Updates on Smallbox Builds?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ubermetaldood
  • Start date Start date
Well...don't be sad about the delay...both of the first Small Box delivered in France and Belgium were failed! :(

One didn't want to give sound (tubes were powered, everything was correctly plug in etc, but there wasn't any noise in the cab'...no white noise, nothing)
...and the second (mine) stops working brutally after 1 hour of playing this morning! (I have played it without issue yesterday afternoon and evening)
I need to power it off completly and power it on once again to play again!

Finally I don't want to keep it (I'm scared if it fails during a concert).

...I will continue with my Pink Taco (which didn't have any issue since I bought it a few month ago...I prefer to precise, because I'm sure Dave build incredible amps! ;) ).

Otherwise, the time I was playing the small Box, It sounds very good! More "vintage", with more low end and less gain as the Pink Taco, but exactly the same voicing ("la touche Friedman" like we say in France)!

Thanks for your great works Dave and sorry about this bad news, but I think it should be important for you to know about the situation of your first babes in EU.
 
Man that sucks. I wonder how there can be so many component failures. Even under bad shipping conditions, amps shouldn't fail like that. Amps heat up a lot so the heat shouldn't be a factor. Maybe moisture or something? That's too damned bad. I would have loved to hear a full review. I'm also surprised to hear about the gain. I thought it had as much gain as the BE. I liked the Pink Taco but it needed a little extra overdrive to kick it into gear. This can't be good for the waiting orders because I imagine priority will have to be put on fixing all of those. Things are not looking good. 12 weeks and counting... Damn, I hope that EU order was just a fluke.
 
This is the first I have heard about any of this at all. No one has contacted me about any of this. I test every amp that leaves and I assure you they work. Amp have a lifetime waranty and I wouldn't give That if I was not sure of the amps. Now tubes suck all the time and 99 percent of the time it's that. Pleas elect me know who has these amps so the appropriate steps can be taken to rectifiy the problem. If your amp was working then most likley a preamp tube has failed. As for the other one I can not say because I don't know who has it. Please feel free to contact me for any issues. As far as the amount of gain well is just a slight bit less then the BE ans I mean slight. In fact it's really more of a voicing change then less gain.
 
ubermetaldood":27gwe8wa said:
Man that sucks. I wonder how there can be so many component failures. Even under bad shipping conditions, amps shouldn't fail like that. Amps heat up a lot so the heat shouldn't be a factor. Maybe moisture or something? That's too damned bad. I would have loved to hear a full review. I'm also surprised to hear about the gain. I thought it had as much gain as the BE. I liked the Pink Taco but it needed a little extra overdrive to kick it into gear. This can't be good for the waiting orders because I imagine priority will have to be put on fixing all of those. Things are not looking good. 12 weeks and counting... Damn, I hope that EU order was just a fluke.
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First off component failures?? Fixing all of those??? So 2? We have shipped many and this is the first I have heard of any failures? I have no idea what's was wrong with these and I'm not sure even who has them or the dealer or nothing. Most common thing to fail in any amp is tubes. Nothing else generally ever happens.
 
Please, don't blame Dave! i never say the issues are causee by construction error or something linked with the built process and quality.
It's just a simply fact, nothing more.


Dave,

Thanks for your answer and sorry about that feed back.
First, I hope you understand that my intention is not to to say free critics or bad words about the Small Box, which is an excellent amp as I say before, but just to explain a situation.
I would like to repeat that I already have a Pink Taco which didn't have any problem and which works perfectly since the first day.

Well regarding the Small Box issues, I can totally understand as lot of steps should have an impact between your work house and the customer home!

The less I can do is to give you more details for a better understanding:

-> both amps were came from Musik Produktiv stock (Germany)
-> Both amps didn't have impact or specific marks/ injuries on their Box.
-> the amp which didn't want to start (but was correctly powered, tube were lightened, power diode was red etc) was for a Belgium friend of me
The amp which worked a fews hours and stop working suddently and work once again after a power of/power on was mine.
-> the problems happen yesterday (for me) and thursday evening (for my friend in Belgium), both amps will be returned next week to Musik Produktiv, that's why you didn't ear about that story (but I think Musik Produktiv will do it soon)
-> if I choose to not keep the amp, it's due to the timing for a maintenance at this period of the production (you and your team are very busy and I can't spend some time to wait for a new amp...), and the fact the Pink Taco already give me this kind of tone!

Otherwise, about the Small Box sound, yes you're right there is some voicing differences, which can explain the feeling about less gain of the Small Box vs the Pink Taco, but it's very minor.
I feel the Small Box more "vintage" than the Pink Taco, but from my point of view, the PT can reach it (or be very similar).
i have played the SB and PT with my main guitars :
- Navigator N-LP-480 (with Throbaks ED-MXV pickups) and Edwards LP "JP relic" (slider's PAF 59' pickups)
- Fender start 68' and strat 75' originals


For all of you which are waiting for their Small Box, don't be affraid, I'm sure everything will be OK for all of you, and the Small Box is excellent! ;)
 
RACKSYSTEMS":3tuyanvf said:
ubermetaldood":3tuyanvf said:
Man that sucks. I wonder how there can be so many component failures. Even under bad shipping conditions, amps shouldn't fail like that. Amps heat up a lot so the heat shouldn't be a factor. Maybe moisture or something? That's too damned bad. I would have loved to hear a full review. I'm also surprised to hear about the gain. I thought it had as much gain as the BE. I liked the Pink Taco but it needed a little extra overdrive to kick it into gear. This can't be good for the waiting orders because I imagine priority will have to be put on fixing all of those. Things are not looking good. 12 weeks and counting... Damn, I hope that EU order was just a fluke.
Click to expand...

First off component failures?? Fixing all of those??? So 2? We have shipped many and this is the first I have heard of any failures? I have no idea what's was wrong with these and I'm not sure even who has them or the dealer or nothing. Most common thing to fail in any amp is tubes. Nothing else generally ever happens.
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Hey, I'm not the one who said there were failures. I was probing to get down to what really happened with that order - if there is any credibility to the story. I'm a faithful consumer who made my 2nd Friedman purchase so I tend to believe that it was a fluke. I wouldn't have put up so much money for a Friedman if I didn't believe that you guys make some of the best amps in the world. I hope this all gets resolved without rumors spreading in the EU.
 
Just to be clear about the situation:

You can think these are lies and that "this little Frenchy" try to discredit Mr Dave Friedman work...
it's not a problem for me, but I assure you that it is a non sense as the Small Box is my second Friedman Amp!

I already purchased (I own and play it again everyday) a Pink Taco.

Sorry for this situation, and Dave, if you needs, I can send you the serial number of the amp!
Or if you have question or specific request, don't hesitate to contact me, you're welcome! ;)
 
Krok":1atuytqr said:
Just to be clear about the situation:

You can think these are lies and that "this little Frenchy" try to discredit Mr Dave Friedman work...
it's not a problem for me, but I assure you that it is a non sense as the Small Box is my second Friedman Amp!

I already purchased (I own and play it again everyday) a Pink Taco.

Sorry for this situation, and Dave, if you needs, I can send you the serial number of the amp!
Or if you have question or specific request, don't hesitate to contact me, you're welcome! ;)
Click to expand...

No one said you were lying or trying to discredit Dave Little Frenchy, relax. I'm not making fun of your English or anything like that, but at first it kind of sounded like you were saying that the orders for France and Belgium were defective. I admit that got me worried about delays a little bit, but the next time you posted, you clarified that it was your amp and an amp belonging to someone you know so that cleared a lot of things up. Now Dave is on the case and it will be fixed, so it's no longer an issue.

Also, thanks for your review of the Smallbox vs the Pink Taco. You seemed to clarify what I asked you about the gain of the Smallbox vs Pink Taco, but I want to make sure that you are saying that the Pink Taco has more gain than the Smallbox drive channel? I just trying to find out because I had a Pink Taco and it didn't have nearly as much gain as the BE100 dirty channel. Also, the Smallbox videos and descriptions say that the Smallbox HAS the BE100 dirty channel. The videos of the Smallbox also sound like it has more gain than the Pink Taco. That's why I want to make sure of what you are saying.

If that's the case then I must have misunderstood how much gain the Smallbox had when I ordered it, but it's no problem because I always like to keep an mild boost on anyway so I'm sure the amount of distortion won't be a problem. Some amps have such an incredible response that they don't need a lot of gain to get a liquid feel. From what I have heard, that is the case with the Smallbox. The videos seem to confirm that because they talk about how dynamic the Smallbox is.
 
The pink taco is exactly the same preamp as the BE channel but darkened a bit for the power section. Often the Pink Taco to me seems like it has more gain then the BE-100 on the BE channel. This is because of the power section of the amp. The Small box has the same dirty channel as the BE but it's voiced a bit fatter and has a tiny tiny bit less gain then the BE technically. When comparing amps with a amp switcher they can be dialed in the same. Hope this helps.
 
RACKSYSTEMS":3dbatfqx said:
The pink taco is exactly the same preamp as the BE channel but darkened a bit for the power section. Often the Pink Taco to me seems like it has more gain then the BE-100 on the BE channel. This is because of the power section of the amp. The Small box has the same dirty channel as the BE but it's voiced a bit fatter and has a tiny tiny bit less gain then the BE technically. When comparing amps with a amp switcher they can be dialed in the same. Hope this helps.
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Thanks for clarifying. That helps.
 
RACKSYSTEMS":106t4lme said:
The pink taco is exactly the same preamp as the BE channel but darkened a bit for the power section. Often the Pink Taco to me seems like it has more gain then the BE-100 on the BE channel. This is because of the power section of the amp. The Small box has the same dirty channel as the BE but it's voiced a bit fatter and has a tiny tiny bit less gain then the BE technically. When comparing amps with a amp switcher they can be dialed in the same. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave ! You put the correct words of my feels between the BE channel of the Small Box and the BE channel of the Pink Taco. :thumbsup:

It can be summary with 4 words : fatter & tiny less gain (for the Small Box).
 
@ Umbermetaldood:

Don't worry, I completly understand.
I was just released that I didn't explain clearly the situation of both amp in my first post. ;)

I'm surprised you felt a lack of gain with the pink Taco...
How long did you try it and at wich volume?

From my point of view, the Pink Taco needs to increase the level on the master to give it best!
For a big "hairy sound" with a good gain level, I like to play it with vol around 5 and the gain around 8.
In this condition it give a great 80'-90' hard rock/metal sound (not modern metal of course).
...and for lead tone, I add some "kick" with an OD or boost.
 
Krok":1ovqnryu said:
@ Umbermetaldood:

Don't worry, I completly understand.
I was just released that I didn't explain clearly the situation of both amp in my first post. ;)

I'm surprised you felt a lack of gain with the pink Taco...
How long did you try it and at wich volume?

From my point of view, the Pink Taco needs to increase the level on the master to give it best!
For a big "hairy sound" with a good gain level, I like to play it with vol around 5 and the gain around 8.
In this condition it give a great 80'-90' hard rock/metal sound (not modern metal of course).
...and for lead tone, I add some "kick" with an OD or boost.
Click to expand...

Even though the Pink Taco is 20 watts, I felt like it needed to be played pretty loud. I had better luck getting bedroom volume tone from the BE100. After I sold my Pink Taco, I bought a BE100 display model for a discount, but only got to play it for one night because it started puttering out from being played by a bunch of Guitar Center punks. For the time I had it though, it was ganier than the Pink Taco. Maybe it has more preamp gain or something, I don't know, but it didn't need a pedal in front. Of course, maybe it just has a whole different feel. Some amps need more distortion to get a liquid lead tone, and other amps like my Morris, may not have as much gain but feels like it does. To me the Pink Taco had a stiffer, less forgiving feel. The BE100 on the other hand felt more elastic with lots of sustain so it felt like everything rolled off of my fingers more easily. I don't know if that makes any sense but that's how I perceived it.
 
I think you're right and I totally agree with your feels about the Pink Taco.
It's a paradox but this little box is not a bedroom amp and needs to be play loud to find its spot point (maybe it's probably due to the power EL84 section? Like a VOX?)
 
All I can say is that Dave Friedman has changed my life...! :lol: :LOL:

Sounds funny to say but since getting my BE100 (which I will admit I bought with a bit of skepticism because I'm a fickle amp whore) I could not be happier with any other amp period that I can think of.

Owning a BE1000 has been nothing short of an amazing experience that just keeps getting better and better as I play it...

It has been a game changer for me playing wise because of how it responds to the player and it has helped me become more inspired and creative as a guitarist and because of this I have been focused on learning new riffs, licks, songs, etc more then ever in a very long while.

That said I ordered a small box 50 last month and can't wait to get it! :rock: :rock: :rock:

I'm beyond sure it is going to be an amazing amp that both my strats will love being plugged into. I have no doubt about the build quality and tone of this will take me into Hendrix and blues and classic rock heaven as we'll all more contemporary territory too for a long time to come after getting it.
 
What's the official word on the Rig-Talk Smallbox orders? Is it true they shipping out today?
 
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