Friedman Pink Taco V2 vs JJ Junior comparison

Friedman Taco Demo • Friedman Pink Taco V2 ...
/ tavaresproject
Buy here: itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/ta...
Listen here: / fernando-t-5
0:15 - Song
1:23 - intro
2:58 - Rhythm guitar back and forth in the mix
3:50 - Rhythms solod
4:42 - The Pros
6:53 - Leads solod
8:02 - The Cons
10:15 - Final Thoughts

[@DelReiRock]

Great job, man!!

[@garettoverstreet]

Extremely helpful since you covered virtually every aspect that a guitarist would want. Kudos!🤘

[@TavaresProject]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mykneeshurt8393]

great demo. Loved the song too.

[@TavaresProject]

Thanks so much!!!

[@thomascoolberth2648]

Great composition to showcase these amps.

[@TavaresProject]

Many thanks!

[@tomusic8887]

I got the jj it has a very distinctive sound but the sound is there whatever you do with the knobs, it is great instant good sound, but also kind of 1 trick sounding, on its own itis very mid heavy almost boxy, but in th emix you will allways be heard. Thats my thoughts afte a few e Weeks still getting used to it though.

[@stegerguitars]

greatest comparison

[@TavaresProject]

Thank you🙏

[@brandonjackson5865]

The bass sounds killer in the full mix. Both guitar amps sound good but I think I prefer the Pink Taco a little more.

[@TavaresProject]

Hey thank you. The bass is key to a good sounding mix... The taco is a great amp!!

[@brandonjackson5865]

@@TavaresProject yes it is and I always knew it was important but when Beato broke down Master of Puppets that crushing rhythm guitar was muddy and weak without the bass to define it. You got killer bass tone on that demo track for sure!

[@TavaresProject]

@@brandonjackson5865 the secret weapon I use for bass is the Dug pinnick tech 21 and a squier pbass.

[@brandonjackson5865]

@@TavaresProject He’s always had a great bass tone. Bass players have it too easy gear wise lol . If they know what they are doing they can get killer sounds going direct with a preamp or sometimes just an on board preamp. So much fewer really incredible bass tones and players compared to guitarists. Most of the bands I really enjoy have great bass players who aren’t necessarily bassist bass players. Duff, David Eleffson I really enjoy their mid pushed tones, they figured out how to cut through the mix. Rex Brown is another, I know players who know what’s up, but all of those guys are genius who get overshadowed by playing along side “guitar gods”

[@mountain7777]

Nice video....got a JJ Jr, and a Friedman 4X12 cab we shall see...

[@mountainpeakcloud8442]

I commented on this video that was previously taken down, so I thought I'd add another comment here. Really great comparison, really shows the different characteristics of the 2 amps, given the constraints of trying to represent them through recordings vs in room. I have to say I like them both. I have the JJ Jr. and it's awesome for all the reasons you noted. I feel like Dave made the PT2 as a brighter amp, as a response to people saying that a lot of his amps have the highs tamed, so I'm guessing he wanted to offer something that had more high mids present (like a Marshall), but still have his characteristic smoother gain structure. I think if there was one reason I'd want to get the PT2, it would be for the more high mid focused sound (as an alternative to a Marshall). Great amps, and if I had to choose one, it would be the JJ Jr for more flexibility, and there's just this lower "grinding" sound in the distortion that's so appealing to me (probably due to the music I listen to), but if I was looking for more of an 80s metal sound, Skid Row, Zak Wylde or somethings, I'd probably go for the PT2.

[@TavaresProject]

Hey thanks for reposting! Very well said!! For last few weeks I've been playing the JJ and got rained with again. Such a great amp... I really and truly love them for a lot of the things you pointed out. Thanks again🙏

[@mountainpeakcloud8442]

@@TavaresProject Nice! Yeah, I tend to go between my Orange Rockerverb and the JJ a lot, and they're so distinctively different that I can really appreciate the uniqueness of the JJ every time I switch back to it.

[@WDeeGee1]

If you crank the mids on the PT, doesn't it come close to the JJ?

[@sixty9lives]

You resolved your problem with the master volume on the JJ Jr. with the Black Box in the effects loop. You can solve your clean channel problem on the PT 20 by connecting a multi effects unit or an amp sim pedal like a UA FX Dream 65 or other in 4 cable mode to the front end and effects loop of the amp and BOOM you have a clean channel on the PT 20. Or just buy the new Wildwood version which has a clean channel built in and a DIR out. Great video and comparison they both sound great.

[@TavaresProject]

Actually that's a very very good idea about the UA pedal.

[@idanramos1942]

The victory v4 jack preamp is also a great option!

[@upStomp]

In a mix, listening on my phone, I can't tell a difference. I'll stick with my HX Stomp 😁. Seriously though, great analysis. Very helpful. I only wish you would do a PT V2 vs Little Sister in a similar format. I love the way you described your experience. 👍

[@TavaresProject]

I love my modlers too... I would love to get my hands on a little sister and do that comparison. Maybe sometime soon. Thank you for the kind words really appreciate it 🙏

[@jammergreg]

Wildwood guitars in Colorado sells a Friedman WW-20 amp. A pink taco II with a clean channel for 1900 bones! Ouch!

[@TavaresProject]

Yeah..not cheap but then it's a 2 channel amp. All depends how much you love the amp?

[@joemcgraw5529]

They both sound awesome Im leaning more toward the Pink Taco but a Little biased because my first guitar build was pink for a family member lol

[@TavaresProject]

😂

[@hangloosetjt]

Awesome comparison! Can clearly hear some differences. PT feels more brittle to me, JJ feels warmer. But they both have their place. Compared solo back and forth I like the brightness of the PT, but I think the JJ holds more weight in the mix

[@TavaresProject]

Thanks for watching! Very much appreciate the comment.

[@joeriley5633]

Great job on the video. I have the JJ jr. and recently purchased the Little Sister which I love. Would I gain anything by adding a PT V2 to my collection?

[@TavaresProject]

Well. I was thinking a similar thing... Because I was interested in getting the little sister lol. Unfortunately I'm in the same boat. I will have to try one soon and I'll get back to you

[@joeriley5633]

@@TavaresProject, please do.

[@KipCount]

@@TavaresProject really would love to see this comparison. Right now I’m looking at the Little Sis, the PT2, and Victory Sheriff and can’t seem to feel confident enough on any to pull the trigger yet.

[@daveapodaca7774]

Absolutely LOVE the tone you create using either!! I just picked up a used JJ jr at Guitar Center. Didn’t even stop to play it before I took it home…. But when I finally plugged it in, nothing but unmanageable high end?? No low end at all?? Is this an easy fix with new tubes??? Any input is greatly appreciated!!

[@TavaresProject]

It's el84 so I'm not sure what else you could put in there. Have you reached out to Dave Friedman? He's really good at getting back to people.

[@Jettblack_]

been looking at both these amps I'd like to find one head to do it all from AC/DC,Bad Company ,old Metallica to Pantera any recommendations ?

[@TavaresProject]

You can do all with the JJ Jr. Except for the Pantera... that is a very specific sound.

[@JJDon5150]

Thanks for this comparison as this is one of the only ones on the internet. The question is, if the PT V2 had a clean channel (like the Wildwood 20 exclusive does), would you pick the PT V2 over the JJ Jr, or the JJ Jr over the PT V2? Seems like the PT sounds more like a hot-rodded JCM800, but the JJ Jr sounds like a hot rodded JCM800, but darker and with more mids? When I compared the original PT to the JJ Jr instore, I had a hard time getting the PT to get as much gain as the JJ Jr without turning up the volume a lot or the gain a lot.

[@TavaresProject]

Thanks for the kind words... In the room they sound different so I wouldn't pick one over the other. They both have their own thing going on. The original PT didn't have as much gain as the version 2 PT. The new one can go to toe at the JJ as far as gain goes. I have a hard time comparing the JJ to anything else as it is a very smooth style gain... More pleasant lol. They are different enough that I will keep both.

[@JJDon5150]

@@TavaresProject thanks for the response. I've been debating which one to get for my next amp. I currently have a Mark V 35 and Rectoverb 25, and want something in thr Marshall vein but with a clean channel. The JJ Jr seems to fit the bill for the most part because its two channels and has decent cleans. The PT V1 or V2 aren't an option because they don't have two channels which is why I was looking at the Wildwood 20 which is basically a PT V1 modded with a clean channel. It's much more expensive though at 1800. At that point, seems better to just go with a used JJ Jr at a fraction of the cost which already has a clean channel and two flavors of distortion. Did you send yours into Dave to have him mod it so you would have 3 independent channels?

[@TavaresProject]

@@JJDon5150 yeah listening to your reasoning I think the JJ Jr. Is best for you. I ordered the amp new from the dealer and for the amp mods and the custom tolex and it was way cheaper like that for those customizations. I'm not sure if it was Dave or someone who works for him.

[@koonsickgreen6272]

If we assume it's all a modded versions of Marshalls.. I guess JJ is closer to a JTM45 and Taco closer to plexi. I'm strickly talking in terms of the focus on highs/mid-highs. But hell what do I know.

[@TavaresProject]

The PT to me is a suped up 800... The JJ I don't find like anything else. Marshall in tone? Yes but more compressed.

[@MatthewCade-pn7nn]

Are you using the Suhr Reactive load on this? Both sound great!

[@TavaresProject]

Hi. Thank you!!! Yes I am using the suhr... And it does make a difference from my personal experience. I used to have a captor.... The suhr rocks!!!

[@masterofreality230]

I think I like the JJ, its hard for me to get good sounding lower mids and I feel like the JJ does that better, both are great though.

[@madpedalboards]

Ha, Ha! The joke is on you! Now I want BOTH of them. Oh, wait, great.🤣🤣

[@TavaresProject]

😂 I'm sorry😂

[@zonkers155]

both using the same IR would have been appropriate here , good comparison though

[@TavaresProject]

They are both using the same IR... It's a combination of a v30 and a GB....1 IR that is a blend of 2 speakers... I guess I didn't explain it properly.

[@brendenrodgers7821]

@@TavaresProjectno you explained it properly, dude who commented suffers from lack of comprehension

[@vonholland64]

I’d have to go with the evh 6L6

[@TavaresProject]

I had one but not sold on it... But still a nice amp.

[@vonholland64]

@@TavaresProject I keep going back to it ,although I started using the stealth recently. I’m gonna go check out a Runt Friedman , but I think I prefer a Marshall. We will see

[@vonholland64]

⁠@@TavaresProjecti like a little more blues rock to my sound anyway.Freidmans are definitely 80’s hair metal imo

[@TavaresProject]

@@vonholland64 actually if you prefer Blues Rock.... The dirty Shirley from Friedman is that JTM Marshall sort of thing. The EVH channel 2 works perfect for what you describe but the channel definitely not... That is metal all the way. 😂

[@vonholland64]

@@TavaresProject red channel? Yes I use it for heavier stuff Leads etc. do the vh songs Black Sabbath n stuff with red channel. It is funny that I’m addicted to gear lol and always studying amps lmao 🤣 I had a studio vintage and just didn’t want to add more pedals to the board to get what I wanted out of it. So I figured the evh is 3 amps in one

[@phillamoore157]

This is interesting…. Because you did a recent video of your LP with Dough Aldrich pups into the JJ jr, and got tones out of it, that were nothing short of magical, but sounds absolutely nothing like any other JJ jr demo on KZbin. That recent video actually reminded me of an SLO. It was the quintessential classic hard-rock ultra-percussive, mid-focused, tone that I thought the new PT V.2 would sound like. I’m still scratching my head over how you got that amp to sound like that. And, the tone in this demo was good, but not nearly as good as that recent demo. I personally never liked the JJ jr….too dark, and fizzy in almost every circumstance. But, if I could get the tone you got out of it with your recent video, I’d trade my Little Sister in tomorrow. I was already considering trading it in for the JEL 20. I just love the simplicity of the LS, but it does fall just a hair short of that killer 80’s punchy tone you nailed with the JJ jr in that video. In almost every video I’ve heard, the JJ jr seemed too fizzy, a bit dark, and the PT V.2 seemed too thin. But, holy f**k did you get magical tone out if your JJ jr in that video. Would love to see how you had it dialed in, and if those Aldrich pups truly make THAT much of a difference.

[@TavaresProject]

So I think it comes down to the IR for the difference in sound from video to video... The comparison video I had to pick something that would be focused for both amps. For the Aldrich pickups video I just went with the proper IR that I thought was suited for that song... I'll have to look up what I used for each one of the vids and I'll get back to you. IRs make a huge difference.... As well as some pickups make a very big difference in tone and sound, But probably to a lesser extent

[@phillamoore157]

@@TavaresProject I'll look forward to hearing what you think the difference was. I'm really close to picking up a set of the Doug Aldrich pups for my LP. I'm not a hot pickup guy (I think they lose punch, and get fizzy). But, those sounded amazing, and it's the 3-4th video I've seen where they sound stellar. There are a very small handful of guys who have a GREAT ear for tones, you being one of maybe 3-4 guys (that I know of). And, the guys who are good at pulling the best sounds out of these amps, also know the importance of playing the right riffs to demonstrate that tone. It's a real pleasure to watch/listen to you. You get tones out of amps that I had no idea were capable. It's tough these days, because, I don't go into big-box stores anymore. Being older, I remember when those stores were run by pro's. So, the treatment you get when going to them is intolerable. So, listening to the guys who are really good at dialing in amps (and also great players) are what I rely on. That's an unnecessarily long way of saying your videos are incredibly valuable, as much as they are entertaining. So, thank you for taking the time.

[@TavaresProject]

​@@phillamoore157 hey. So on the Doug Aldrich pickup video in the mix on the rhythm guitars I used an old two notes pack he had called big Harry number 33 IR. I just go through the mix and just audition a bunch of IRs to make sure which one sound the best in that mix. But his whole pack sounds amazing. Now the lead guitar on that same video I used what he calls Michael Nielsen's KZbin cab and it's the same cab that I use when I was just playing by myself during the demonstrations.

[@TavaresProject]

And now for the IR on the comparison video of the JJ and the PT I used from the same big hairy cab IR pack a combination of an m greenback plus a V30 57. Now I picked this one because the PT prefers the greenback and the JJ prefers vintage 30s and since I could only use one IR for both amps I went with something as middle of the road as possible. I do think that the JJ prefers a vintage 30s over green backs.

[@phillamoore157]

@@TavaresProject That's interesting. And, you truly think it's the IR's that got that killer throaty, mid-focused, punch on the Aldrich pup demo? Thank you for sharing!

[@draper858]

Prefer the jj

[@steveo4253]

Good amps owned both, sold both. My EVH Stealth eats them alive !

[@TavaresProject]

I have an EVH as well. I love the channel 2 but that's about it. The clean channel is great for taking pedals though. Thanks for watching!