Is Friedman IRX X Really Worth the Hype? 

I must say Paul you and your chanel are the most credible review source. As well as your playing technique is very inspiring! Greetings from Switzerland

for an old fart like me, that hates menu's and the never ending unhappiness tweaking digital units, and more than happy with a two channel amp, this screams perfect for compact and amazing sounding. I love it.

Thanks for spending some time on the cleans and clean + mild boost! Other demos are lacking in that department.

After several hours with the IR-X and the OX Stomp, I think this is a definite step up over my Strymon Iridium. The key to a good clean sound/ broken up sound is to go into the IR-X menu via the comptuer app and turn the presence all the way up (3 settings) and the thump all the way down (3 settings). That voices it a little more chimey for the clean/ edge of breakup I was looking for. Before I could never quite get rid of the low-mid/ deep resonance to the sound that was just too much/ not clear enough for a clean tone.

Thanks Lee! Sounds Great!

I've had mine for about a month now. I agree the feel not being a big deal at first, but it does beautiful Fender, Marshall, and Friedman tone through a quality PA, or FrFr. Now that I've had it a month and the tubes have burned in and I've got my settings as I like, it definitely has the feel and tone of an amp. I'm playing through two EV evolve 50s behind me and I would swear I have two marshall stacks in channel one with boost on. The Friedman channel takes you into nowhere land. Absolutely great. It's like having four great amps. I've owned, BadCat, Carr, Dr Z, VHT, and many vintage Fenders and Marshall's. Give it time and you will love it. PS. I run it into the power amp in on my Katana artist for practice. I'm blown away what it sounds like through the Waza speaker.

Would be a great video to A/B this against the big boy Friedman BE, both through an IR studio monitor setup and a power amp set up. Paul says he can hear a difference, be cool to see if this is apparent when they are played back to back.

I've had this for a month and have been enjoying it, it did kick the origin revival off my board...which had been there for 3+ years. Fyi, when you were searching for more girth on the heavy sound and you turned up the mids and bass, you had the 'tight' switch enabled on the heavy channel the entire demo. The tight switch cuts significant amounts of bottom end. If you disable the tight switch, you will end up with the bass knob way down. Also, switching IR's makes a huge diff...load some ones you know you love in there. The stock ones are good but you can def do better. Also,,, part 2,,, swapping the the 12ax7 in the V1 tube slot for a 5751 backs down the gain a bit and opens up the sound of the whole unit. The 'clean' channel one also sounds great gained up and pushed, diff voice than ch 2, more of a traditional straight cranked plexi vibe. 🤘👍

Just picked it up I love it ! Channel one does perfect plexi AC/DC for me especially with a humbucker guitar and channel 2 is great for high gain which rarely is needed

I like your review of the pedal and how you actually showed how it works saw a few vids that didnt do it justice

Ah, been waiting for your guys review on this.. TY!

There's a video on Facebook with the IRX going into the effects loop of an EVH III amp head and it sounds glorious.

I love it. Its replaced my trusty half stack. I use the friedman. A powerstage 170, and a 1x12, super light weight and sounds great

I’ve us d one for a few gigs now with my helix going into a Seymour Duncan power stage. Live and in a band mix this things is killer! Funnily enough ‘modern metal’ really relies on that note separation for chords and this thing is perfect for it

Nice review, good to see someone not just saying its amazing and actually being sceptical.

This review aligns with my thinking - it's good, but I wasn't blown away. Going to be trying it with UA OX Stomp to see if those cab/ room sounds give it more dimension and versatility. One minor thing - there is a limited menu to adjust thump, presence, and add'l IRs beyond the main 3.

Thank you so much for being honest. You’ve convinced me to not buy it, saving me tons of cash. I loved the tones and playing, but how refreshing to hear an honest opinion. Liked and subscribed.

Sounds amazing - even if you're saying that it sounds "thin".

Also tone not only comes from the preamp but what transformers you have for voicing as well This Friedman pre does absolutely amazing in a live scenario as well home playing and dead quite 🤘

It improves its butteryness through a fryette power station and makes it very close to a BE deluxe

I wished more companies would build preamp versions like this of their popular full valve amps. Most heads are completely oversized, you pay thousands of pounds for the sound you want and then you still need an attenuator. It's a mess.

Thank you for the video Paul. A comparison with the amp1 would be great. If not a video how would you compare them with just a comment? Thank you

I have one. The clean and crunch are great. However, for high gain, i prefer my Boss GX100.

there are more included IRs if you fire up the software and you can load your own. Seems odd that you don't discuss the whole solution. There are also presence and thump controls on the software that are not available on the pedal. this review was not very thorough

This sounds as good as anything you've had on this channel. Friedman does modded Marshall tones, that's his speciality, so expect high gain. I think it's probably the best modded Marshall tone you can get without an actual tube amp. Do you need two channels or the endless amps of a Tonex? This is a bit pricey but it sounds great and has great functionality.

I just picked one of these up and I really like it. I have been playing with a Boss GT1000 Core for the last few years but found that 90% of the time I was only using a few different patches. I even followed along here and programmed in the ultimate dual amp setup in the Boss. It sounds awesome. I will say that it did get tiring having to go through menus and / or plug it into the computer every single time.

9:40 fantastic legato Paul!! More lessons and tab please I'd love to play that smooth...excellent demo 👌

I look at it as just a portable amp option for taking with me when I'm travelling so I'd have something to play through in my room. Currently I bring a CaptorX with me and have to haul a tube head as well. I would also love the DS version of it as I'm more inclined toward vintage tones.

I sold my ToneX after getting the IR-X. Not as versatile as ToneX, but playing them side by side, it is apparent which is a tube preamp and which is a digital amp.

This is a Kickass Preamp !! I use it with my Rack gear amps . It’s small and a bonus with IR’s Most places have a 45 day return Lol can also be used in heads and combo amps any of those into the FX return I’ve had a little time with it it’s a keeper not because it’s a Friedman preamp because it works with the tone and that’s what we our looking for tone and how it works with other gear and it does great no impedance issues and rack guys know what I’m talking about Lol If your not ready to spend ridiculous prices on a JMP-1 Marshall , or a ADA Mp-1 any others alike Love them both this Friedman does a very good job and pretty damn quite no issues !! conclusion it’s a keeper I knew once I hit the first few chords with great bottom end not over the top . It’s all in how you use it you have to play with it some . Great Vid lots of tone here thanks guys for taking the time to demo with this Preamp you have 4 amps instead of one Absolutely love this I switch between 2 setups my rack gear Witch is where the Friedman is and my Marshall JCM-800 pedal board setup I dig it I think others will to if you use as a preamp Thanks again good stuff here bro’s 🤘

This is so fantastix at both EQ, amd full bore drive, that its almost unmatched.

I have a Friedman Twin Sister top/cab which is fenomenal. This is obviously voiced to the BE and I would definitely choose a Twin Sister over this. HOWEVER... I have compared the OD pedal versions (BE-OD and Dirty Shirley pedals) and voicelike I found them quite similar... only the BE-OD had significantly more gain on tap. So I hope this is the same... that a low-gain setting on channel 2 will be perfect. Yeah... I've ordered one... see if lives up to the hype :)

you opened up my mind with this video great tones liked and subscribed

The Traynor YCV 80 increases Volume and Gain on the boost switch...very interesting...It's my favorite amp as well.

It did sound good Wyeth your Fender Tele...cuts through. But which Tele model are you using? Pickups stock? 🎸

I love your channel. I do have a question. When you record for these videos are you using the same IR or do you mix it up?

Pretty amazing piece of gear.

This is one of the rare reviews where I don´t get the impression of a total hype. Very credible, biased and fair.

Finally some honesty on youtube! Subscribed on the back of this. Lovely piece of gear but not really noticeably worth it. If you do loads of O2 type club gigs like me you want no fuss and reasonably priced gear as stuff gets nicked and bashed. The Boss ir-2 is ideal for my kinda real life stuff. This is lovely on a board somewhere tho

Hey Paul, this compared to the Amp1, which would you pick?

I'm interested to know, but can't find any videos that confirm, if this can be used through an FRFR cabinet ?

“It’s thin sounding”, off course playing with a single coil telecaster, you expect what?

You should have tried it into the loop of your Two Rock. I'd really like to know the latency of the IR output from input to the balanced output. I might like to use this as a second amp for a live stereo rig with my ox box on my AC30TB6. If the latency is too great though, it would be a problem.

It’s hard to experience what it really sounds like in the room. Through my phone and headphones it sounds pretty good. For ease of use with all the knobs it is a winner. In terms of tone vs other similar products or cheap modellers I don’t know. I would love to try one in the flesh to see

I’ve been playing around with a ToneX for a few months and have settled on a sound I like - a capture of this peddle. This is probably going to replace the ToneX

Awesome video Paul, currently trying to decide between this unit and a RevivalDrive Hot Rod with a power amp/cab setup

Sounds fantastic but would be nice to not have the ton of reverb on all the time..

I think it sounds good, but personally the price tag (for me) doesn't warrant the purchase. I can grab a decent tube combo for the price or better yet use my Amp1 which has a power section. I still think it is a good piece of gear, but between owning some tube amps and a loadbox (and the affordability of dsp software) I have no need

How does this compare to a kemper tone wise? Not considering the number of sound but just the core cleans and dirty sounds? Seems warmer than a kemper...

This or UA pedals? Or the Ole Iridium

Check out the Hughes & Kettner AmpMan

The bald dude is being a bit of a naysayer… That thing sounds fookin’ massive! And super impressed w the clean “plexi” channel too!

Thanks!

I just don't really see why you'd get this instead of a 20W Marshall. This is almost the same price as a Marshall. Obviously this has positives compared to an amp (even a lunch box one), but for this price it's just.. I don't know. Too expensive IMO.

Nice playing sir❤😊

Thank you for not using a tele for the entire review 😄

I had one for a few weeks and although I liked it, I felt like it did not pair nice with my other pedals, I feel like this pedal needs to be on it’s on with maybe a bit of reverb. I much more prefer the the DLX simplifier. Much more versatile, can get you the fender cleans and Marshall gains, and has some very good reverbs. This to me feels more like a US$300 Pedal.

Sounds fantastic through youtube.

Haha, the best open line from Lee. It’s not cheap 😊

But how does it sound in a gig? We ca not tell from these videos, live everything is way different

Owned this, Very great product but really don't like channel one. Channel two is very good but 600 euros just for one very great channel to me was too expensive. Sent it back.

He says “you hear the difference in IR’s more on channel 2” , then he doesn’t touch them. “Too much trebble” he twiddles the knobs, instead of changing the IR…

Concerning the title of the video: there is no hype. There is so much gear out there, it is overwhelming and no single piece of gear gets hyped anymore. At least not longer than for a week or so, then the next thing comes along. I feel a certain over saturation in the guitar community.

I have to say I love your channel but most of your guitar tone sounds the same to me whatever you're reviewing anything. Boss stuff whatever. You're a great player but it's just my opinion. You always seem to go for the tele which always has this very thin sound. It's not a criticism, it's just your sound. I heard other players use this Unit and sound big and amazing. Example: The freedman demo where he's showing the unit.I have this unit and it sound nothing like your review. Where this shines is through a power amp. and a 4X12 Cab.I've recorded tons of tracks with this, & used it live. People always ask me what I'm using and I love it! No pre-amp pedal is going to sound like an amp head, but this is pretty damn close! To me it's the best pre-amp pedal out here. And I have most of them Plus every amp that's out there. This is not a put down just my opinion.

Can you do a tone capture for the tonex? 😂

Those p90's sounded epic

Lee. Legend . Like M&S extra special when you're on .

Finally ! It’s epic

*Sounds real good! it is a bit on the THIN sound and lacks that UMF/WOOMP. I say a BluGuitar AMP-1 MERCURY is $370 more and you get everything you could ever need UMF, WOOMP and all LESS of the I/R.*

You lost me as soon as I heard APP not for me but great post 👍

5:58 lol 6:17 - 6:33 beautiful

Evening S.R’s would you recommend this over an Walrus Audio ACS1? I’m pretty heavily pushing towards the ACS1 because I can run stereo FX into it and it’s only really for headphone playing at night. Out of all the boxes that do similar things like the ACS1, strymon iridium ect which one does feels and/or sounds ? Much appreciated

@ The Studio Rats : Soooo, this or the UAFX Lion? ....Or other?

Can you maybe do a video of this through a Katana Mkii 100 head? :)

if you are playing this pedal and listening through a set of computer monitors, then I’m sure a real app sounds better. But for recording I bet it would be hard to tell the difference. I do not own this. this is just my opinion after watching a bunch of videos.

sounds thinner here than on other peoples channels

Mwoh. I wish matchless made something like this. Or Cornell :)

Don’t shit on Lee’s new gear, Paul! 😂

What ever you play sounds always awesome . What is your secret?

Friedman demonfx sounds better for $50 but hay great video

More gain. Always more gain.

it should cost at least 500 pounds more to be appreciate by the bold one

“That’s what she said” 😂😂

Christ that goldtop sounded immense under gain

It sound very similar to BluGuitar Amp1

Maybe not the proper guitar to taste this pedal…my opinion…

95 % sounds like your average stomp box..😮

White Maria Lopez David Hernandez Elizabeth

Sandra Mountains

Dude, I need this box! How many watts is it? Does it have a sweet spot? Is it transgender friendly? Nonbinary? Can it get Eddy's "Smells like teen spirit" tone? Asking for a friend

Paul's never completely happy with anything Hahaha hahaha

Brown Patricia Hall Margaret Moore Kimberly

Sounds fizzy.

Well, I liked the tones and also they are not that different from other tones I hear in this channel from other equipments. Also, I have hear a lot of other tones from other IRX YT channel especially where they played with the other preloaded IR options and booster and fat/tight switches. So I think there's much more than 4 channels..

I understand Friedman uses chinese tubes in his overpriced junk.Generic sounding stuff.Go get you a UA LION.BETTER MADE,BETTER SOUND,MORE OPTIONS. FRIEDMAN SUB-CONTRACTS HIS GUITARS,AMPS.AND PEDALS....BLAH

And NO.ITS NOT WORTH 500 ANYTHING.GET REAL DAVE.

You know just two chords ?????? with distortion , Play some music not a shit !

Play with aut distortion !!! distortion is for idiots !