JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
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- donnyboiler
- Mark II
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JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
My friend brought his fantastic Smallbox round. We did a test in the room by dialling up each amp through an identical cab for the sounds I use to gig with - the aim being to find out which would suit me better.
I recorded the results through my Torpedo Live so here is a studio-quality comparison of the two amps at medium-high gain, clean breakup and mid gain respectively. I'll keep the order of the amps quiet for now as I've decided to turn this into a poll. See what you think...
https://soundcloud.com/end-of-the-centu ... iedmantest
I recorded the results through my Torpedo Live so here is a studio-quality comparison of the two amps at medium-high gain, clean breakup and mid gain respectively. I'll keep the order of the amps quiet for now as I've decided to turn this into a poll. See what you think...
https://soundcloud.com/end-of-the-centu ... iedmantest
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Both are quite dark in tone IMO. I like it bright and crispy!
JP2C, Mark llC++ DG, Mark IV-A/B.
- donnyboiler
- Mark II
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- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:59 am
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Urgh, that’s Soundcloud. I have to remember to mix stuff brighter as you lose so much high end to their algorithm.
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
vote cast. def very close in many ways. I wonder how much of that is the Torpedo... (as well as my "eh" monitor speakers). Interesting how "marshally" the JP can be.
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
I voted and seem to be in the minority! haha Anyway, the one amp just sounded like it had a lot of excessive top end breakup, like mp3 compression artifacts in the upper part of the spectrum (maybe it was just that). But, it was especially noticable on the clean samples. The crunch samples (first and last) sounded similar except for the upper spectrum fizzle-fuzzle (at least to my ears).donnyboiler wrote:My friend brought his fantastic Smallbox round. We did a test in the room by dialling up each amp through an identical cab for the sounds I use to gig with - the aim being to find out which would suit me better.
I recorded the results through my Torpedo Live so here is a studio-quality comparison of the two amps at medium-high gain, clean breakup and mid gain respectively. I'll keep the order of the amps quiet for now as I've decided to turn this into a poll. See what you think...
https://soundcloud.com/end-of-the-centu ... iedmantest
Very curious which amp was which. Blind tests like this are very interesting.
Rankings: #1 Mark V head, #2a TC50 combo, #2b Rectoverb 25 head
- donnyboiler
- Mark II
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:59 am
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Cheers. It’s so frustrating, I have the files here in perfect quality. Even the mp3 version I have on my phone sounds good. It’s like Soundcloud are uploading at a really low bitrate, there’s swirl and artifacts all over the high end.
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- Triple Recto
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Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Yeah, that is the case with soundcloud. Tone does not match original like you said.
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Maybe YouTube is better and uses less compression with an HD movie? I don’t know for sure.donnyboiler wrote:Cheers. It’s so frustrating, I have the files here in perfect quality. Even the mp3 version I have on my phone sounds good. It’s like Soundcloud are uploading at a really low bitrate, there’s swirl and artifacts all over the high end.
Rankings: #1 Mark V head, #2a TC50 combo, #2b Rectoverb 25 head
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
I've had good luck with the You Tube HD conversion for what it's worth. I've never had major issues with sound cloud though.mace wrote:Maybe YouTube is better and uses less compression with an HD movie? I don’t know for sure.donnyboiler wrote:Cheers. It’s so frustrating, I have the files here in perfect quality. Even the mp3 version I have on my phone sounds good. It’s like Soundcloud are uploading at a really low bitrate, there’s swirl and artifacts all over the high end.
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Split decision. Amp 1 for first tone, 2 for the second two tones. 

Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
so what's the answer here....?
- donnyboiler
- Mark II
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- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:59 am
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
I thought I'd get a few more than 7 votes TBH (one was actually me...) so I'm not sure this really tells us anything at all, but amp 1 was the Boogie. For what it's worth I vastly prefer the Boogie on all three sounds, and even more so in the room.
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Haha. I guess that makes you and me. Although, I’d have to listen again to remember why I voted the way I did. Getting old.donnyboiler wrote:I thought I'd get a few more than 7 votes TBH (one was actually me...) so I'm not sure this really tells us anything at all, but amp 1 was the Boogie. For what it's worth I vastly prefer the Boogie on all three sounds, and even more so in the room.
Rankings: #1 Mark V head, #2a TC50 combo, #2b Rectoverb 25 head
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
so which amp is when in the timeline?
BTW which amp can we hear in this clip? The last Steve Vai riff was really cool
https://soundcloud.com/end-of-the-centu ... 5-then-v30
BTW which amp can we hear in this clip? The last Steve Vai riff was really cool
https://soundcloud.com/end-of-the-centu ... 5-then-v30
- donnyboiler
- Mark II
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:59 am
Re: JP-2C vs. Friedman Smallbox test
Thanks, that was my Marshall JVM410HJS.Bornhard wrote:so which amp is when in the timeline?
BTW which amp can we hear in this clip? The last Steve Vai riff was really cool
https://soundcloud.com/end-of-the-centu ... 5-then-v30
Amp 1 is always the Boogie, and amp 2 is always the Friedman in this one.