Friedman Runt 50 vs Small Box 50

[@lanceraustin]

Great video! But the Smallbox ch.1 clean settings appear to be incorrect. The picture shows Vol. 7 and Gain 8, yet it sounds totally clean. Hmm...

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

I've played both and owned a Runt and the differences I found was the Smallbox is definitely voiced more vintage and I found the Runt to be very bright, both great amps though.

[@24ZEPACDC]

Can just turn down the treble to 5 and presence to 5, mids to 11, on full, bass to 6. Boost off, gain at 2, volume at 5. That's a great plexi sound.

[@guitardave]

To me this highlights just what a great job Dave did with getting the Friedman tone in to the more affordable Runt. I’ve got the 20w head and it’s just awesome. Had it a few years now and can’t really see me ever selling it :-)

[@MorGuitarz]

I own both of these beasts with my Smallbox being the custom shop 3-channel Wildwood Smallbox 50 model and I love the Runt 50 every bit as much...the SB having the channel-1 "plexi" channel, and the Runt having a blackface-based clean channel. The Runt is an awesome, tight low end...almost like a hot rodded 800 with the SB being a hot rodded Plexi...both just killer voicings

[@Quinkermarine]

Thanks very much for that, very cool video and a great way to show the differences between these to fine amps from the master builder.

[@rangerdoc1029]

IIRC, the smallbox is 3 gain stages, while the Runt is 4. Makes me wonder if a boost in front of the Smallbox couldn't get it close to Runt levels of gain.

[@rrguitar1]

Sounds like there is more bass in the circuit of the small box. There's a 1k difference in price between them. I don't hear a 1k difference though. Very similar.

[@rockabilly12]

They both sound great to me. No clear winner.

[@mattatchutube]

I liked them both, but thought the Small Box was a bit thicker on the dirt channel.

[@RPSartre01]

The Runt had more grunt - or to put it another way it could not handle or control the signal as well as the Small Box. The small box sounds tight.

[@ricdale7813]

You have the Runt set more neutral than the SB. Turn up the presence, mid and bass and you will get a closer too SB tone. The Runt has slightly more Modern tone but rolling the volume on the guitar can solve that.

[@paulcowart3174]

Small Box sound's a little better Hmmm maybe the difference of hand wired I want the new Phil X amp

[@thejay]

Phil X is a cool amp!

[@jprosentreter]

Which one would serve better for 90s style power-pop/pop punk. Bad Religion, Methadones, Bouncing Souls, 90's era Green Day...you get the picture. Hard to find Friedman to try in person. Also have an Orange Rockerverb mkIII so a Marshall(ish) voice for recording would be a great complimentary tone...

[@MShu-ux6wl]

Did you ever find an answer to your question? I’d be curious to discover that answer as well. Really, really hoping it would be the Runt 50.

[@reverendg5937]

Thank You 👍🏽

[@thejay]

You bet!

[@Ale-xf8sm]

Interested in both amps. Which one has more gain? Thanks

[@roybuis7646]

Just me, or does the Runt 50 instantly sound like the Foo Fighters?

[@thejay]

It does, I think Chris uses a BE100 now

[@roybuis7646]

@@thejay Not sure about Chris, he tends to change his amps a lot. But Dave does use BE-100's and possibly some other Friedman's now. But in your video, the Runt 50 definitely sounded closer to a Foo Fighters sound than the SmallBox.

[@mika-hp5ch]

Definitely something more organic in the SB, with a fuller midrange.

[@creepermode01]

For the runt can you run a cab at the same time as the Direct out?

[@robertplum4415]

Yes

[@billhannum4117]

I like the runt more it sounds more open

[@blackdog19-64]

Smallbox just sounds better. Full, broader articulated creamy thicker overall quality sound is better.

[@jimcatmandude9316]

I don't think the price of any of these better amps is justified...everybody has to be a millionaire...it's a good way to keep poor people out of the game...You know it doesn't take a week to build an amp especially with a PCB...and yet they want 4-6 weeks pay for one...I guess that's the American way...it's also why we couldn't even get hospital masks during the virus thing...nobody wants to own a business that doesn't make them filthy rich...I want one but I'll have to wait ten years until they get all toured out and better amps are out there for the ones that can afford them...I guess somebody has to be the Opossum that eats the scraps out of the dump...Well hell, I'll be dead in ten years...I sometimes forget my rides about over...I guess I'll have to get by with the shot out '74 JMP...

[@cardbored_]

It's a business, they charge what they think they're worth. That's what everyone should do, people under value their own labor the majority of the time. Plus, how is $2000 4-6 weeks worth of pay? If you're only making $2 grand a month then you're either doing unskilled labor or you're under valuing your own worth.

[@brandonboe2286]

I feel ya man. 74 JMP was for sure better quality back in the day for less money. and jobs paid a living wage back then if you worked full-time They make everything in China now so ceos can make ungodly salary's, and anything left that's made in America is unaffordable to most Americans. plus most of these amps and guitars have jumped in price for no reason other than inflation as an excuse.