Friedman Smallbox 50From real comments

Name: Friedman Smallbox 50
Rating: 3.2 (27 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 27 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment58%

PROS 58%

CONS 42%

Rank based on 27 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want authentic Marshall Plexi-style cleans and crunch with two usable channels
You need full tone at low/bedroom volumes thanks to dual master volumes
You value strong customer support and premium build quality and don't mind paying for it

What users love

Authentic Plexi toneNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Great low-volume performanceNotable0 mentions

Strongly positive

Strong live/main-amp reputation0 mentions

Strongly positive

Versatile with pedals and boosts0 mentions

Strongly positive

Excellent build quality and support0 mentions

Strongly positive

Useful FX loop0 mentions

Strongly positive

Skip this if...

You need high-gain, modern metal tones out of the box without pedals
You want two channels that blend and transition seamlessly into each other
You're on a tight budget, since reviewers note it costs 'a lot of money'

What users complain about

Gain can feel limited for modern high-gain playing0 mentions

Generally negative

Channels feel mismatched0 mentions

Frequently criticized

High price0 mentions

Generally negative

Speaker/cab dependent for best results0 mentions

Generally negative

Inconsistent demo impressions0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Mid

Roland Blues Cube Artist

Lightweight and gig-friendlyTube-like tone and feelExcellent clean channelExpensive, hard-to-find Tone CapsulesInconsistent or harsh crunch channelNo included footswitch

Roland Blues Cube Artist

Lightweight and gig-friendly

Tube-like tone and feel

Excellent clean channel

Expensive, hard-to-find Tone Capsules

Inconsistent or harsh crunch channel

No included footswitch

2Premium

Friedman Little Sister

Exceptional tonal versatilityGreat cleanup via guitar volumeBig, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattageDark, bass-heavy voicing for somePrice relative to alternativesRequires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel

Friedman Little Sister

Exceptional tonal versatility

Great cleanup via guitar volume

Big, huge-sounding tone for its size/wattage

Dark, bass-heavy voicing for some

Price relative to alternatives

Requires volume-knob technique, not true multi-channel

Best value

3Mid

Orange OR15

Exceptional versatilityGreat with pedals / clean platformLong-term keeper ampCleans not its strongest suitFizzy or excessive gain out of the boxStock preamp tubes considered weak

Orange OR15

Exceptional versatility

Great with pedals / clean platform

Long-term keeper amp

Cleans not its strongest suit

Fizzy or excessive gain out of the box

Stock preamp tubes considered weak

4Mid

Marantz PM7000N

Detailed, warm sound qualityGood speaker pairing versatilityHEOS streaming and internet radio convenienceAirPlay over Ethernet reliability issueDAC only active via optical/coaxial inputsLacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic

Marantz PM7000N

Detailed, warm sound quality

Good speaker pairing versatility

HEOS streaming and internet radio convenience

AirPlay over Ethernet reliability issue

DAC only active via optical/coaxial inputs

Lacks classic gold Marantz aesthetic

5Budget

TC Electronic BH250

Powerful for its sizeTonePrint effects built inClean, full, realistic toneAlways-lit tuner displayInsufficient power for loud full bandsSingle effect slot limitation

TC Electronic BH250

Powerful for its size

TonePrint effects built in

Clean, full, realistic tone

Always-lit tuner display

Insufficient power for loud full bands

Single effect slot limitation

6Premium

Mesa Boogie Badlander

Tight, modern high-gain toneBuilt-in CabClone IR / direct outBuild quality and versatility praised by ownersHigh priceMissing third channel and solo boostNo EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes

Mesa Boogie Badlander

Tight, modern high-gain tone

Built-in CabClone IR / direct out

Build quality and versatility praised by owners

High price

Missing third channel and solo boost

No EL34 as originally expected / power tube gripes

7Mid

iFi xCAN

Strong power for demanding headphonesCompact, high-quality buildEnjoyable Bluetooth sound qualityEarly sound-mode switching bugLimited single-ended power for some planarsNot fully wireless

iFi xCAN

Strong power for demanding headphones

Compact, high-quality build

Enjoyable Bluetooth sound quality

Early sound-mode switching bug

Limited single-ended power for some planars

Not fully wireless

8Premium

Friedman BE-100 Deluxe

Exceptional tonal versatilityOwner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentimentSmooth, musical high-gain distortionHigh priceOverwhelming number of optionsSome find it too polished or lacking rawness

Friedman BE-100 Deluxe

Exceptional tonal versatility

Owner satisfaction and 'best amp ever' sentiment

Smooth, musical high-gain distortion

High price

Overwhelming number of options

Some find it too polished or lacking rawness

9Mid

Vox AC15CH

Built-in reactive attenuator

Vox AC15CH

Built-in reactive attenuator

10Mid

Roland JC-22

Great pedal platformLush onboard chorusExceptional clean toneBackground hiss/humWeak onboard distortionSome pedals don't pair well

Roland JC-22

Great pedal platform

Lush onboard chorus

Exceptional clean tone

Background hiss/hum

Weak onboard distortion

Some pedals don't pair well

You are here

31Premium

Friedman Smallbox 50

Authentic Plexi toneGreat low-volume performanceStrong live/main-amp reputationGain can feel limited for modern high-gain playingChannels feel mismatchedHigh price

Friedman Smallbox 50

Authentic Plexi tone

Great low-volume performance

Strong live/main-amp reputation

Gain can feel limited for modern high-gain playing

Channels feel mismatched

High price

Pedal friendly
1. Roland JC-22arrow_upward9
2. Orange OR15arrow_upward8
3. Friedman Little Sisterarrow_upward5
Versatile tone
1. Orange OR15arrow_upward10
2. Friedman Little Sisterarrow_upward8
Lightweight
1. Roland Blues Cube Artistarrow_upward8
2. TC Electronic BH250arrow_upward3
3. Orange OR15arrow_upward2
Expensive
1. Friedman Little Sisterarrow_downward2
2. Friedman Smallbox 50arrow_downward2
3. Friedman BE-100 Deluxearrow_downward3
Great cleans
1. Friedman Little Sisterarrow_upward6
2. Mesa Boogie Badlanderarrow_upward5
Build quality
1. Mesa Boogie Badlanderarrow_upward6
2. Friedman Little Sisterarrow_upward4

Overall Impression

The Plexi and BE channels each nail a distinct classic-rock character. Commenters describe Channel 1 as a true cranked-Marshall-Plexi voicing once the master volume is pushed past 7, while Channel 2 (BE) delivers preamp-driven overdrive at lower volumes. Several owners footswitch between a cleaner Plexi tone and a boosted BE channel for solos, and note both channels share the same Plexi DNA despite differing character, making it flexible for rhythm/lead switching live.

Dual master volumes make it genuinely usable at low volume without losing tone. Multiple owners state the SB50 is 'famous' for retaining full tonal character at talk-over volumes, thanks to its two independent master volumes. One user was impressed hearing it in a store at low volume, and another highlights the FX loop plus a volume pedal as ideal for dialing in consistent room, house, or stage tones without sacrificing sound quality.

Some feel the two channels don't gel and gain can fall short of modern amps. A few long-term owners argue Channel 2 is 'voiced too differently' from Channel 1 and doesn't work well together, while others note the BE channel lacks the gain of a BE-50/BE-100 or true modern high-gain amps. One user who traded a BE-50 Deluxe for the Smallbox regretted losing that amp's power, though came to appreciate the Smallbox with time.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

graphic_eqAuthentic Plexi toneNotable

4 mentions

Strongly positive

Users describe Channel 1 as capturing true cranked-Marshall-Plexi character, and even the BE channel shares that Plexi DNA. The organic, tasty distortion is repeatedly praised, with one commenter crediting passive pickups for the sound's warmth.

@rmedzoyan

Some important things to know about this Amp. Some have complained that the Plexi Channel does not have as much gain as a cranked Marshall Plexi. The clean/Plexi channel will sound like a true cranked Plexi only when its master volume (Volume-1) is past 7. An original Marshall Plexi would be as if this channel had the “Volume-1” set on 10 since it has no master volume. With this channel cranked (Volume-1 around 7-8, and Gain-1 past 8) you’re now getting the combination of pre-amp and power-amp distortion, just like with a Marshall Plexi. The BE Channel (Channel 2) is also a Plexi style amp, but has overdriven sounds even with it’s master volume (Volume-2) turned down to reasonable levels, because this channel relies on pre-amp gain and does not need the power amp to be distorting. You can A/B this with the footswitch with one such combination of settings (This will be very loud, so I’d suggest using an attenuator to protect your hearing. I used the Captor X’s attenuator out to a Mesa Cabinet): Presence 7.5, Bass 8, Mid 8, Treble 8, Volume-1 at 8, Volume-2 at 6 (adjust this to match the channel volume when doing A/B comparison) Gain-1 at 10, Gain-2 at 6, bright switch to far right (brightest). Now switch back and forth and adjust Volume-2 to match loudness of the 2 channels. You’ll notice some differences, since Channel 2 (the BE channel) is mostly preamp gain, but it’s clear that the 2 channels have the same Plexi DNA. The bonus here is elsewhere. With Volume-1 at a lower (cleaner) setting, and Gain 1 between 6-8, and bright switch to middle or far left, you can have a very nice clean and on the verge of breakup sounds, as your clean channel, and foot-switch to a volume matched, overdriven BE channel for heavier rhythms or solos. Add a clean boost, like Buxom Boost in front, you can further boost and thicken the BE channel for soloing. Alternatively, the Plexi channel set with cleaner/lower (<6) Volume-1 settings cans sound amazing with a variety of boosts and natural overdrive pedals pushing it, giving the player yet another set of overdriven flavors and classic rock tones. This demo shows that with the right pedals, more modern high gain tones can be achieved with this amp, but this is really an elegant simple amp for classic rock. The BE50 and BE100 amps are engineered to deliver the much higher modern gain levels.

Friedman Smallbox 50chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

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Who wins on what

Pedal friendly

Versatile tone

Lightweight

Expensive

Great cleans

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Friedman Smallbox 50From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression