Looking for Friedman IR-J opinions?

Reverend Bow

Reverend Bow

Member
Hello all, I have been lusting after the IR-J since the release, and Pete Thorn demo (but I'm pretty sure Pete could make a 10 Gorilla practice amp sound killer), however, since I don't play out, I am have trouble justifying the price tag.

Make current playing situation is silent... I run a tune amp I designed and built 15+ years ago (4 gain stage, no cathode follower, 6V6GT power tubes) into a Weber Mini-Mass 50W, then line out to a can sim IR Loader. That amp is a high gain bastard that I have actually toned down a bit over the years, but it still is pretty smokin' hot, perfect for a wedding band, and bar mitzvah gig... 🤔

This way I can play without adding some '80's hard rock soundtrack to whatever Hallmark movie my wife happens to be watching (I think Ratt's Lay It Down happens to work nicely, however she has a different opinion)

But then I heard the IR-J... Which is basically exactly what I am currently doing, with running the power section of my amp, and it seems to be more Marshall-Like than high gain face ripper.

I am a Jake fan (which is why I built a Whitey inspired clone) but not really a "Signature" gear chaser. Hell, I can make anything sound like 💩, no matter who's signature is on it.

I was wondering what some real-world thoughts are on it? Is it worth the coin over the IR-X?

Thanks.
 
I won't be of much help relative to the IR-J, but I've owned and gigged the actual JEL25 head, owned the IR-X, and currently own and have gigged the IR-D. The JEL25 head was underwhelming, didn't do it for me but to be fair it was in a fight with my Wizard MC25 and really was just there as a backup just in case. When that just in case moment arrived it was painfully obvious what was a better amp (at least to me).

The IR-X into a Fryette Powerstaion was a monster but after I added the Powerstation it was just as dumb to cart around that much gear so back to a backup head I went.

The IR-D was a recent thing that I run into a Seymour Duncan Powerstage 200 and out to a regular cabinet. So far that has been outstanding, kind of a mind fuck actually. I've used it on two different gigs in the last month when I couldn't have my regular rig there and it has performed perfectly.

So if I take my JEL25 experience and compare it to my IR-D experience, the IR-D will win hands down. The IR-J apparently has a built in tube screamer circuit (could be wrong about that) but based on the two actual channels on the IR-D and how you can set it up, I think the IR-D might be the most versatile of all of the IR series, especially since you can hit it with a pedal. The IR-D with a clean boost up front is a monster. You can also find the IR-D much cheaper on the used market than the IR-J.

I wouldn't buy the IR-X again, I would probably check out a full 50 watt JEL head, but at least for me the IR-D is the winner out of all those choices.

Check this very good comparison:

 
Great comparison, thank you for your input!

Oh... A JEL 20W would be awesome.... But not to play at home for that price, at least for me
 
I've got the IR-J. Bought it right here from another forum member in hands-down 'as new' condition. I have never used the cab sims, never recorded with it, and never fed a FRFR speaker with it. I use it cave-man style to feed the front end of a Non-Master '73 50 watt head. I have bragged about this head in other threads - it has one of the warmest, almost Fender-ish clean sounds of any Marshall I have ever owned or used. It takes AIB pedals like a champ: Wampler Pinnacle, Suhr Eclipse, BE-OD-Dlx all sound incredible in front of this amp. The IR-J definitely brings an organic amp-like quality that the SS pedals sometimes lack. In front of an amp, with all the color of the amps input stages, tone stack, and power section, the IR-J does sound like the best OG JCM800 you have ever played. The built in boost function reminds me a lot of my favorite Green pedal - adds just that extra bit of push for leads without altering the core tone. The clean channel adds some nice glassy shimmer and does edge of break-up tones very well.

My one complaint is that unlike every other 2-channel 'amp in a box' pedal I have used, you cannot bypass the IR-J. It is always 'on' whether CH1 or CH2. I prefer pedals that bypass completely so I an use my amp as my 'clean' channel and add chorus or verb as desired, then have 2 completely different settings on my 2-channel pedal turning clean amp into a legit 3-channel rig.

Also - keep in mind that the IR-J needs 800mA minimum current. I had no idea and thought my unit was faulty when I first put it on my board and fed it with one of the typical 250 mA outputs from my power supply. Use the wall plug that comes with the IR-J or make sure you have a power source under your board with a pair of 500 mA outputs that you can bridge.

Hope this helps.
 
PDC said:
My one complaint is that unlike every other 2-channel 'amp in a box' pedal I have used, you cannot bypass the IR-J. It is always 'on' whether CH1 or CH2. I prefer pedals that bypass completely so I an use my amp as my 'clean' channel and add chorus or verb as desired, then have 2 completely different settings on my 2-channel pedal turning clean amp into a legit 3-channel rig.
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I seem to remember Suhr or someone that makes an inline "loop" of sorts that will allow you to switch it in and out of your straight signal like you're running it. Good reminder too on the power supply, I'm still using the wall wart for exactly that reason. The entire IR - (?) series is pretty kick ass, something for everyone. Tone King is on board now, wouldn't be at all surprised to see Soldano or Bogner next.
 
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