Friedman JEL compared to pink taco V2

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Totally agree regarding in-room mics vs IRs

[@JasonSmith-wj2ht]

I usually don't like how saturated Friedman amps are. But I really like the JEL. BIG, open & dynamic. really has classic Marshall bark too.

[@cragginshred]

Agreed 💯, they are not just saturated, but overly compressed and lacked mids that are present and up front in Marshalls. The jEL is raw open and mid rich with out the top end ice pick in the forehead Marshalls are known for.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

@@cragginshred and best FX loops too

[@exaymssik]

For bedroom players who own a PT V2. I had my V2 for 6 months but was havin' a hard time really dialing in a tone i liked. Just never sounded full. I swapped out the power tubes for JJ EL844s which is a tube with 25% less head room. Left the existing preamp tubes in and it filled the amp right in. Sounds nice and warm and big. I'm not sure if the power tubes that came with my amp were defective or something but these tubes brought the amp to life. I play my amp between 9 and 10 o'clock on the master volume. The amp even sounds nice and full on the lowest gain setting now as well. I recommend giving them a whirl if you're in the market for a re-tube.

[@cragginshred]

Ya these 20w heads are not for bedroom players. They will work for that but I'd rather just use my Fractal. thanks for tuning in!

[@mazklassa9338]

​@@cragginshred I just assumed the low wattage was precisely for playing at low volume??

[@bcjaliu]

@@mazklassa9338 20 watts of tube power w proper transformers are loud!

[@trentlang5697]

Super helpful video, man! This is the one that finally convinced me to pull the trigger. Thank you so much.

[@cragginshred]

My pleasure bud!

[@EddieB2047]

Killer tones across both channels. Anderson’s are great guitars as well. I’ve been checking out all your vids on this amp and they are very good,even live, thanks for posting them. I’m anxiously awaiting my JEL 20 arrival

[@cragginshred]

Thanks, Rock on!!

[@Bonzo314]

What song is that riff in E your'e playing at 00:45

[@phillamoore157]

Hey brother!....been MIA for a while, so lot of catching up to do with your videos. I was thinking about picking this amp up, and pairing it with my Little Sister (which I love). But, until this video, I haven't heard a demo of this amp dialed in REALLY well. Tough to hear how you said you had it set, though. This sounds spectacular, bud. Good to see you with a tele as well!

[@keithbriscoe99]

Great review - very real. Sorry if you said, but what were you generally running the Master Volume on for these tones? Thanks.

[@cragginshred]

About 2.5 on both. The JEL has the Sat switch on making the MV more useable!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

thank you for making this video! Really tough to choose but as a Jake E Lee fan and love the red color the JEL seems to be a winner for me. Good to hear the actual in room natural tones of the amps! Love both but the JEL wins for me. 20w is plenty loud for gigs.

[@cragginshred]

Enjoy it!

[@christopher.k.guitar]

Hey man great video 👊 How hot do you run the master volumes on the JEL20? I find cranking it especially on the plexi channel elevates the awesomeness by miles… just below 3 o‘clock is where it’s at for me. That way I don’t have to crank the gain and am able to still make ise of the bright switch

[@cragginshred]

Around 1/4 with the sat switch on (only Friedman I have ever used the Sat switch on) which makes the MV way more useable. Ch 2 is below noon for a solo boost.

[@evan2757]

Hey man, thanks for the vid, I love your tone and style. I love 80's guitar too. I own the PT V2 and am wondering if the JEL channel 1(Plexi) would get me better lower gain SRV/Hendrix type tones? The PT is awesome but it's a bit of a one trick pony, a great pony to be sure though :)

[@cragginshred]

Yes JEL Plexi can do anything!

[@marcusmchapman]

That was helpful, I think IRs etc make everything sound too similar and highly produced. I have a JEL20 coming tomorrow hopefully so had better start learning some Hair Metal ASAP as it sounds ideal for that😊

[@cragginshred]

🤣

[@Basedboomerchadbear]

Been wanting to see a comparison of these exact two! …I can’t decide. JEL20 seems kinda special, and the way to go. I love 80s grease rock fwiw

[@MarkAromi]

Craig, what pick ups are in those guitars tele and strat. I tried a Jel 20 at Dave’s place yesterday and wasn’t getting that great punchy crunch that I’m hearing from yours. What cabinet did you use that I’m hearing? Also, Do you think the tumnus elevates the Jel 20. I currently have a BE-50 an absolutely love it. But I was hoping for more nasty hair on the Jel 20. Any help?..

[@cragginshred]

It def needs the Tumnus to push the plexi into that hair territory! Pups are Anderson TF3 single coil which are killer. Greenbacks in cab. Strat has Anderson H2+ Humbucker. Rock on!

[@MarkAromi]

Thanks so much!!

[@JayRoc17]

Great playing and tones! With all that awesome gear what’s your fav guitar and amp?

[@cragginshred]

The one I'm playing thru, ha! they are all great. Right now the JEL is my gigging amp. The Taco is my rehearsing amp. The Wizard is the big daddy and king of all, All others were sold along the way to fund the next arrival.

[@artsal]

Absolutely love your demos for the same exact reason, IRS are cool and everything but not really 100% how people are really going to used it. My own opinion. Thanks do some Dio ,motley and some Ratt . I think this is the amp that Nail’s 80s rock at its best. Cheers

[@cragginshred]

I will do that next vid for the JEL head. Thanks for watching!

[@mrshredder0076]

it’s been awhile. awesome playing as usual. gear question - so i’m getting slo 100 no matter bogner helios 100, wizard or jel for my marshall copy that does clean to mean ( zeppelin / zz top to 80s shred ) keep rocking

[@cragginshred]

Sorry bud, no idea what your questions was?

[@mrshredder0076]

i’m sorry, i wrote quickly so i am definitely buying a soldano slo 100 but what i want is marshall or marshall flavor amp that can do clean to mean ( zeppelin to say george lynch ) i have a be 100 modified by dave loved your tones on the helios, that wizard seems wicked, the JEL amp is very interesting but wanted to get your take. you surprise me with some of your riffs like dio, def leppard etc … and then you play chill songs. of the bogner, JEL or wizard which do you prefer for your style

[@mrshredder0076]

fyi / have metropoulos mark ii so i have the classic marshall vibe but wanted something with more gain on tap but versatile

[@bcjaliu]

Fantastic real world “no influencer bs” review. Greatly appreciated!! Fantastic chops too my man! I want Santa to bring a JEL 20, this Christmas… c’mon Santa! I’m super excited about the great Plexi Channel in this amp. I’m thinking AC/DC crunch on Ch 1, boosted for probably most things like you 😂, then Ch 2 dialed for Leads 🎉! My dilemma would be what speakers, cabinet? Should I go w the JEL 1x12 w the 65W creamback? It’s expensive for what it is…maybe a Marshall Studio 2x12…they have the JTM style one w the creambacks, or maybe type SV20 cab? Thoughts? Another thought is going with the JEL 20 1x12 and then adding a second one later? I’d be playing small clubs so a 1x12 would be good volume wise, but would it cut well with the creamback? I’d be playing in a two guitar band and what if the drummer goes apeshit 😅😂. Lastly have you used it with the DI at all? Did it go well? Thanks and rock on!

[@cragginshred]

Thanks, greenbacks in any good cb is my go to! No DI on that amp, rock on!

[@mr.d.572]

I couldn't tell which amp you were playing through at any point in time, and then there were pedals involved... unfortunately I didn't find this as helpful as I would have liked.

[@cragginshred]

When you see the red amp back there is was the JEL, when I had the black tank top on it was the PT. I am into the finished product. All the other videos out there are without an OD into the front. Can't please everyone 🙃

[@brandonboe2286]

I have to agree. But take this as a compliment cragginshred, I really like your playing style and taste and would have liked to see you do a demo of these without pedals.

[@christopher.k.guitar]

Looking forward to your opinion on the Lightspeed… I tried it and since beeing really transparent, something kept me from keeping it… though not quite as transparent I like the ep booster more

[@cragginshred]

It is great for uber low gain vintage guys, did not work for me

[@shreddievanhalen1]

Which amp could do early Van Halen better? That’s all I really need to know LOL

[@cragginshred]

Both!

[@MajorLeageSchill33-vu7pe]

Probably PT V2

[@JackBlack66666]

Killer playing and sounds 👍 How would you rate the JEL-20 compared to the Bogner Helios 50 you reviewed 2 years ago. Are they in the same league or is the Bogner a big step up? I would be really interested in your opinion about that. Keep on rocking...

[@cragginshred]

Thanks! The Helios only sounded good with my Les Paul s for some reason. The JEL sounds killer with everything and every style!

[@stevengoodman3498]

Great tone and I'm guessing it's pretty loud as well. JEL nails it for me. Rock on brother!

[@cragginshred]

Yes, but with the Sat switch on it allows a lot more flexibility in volume. Only Friedman amp I like the Sat switch on. thanks for tuning in!

[@KelsterVonShredster]

JEL for the win. Hands down. Great video!

[@cragginshred]

Thanks Von Shredder!

[@asianaxeman]

Have u compared the JEL to the jj Jr? If so how are the differences in tone... Bass response, brightness etc

[@cragginshred]

The Jr is more for drop tuning metal. TheJEL is more classic plexiglass and modded Marshall with way more character and open mids. Just depends on what you like best.

[@asianaxeman]

@@cragginshred great, I'm looking for a new head and am deciding between the JEL and badcat hotcat. Both similar price but the hot cat is 45w with El 34s.

[@johnnyromero3336]

Great video, that Pickup sounds fantastic on that Tele Style guitar. what is is?

[@cragginshred]

Thanks! my new #1 axe due to the note clarity of the single coils and it's ability to handle gain. They are Anderson TF3 bridge pup

[@johnnyromero3336]

@@cragginshredCool! I thought maybe it was a Humbucker in a Single Coil size.

[@stilllifewithguitar184]

Midnight Rendevous! I kinda wish you had done this without the pedals though, just to hear the core tones.

[@tigecarl9036]

What song was the second riff you were comparing?

[@cragginshred]

Midnight rendezvous -The Babys

[@ArthurSalazar-hp9hq]

Great video! Could you please elaborate a little bit more on the difference between these 2 amps? Thanks!

[@cragginshred]

PR =raw uncompressed Marshall tone. No real cleans. JEL more vintage and very versatile. I could gig with either but lean hard toward the JEL plexi pushed with tumnus. Just magical Marhsall esue Tone!

[@cirkusrockband-denver7411]

Thanks! One last question. As far as mids go, do you think the JEL has more or less mids than the PT-V2? Thanks

[@-jeffk3339]

Great REAL review - Thank you!

[@cragginshred]

Your welcome!

[@peterhenderson2193]

Super helpful demo. Thanks

[@bradleywood1499]

Thanks for discussing your different settings and sharing your thoughts on this vs that. I spent about 20 minutes with my JEL 20 two days ago when it arrived. I didn't try any OD pedals on it yet, just wanted to hear the core tones. I thought the plexi channel was the best I've heard from the 5 Friedman amps that I've owned. I found both channels to be pretty boomy on the humbucker guitar, didn't try it yet with my single coil chambered T Icon . I'm going to play around with it again when I get some time this weekend, I'll hit the front with my Buxom Boost pedal, Tumnus DLX and SD-1 Waza to see if I get similar results as you. A pre-Peavey era Budda Superdrive 30II head that I bought just showed up today so I'll need to carve out time to play with that as well.

[@tonedover]

Ah so ur the one that beat me to that superdrive on TGP? Lol

[@bradleywood1499]

@@tonedover Mine came from Sam Ash. and it’s killer!

[@Bonzo314]

What song is that riff you start playing at 00:45? Thanks!

[@cragginshred]

Midnight rendezouz

[@Bonzo314]

@@cragginshred thanks... great riff. Been haunting me.

[@JWCFB]

Wally Stocker oh hell yeah!

[@cragginshred]

Speak English old chap!😜

[@AkiraSpectrum]

I want a JEL sooooo bad.

[@rangerdoc1029]

Interesting. I've been a die-hard SD1 guy, but hearing you say it's more sterile than the Klone makes me want to try one out. I think I just like the frequency of the SD1. Been thinking of going to a 3-band para-EQ instead so I can trim some of the sizzle, not just flub. Then I like a GEQ in the loop to boost those harmonics back in to fill it out.

[@cragginshred]

I used an SD-1 with my slo 100 and 30. Works great but has no character so to speak. Today a Greer lightspeed OD will arrive and likely take the spot of the Tumnus. Cheers!

[@fritzhieke7209]

11:35 it is because you hear the Room and the Box. Mic the amp up and record it and you will hear that the amp sounds total different.

[@cragginshred]

100% disagree. All of the "influencers" who add IR's thru their DAW's color the tone and it will never sound the same when you buy it. You are not wrong that my room has a lot of foam has no natural reverb. However, the point of using the camera on the iphone is that you hear exactly the tone I dial in and ALL the comments agree this is what they want.