NAD - Friedman Wildwood Small Box 50

  • Thread starter Thread starter tonedover
  • Start date Start date
T

tonedover

Well-known member
i got my WW SB today and spent three hours on it into my old peavey vertical closed back 2x12 with a GB up top and V30 on the bottom.

the 2,5 channels are each great - similarly voiced, yet tastefully different in growl and compression.

honestly its hard for me to describe this amp without sounding like a gushing fanboy moron, but its absolutely friggin amazing. like it really is my dream marshall-type amp.

i know its not THAT complex or, frankly, that unique in whats inside there, but he did such an amazing job with the voicing differences between the three channels. dave is srsly a master at design and voicing,

i was worried that the single eq and bright switch wouldnt be enough for three channels but i was wrong to worry, once i got it somewhat set up and dialed in, i went from classic rock to mastodon and it all sounded great without touching the eq.

threw a eq and reverb in the loop. dead quiet. can "V" out the eq a smidge and make a "fourth" channel for modern metal too, again, sounds great,

i came upstairs and my wife said "you look like you like the new amp" lol. im smiling like a dork even writing this now.
 
Last edited:
Nice man congrats! What's your take so far on springing for the WW edition's third channel? Can you boost channel 2 with a TS or similar and achieve similar results?

And modern metal tones? For real?
 
Meeotch said:
Nice man congrats! What's your take so far on springing for the WW edition's third channel? Can you boost channel 2 with a TS or similar and achieve similar results?

And modern metal tones? For real?
Click to expand...
i THINK you could do it w a pedal in the loop. i know dave says the affordable way to add a volume boost to it is to toss an old mxr boost in there but there is more to the voice in it than a volume boost. it tightens the low more and audibly compressed it all further and the low mids come out more. so i think a transparent compressor with an eq and boost could do a good approximation, if i think of it later today ill put a sd1 in the loop on zero gain to see if the impact could be similar for you.

keep in mind i said modern tone with the addition of an eq in the loop and only while in boosted mode, But it will do a mastodon style gain which i still associate as a hot rod plexi thats going to explode on its own without eq. its no evh red channel, but it suits what i play and how i play perfectly. its possible you could hear this amp and not think its metal for you - its not a rectifier type tone but a simple eq pedal jn the loop can really impact most amps.

here is Reza's demo of it - its what sold me on taking a chance buying one.
jump to like 9 minutes
 
Last edited:
Meeotch said:
Nice man congrats! What's your take so far on springing for the WW edition's third channel? Can you boost channel 2 with a TS or similar and achieve similar results?

And modern metal tones? For real?
Click to expand...
Fyi - tried an SD1 in the loop for you and it was really bad - made it sound like AM radio — there seems to also be something going on in BOTH the pre and power section w daves boost channel on this amp but i could be wrong. Im amateur at best when it comes to the complexities of circuits unless i can remember something someone more knowledgeable said
 
My 50 watt Small Box head is the best amp I have ever owned or played through. It stopped me gassing for other amps years ago. It works for me and put an end to my amp flipping madness. My wife should probably send Dave Friedman Christmas cards.
 
tonedover said:
Fyi - tried an SD1 in the loop for you and it was really bad - made it sound like AM radio — there seems to also be something going on in BOTH the pre and power section w daves boost channel on this amp but i could be wrong. Im amateur at best when it comes to the complexities of circuits unless i can remember something someone more knowledgeable said
Click to expand...
Try that SD-1 in front of the amp and see how it sounds!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top