NAD: Friedman Jose - The Pinnacle?

[cragginshred]

The BE100DLX is still a helluva machine (which I own) and was tied as my fav Friedman along with the SS100 until this showed up but the Jose is the most non-sounding Friedman Friedman that I own which is in no way a slag on Dave but makes sense considering it has another dudes name on it. I also own a Gower modded Marshall with the Jose mod and they are VERY close but the Gower has a little more of that "klank" from the Marshall doner amp which is very cool. Might end up selling the Gower but they are so hard to come by

Exactly! I have owned every boutique amp including an overpriced Wizard. The Jose is absolute perfection!
I use an SD-1 into the front and it has all the Marshall kerrang with no razor blade harshness and all the mids we want that like you said none of the other Friedmans have.

I went to Dave's shop 2 years ago to mod my BE deluxe and he is clueless that most want way less compression and more mids. He literally looked at me like what are talking about??

Anyhow, yes best classic metal amp ever!!!

 

[savant421]

Exactly! I have owned ever boutique amp including an overpriced Wizard. The Jose is absolute perfection!
I use an SD-1 into the front and it has all the Marshall kerrang with no razor blade harshness and all the mids we want that like you said none of the other Friedmans have.

I went to Dave's shop 2 years ago to mod my BE deluxe and he is clueless that most want way less compression and more mids. He literally looked at me like what are talking about??

Anyhow, yes best classic metal amp ever!!!

This!

 

[ChurchHill]

@cragginshred - I was wondering what cab/speakers you're playing your Jose through. I just received mine, haven't had a chance to plug it in just yet, and was hoping for a recommendation of where to start. I've got 4x12s with V30s, Greenbacks, Blackbacks, 65s, G12-35xc, T75s, K100s, Blues, Creams, and EVMs. I've sure I'll get to all of them eventually, was thinking Greenbacks to start, but thought I'd ask your opinion. Appreciate all suggestions!

 

[cragginshred]

@cragginshred - I was wondering what cab/speakers you're playing your Jose through. I just received mine, haven't had a chance to plug it in just yet, and was hoping for a recommendation of where to start. I've got 4x12s with V30s, Greenbacks, Blackbacks, 65s, G12-35xc, T75s, K100s, Blues, Creams, and EVMs. I've sure I'll get to all of them eventually, was thinking Greenbacks to start, but thought I'd ask your opinion. Appreciate all suggestions!

Wow that's a lot to choose from!! Green backs for me 100% although I have pretty much only owned 75's and v30's. I prefer Green backs over them hands down. Also the EVH green backs are good but more compressed to my ears.

As far as the Jose goes. I like the extra gain setting and the plexi mode which is way more aggressive than his normal plexi circuit which is the same and has way less gain in the smallbox, BE and JEL amps. Lastly I push it with an SD-1 too