Mesa Boogie JP-2C vs Friedman "Butterslax" (YT Find)

[VC4Ever]

Listening to this through my studio monitors I can hear a pretty big difference.

Both sounded good. I dig the Butterslax, but for my style I'll stick with my JP-2C.

When it came to single note solos, the JP-2C was the clear winner.

 

[sleewell2]

They should have put the slax through a friedman cab since the Mesa was through a Mesa cab.

Both sounded good. I like the Friedman for the chords and the Mesa for the solos.

 

[GOHOINC]

Butterslax sounded way more articulate with better note seperation to my ears. Definitely has more cut than the jp.

 

[SavageRiffer]

The Friedman sounded great, but honestly the JP2C pretty much showed that $3800 doesn't necessarilly get you a better sounding amp. The JP2C was a bit less harsh, more bubbly sounding lead tone in the neck, and a bouncier sounding clean tone. The Friedman clean tone was a surprise because it was also really good.... all this though from carefully judging this one video. I'd like to have heard a comparison with the JJ.

 

[SavageRiffer]

The Friedman sounded great, but honestly the JP2C pretty much showed that $3800 doesn't necessarilly get you a better sounding amp. The JP2C was a bit less harsh, more bubbly sounding lead tone in the neck, and a bouncier sounding clean tone. The Friedman clean tone was a surprise because it was also really good.... all this though from carefully judging this one video. I'd like to have heard a comparison with the JJ.

I have actually played both and the Friedman has a depth and a polish to it the Mesa doesn't have.
It was really easy to find fizziness with the Mesa and I spent a portion of my time avoiding and dialing it out.
The Friedman didn't have almost any and you had to go looking for it on the presence knob.

In the end I think the Mesa here will be more versatile and maybe a better overall value, but the Friedman has a punch and depth the Mesa didn't have.


I haven't had both in a room next to each other, but I played them each for a long enough time to consider them and their strengths.

I hear they fixed the loop PROBLEM on the Mesa, so that definitely makes it more interesting.
And finally, head size, I like that the Mesa is MUCH smaller.

It's weird but the #1 thing that drives me towards ever considering buying one is how small it is.
I hate big heavy heads, all I think about it how they fuck up my wrists before a show , loading/unloading, just hate the big ass shit.

(Maybe this is why I have been playing shows with my 1987x, it's so small and light)

Like I said, I only judged from that video. I never heard the Butterslax before this video. You're probably right though because the thing that disagrees with me most about Mesa Boogies is the feel. Friedmans have a great feel, and I'm sure the less complex circuitry of the Friedman contributes to the overall quality. However, if that video is farily true to the tone, then the Mesa stands well against it in overall sound.

 

[psychodave]

The Friedman sounded great, but honestly the JP2C pretty much showed that $3800 doesn't necessarilly get you a better sounding amp. The JP2C was a bit less harsh, more bubbly sounding lead tone in the neck, and a bouncier sounding clean tone. The Friedman clean tone was a surprise because it was also really good.... all this though from carefully judging this one video. I'd like to have heard a comparison with the JJ.

I have actually played both and the Friedman has a depth and a polish to it the Mesa doesn't have.
It was really easy to find fizziness with the Mesa and I spent a portion of my time avoiding and dialing it out.
The Friedman didn't have almost any and you had to go looking for it on the presence knob.

In the end I think the Mesa here will be more versatile and maybe a better overall value, but the Friedman has a punch and depth the Mesa didn't have.


I haven't had both in a room next to each other, but I played them each for a long enough time to consider them and their strengths.

I hear they fixed the loop PROBLEM on the Mesa, so that definitely makes it more interesting.
And finally, head size, I like that the Mesa is MUCH smaller.

It's weird but the #1 thing that drives me towards ever considering buying one is how small it is.
I hate big heavy heads, all I think about it how they fuck up my wrists before a show , loading/unloading, just hate the big ass shit.

(Maybe this is why I have been playing shows with my 1987x, it's so small and light)

Like I said, I only judged from that video. I never heard the Butterslax before this video. You're probably right though because the thing that disagrees with me most about Mesa Boogies is the feel. Friedmans have a great feel, and I'm sure the less complex circuitry of the Friedman contributes to the overall quality. However, if that video is farily true to the tone, then the Mesa stands well against it in overall sound.

The Mesa Mark series amps have some of the best touch sensitivity ever. That's why people love them. Narrow it down to the original 2C+ and that amp feels and sounds amazing. Adds years to your playing. I've played a bunch of Friedman amps and I've never really cared for them. None had the touch sensitivity of Mesa. They all seem to have an unpleasant high end. However, the Friedman modded Marshalls I've played sounded pretty good, but we're super noisy and unbearable in the HBE input jack.

Now think about price. Like I said you can buy a JP2C and Mesa 4x12 and have $400 left over for the same price as the Butterslax. As musicians, price points are very important.

This is just my opinion based on real word playing. NOTE: I have not played the Butterslax, but currently own two 2C++ amps.

 

[sg guy]

-well,... I know that these kinds of comparison clips are pretty much useless in the real world,... the epitome of these are the multiple amp "off's".... where they all sound the same,...

-now if we could get JP & BK in the same room,.. with there Sig gear,... No effects,... No pre or post production,... Just raw guitar----->cord----->amp.. then maybe it would be a fair comparison,..... but no,... then styles would come into the equation.... there is no " better"

 

[Tone Zone]

Hey look! It's Rez!

 

[psychodave]

The Friedman sounded great, but honestly the JP2C pretty much showed that $3800 doesn't necessarilly get you a better sounding amp. The JP2C was a bit less harsh, more bubbly sounding lead tone in the neck, and a bouncier sounding clean tone. The Friedman clean tone was a surprise because it was also really good.... all this though from carefully judging this one video. I'd like to have heard a comparison with the JJ.

I have actually played both and the Friedman has a depth and a polish to it the Mesa doesn't have.
It was really easy to find fizziness with the Mesa and I spent a portion of my time avoiding and dialing it out.
The Friedman didn't have almost any and you had to go looking for it on the presence knob.

In the end I think the Mesa here will be more versatile and maybe a better overall value, but the Friedman has a punch and depth the Mesa didn't have.


I haven't had both in a room next to each other, but I played them each for a long enough time to consider them and their strengths.

I hear they fixed the loop PROBLEM on the Mesa, so that definitely makes it more interesting.
And finally, head size, I like that the Mesa is MUCH smaller.

It's weird but the #1 thing that drives me towards ever considering buying one is how small it is.
I hate big heavy heads, all I think about it how they fuck up my wrists before a show , loading/unloading, just hate the big ass shit.

(Maybe this is why I have been playing shows with my 1987x, it's so small and light)

Like I said, I only judged from that video. I never heard the Butterslax before this video. You're probably right though because the thing that disagrees with me most about Mesa Boogies is the feel. Friedmans have a great feel, and I'm sure the less complex circuitry of the Friedman contributes to the overall quality. However, if that video is farily true to the tone, then the Mesa stands well against it in overall sound.

The Mesa Mark series amps have some of the best touch sensitivity ever. That's why people love them. Narrow it down to the original 2C+ and that amp feels and sounds amazing. Adds years to your playing. I've played a bunch of Friedman amps and I've never really cared for them. None had the touch sensitivity of Mesa. They all seem to have an unpleasant high end. However, the Friedman modded Marshalls I've played sounded pretty good, but we're super noisy and unbearable in the HBE input jack.

Now think about price. Like I said you can buy a JP2C and Mesa 4x12 and have $400 left over for the same price as the Butterslax. As musicians, price points are very important.

This is just my opinion based on real word playing. NOTE: I have not played the Butterslax, but currently own two 2C++ amps.

you keep bringing up price...if you want to buy a nice 2C+ right now...how much is that?

should someone with a different opinion throw it under the buss because they can buy a Marshall JVM410 for $1300 used and say its more versatile??

My mint 2C+ (not an upgrade) was bought for $2,000 last year. My other mint one last year was $2,500. I got a mint one from Steve K 2 years ago for $2,700. All amps were fully loaded. That's an average of $2,400 for one of the most iconic amps ever produced.

Lets stick to the original topic. JP2C vs Butterslax. Amp vs amp, price vs price. Mesa gets you more value for your buck.

 

[psychodave]

The Friedman sounded great, but honestly the JP2C pretty much showed that $3800 doesn't necessarilly get you a better sounding amp. The JP2C was a bit less harsh, more bubbly sounding lead tone in the neck, and a bouncier sounding clean tone. The Friedman clean tone was a surprise because it was also really good.... all this though from carefully judging this one video. I'd like to have heard a comparison with the JJ.

I have actually played both and the Friedman has a depth and a polish to it the Mesa doesn't have.
It was really easy to find fizziness with the Mesa and I spent a portion of my time avoiding and dialing it out.
The Friedman didn't have almost any and you had to go looking for it on the presence knob.

In the end I think the Mesa here will be more versatile and maybe a better overall value, but the Friedman has a punch and depth the Mesa didn't have.


I haven't had both in a room next to each other, but I played them each for a long enough time to consider them and their strengths.

I hear they fixed the loop PROBLEM on the Mesa, so that definitely makes it more interesting.
And finally, head size, I like that the Mesa is MUCH smaller.

It's weird but the #1 thing that drives me towards ever considering buying one is how small it is.
I hate big heavy heads, all I think about it how they fuck up my wrists before a show , loading/unloading, just hate the big ass shit.

(Maybe this is why I have been playing shows with my 1987x, it's so small and light)

Like I said, I only judged from that video. I never heard the Butterslax before this video. You're probably right though because the thing that disagrees with me most about Mesa Boogies is the feel. Friedmans have a great feel, and I'm sure the less complex circuitry of the Friedman contributes to the overall quality. However, if that video is farily true to the tone, then the Mesa stands well against it in overall sound.

The Mesa Mark series amps have some of the best touch sensitivity ever. That's why people love them. Narrow it down to the original 2C+ and that amp feels and sounds amazing. Adds years to your playing. I've played a bunch of Friedman amps and I've never really cared for them. None had the touch sensitivity of Mesa. They all seem to have an unpleasant high end. However, the Friedman modded Marshalls I've played sounded pretty good, but we're super noisy and unbearable in the HBE input jack.

Now think about price. Like I said you can buy a JP2C and Mesa 4x12 and have $400 left over for the same price as the Butterslax. As musicians, price points are very important.

This is just my opinion based on real word playing. NOTE: I have not played the Butterslax, but currently own two 2C++ amps.

you keep bringing up price...if you want to buy a nice 2C+ right now...how much is that?

should someone with a different opinion throw it under the buss because they can buy a Marshall JVM410 for $1300 used and say its more versatile??

My mint 2C+ (not an upgrade) was bought for $2,000 last year. My other mint one last year was $2,500. I got a mint one from Steve K 2 years ago for $2,700. All amps were fully loaded. That's an average of $2,400 for one of the most iconic amps ever produced.

Lets stick to the original topic. JP2C vs Butterslax. Amp vs amp, price vs price. Mesa gets you more value for your buck.

YOURE the one who brought up the 2C+, now you HAVE to give me one.

Ok. I was referring to the "Mesa" aspect of the feel. Either way, I'm glad we have so many choices of amp. The old days sucked of having just Marshall, Fender or some smaller solid state amp company to choose from. BUT, in some ways it was better... we focused on playing, not every aspect of tone.

I only have two left. A DRG++ with 105 transformer and a HRG++ with 100 transformer. Both sound very different. Plus I have the Rev F triple. Then add the custom stereo 5 band custom EQ's and I have everything I need.

 

[milkchickenbomb]

Seemed to me the video was just a comparison of the sound of the two amps, and there was no discussion of price. If it was a video showing "hey look at how good this Mesa sounds compared to the more expensive Friedman," than maybe this discussion about value would be more appropriate?

If this has to devolve into a discussion of value, then it would probably be hard to find a listener who would choose the Friedman over the Mesa. Of course, the JP2C is the better value. But that's not the point. It's a valiant effort (or a cheap shot?) to delegitimize the opinion of many listeners that the Friedman has some sounds that are just better than Mesa's.

(But if it was my money, I'd buy the Mesa)

 

[controlled_voltage]

i can't believe not one of you fucker's gave that guy any props for his playing
dude is killing it

 

[suhrimmetal]

Both sound great... but Im really diggin' the liquid, articulate tones coming from ch 3 of the JP-2C... I could live on that channel all day... plus a great and usable clean....AND a Ch 2 that is no slouch at all. Nice demo... both killer amps. Nice playing as well

 

[guitarobert]

Great comparison! For my ears I like the Butterslax better for the gain channels, but both are great amps. To earlier comments, I might choose the Mesa instead though given the price difference..

I was surprised to hear that clean on the Butterslax - thought it was supposed to have no clean? Did he have the volume knob on the guitar rolled back when playing ch1? But it did sound like there was some clipping when he played ch1 on that amp. I don't hear that on the JP2C.

 

[acalaf]

I prefer the mesa, but the friedman sounds nice too. This guy is a wanker.

 

[thiswaythatway]

i can't believe not one of you fucker's gave that guy any props for his playing
dude is killing it

He's a great player. But this is Rig-Talk....everyone here is an expert and a virtuoso.

 

[yngzaklynch]

i can't believe not one of you fucker's gave that guy any props for his playing
dude is killing it

He's a great player. But this is Rig-Talk....everyone here is an expert and a virtuoso.

Hey man you know... Everyone's opinion is the right one. We're all listening to each other with our arms crossed thinking about how much better we would have done it.

 

[shredi knight]

i can't believe not one of you fucker's gave that guy any props for his playing....

Actually, 2 of us fuckers did:

....the great playing doesn't hurt either....

....and that dude can play....

 

[Chris6870]

I came away not caring for either of them.

 

[Faded Abyss]

on my decent headphones, the JP-2 is much more pleasant to the ears, hands down

when I listen on my monitors, I can understand by what you guys say by boxy on the JP-2. There is a little too much going on
in the low end.

I like them both equally on my monitors, which is all that matters. I have a feeling the way he has the amps dialed in, the butterslax might
give a more present guitar sound to a mix. Good find!