Played a Friedman Small Box today. Great little amp!

[romanianreaper]

Went into a guitar store today and they had a Friedman Small Box hooked up to a Friedman 2x12 so I obviously HAD to try it.

I was blown away at how useable each knob was. It was like there is no bad setting on a knob. Never got flubby, never got ice-picky, never sounded scooped. It was like Dave trimmed off the sucky parts of each adjustment so it is useable across the spectrum.

Hitting chords, just had this great solid tone coming out. Did great Judas Priest type tone when doing riffs and can definitely do metal, albeit within reason. I had the gain dimed and know that I would need a little more but depends on what type of music obviously. With that said, definitely would kill with a boost pedal. It is a great sounding amp and I was really impressed.

 

[John 14:6]

I agree. My Smallbox and pedalboard are all I will ever need. I don't need another amp.

 

[jlb32]

Really like the Smallbox. Just wish it had more gain on tap. Not a huge fan of using boosts.

 

[mniel8195]

I feel like it needs more at lower volumes. Once it hits 4 on the volume its pure magic. I use the koko boost reloaded with the level all the way off just to fill out eq for certain things. If i add any level on the koko boost once the volume is up at 4 and the gain is maxed it begins to sound like shit. Maybe you could get away with it if you had low output pickups. I am using an ssh+ and ssv in the neck. I had it running through my torpedo live with the two notes friedman v30 cab with an sm57. A touch of 70's plate from my Strymon Flint and a bit of delay from my el capistan and its just unbelievable. I am thinking of grabbing a friedman frfr and just skipping the cab so i can get to that feel without the insane volume.

 

[John 14:6]

Really like the Smallbox. Just wish it had more gain on tap. Not a huge fan of using boosts.

The Smallbox is the best amp I have ever owned or played through. It has plenty of gain on tap especially as you turn it up some. it is probably not they amp for you if you are a death metal or bedroom player. It has like double the gain of a JCM800.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

It has plenty of gain on tap especially as you turn it up some. it is probably not they amp for you if you are a death metal or bedroom player. It has like double the gain of a JCM800.

Then it obviously doesn't have enough gain on tap for all.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Dude, where did you try this?? Would be curious to try it out.

How are the pickups working out for you??

 

[romanianreaper]

Dude, where did you try this?? Would be curious to try it out.

How are the pickups working out for you??

Hey man, how's it going!? I was just thinking of you the other day. I was driving on the main road outside your neighborhood and wondering how you have been. Pickups still working out great! Sound so clear and full. I considered replacing them but everytime I hear them, can't do it.

I went down to the Guitar Center in Cincy yesterday and they had one there. They also had a Pink Taco. I didn't even try that after the Smallbox because it is lower gain.

John 14:6 is right that it definitely has enough gain. I think some of us that like that over-the-top gain would maybe need a boost but as mentioned, I'm sure as soon as the tubes get hot at louder volumes, the thing probably sings. It is a hard rock/metal amp for sure because I was easily doing palm muted riffs, etc. Plus, every note just sounds so precise and articulate when you hit them with no flubby tones at all. I think that is the difference with like a JCM 800 or some other older amp. I would use a boost to add clarity, etc. but with this amp it would be only to bring out some more gain because it is already clear as a bell. Not harsh at all.

After hearing the Smallbox, I can only imagine what the BE100 sounds like.

 

[John 14:6]

It has plenty of gain on tap especially as you turn it up some. it is probably not they amp for you if you are a death metal or bedroom player. It has like double the gain of a JCM800.

Then it obviously doesn't have enough gain on tap for all.

I can't think of any amp that would be a fit for every player, but the Smallbox comes close. It might not be my first choice if I played country, jazz, death metal or if I had volume restrictions like a guy who plays mainly in the bedroom. Once you turn the volume up to about 9 or 10 o'clock there is all kinds of gain. The amp is pretty loud by that point.

 

[BYTOR]

Can't Dave add a sat switch to it?

 

[guitarded_1]

It has plenty of gain on tap especially as you turn it up some. it is probably not they amp for you if you are a death metal or bedroom player. It has like double the gain of a JCM800.

Then it obviously doesn't have enough gain on tap for all.

I can't think of any amp that would be a fit for every player, but the Smallbox comes close. It might not be my first choice if I played country, jazz, death metal or if I had volume restrictions like a guy who plays mainly in the bedroom. Once you turn the volume up to about 9 or 10 o'clock there is all kinds of gain. The amp is pretty loud by that point.

Agreed. I use a THD hot plate at -8db, which now allows me to get the power tubes cooking with my band. The SB really comes alive at higher volumes - has that plexi ready to explode quality.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I can't think of any amp that would be a fit for every player, but the Smallbox comes close.

I thought the BE and JJ needed a little more gain as well (without the diode clippers engaged). I boosted both...

And I don't play death metal or anything like that...hard rock

 

[atrox]

I can't think of any amp that would be a fit for every player, but the Smallbox comes close.

I thought the BE and JJ needed a little more gain as well (without the diode clippers engaged). I boosted both...

And I don't play death metal or anything like that...hard rock

Weird. HBE channel with the gain at 2 o'clock is more than enough for me and one of my bands is a metal band.

 

[John 14:6]

I can't think of any amp that would be a fit for every player, but the Smallbox comes close.

I thought the BE and JJ needed a little more gain as well (without the diode clippers engaged). I boosted both...

And I don't play death metal or anything like that...hard rock

Weird. HBE channel with the gain at 2 o'clock is more than enough for me and one of my bands is a metal band.

That is what I thought too. I play hard rock and metal with the Smallbox and do not need to max the gain. I usually have the BE channel gain set at 2 o'clock and hit it with a boost or turn up the gain if I want more. The Smallbox is the best amp I have ever played for blues, rock and old school metal. It is designed for that kind of stuff and it has more than enough gain to do it.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Weird. HBE channel with the gain at 2 o'clock is more than enough for me and one of my bands is a metal band.

I'm just a gain freak.

It is designed for that kind of stuff and it has more than enough gain to do it.

For most I'm sure, but not all...