Friedman Runt 20H - need you guys

[KingsXJJ]

I have an opportunity to buy one that is in excellent condition for a seriously great deal. It has been inspected by a tech I know and everything including the tubes checked out fine.

My question is… Friedman’s site is vague about what tones this amp was designed to achieve. Are they Plexi or JCM800? Reading some sparse reviews I see repeated comments about its relatively low dirt channel gain. Leads me to think Plexi maybe?

Any info you guys can share please? It quite a LOT cheaper than a new Plex… LOL!

 

[PLX]

 

[GuitarAddicted]

I had a Runt 50 Head and the BE100 Deluxe Head.
I somehow prefered the BE sound of the Runt 50.
It was not as polished as the BE 100 and more raw sounding.
I really like the Runt, if you only need two channels and if you want a hot rodded Marshall sound, go for it!
To me it’s a very underrated Amp.

 

[Night Stalker]

I had one for about two weeks. That was how long it took me to sell it after I realized what a horrendous sounding amp it was.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I had one for about two weeks. That was how long it took me to sell it after I realized what a horrendous sounding amp it was.

How so? What tones were you hoping for and what did it give?

 

[paisleywookiee]

I think it’s a really cool little amp. I thought it was a bit between a plexi and 800, with more gain.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I think it’s a really cool little amp. I thought it was a bit between a plexi and 800, with more gain.

Nice!

 

[Mikael Dez]

I had one for about two weeks. That was how long it took me to sell it after I realized what a horrendous sounding amp it was.

This is off topic but your username is badass - I was a Nightstalker in the Army (nobody knows about us lol)

 

[paisleywookiee]

Nice!

Yeah, with all due respect to @Night Stalker (we all hear things differently), I'm not sure why he'd hate it so much. It's generally either well liked, or acknowledged as at least decent. I've never heard anyone say something so negative. But I've got no frame of reference for what he digs, so who knows.

 

[Mikael Dez]

If it’s a seriously great price and you can afford it - I say go for it and if you don’t like it then you can easily make your money back, this time with knowledge of the amp!

 

[Desertdweller]

I have an opportunity to buy one that is in excellent condition for a seriously great deal. It has been inspected by a tech I know and everything including the tubes checked out fine.

My question is… Friedman’s site is vague about what tones this amp was designed to achieve. Are they Plexi or JCM800? Reading some sparse reviews I see repeated comments about its relatively low dirt channel gain. Leads me to think Plexi maybe?

Any info you guys can share please? It quite a LOT cheaper than a new Plex… LOL!

Ask yourself if you like it enough to overcome the EL84 limitations. You will see increased midrange, lower headroom, and overall a bit more grit on your cleans at higher volumes with this amp than a 50w or 100w variant. Maybe you’re ok with that and maybe that’s what you want.

I’m primarily a metal guy, but I love a good Marshall tone from time to time, and I can’t see how I’d ever get a Marshall tone that I’d really want from an amp that runs boxy-sounding EL84s.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Ask yourself if you like it enough to overcome the EL84 limitations. You will see increased midrange, lower headroom, and overall a bit more grit on your cleans at higher volumes with this amp than a 50w or 100w variant. Maybe you’re ok with that and maybe that’s what you want.

I’m primarily a metal guy, but I love a good Marshall tone from time to time, and I can’t see how I’d ever get a Marshall tone that I’d really want from an amp that runs boxy-sounding EL84s.

The Friedman EL84 amps are better than the Mesas, IMO. Not nearly as boxy.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Ask yourself if you like it enough to overcome the EL84 limitations. You will see increased midrange, lower headroom, and overall a bit more grit on your cleans at higher volumes with this amp than a 50w or 100w variant. Maybe you’re ok with that and maybe that’s what you want.

I’m primarily a metal guy, but I love a good Marshall tone from time to time, and I can’t see how I’d ever get a Marshall tone that I’d really want from an amp that runs boxy-sounding EL84s.

Dave addressed this in his design of this amp specifically.

 

[la szum]

Save up for what you really want, Son, and don't fall for every so-called "deal" to come across the screen.

Love,
Dad

 

[Jarick]

I have the JJ Junior which is a little different voicing but similar. It sounds like a kick ass modded Marshall with a nice clean channel. In the BE channel it’s darker and fatter than 800 or Plexi and has more gain. It doesn’t have any boxiness at all like my Orange Rocker 15 with the same power tubes.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Save up for what you really want, Son, and don't fall for every so-called "deal" to come across the screen.

Love,
Dad

That’s where you’ve been this whole time!!!

 

[Night Stalker]

How so? What tones were you hoping for and what did it give?

I like all kinds of tones, but the Runt just sounded thin, raspy, and unpleasant. I had traded a Suhr Badger 18 head for it. That was a huge mistake. Fortunately it was easy enough to unload.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I like all kinds of tones, but the Runt just sounded thin, raspy, and unpleasant. I had traded a Suhr Badger 18 head for it. That was a huge mistake. Fortunately it was easy enough to unload.

 

[Night Stalker]

Yeah, with all due respect to @Night Stalker (we all hear things differently), I'm not sure why he'd hate it so much. It's generally either well liked, or acknowledged as at least decent. I've never heard anyone say something so negative. But I've got no frame of reference for what he digs, so who knows.

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe there was something wrong with it. I didn't immediately think it was fucked or anything. It just sounded bad, not broken, but who knows. I would have tried swapping out some tubes, but I couldn't be fucking bothered.

Now of course it has put me off anything with the Friedman name on it.

 

[GuitarBilly74]

I'm a big fan of the Runt series. I've owned 2 50w and a 20w. I'm actually considering buying another 50w soon. I like them better than the more expensive Friedman amps.