JJ-100 Jerry Cantrell Signature 100-watt 2-channel Tube Head with Boost Review

Absolutely incredible!

I'll keep it short...this amp blew me away. It has to be heard in person and at decent volume to fully appreciate the glory of this amp. This is my first Friedman and won't be the last(I have my eye on a Dirty Shirley next). But man...this is some of the richest British style drive/distortion I've ever heard and the harmonics leap off of the guitar. It can be dialed many different… read more way. You can get some great aggressive plexi sounds, to 90s rock and hot rodded classic rock tones all day. And of course it nails the Alice In Chains tone. It can even get into modern metal territory if you use a boost on the JBE channel. The clean channel is very clean but has a nice sparkle to it. I really dig the clean voicing and it loves a chorus or reverb pedal. You'd have to push it pretty hard to break up. I'm giving it 4 and half stars because 1. The price. It's a bit outrageous for such a barebones amp...but the moment you plug in you will know. 2. The JBE channel isn't footswitchable, which I think it should be. I had mine modded to have it footswitchable and it's own volume and gain control. I also had a thump knob added for resonance control.

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Tone Quest has Come to an End.

I longed for this amp since its release a few years ago. Finally was in a position to move on one and I am glad I did. I waited a few months before posting a review to make sure the honeymoon period had worn off. The clean channel is immaculate - ranging from full on clean bloom to bell like cleans. This clean channel will not break up on you, but if you add a boost or OD up… read more front, now you have essentially a 3 channel amp at your disposal. The gain is what I am impressed with the most. It seems to hug every note and chord perfectly, with out getting too fizzy or muddy. With most guitar amps, there is always an annoying resonance that builds up somewhere in the low mids- Im not sure if Dave killed those frequencies or what, but if I do my job correctly, hardly any post EQ is needed for this amp to set well in a mix. My only compliant or wish, would be for them to move the JBE switch to the front of the amp. We already have the 3 position bright switch and the clean/dirty switch up front; Just do the next generation of JJ100 owners a solid and move the JBE switch up front. But otherwise- absolutely floored by this amp. Yes it is pricey, but this is already replacing 2 or 3 of my other high end tube amps, and you can do the math on that.

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WOW AMAZING AMP

This amp isn't loaded with features, but man does it just sound good. Im not even an alice in chains fan or of jerry's tone, but this amp can sound completely different than that if you want it to. Powerful eq controls and the master volume is amazing in its sensitivity. I use this amp in standard tuning for full out shred and it delivers. Get one, you wont be disappointed. Marshall… read more hot-rod done right.

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More brilliance from Friedman

This is another out-of-the-ballpark home run by Friedman. This amp accurately captures Jerry Cantrell's guitar sound, and rightfully so, as it is the exact head that he tours and records with. This is a dark-sounding head, but it is quite brilliant, actually. The sound is tight and the distortion is pretty smooth, rather than gritty. There is a mid cut in the tone stack that… read more is very pleasing to the ear, and this is really what makes the amp sound "dark." Set the tone controls to noon and you will immediately get the Alice in Chains sound. This head pairs perfectly with the Friedman cabinets, as they have Vintage 30s and Greenbacks in a top-bottom configuration. The cabinet really does make a difference in the tone, but the head sound absolutely great through my Vai Legacy, Peavey 6505, Budda, Marshall, and Mesa/Boogie cabinets. I cannot recommend this head highly enough.

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Friedman JJ-100

If you are reading this, you already know the mojo that lurks within this amp. I will share with you that this amp lives up to the hype. I absolutely love the tone, the aggressiveness and the clarity. I have had it for about a month and have gigged it a few times. It cuts through the mix very well and the smile on my face while I'm rocking this beast is permanent. It's very easy… read more to dial in. To be honest, I think it would be a struggle to dial in a bad sound. The 2 gain circuits (BE / JBE) offer flexibility. They are not footswitchable from the factory, but you can send the amp in to Friedman for a mod if it is a needed feature. I personally don't feel the need for that ability. The BE circuit is stellar. The JBE circuit is stellar on steroids. I set mine to JBE, as it suits the music my band plays. The clean channel is very good and serves me well during the few moments that I need it. But let's be honest, despite the quality of this amp's clean channel, you aren't interested in this amp for the clean capabilities. The effects loop is wonderful and transparent. Overall, I couldn't really be happier with this amp! The tone is addictive, and it sounds absolutely huge in a live setting. The price point is high, and it takes a real commitment to pull the trigger on a purchase. That being said, I would buy it all over again. If you are looking for an aggressive, yet refined amplifier that absolutely kills it from clean to low grit to classic rock to modern high gain...the JJ-100 might be your rig.

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