New Friedman IR-X preamp

[la szum]

Yeah I don't know how close this is to a vintage Marshall, the "Plexi" channel isn't all that Plexi to me, still sounds awesome though. It's darker and thicker than what I expect from a vintage Marshall, and the snarling upper mids are reigned way in. Add in more gain, and to me that's a "modern modded Marshall" sound, not vintage.

For me, that's Dave's ear in a nutshell. Smoother without the blessed Marshall snarl and spit, and with a bit of a
bloated lower register that is a tad tubby sounding to my ears.

Maybe he wants to do his own thing. Just wish there were some more period correct Marshall offerings with
some of the cool features a more modern approach offers.

A girl can dream, right?

 

[Jarick]

For me, that's Dave's ear in a nutshell. Smoother without the blessed Marshall snarl and spit, and with a bit of a
bloated lower register that is a tad tubby sounding to my ears.

Maybe he wants to do his own thing. Just wish there were some more period correct Marshall offerings with
some of the cool features a more modern approach offers.

A girl can dream, right?

I think it comes from everyone going after Eddie's tone. Everyone assumed because it sounded so awesome and saturated and amazing that he was using a modded amp, and then everyone started modding their amps to get the tone, and that's where Dave got his start. In reality it was a stock Plexi maybe pushed a little bit by an echo plex preamp and the hands of god.

For me the Friedman sound is the sound in my head, more or less. The vintage Marshall sound is awesome but a little harsh and over the top. Still depending on the band that may be exactly what is needed. Saw a lot of punk bands over the years with an SG or Tele into a Marshall right into the ears like a punch to the face.

 

[la szum]

Yup. Marshalls were weak in the bass and a tad bright.... and maybe not as gained up as they should be.

We'll fix that!

I just love where they sit in the mix, though, and find a lot of modern amps overly dark, smooth, compressed, and
lacking in the mids.

Glad there are lots of choices, though. Pretty sure we can all find what suits us best with a little time and understanding
of what we gravitate towards.

 

[la szum]

I think it comes from everyone going after Eddie's tone. Everyone assumed because it sounded so awesome and saturated and amazing that he was using a modded amp, and then everyone started modding their amps to get the tone, and that's where Dave got his start. In reality it was a stock Plexi maybe pushed a little bit by an echo plex preamp and the hands of god.

For me the Friedman sound is the sound in my head, more or less. The vintage Marshall sound is awesome but a little harsh and over the top. Still depending on the band that may be exactly what is needed. Saw a lot of punk bands over the years with an SG or Tele into a Marshall right into the ears like a punch to the face.

And even Eddie ended up moving farther and farther away from those hallowed tones. Maybe it is in the DNA of
Guitarists to never be satisfied. Chronic tone discontent is the way!

 

[Jarick]

Yup. Marshalls were weak in the bass and a tad bright.... and maybe not as gained up as they should be.

We'll fix that!

I just love where they sit in the mix, though, and find a lot of modern amps overly dark, smooth, compressed, and
lacking in the mids.

Glad there are lots of choices, though. Pretty sure we can all find what suits us best with a little time and understanding
of what we gravitate towards.

We just need a "SNARL" switch on the BE-100 to dial in those harsh upper mids.

 

[cragginshred]

@Jarick where were you running the bass? Sounds like the mids are absent. I never run my bass above noon and often below, then bump mids for string clarity. Thanks for the doing the test!

 

[cragginshred]

For me, that's Dave's ear in a nutshell. Smoother without the blessed Marshall snarl and spit, and with a bit of a
bloated lower register that is a tad tubby sounding to my ears.

Maybe he wants to do his own thing. Just wish there were some more period correct Marshall offerings with
some of the cool features a more modern approach offers.

A girl can dream, right?

I have owned 80% of every Freidman amp and the trick to get rid of the bloat is run the Thump and bass low. The voicings are already dark so a Koko mid boost helps too. I will say the new JEL 20w and V2 Taco are both raw and have plenty of mids without being harsh!

 

[jellodog]

@Jarick Which FAS delay are you using in that clip?

 

[JiveTurkey]

And even Eddie ended up moving farther and farther away from those hallowed tones. Maybe it is in the DNA of
Guitarists to never be satisfied. Chronic tone discontent is the way!

 

[Jarick]

@Jarick where were you running the bass? Sounds like the mids are absent. I never run my bass above noon and often below, then bump mids for string clarity. Thanks for the doing the test!

Probably between noon and 1:00. Mids sound fine to me. Could be the IR.

 

[norminal]

And even Eddie ended up moving farther and farther away from those hallowed tones.

And to think that his 5150 became one of the most used amps in metal music.

 

[cragginshred]

Probably between noon and 1:00. Mids sound fine to me. Could be the IR.

It will until you hear a real one at ear ringing volume

 

[Jarick]

@Jarick Which FAS delay are you using in that clip?

I think the standard stereo tape delay

 

[jellodog]

I think the standard stereo tape delay

Hah. That's funny - it sounded "somehow better" or at least different to the delay in my current patch, which is...

the stereo tape delay

 

[ejecta]

I just don't always jive with Dave's ear. As much as he says he loves vintage Marshalls his own amps
just don't ooze that vibe. To my ears, anyways.

Nope. Totally agree. His amps are more compressed and a bit too modern in some his modes in the lower mids. If I want go modern modded Marshall style I think there better sounding options IMHO.

 

[TSJMajesty]

IR-X in the loop of the Axe FX 3 sounds killer. Effects all sound very rich. Pleased with that setup for sure. But downside there is I tend to just dial in the same 80's rack sound every time.

What's your Blocks layout look like using it in the III? Iow, where do you have it in the signal path? And how are you using the power amp sims?

 

[TSJMajesty]

Here's a quick clip, running the IR-X through the Axe FX 3:



0:00 is the clean channel from gain about 10:00 to all the way up.

0:25 I switch to dirty channel with gain about 9:00 then go all the way up.

0:55 I switch back to clean channel with gain about 1:00 and kick on the Klon in the Axe 3 with gain at 1 and level at 5

1:25 I think it's back to dirty channel with the Klon boost

1:45 clean channel with some effects

2:00 dirty channel with effects

My guitar is a PRS S2 Standard 24 with Suhr SSV's in D standard so it's a little thicker than average.

IR used is the Ownhammer GNR single 57 in sweet spot

That sounded amazing!! Tones were really sweet there at the end!

 

[TSJMajesty]

Yeah I don't know how close this is to a vintage Marshall, the "Plexi" channel isn't all that Plexi to me, still sounds awesome though. It's darker and thicker than what I expect from a vintage Marshall, and the snarling upper mids are reigned way in. Add in more gain, and to me that's a "modern modded Marshall" sound, not vintage.

Nothing in that clip sounded remotely like a Plexi.
A Plexi has a sound so distinctive, you know it immediately. And that wasn't it.
But as far as modern sounds go, that was very nice!

 

[Life Eats Life]

The downside of buying stuff half drunk on a Friday evening is it doesn’t ship until the following Monday. Probably won’t get it until end of the week.

The lesson? Start drinking mid week.

No I wouldn’t advise that man.
IMHE,-that’s like “hair of the dog” being an effective practice towards curating a ruthless hangover??

-what happens with getting lit & buyin’ shit is,
-now you’re ordering shit loaded,
opening shit loaded & are savagely reminded paying for it when you HAVE TOO come to’..
The rapacious creditor ALWAYS f’n collects.

The School of Hard Knocks is a fantastic place
to learn good & hard
‘the ole cost of doin’ bid’ness‘

 

[Blix]

And to think that his 5150 became one of the most used amps in metal music.

And ironically EVH never sounded good with them (The Fender 5150's)