Knuckledraggers, tell me about the Friedman JEL-20

[romanianreaper]

I had a PT V2 years ago and really think I'd dig the JEL-20. I already have a Friedman 1x12 cab, Orange V30 1x12 cab and Orange Vertical 2x12 i could use with it.

I really love Marshall tones and am an 80s guy. Wondering what people like, don't like, etc. I have been looking at these Helix Stadium clips and sound great but I keep thinking "don't tweak, get a JEL-20 you bastard"

 

[Gitfiddler]

I want to like it, and the YT reviewers seem to gush over it, but I haven't had the opportunity to play one, and the YT footage is uninspiring. Perhaps some owners will chime in

 

[DanTravis62]

I don't know anything about the 20, but the profiles of the bigger one deadpan sells are fantastic

 

[romanianreaper]

I want to like it, and the YT reviewers seem to gush over it, but I haven't had the opportunity to play one, and the YT footage is uninspiring. Perhaps some owners will chime in

I thought the YouTube vids were actually pretty good. I know it can't sound like a 100 watter but I think it should capture those tones i like.

 

[romanianreaper]

I've been thinking about the Marshall JVM 205H as well since it is around the same price.

 

[Smash]

I think knuckledraggers generally don't play low wattage amps for high gain because it is counterproductive.

Punch is important in rhythm and is more addictive than oversaturating small tubes into a loose mess.

I honestly feel the only reason big amp makers make them for metal is because there is a huge market for low wattage lunch box amps. It isn't hard to give them good voicing and it is cheaper to make. But they aren't going to hit you in the chest like the big iron/big glass imo.

 

[romanianreaper]

I think knuckledraggers generally don't play low wattage amps for high gain because it is counterproductive.

Punch is important in rhythm and is more addictive than oversaturating small tubes into a loose mess.

I honestly feel the only reason big amp makers make them for metal is because there is a huge market for low wattage lunch box amps. It isn't hard to give them good voicing and it is cheaper to make. But they aren't going to hit you in the chest like the big iron/big glass imo.

Yeah, I was thinking about that earlier today. I think 50 watt amps are perfect for having the crunch but not over the top loud.

 

[Smash]

Yeah, I was thinking about that earlier today. I think 50 watt amps are perfect for having the crunch but not over the top loud.

Just depends on circuit and transformers. Some of the marshall style 50 watts are louder than other 100 watters.

I think a cool little amp that isnt really for a knuckle dragger though is the maz 18. If i get another amp, that will be it. Sexy little combo for a volume roll clean/crunch

 

[JerEvil]

I honestly feel the only reason big amp makers make them for metal is because there is a huge market for low wattage lunch box amps. It isn't hard to give them good voicing and it is cheaper to make. But they aren't going to hit you in the chest like the big iron/big glass imo.

That and this way folks that don’t want to spend a ton of dough can still have that “pride of ownership”

 

[Smash]

That and this way folks that don’t want to spend a ton of dough can still have that “pride of ownership”

I just think of the sigil debacle

 

[thegame]

I think knuckledraggers generally don't play low wattage amps for high gain because it is counterproductive.

Punch is important in rhythm and is more addictive than oversaturating small tubes into a loose mess.

I honestly feel the only reason big amp makers make them for metal is because there is a huge market for low wattage lunch box amps. It isn't hard to give them good voicing and it is cheaper to make. But they aren't going to hit you in the chest like the big iron/big glass imo.

At that point I’d rather play air guitar and use sign language to get my music across. Silent stages = safe spaces

 

[romanianreaper]

I'm really in an interesting spot in my life regarding gear. I'm in my mid 50s and gig in a punk-influenced rock band. I want great tone but want reliable and also want convenient. I have been gigging with an Orange Super Crush 100 combo and currently a Orange Dual Baby 100. They sound great but being a modded Marshall type guy and a tube amp lover, my mind wanders.

I think a 50 watt tube amp would be great but it is so much easier to use my Orange Dual Baby that stores in a small bag. I had a 5150-III 6L6 50watt Stealth and a Marshall Silver Jubillee Studio but didn't play them as much as my Orange amps.

I'm looking at the JEL-20 and JEL-50, Marshall JVM 205 Head, Splawn Competition and Friedman Runt 50. I don't know, maybe I should just use what I use.

 

[The~Kid]

KnuckleDragger.......



Sounds like a good name for a high gain amp

 

[The~Kid]

I'm really in an interesting spot in my life regarding gear. I'm in my mid 50s and gig in a punk-influenced rock band. I want great tone but want reliable and also want convenient. I have been gigging with an Orange Super Crush 100 combo and currently a Orange Dual Baby 100. They sound great but being a modded Marshall type guy and a tube amp lover, my mind wanders.

I think a 50 watt tube amp would be great but it is so much easier to use my Orange Dual Baby that stores in a small bag. I had a 5150-III 6L6 50watt Stealth and a Marshall Silver Jubillee Studio but didn't play them as much as my Orange amps.

I'm looking at the JEL-20 and JEL-50, Marshall JVM 205 Head, Splawn Competition and Friedman Runt 50. I don't know, maybe I should just use what I use.

The 20 watt high gain amps are okay and all.......


But youre better off with a Princeton Reverb 112 or AC15 or similar with a MIAB or AIAB to get you as good or better results than most high gain lunchbox whatevers IMO. Plus most 20 watt high gain amps don't have actual spring reverb and it's digital and either way no way is a spring reverb in a lunchbox high gain amp or similar will sound as good as a big tank like in an AC15C1 nvm something like a Princeton Reverb.


It's really about 40 watts and up when it comes to high gain to really get the best of those type of amps IME and move more air.


I really think you can't go wrong with a Peavey 6505 mini head though or something like that. The Orange Tiny Terror or Dark versions are great too and the Rocker 15...... Hard to beat that stuff as it's their bread and butter but yeah.


The Bad Cat Ocelot is another good one too for the money on sale now and might be worth a look at too.


If your going Friedman or Marshall IMO at that point just go big or go home and get the higher wattage amps to really scratch the itch IMO.

 

[napalmdeath]

I had a PT V2 years ago and really think I'd dig the JEL-20. I already have a Friedman 1x12 cab, Orange V30 1x12 cab and Orange Vertical 2x12 i could use with it.

I really love Marshall tones and am an 80s guy. Wondering what people like, don't like, etc. I have been looking at these Helix Stadium clips and sound great but I keep thinking "don't tweak, get a JEL-20 you bastard"

The PT20 V2 does Marshall tones all day long, but yes, one channel.

 

[mentoneman]

right after checking out the 20 which i really liked, i went home and fired up my be-dlx synergy module through a vht 2-90-2 with all the rack goodies.

i’m good!

 

[romanianreaper]

The PT20 V2 does Marshall tones all day long, but yes, one channel.

I had that one and was great and why I really think I'd dig the JEL-20 even more. Has more of that 80s thing i like.

 

[romanianreaper]

right after checking out the 20 which i really liked, i went home and fired up my be-dlx synergy module through a vht 2-90-2 with all the rack goodies.

i’m good!

I have been intrigued about those too. Such a great idea for an amp!

 

[CarlF]

I had the JEL 20 and still have the red 1x12 cabs.
I hated the JEL 20. Disclaimer- I only played Strats thru it when I had it.
I found the Bass excessive. The Treble was ear fatiguing, IMO. I blamed it on the EL 84's.
The main issue was the excessive brightness. You had no way of turning off the bright cap (s) on the Gain channel. This has been addressed in the JEL 50, which has bright switches for BOTH channels.
I even blamed it on the 1x12's, but they kick ass with my Soldano X88ir.

 

[The~Kid]

I have been intrigued about those too. Such a great idea for an amp!

Randall had or has something similar......


I think some of the first dudes to do the module thing were Seymour Duncan though.