Friedman JEL50 VS JEL20

[@matthewearl9824]

You can try running the JEL 20 preamp section into the power amp of the 50. see what kind of results you get.

[@robertaugustine5350]

I’ve had a JEL20 since the beginning of the year. Numerous gigs with it. Absolutely incredible amp, stupid loud if you turn it up and totally useable in small venues. Yes the 50W is fuller, but in a band mix there’s no advantage. The 20W still gets the win.

[@JMTeBOCK08]

Do you ever have trouble keeping up with a big band? i have a marshall origin 20 right now running thru 2 1x12 cabs with vintage 30s. The other guitarist uses 65 deluxe reverb and always blows me away.

[@robertaugustine5350]

@ we play a mix of outdoor events and small indoor venues. My other guitar player is using a 2/12, sometimes a Mesa Boogie, sometimes a Bogner. He is loud and I’ve never had any issues not being able to properly mix with him. I have not played an Origin 20 but the JEL is more than enough for any of our gigs. Larger venues I mic one of my 1x12s (I also use 2 of them as a mini stack)

[@JMTeBOCK08]

@robertaugustine5350 thanks

[@zafira976]

I'd like to hear it next to Splawn Quick Rod! Could you shoot a video like that?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thanks for commenting. If I had a quick ride here, I'd be happy to do it.

[@MK-oz2lf]

oh man the sat switch with a boost on the JEL20 is chef's kiss. Nice work

[@matthewearl9824]

@@MK-oz2lf to be honest using it with my analog man silver mod tube screamer or my mud killer I don't even use it with the SAT switch because it's too much

[@jeffhirshberg5171]

Very interesting. I'd like to see a shootout between the two heads and the preamp pedal. Good work as always, Jarrod.

[@acbenitez3614]

There are just so many different and similar choices out there for amps, effects, and consoles that it really is a great time to be playing guitar, whether you're pro or a bedroom shredder or a strummer. My old guitar teacher told me that we may playing more with the controls than with the instruments.

[@matthouston8411]

My guitar teacher told me to only use 3 pedals max at a time and only one guitar per week. He's trying to make sure I play instead of fiddle around too much. I've played trumpet for 39 years but recently started bass and guitar.

[@LekkerBlanka]

interesting conclusion, i also like how those tubes sound in the or30. i think friedman’s have an awesome standard of excellence and customer service(i’ve read stories of dave personally calling customers). the build quality is really amazing. there’s also a “Hollywood” vibe there. very cool signature amp, i want it.

[@johnmturi4155]

Great comparison and thanks for doing this. I think these Friedman Jake E lee amps are perfect for you and your style!

[@charleslowrey9309]

I have a fryette PS100 that I love to run with these 20 watt heads. Sounds good at any volume, and saves some money vs buying 100 watt versions.

[@scottpeters4401]

Me too…I run my 20 watt amps thru a PS100 and it sounds fantastic..I can be as loud as I want,and have as much headroom as I want..PS100 changed everything,now I actually prefer 20 watt versions over 50 or 100’s..

[@shredaintdead9323]

Same here. The fryette is so good. I only play 20w heads these days and they sound so good especially with the fryette

[@MrJimlen]

The 20 sounds better, all day, the 50 may be fuller but the 20 has that bark and bite to it

[@matthouston8411]

I've been waiting all day long for this video from you. I had a feeling you'd be on top of these two for a "head to head". I'm on the fence for a high gain amp, currently leaning Jel20

[@tobiasryan8378]

The video I've been waiting for!

[@Bognerman14]

I know the JEL is your favorite Friedman. Or it was. Any thoughts on the JEL 50 vs your Splawn Nitro for classic hard rock tone to modern metal? You probably know from me commenting that I play a lot of heavy styles but I need to be able to pull of more classic and grunge with the amp usually is a more rock or hard rock oriented channel. Good stuff dude! I'm still planning to get a Nitro.

[@they_arent_human]

More is more. I dont own any small amps. All 100+ watt with 4x12'a. I just don't think I could get over the loss of power, bass response, volume, etc. You should compare some 4x12 in your studio soon and see if you still prefer 2x12. Keep up the good work.

[@elektrar9620]

Hi, I hear you and agree with what you experience, I own a 20w version and have plenty of gain, however, we cannot forget that this is a signature amp, built for a player who uses his gear in a certain way and Jake loves to crank his amps. I know you are a modern player and consider the power amp section just as an amplification and not another gain or saturation ingredient. This amp especially loves to be cranked which creates very tasteful power amp saturation. I am not sure whether you even set the volume knob past 12oclock where it usually starts to saturate. If not, give it a try. I know it is not for everyone, but you can have plenty of gain if you want to

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@elektrar9620 thanks for commenting. I appreciate the info in my studio, I have to keep the volume levels at a certain rate otherwise I'll get my ears blown out lol. I'll give that a try though.

[@elektrar9620]

@@TONEWARSgearshow Absolutely agree, I cannot play the amp cranked without attenuation - roughly playing -15dB, it is not exactly the same as full blow, I wish I could, but my neighbours would not be very happy, but I was really surprised how this amp reacts when turning the volume above 12 oclock - my guess is that Dave somehow adjusted this amp for this reason because my JCM800 started to be extremely muddy this way and JEL is basically a Plexi channel 1 and a modded JCM800 channel 2 amp - exactly those amps Jake loves. I presume that the 50W version will be even better cranked because of bigger tubes EL34s compared to EL84s

[@georgefry8035]

Great idea for a video!! I was hoping someone would do this.

[@Mister_Greg]

More grind in the JEL 20 could be due to lower plate voltages in the preamp. I would definitely change out the bright switch on the 50 for a sat switch. It really sounds great on the clean channel with the gain dimed.

[@scottwilcox6313]

It would be great to hear how Mr. Scary mod sounds in both. I'm not sure if that's possible, considering the amp is on loan for a demo. Great video!

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thanks for commenting. I would have loved to do that video, but in order to get the Mr scary mod in the JEL 50, I would have had to have removed the chassis.

[@bluematrix5001]

A COMPARISON WITH THE PEDAL WOULD BE AWESOME

[@michaelkurlander8062]

Awesome video ! What are your settings on the warm audio ODD box .

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Thank you. Settings UK MODE GAIN - 0 TONE - 1:00 LEVEL CRANKED

[@mudpuddledive]

Great video and playing! I have the JEL 20 and the SB50. I love them both, any chance you could make a comparison video between the JEL 50 and the SB 50?

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

@@mudpuddledive thanks for commenting. I appreciate it. If I could get my hands on the small box, I would be happy to do that shootout. Unfortunately, I can't find one anywhere near here.

[@Bognerman14]

50 from what I hear. 20 sounds smaller to me and more compressed, narrow. I do hear the thickness you mention in the 20. Maybe in person I'd prefer the 20. I hear what you say about the 20. I'd have to make sure it feels good. With the Sat switch I think I'd prefer the 20. Is it as big as the 50 in that mode? I thought you said the 20 was thicker and more full with the Sat. Good to know.

[@garywalker8067]

Killer amp and great demo

[@wrentcht]

That sat switch MAKES THAT AMP I really don’t get why they didn’t keep it the exact same but bigger ! A footswitchable boost would have been nice too ! Come on now , sheez

[@JimsMusicJourney]

Great video, I liked the 50 better.

[@Heszarius]

Great video 🎉

[@9th_note]

something i would love to see is some of these EL84 powered amps through a external poweramp like the Seymour Dunvan Powerstage 700. just to see if it puts amplifiers like this more toe to toe. i was surprised to find w/ my prs mt15 is that even though it has full size tubes it sounded better through an external poweramp being more full and most notably less muddy. if some folks already own an external poweramp or a powered modeller with a loop then adding one of these lunchbox amplifiers in as a preamp could get you the jel50 at a more reasonable jel20 price. generally speaking with most modern metal players we want a powerful clean poweramp with headroom to amplify the preamp and there isn't going to be a lot of tone shaping going on there. I just thought maybe if you already have a decent poweramp and you just want a voicing then get the cheapest version and run it through your poweramp instead of purchasing the big boy and essentially just purchasing another poweramp. I personally believe many of these lunchbox amplifiers would actually sound better that way. if every company that made an amplifier made a tube preamp pedal version of their amp I would probably opt for that over an actual powered amplifier in most cases, not only to save a bunch of money but space as well. I feel like most of the feel and response is in the preamp section anyways and the power amplifier just does exactly that, makes it louder and more full. essentially doing the synergy thing without necessarily being in their ecosystem. I mean obviously it requires the lunchbox in question to have a loop but most of them do. idk just food for thought. Great video man.

[@Frankentoane]

This is basically a jcm800 and plexi in one amp. The pull gain lowers the cold clipper

[@muleblues71]

Waiting for more of the 20w to hit the used market

[@shredding51]

Would love to have the 50 but 3k ill wait

[@These_go_to_eleven_1959]

The JEL 50 is a great amp but is not only twice the power of the 20 but also twice the cost. Is that worth it? Depends TBH. at home I would just go 20 but with a band 50 no doubt for me.

[@christhegeekbowman]

I watched kyle bull's demo video of the jel 50, and he put the mr scary mod on it. It sounded good with the mr scary mod.

[@AEP2x]

Just curious I know you had the volumes set the same is what I think you said, but did you use a decibel meter to match the output or just set the volume to the same number or matched by ear? You would probably get closer to the same low end response if you use a decibel meter to match them volume wise.

[@guitarlair]

These 20W amps are cute and sound very good but when you play the big boys it's hard to go back, that thump and chugness is addicting. I have a Marshall SV20H and I love it but whenever I play my EVH 5150 EL34 or my Mark V is very hard to go back and enjoy playing the SV20H, all I can think about is that I need a real Plexi that can sound huge like my 50w amps.

[@denisgetmanskiy7665]

I have picked up a 1987x recently and sold my SV20 - the difference is there for sure

[@guitarlair]

@@denisgetmanskiy7665 yeah I bet.. the low end and headroom on the big boys make a huge difference.

[@jjgson69]

From what I heard, I don't think I could justify the almost double price for the 50 over the 20. I've actually been between getting the JEL 20 and a Bad Cat Lynx, as I can get a Lynx for the same price right now. After trying both, which would you get?

[@mhoff7722]

I tried the Bad Cat next to a Soldano Astro and Friedman PT2 and was surprised how dull and woofy the Bad Cat sounded. I've gotten so used to the more clear, upper mid prominent, hot rodded Marshall types sounds I couldn't gel with the more rounded sounds of the Bad Cat. Not a bad amp just didn't work for me.

[@jjgson69]

@@mhoff7722 Thanks much for the info.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Now you have to compare both with Mr. Scary mod

[@martinlahaie6012]

I have the runt 20 head...i try to understand the difference in tone exactly...didnt try it for myself so ....

[@jimmypennell8831]

It's a good Marshall(ly) sounding amp. Not really a metal amp😊. Gonna have to have a booster of course

[@dr.dan1395]

50w sold!!!

[@robertritzenthaler3775]

I have quite literally never seen an example where a lower wattage amp sounds better than the higher wattage amp. These lunchbox style amps always sound weak and thin compared to their full size counterparts and I wish this trend would end.

[@YouSoundButtHurt]

These pretty much sound the same, you wouldn't be able to tell in a blind test.

[@demokraatti]

I would like to see the guts of those amps. Friedman says, that the 50 watter is handwired in the USA.

[@voxpathfinder15r]

Hand wired into a pcb

[@Waycooljr5]

@tonewarsgearshow can you put the gain at 11:59 am

[@kennethday9747]

The 20 watt is actually only 16 watts clean.

[@BradRocker]

If someone was giving me one of these two......I'd take the 3K one.

[@tonypolitics3938]

Put a Mr scary in it

[@michaelpierce3641]

You’re wrong ! Lol just kidding great job keep up the great KZbin videos Jarrod !🤘More boost pedal to all those cry baby Karen’s out there ! 🤘🤘🤘

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

Haha, awesome! Thank you

[@Freddekaddeth]

Articulated sounds

[@CrownedWarriorBand]

I agree that the 20 sounds a bit more saturated but the 50 has more balls.

[@Stereostupid]

I want the IR-J bad that thing is awesome! How would you compare the tone of that preamp to the real deal amps? The jel is my favorite Friedman amp !

[@TONEWARSgearshow]

I very much enjoyed playing through the IR-J. I think the tone of it is really good and the feel is amazing.

[@Mister_Greg]

At $600 the IR-J with its independent tone controls run into the back of a head looks like the clear winner to me.