NCD: Friedman 4x12

[James Freeman]

Friedman 4x12 IRs:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13GT7_XXVhjtRKruewnYsmXHmq_vDteJ4

 

[sleewell]

looks super clean. 4x12s are life

HNCD!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Whizzinby]

Hell yeah. What’s it loaded with, the GB/V30 combo?

 

[James Freeman]

Hell yeah. What’s it loaded with, the GB/V30 combo?

Yes.
The V30's are of the newer darker and more mid-rangy tonality.

Average of 2 top Greenbacks


Average of 2 bottom Vintage 30s


Average of all 4 speakers

 

[CorrosiveMatter]

So now we need an answer to your question, Are 4x12 cabs really that good?

 

[Whizzinby]

Yes.
The V30's are of the newer darker and more mid-rangy tonality.

Average of 2 top Greenbacks


Average of 2 bottom Vintage 30s


Average of all 4 speakers

I waiver all the time when doing isolated shots to just use the GB’s over the V30’s, but paired they compliment each other very well.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

looks beautiful, clean AF. 1960B style cabs are the absolute top of the pile IMO.

Speaker blends in cabs are for wusses though, I’m afraid.

 

[James Freeman]

I kind of hoped I would get the older chinese sound with the bright v30, but it seems post 2022 all we have now is the smoother and darker V30 which records much better with an SM57 but not my personal preference in the room.

I don't believe the "same recipe" nonsense, I can say with high certainty that the V30 definitely changed in the last 2-3 years.

 

[Jarick]

That looks awesome! I've seen some great deals on 4x12's, there was a clean Friedman for like $800 when I got my JJ Junior.

 

[James Freeman]

No casters with a 1,500$ cab, WTF Dave?

Installed some 2" heavy duty red casters from the hardware store. Solved.

EDIT: uninstalled the 2" and installed 3" casters, much better.

 

[Orvillain]

I kind of hoped I would get the older chinese sound with the bright v30, but it seems post 2022 all we have now is the smoother and darker V30 which records much better with an SM57 but not my personal preference in the room.

Really really happy with my V30's, which I think are from 2010-2013.

 

[bikescene]

Thanks for sharing the IRs of the cab.

Do you think the possible cab construction differences from your Marshall cabs contribute to the tonal differences in a meaningful way? Are you planning on moving speakers around or are the new GBs/V30s going to be parked in the Friedman cabs?

 

[James Freeman]

the possible cab construction differences from your Marshall cabs contribute to the tonal differences in a meaningful way?

Not in a meaningful way, the speakers make the biggest difference.
The construction and attention to detail of the Friedman cab is excellent though, better than the Marshall.

Are you planning on moving speakers around or are the new GBs/V30s going to be parked in the Friedman cabs?

For now it stays as is because I like the sound.
Maybe I will go all V30 in the future.

 

[Whizzinby]

Not in a meaningful way, the speakers make the biggest difference.
The construction and attention to detail of the Friedman cab is excellent though, better than the Marshall.

View attachment 42260View attachment 42261
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For now it stays as is because I like the sound.
Maybe I will go all V30 in the future.

I’ve actually thought about doing a test retrofit of my pair, one all GB and one all V30, but laziness.

But I thought it might be a cool thing to have one to pair specifically for more vintagey amp tones and one for the chuggers.

 

[James Freeman]

I’ve actually thought about doing a test retrofit of my pair, one all GB and one all V30, but laziness.
But I thought it might be a cool thing to have one to pair specifically for more vintagey amp tones and one for the chuggers.

This is the main reason I bought this cab, to have a blend of GB and V30 without moving the speakers from the Marshall cabs so I still have all GB or all V30 for that sound.
To my ear the Greenbacks are brash, papery and bright while the V30 are smooth, crunchy and thick but not without brightness, together they create a nice mixture of a bright, crunchy yet full bodied sounding cab, a good all-rounder 'rock' cab.

 

[2dor]

That's such a nice lookin' cab; sounds great too imho

 

[KingsXJJ]

Very nice! Looks fantastic. Congrats!

 

[laxu]

This is the main reason I bought this cab, to have a blend of GB and V30 without moving the speakers from the Marshall cabs so I still have all GB or all V30 for that sound.
To my ear the Greenbacks are brash, papery and bright while the V30 are smooth, crunchy and thick but not without brightness, together they create a nice mixture of a bright, crunchy yet full bodied sounding cab, a good all-rounder 'rock' cab.

Sounds like the GBs might need some breaking in.

 

[James Freeman]

Sounds like the GBs might need some breaking in.

Guitar speakers don't break-in, they deteriorate after hundreds of hours of loud use, which contrary to popular belief makes them even brighter.
What really occurs when you play at normal volumes and listen to the new speakers is your brain is getting familiar with the new sound and gradually ignores any anomalies you first hear.
Having played this cab the entire weekend where the Greenback speakers are bright and dominant, lo and behold my Marshall with Greenbacks ALSO started to sound nice without me having to play it at all.

 

[Humbug]

Having played this cab the entire weekend where the Greenback speakers are bright and dominant, lo and behold my Marshall with Greenbacks ALSO started to sound nice without me having to play it at all.

This is just you coming to your senses and realising that the greenback is the superior speaker.

Very tidy wiring in the Friedman cab. I like :)