok my first impressions ...
To be considered ... tested in the beadroom volume (max volume from 0,5 to 1). So I guess the first test can not be fully relevant until at least first practice of first gig.

Equipment used:

Guitar:
Fender Stratocaster Lonestar

Magnets:
Bridge: Seymour Duncan Pearly gates
Neck/Middle: Texas Special

Cables:
Klotz LaGrange

Connectors:
Neutrik

Cabinet:
Custom made 2 x 12 Half open with Celestion G12-65

Comparison AMP:
JCM 800 2004 (1983)

As far as sound goes as said already million times on forums it's perfect ... The first channels with gain on 10 lot's of sustain, second channel begins where the first ends. Enough gain for my needs with full gain still very defined not to compressed for my taste.
Equalizer actually makes change sound when you turn them which on JCM 800 is not so true Presence knob very usefull, actualy really nice opens the sound, also on JCM 800 allways kept on 0.
Bright switch also makes what it is supposed to do. Basically every setting you make sounds great .... The amp makes the guitar sound as it is supposed to and each different pickup position sounds as it should.

Regarding the hum, it still makes some compared to JCM 800 a bit quiter (tested on all controls to full).
Presence control makes swoooshing sound when turned but once set it is quiet (like said in the manual). All other controls are noiseless ....

Footswitch:
I don't know why I had in mind it will be with jack connectors on both side (it is fixed on the switch side). When channel switched it makes pop sound (I don't know if this is normal ... ) Same is happening if the channel is switch with the switch on head.

Quality build:
Seems to be built forever.

Love the Standby Switch Manual:
Quote:
Leave this in Standby mode for about 1 minute for maximum tube life, switch to play mode when you are ready to use the amp. Place back in Standby mode when you are between sets or when you need to yell at the drummer or singer. Bass players can't understand you anyway so don't bother

More to come ......

 

[campbellcj]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

It's pretty clean even at max gain...but it is FANTASTIC Hit it with a little boost and you're in classic blues-rock heaven.

 

[wahoo]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

The Plexi channel is great, love it most at the max gain, cleans perfectly with the neck magnet. At lower gain setting seems to lose the liveliness and with lower gain setting becomes (nothing special), I guess will be running it with max gain. Nice thing, that the second cahnnel starts where first ends so still hoping to be able to run it without any pedals.

I have a BB preamp and will test it with it and will let you know the results. I have been running it with my JCM 800 and it didn't fit too well with it (too compressed) running it with pedal gain max 2, i will try it with Xotic RC and I believe it will act better and hopefuly will work well also on Friedman plexi channel.

But ... I have been listening to your audio clip and it seems something is not ok with your amp (I guess the tubes ?).

The most representitive video for Smallbox sound in my opinion is this one ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-vRYaWy9GI

 

[Growlsearcher]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

I have a BB preamp and will test it with it and will let you know the results.

That would be great

 

[wahoo]

Few Pics ...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ihcg6696arlx ... .04.41.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dw0x6lx7i5e42 ... 4.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e8jk7i08l3os8 ... 8.jpg?dl=0

 

[wahoo]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

I have a BB preamp and will test it with it and will let you know the results.

That would be great

I tested today the BB Preamp. It worked great on Plexi channel, maybe even liked it more than a BE channel when Plexi channel boosted wit BB. But it also worked good on BE channel. Definately nothing like the sound in your demo clip.

Anyway I still have the issue with popping sound when switching the channel. Does anyone have similar issue ?

 

[Growlsearcher]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

I have a BB preamp and will test it with it and will let you know the results.

That would be great

I tested today the BB Preamp. It worked great on Plexi channel, maybe even liked it more than a BE channel when Plexi channel boosted wit BB. But it also worked good on BE channel. Definately nothing like the sound in your demo clip.

Anyway I still have the issue with popping sound when switching the channel. Does anyone have similar issue ?

Thanks for the BB Preamp test. I wish I could say the same.

I have popping sound when switching from BE to Plexi. I've never used this amp with my band so I don't know if it's a problem for me. I've made a soundclip but get the following message when trying to upload it: "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached"

 

[wahoo]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

I have a BB preamp and will test it with it and will let you know the results.

That would be great

I tested today the BB Preamp. It worked great on Plexi channel, maybe even liked it more than a BE channel when Plexi channel boosted wit BB. But it also worked good on BE channel. Definately nothing like the sound in your demo clip.

Anyway I still have the issue with popping sound when switching the channel. Does anyone have similar issue ?

Thanks for the BB Preamp test. I wish I could say the same.

I have popping sound when switching from BE to Plexi. I've never used this amp with my band so I don't know if it's a problem for me. I've made a soundclip but get the following message when trying to upload it: "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached"

I also thought the poping sound might be an issue but it goes away when playing. It seems to be normal for tube amps. And is not an issue when playing with a band. Same thing goes for the true bypass effects and also for tuners eg. TC Electronics Polytune. You can share the soundclip via dropbox or soundcloud. Sorry I still haven't find the time to make soundclips, hope to post it soon. I think I'll still use a boost/OD on the first channel since the BE seems to have a bit different voicing and I got used to play on one channel only on my JCM 800.

 

[wahoo]

Finally found sime time ... Bellow test sample with BB Preamp. First without and later with it in the chain

https://soundcloud.com/gregor-zver/test-friedman-smallbox-xotic-bb-preamp


Settings:
1st channel
Presence 3
Bass 5
Middle 4
Treble 4
Volume 0,5 (my girlfriend wouldn't let me turn it to 1 )
Gain 10
Bright switch Left

BB:
Gain 2
Treble 6
Middle 4
Volume 5

Fender stratocaste
Bridge Pickup Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates

Hope it helps ...

 

[mark5152]

greenbacks are nice.

 

[John 14:6]

How is the plexi channel at low volume with or without a od/boost infront?

I have a BB preamp and will test it with it and will let you know the results.

That would be great

I tested today the BB Preamp. It worked great on Plexi channel, maybe even liked it more than a BE channel when Plexi channel boosted wit BB. But it also worked good on BE channel. Definately nothing like the sound in your demo clip.

Anyway I still have the issue with popping sound when switching the channel. Does anyone have similar issue ?

Thanks for the BB Preamp test. I wish I could say the same.

I have popping sound when switching from BE to Plexi. I've never used this amp with my band so I don't know if it's a problem for me. I've made a soundclip but get the following message when trying to upload it: "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached"

Did you ever get the channel switching pop issue resolved?

 

[Growlsearcher]

No, it was never resolved. I assumed it was normal.