Smallbox + Loadbox = Heaven

[RugbyBro]

So I thought my smallbox sounded really good just playing it through a 2x12 (V30 Friedman) but am never really able to push the volume past 1 at my place, certainly never been past 4 for very long. To remedy this, I just got a reactive load box and have been running it at all sorts of volumes ranging from 4-10 and let me tell you... it is INCREDIBLE. I mean holy expletive batman, this amp sounds and FEELS freaking amazing when you cook the power tubes. The plexi channel when really cooking is out of this world and the BE channel will punch a hole through your face with the master at 4 or above.

And I know, I know, I am ultimately listening to this through IRs and mointors/studio headphones... but I also feel that I can appreciate and interpret the sound in a different way when I'm not dealing with the sensory overload of a cranked amp through speakers. I don't know how I can go back; the game has been changed for me.

If you have a SB (or any Friedman), you owe it to yourself to hook that baby up to a load, crank it, and send it through some quality IRs.

 

[Marco 2073]

I have planned to try when possible the Boss Waza Tube Expander.... It has the possibility to reamp the sound through the internall solid state power amp, using the real guitar cab...
it is similar to the Freyette, but in stereo and with more option... in addition it can be used with IR, even if I do not love to play with miked sound

 

[LPMojoGL]

The SB really is awesome when the master volumes are wound up around noon. That plexi channel is all a person needs to rock, BE channel is icing on the cake. Great amp, what Marshall should be making instead of a DSL.

 

[Tom-Andrew]

This! ^^

I’m actually baffled they haven’t done anything similar yet!
They could easily make a simple two-channel design, either plexi+higher gain Marshall or fender style clean + modded Marshall.
It’s not like they’re very complex designs with sophisticated switching or anything.

My best guess is they made a strategic decision to stay out of that market segment.

 

[RugbyBro]

I have planned to try when possible the Boss Waza Tube Expander.... It has the possibility to reamp the sound through the internall solid state power amp, using the real guitar cab...
it is similar to the Freyette, but in stereo and with more option... in addition it can be used with IR, even if I do not love to play with miked sound

I'm pretty interested in the concept of the tube expander... hopefully its a little less $$$ than the UA OX.

The SB really is awesome when the master volumes are wound up around noon. That plexi channel is all a person needs to rock, BE channel is icing on the cake. Great amp, what Marshall should be making instead of a DSL.

This! ^^

I’m actually baffled they haven’t done anything similar yet!
They could easily make a simple two-channel design, either plexi+higher gain Marshall or fender style clean + modded Marshall.
It’s not like they’re very complex designs with sophisticated switching or anything.

My best guess is they made a strategic decision to stay out of that market segment.

Plexi with the master anywhere between 6-8 (1-3 o'clock) is sublime. I'm surprised Marshall hasn't figured it out... I've never been a fan of the DSLs. But I too think it must be a strategic decision to not offer that sound at the DSL price. The JVM series can get the right flavor in that price range, but honestly after picking up the SB, my JVM just collects dust and I would 10/10 times pay the extra for the SB (and get less channels, no reverb, and no midi in the process!)

 

[PBGas]

I run my BE-50 all the time through my UA Ox. It never ceases to sound amazing!

 

[Marco 2073]

I run my BE-50 all the time through my UA Ox. It never ceases to sound amazing!

as attenuator or with IR?

 

[jsnow]

Just got a smallbox, stoked to try cranking the plexi channel through my power station!

 

[catscanman]

I have a small box combo and was wondering how it sounded with your power station or other attenuators especially on the Plexi Channel. Thanks

 

[PBGas]

I run my BE-50 all the time through my UA Ox. It never ceases to sound amazing!

as attenuator or with IR?

Both!!!!!! I have the amp set louder and attenuate a bit on the volume of it on the OX at my gig and home. I run the left out to FOH and the speaker out into my Friedman 1x12 cab or BE-212 cab depending upon the gig. The other option is that I run one of the lines to FOH and the other output to my ASM-10 cab for monitoring on stage when I don't need a cab.

All of it works so well together.

 

[Del Rei]

I have the SB50 and DSM, and got a Two Notes Torpedo Captor for a attenuator and reactive loadbox. Now I only use the attenuator because I didn't really like the loadbox.

I tried the loadbox with some free IR and didn't like, and then I bought the GNR IR pack from OwnHammer, and also didn't like it.
I saw that Steve Stevens video with the Torpedo Studio and that was awesome, but I can't get that organic sound.
I would appreciate if someone could explain how to set it in a good way.

 

[randyleewylde]

So I thought my smallbox sounded really good just playing it through a 2x12 (V30 Friedman) but am never really able to push the volume past 1 at my place, certainly never been past 4 for very long. To remedy this, I just got a reactive load box and have been running it at all sorts of volumes ranging from 4-10 and let me tell you... it is INCREDIBLE. I mean holy expletive batman, this amp sounds and FEELS freaking amazing when you cook the power tubes. The plexi channel when really cooking is out of this world and the BE channel will punch a hole through your face with the master at 4 or above.

And I know, I know, I am ultimately listening to this through IRs and mointors/studio headphones... but I also feel that I can appreciate and interpret the sound in a different way when I'm not dealing with the sensory overload of a cranked amp through speakers. I don't know how I can go back; the game has been changed for me.

If you have a SB (or any Friedman), you owe it to yourself to hook that baby up to a load, crank it, and send it through some quality IRs.

What are the best IRs to use with a Friedman BE100 or BE50 Deluxe??
Ownhammer?