Friedman BE-ODchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Massive, amp-like gain that can overwhelm on default settings. Multiple owners describe an enormous amount of gain on tap right out of the box, so much that many recommend turning the internal trim pot down to make the pedal usable. Even with the gain knob low, some found it already distorted rather than a clean overdrive. This power lets it recreate Friedman amp tones from AC/DC crunch to 80s metal saturation, but it takes time and tweaking to dial in properly for a given amp and pickup setup.

Noise and hiss are a recurring complaint at higher gain. Several users report the pedal gets noisy or hissy as gain increases, especially into an already dirty amp channel; one long-term owner found it only worked well in front of a clean amp with the trim pot near 50%. Others suggest using it into an effects loop or clean channel to minimize hiss, and some recommend pairing it with a noise gate or suppressor for live and recording use.

Lacks a mid control, limiting tonal versatility versus rivals. Many commenters directly compare the BE-OD to the JHS Angry Charlie and note the Friedman has no dedicated mids knob, giving it a scooped, more modern 80s-metal character rather than the Charlie's pronounced midrange 'Marshall' voicing. Several say this makes the BE-OD feel like a one-trick pony that excels at one aggressive sound but doesn't cover as many styles, prompting some to prefer the Deluxe version with two channels and mid control.