NAD

[handsoffmatt]

That's rough about your Dad. Condolences indeed.

The Friedman will hardly fill that gap, but it'll put a smile on your face for sure. That's an outstanding sounding amplifier.

[Clanger]

I've spent a few hours with it now, and I'm liking it more and more. I've pretty much dialed in a permanent setting for the clean and BE, and will probably leave it there, because it's sounding just right; Presence on 10, Bass on 2, Middle on 5, Treble on 10 (on the BE/HBE). The clean sounds magnificent, especially with the bright switch engaged - even with my darkish JB and 59 Seymours, it's still very very bright (I'd love to play a strat through it).

This thing has a massive rich powerful tone, especially in the lows, but doesn't lose any punch in the mids or highs. It has no sponge at all - everything is defined and clear, even when gained out in the HBE mode - it's so articulate and every note is cutting through - it's damn good. I'm also getting some serious sustain (no effects, just amp > guitar), and it's every note and chord - I've always wanted that but haven't been able to achieve it until now. I would like perhaps a bit more compression, but a compression pedal will (hopefully) give it that cherry on top.

It impressively manages to sound good at lowish volumes, but I've had it as loud as 6 on both clean and driven, and that's where it belongs. I tried to break the clean up just to see if I could, and it stayed clean until it just got too loud for me to go further. I don't have my desired speakers of choice, which is the only annoyance - I want some old broken in English V30's (I have Ipswich G12T-75's which hide the amps brightness too much for me).

It's everything I wanted my old 1987x to be, and more. Worth the price? ATM I am very content.

[higainer]

Great review.
That amp should give you years of fun.

Later on down the road when you start looking at speakers, give the Friedman recipe a go.
Greenbacks on top & V30's at the bottom.

[AiRdAd]

I saw a Friedman demo where they did that and tried it. It is a great speaker combination.

[handsoffmatt]

My Friedman/Marshall sounds amazing through everything, though lately I've been loving it with your old cab Danny - the 30th Anniversary cab with some well-broken in G12T-75's.

[AmpShop]

I've spent a few hours with it now, and I'm liking it more and more. I've pretty much dialed in a permanent setting for the clean and BE, and will probably leave it there, because it's sounding just right; Presence on 10, Bass on 2, Middle on 5, Treble on 10 (on the BE/HBE). The clean sounds magnificent, especially with the bright switch engaged - even with my darkish JB and 59 Seymours, it's still very very bright (I'd love to play a strat through it).

This thing has a massive rich powerful tone, especially in the lows, but doesn't lose any punch in the mids or highs. It has no sponge at all - everything is defined and clear, even when gained out in the HBE mode - it's so articulate and every note is cutting through - it's damn good. I'm also getting some serious sustain (no effects, just amp > guitar), and it's every note and chord - I've always wanted that but haven't been able to achieve it until now. I would like perhaps a bit more compression, but a compression pedal will (hopefully) give it that cherry on top.

It impressively manages to sound good at lowish volumes, but I've had it as loud as 6 on both clean and driven, and that's where it belongs. I tried to break the clean up just to see if I could, and it stayed clean until it just got too loud for me to go further. I don't have my desired speakers of choice, which is the only annoyance - I want some old broken in English V30's (I have Ipswich G12T-75's which hide the amps brightness too much for me).

It's everything I wanted my old 1987x to be, and more. Worth the price? ATM I am very content.

Great review! Really glad to hear you're happy with it

[Molly]

I don't have my desired speakers of choice, which is the only annoyance - I want some old broken in English V30's (I have Ipswich G12T-75's which hide the amps brightness too much for me).

It's everything I wanted my old 1987x to be, and more. Worth the price? ATM I am very content.

What didn't your 1987x do that you wanted it to? Interested as I'm on the verge of buying one.

Also, I have a Boogie cab with English V30s but it's not broken in. It's still 'as new'. I've pulled the listing with the expectation that I'll change two or all of the speakers to Celestion Greenbacks. Let me know if you're interested in the speakers or the cab etc.

Re: 'Hiding brightness'. The first thing I thought about my V30s was that it made the Splawn too bright.

Interesting reading your review. I think I want one too now...

[higainer]

I don't have my desired speakers of choice, which is the only annoyance - I want some old broken in English V30's (I have Ipswich G12T-75's which hide the amps brightness too much for me).

It's everything I wanted my old 1987x to be, and more. Worth the price? ATM I am very content.

What didn't your 1987x do that you wanted it to? Interested as I'm on the verge of buying one.

Also, I have a Boogie cab with English V30s but it's not broken in. It's still 'as new'. I've pulled the listing with the expectation that I'll change two or all of the speakers to Celestion Greenbacks. Let me know if you're interested in the speakers or the cab etc.



Re: 'Hiding brightness'. The first thing I thought about my V30s was that it made the Splawn too bright.

Interesting reading your review. I think I want one too now...

The 1987x would be a great amp but the Friedman would give you the plexi goodness as well as a clean channel and along with the HBE channel providing super hot rodded lead tones.
Add in a great FX loop & master vol, it's the complete package.
Would be a fantastic gigging amp too.

[MogwaiBoy]

Very sorry to hear about your loss, especially at this time of year.

Enjoy the amp - enjoy life, bro. *bro-hugs*

[Clanger]

I don't have my desired speakers of choice, which is the only annoyance - I want some old broken in English V30's (I have Ipswich G12T-75's which hide the amps brightness too much for me).

It's everything I wanted my old 1987x to be, and more. Worth the price? ATM I am very content.

What didn't your 1987x do that you wanted it to? Interested as I'm on the verge of buying one.

higainer answered it well. The Marshall almost had all the sounds, but it wasn't exactly in a versatile, user-friendly package. The BE100 has all the 1987x sounds, and more, in a modern channel switcher setup. The Friedman will do what the 1987x can in the BE channel, alone, easily. That channel cleans up well with the guitars volume with a low gain setting. Even when it's on a higher gain setting, you can be gentle with the pick, and keep it relatively clean, then have gain without touching the volume when you attack it - it's an absolute beauty for different picking dynamics.

1987x is cool though - just for the shear rawness. They're also a decent price. If you spent some money on modding it, you can be in Friedman Smallbox territory, without having to pay Friedman prices.

Also, I have a Boogie cab with English V30s but it's not broken in. It's still 'as new'. I've pulled the listing with the expectation that I'll change two or all of the speakers to Celestion Greenbacks. Let me know if you're interested in the speakers or the cab etc.

Re: 'Hiding brightness'. The first thing I thought about my V30s was that it made the Splawn too bright.

Interesting reading your review. I think I want one too now...

I'll definitely take your V30's. I want the V30 and Greenback combo also, but I'm not wanting to shell out more for the Friedman cab.

Very sorry to hear about your loss, especially at this time of year.

Enjoy the amp - enjoy life, bro. *bro-hugs*

Thank you. The word asbestos, will forever sadden me because of what it did to my father. Absolutely horrific.

[Molly]

Sent you a PM. No hurry whatsoever.

Thanks for the reply by the way. Would love to A/B your amp with my Splawn.