Dilemma: Friedman Dirty Shirley or Park P45?

[sicko]

One's more vintage voiced (Park), while the other's more modern (Friedman), I know.
But I'm hoping you guys can help me decide which might be better suited for my applications.
Basically, I want an incredible sounding clean platform for my more ambient style stuff, while at the same time wanting something that, when pushed, can get quite heavy. Not death metal (or even metal) heavy, but just a nice open classic rock crunch.
I was never a Marshall guy, but after hearing a few Friedman's first hand recently fell in love. Unfortunately unable to audition any Park's locally so have to rely on other folks' experiences.
A nice lush, chimey, clean sound is crucial, as is a nice grinding and chunky rhythm sound and soaring lead.
Never was a Les Paul guy until recently and, IMO, a good Les Paul without a good Marshall style amp is like a fish without water.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RAG7890]

If you really want to blow your mind, go listen to a high end Boutique JTM45/100.

That will basically screw with your mind big time IMHO.

It did mine.



P.S. Apologies for being slack. I'm way behind in my personal Emails.

 

[Six Gun]

Friedman if you have the money, Do you like heavy rock/metal and the EL34? Get the smallnbox. If you like classic rock and a lower gain amp6L6GC - KT66 tubes get the Shirley.

Gridlock has the Shirley and could not be happier with it.

I would pass on the Park in a heartbeat, the Friedman's have the built-in effects loop and so many extras.

 

[freebyrd 69]

One's more vintage voiced (Park), while the other's more modern (Friedman), I know.
But I'm hoping you guys can help me decide which might be better suited for my applications.
Basically, I want an incredible sounding clean platform for my more ambient style stuff, while at the same time wanting something that, when pushed, can get quite heavy. Not death metal (or even metal) heavy, but just a nice open classic rock crunch.
I was never a Marshall guy, but after hearing a few Friedman's first hand recently fell in love. Unfortunately unable to audition any Park's locally so have to rely on other folks' experiences.
A nice lush, chimey, clean sound is crucial, as is a nice grinding and chunky rhythm sound and soaring lead.
Never was a Les Paul guy until recently and, IMO, a good Les Paul without a good Marshall style amp is like a fish without water.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Let me save you a lot of time and money. You are going to find that no one single amp does it all. Period. The end.

You want SPECTACULAR cleans, go buy a Fender. You want crunch, get the Marshall.

I play in a Classic Rock and Blues cover band. I have a modified Friedman BE. Mine is 50W instead of 100, and I had a master volume added to the lead channel, all by Dave.

I LOVE the amp! It does the classic rock thing in SPADES. The trade off, which for me I couldn't care less about, is the cleans are very acceptable. Not spectacular, but very good. 90% of our song list, I have no real need for out of this world cleans, so, it just doesn't bother me.

After a lot of time, and a crap ton of money, I can assure you, you won't get both things in spades in one amp.

Also, I had a Dirty Shirley, and the BE I have is FAR superior to that. The Shirley was TOO much of a one trick pony. Great at the one thing it does, but that's it. Good luck.

 

[sicko]

Friedman if you have the money, Do you like heavy rock/metal and the EL34? Get the smallnbox. If you like classic rock and a lower gain amp6L6GC - KT66 tubes get the Shirley.

Gridlock has the Shirley and could not be happier with it.

I would pass on the Park in a heartbeat, the Friedman's have the built-in effects loop and so many extras.

Didn't like the Smallbox when I played it- too scooped/heavy of a sound. Much preferred the Shirley hence why I'm looking at it. Was initially blown away by the BE-100, but it's just too much power for my needs. The Shirley is just $200 more than the Park head so not such a big price difference. Just trying to figure out which is better for the vintage gain sound with big cleans. Have experience with the Shirley first hand and it's great, but wondering about the Park.

 

[sicko]

If you really want to blow your mind, go listen to a high end Boutique JTM45/100.

That will basically screw with your mind big time IMHO.

It did mine.



P.S. Apologies for being slack. I'm way behind in my personal Emails.

Mate, post up some links! Which amps you talking about?! Anxious to see.

 

[sicko]

Let me save you a lot of time and money. You are going to find that no one single amp does it all. Period. The end.
.

I don't think it's that unrealistic to expect an amp to have good cleans and good crunch. I've had a ton of amps that've featured both of those things, but ultimately let go because they simply weren't my flavour. FWIW, I had a Komet Concorde for years and couldn't stand it. Also couldn't stand the /13 FTR37. Far preferred the Friedman's I auditioned. My main amp is a non-Marshally thing; a Bruno Underground 30, which does a killer AC-30 meets Fender thing- AC-30 crunch, Fender clean.

P.S. Your custom Friedman sounds great. Pics? What does a custom job like that run? $4k? How long does it take them? FWIW, I loved the cleans on the BE-100.

 

[mmd]

Want a great amp for ambient music? This one WILL give you a ton of killer tones with an amazing tube effects loop. It was good enough for David Torn for many years.....

The clean on this amp IS Fender. It can be crystalline or pushed. The second channel can be saturated or slightly overdriven. It takes pedals like a champ, or can be used without them. It can sound tight or loose depending on how you configure the power section.

You can find them used for WAY less than the Friedman and they are built with mil-spec parts.

 

[Mustard Caps]

For Higher Gain, and the ability to dial in classic Masrshall sounds, I would check out the Metropoulos Metro Plex.


High End Boutique JTM45/100?

My choice is the Metropoulos GMP45/100. The Limited Edition would be ( For Me ) even better.

I myself, would and did, get a Metro GMP45 before I got either the Friedman, or the Park.

Next on the list is the LTD ED Metro GMP45/100. You can also always tame these with a Power Station.

Metro also has the EC Collins Grill Cloth ( Real Deal Pinstripe ), as does Germino.

Germino would be my #2 amp maker.

But for anything 10,000-12,000, JTM45/100, JTM45 Replica its Metro for me.

If I wanted a 50 Watt Marshall type amp, Germino would be my #1 go to builder.

Even at 38 Watts my Metro GMP45 with 2 x 1 x 12 Hemp Coned JBL E120s, is very loud. with a ton of clean headroom..



Metropoulos Metro-Plex

​

$3,550.00

available to order





AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH DESTROY ALL GUITARS.

Welcome to the Metropoulos Metro-Plex 100/50 watt head featuring a PLEXI MODE w/ master, a MODDED PLEXI MODE w/ master, a BOOST MODE, a built in variac and built in FX loop...
DESCRIPTION:
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH DESTROY ALL GUITARS.
BREAKING NEWS - The MetroPlex amp has been updated. With the addition of the JTM 45/100 mode, it now offers you all the classic '60s Plexi voicings under one roof, with the ability to apply a boost function to any of its voicings, giving them a lift above and beyond where they’ve ever been able to go before. You now have squeaky clean to full-on scream at your fingertips and toe tips via the foot pedal. Here is a breakdown of the new functions:

- Each mode, PLEXI and MOD, now has two possible voicings.
- PLEXI mode is now be selectable between the JTM 45/100 voicing and '68 Superlead voicing.
- MOD mode is now selectable between the '68 Superlead voicing and Modded Superlead voicing.
- The 45/100 is new. The '68 Superlead and modded Superlead voicings are the established tones from the original Metro-Plex. This functionality allows all the following combinations of voicings to be accessible via the footswitch:
- 45/100 and '68 Superlead
- 45/100 and Modded Superlead
- '68 Superlead and Modded Superlead (the original Metro-Plex arrangement)
- BOOST will always be a separate function, which can be applied to any mode. Think of it as a high voltage, clean boost in front of the amp. Just built in.

Welcome to the Metropoulos Metro-Plex 100/50 watt head featuring a PLEXI MODE w/ master, a MODDED PLEXI MODE w/ master, a BOOST MODE, a built in variac and built in FX loop. The master volumes truly allow bedroom volume without degrading the tone, like no other before.

The Metro-Plex is based on the tone of a 1968 Superlead played through a 1968 basketweave slant cab loaded with G12M speakers. NOTHING else sounds like this amp - until now. That tone is the heart of the new Metro-Plex amp, called PLEXI MODE. Add in a circuit mod and you are in MODDED MODE. Time for a solo, hit the footswitch for BOOST MODE, a high voltage FET boost built into the front of the amp - and it has a separate master volume.

Also included in this design is Metropoulos' reknowned Zero Loss FX loop, switchable for pedal level or rack level operation. Foot-switchable.

- Variac mode simulates using a variac to operate a plexi at 90V AC.
- Switchable for 50 or 100 watts output.
- Matching 4-12 and 2-12 cabs designed, loaded and voiced specifically with this amp.

Please note: the MetroPlex design is a work in progress and things may continue to evolve.
PRICING INFO:
- Metro-Plex 100/50 Watt Head: $3,550.00
CABINETS:
- 2x12 Speaker Cabinet - Unloaded: $649.00
- 2x12 Speaker Cabinet Creamback H 75s: $799.00
- 2x12 Speaker Cabinet Creamback M 65s: $789.00
- 2x12 Speaker Cabinet G12M (China) 25 Watt Greenback: $749.00
- 2x12 Speaker Cabinet Heritage G12H 30 Watt Greenback: $835.00
- 2x12 Speaker Cabinet Cream Alnico: $999.00

George does great work.

Heres a small shot of the guts of my Metro GMP45. It couldn't be any cleaner.

 

[RAG7890]

Mate, post up some links! Which amps you talking about?! Anxious to see.

Go to George's site, follow this link: -

"http://plexireplicas.com/metropoulos-amplifiers/45-100-block-end/"

Check out the following Sound Samples: -

Clip 1
@ock Rock Humbucker Tone
Neck Humbucker

This is his interpretation of a 1966 Block End JTM45/100 & to be honest I have never heard a real JTM45/100 in the flesh.

I also hear good things about Germino's Monterey 100 but I am not a fan of the Sound Files. Living in Australia all I have to go by are the Sound Files & friends in the US who have actually played the Amps (that I know have similar tastes / ears to me). No ideal but I can't order everything.

I really like these sound files that George has up (even though they are only mp3's).

I think this Amp sounds like a Grand Piano.............enormous sound stage. It is not 100W BTW, more like ~ 76W (4 x KT66's).

My favorites seem JTM45/100, JTM45 & the Dirty Shirley. The BE100 is also an awesome Amp but too much gain for me.

The Dirty Shirley is really like a hybrid JTM45 come modded JCM800 thing.........IMHO anyway.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Rudi

P.S. Just to be a @ick, there is a potentially better JTM45/100 but my lips are sealed.

 

[sicko]

P.S. Just to be a @ick, there is a potentially better JTM45/100 but my lips are sealed.

Awwww, come on now! Feel free to link it in that much overdue e-mail hahaha

 

[RAG7890]

Awwww, come on now! Feel free to link it in that much overdue e-mail hahaha

Marko, happy to give you a run down in the Email.

We are breaking for just over two weeks on Friday so I'll have plenty of time to catch up on stuff starting from this Saturday mate.

Cheers, Rudi

P.S. When you listen to sound files may I suggest you use good quality Cans or powered Monitors.

 

[RAG7890]

I have a modified Friedman BE. Mine is 50W instead of 100, and I had a master volume added to the lead channel, all by Dave.

.............so Jon, what you are telling us is that you have a half @ssed Brown Eye.

Sorry had to say that.

Cheers, Rudi

 

[Six Gun]

Too bad Jim Marshall was not with us any more, he would love looking at George's work and builds. George's amps are the future Trainwrecks in the collectible amps.

I'm getting the new Metroplex.

 

[freebyrd 69]

I don't think it's that unrealistic to expect an amp to have good cleans and good crunch. I've had a ton of amps that've featured both of those things, but ultimately let go because they simply weren't my flavour. FWIW, I had a Komet Concorde for years and couldn't stand it. Also couldn't stand the /13 FTR37. Far preferred the Friedman's I auditioned. My main amp is a non-Marshally thing; a Bruno Underground 30, which does a killer AC-30 meets Fender thing- AC-30 crunch, Fender clean.

P.S. Your custom Friedman sounds great. Pics? What does a custom job like that run? $4k? How long does it take them? FWIW, I loved the cleans on the BE-100.

The knob on the very bottom is a second master for the lead boost. I had a friend contact Dave about what I wanted and he said he would build it. 50w, and the second master are the only differences from the stock BE. Same price as a regular BE....

 

[d2_racing]

Anyone saw the Wildwood guitars Friedman 50w smallbox special model ?

 

[kiwishock]

Get the Wizard and be done with it...look up Modern Classic 50 on youtube...it does it all...

 

[1331]

Take a look at 3rd Power Citizen Gain CSR.
Really good Fender clean, and amazing Gain. (JTM, plexi and more modern style)

I was going to buy a Friedman Dirty Shirley, but now I will buy a Citizen Gain CSR instead.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

Anyone saw the Wildwood guitars Friedman 50w smallbox special model ?

I have one. It's the greatest amp ever made. Absolute sonic Shangri-la.