The BE-50 Deluxe puts three of Friedman's circuits in one 50-watt head, hand-wired in the USA with two EL34s and four 12AX7s. The BE and HBE channels each have their own gain and master over a shared Bass, Middle and Treble, and the clean channel is modelled on the Buxom Betty, with its own three-band EQ and a 3-position Bright switch. Dave Friedman has called it the best amp he has made.
The power section is adjustable from the front panel with Presence, Thump and Response, and a toggle on the back drops it from 50 watts in pentode to 25 watts in triode. SAT, FAT, Bright and Voice switches and a 3-way Gain Structure switch reshape the drive channels, and the series effects loop has its own bypass switch.
Next to the BE-100 Deluxe it is the smaller, lighter head: 37.5 lbs. against 43, two EL34s instead of four, and a Buxom Betty clean where the 100 uses a Smallbox plexi clean. The 25-watt triode setting makes it the better pick of the two for smaller rooms.
SPECIFICATIONS
AMPLIFIER
Country of Origin: United States
Configuration: 50/25-Watt all tube head
Channels: Three (Clean, BE, HBE)
Construction: Hand-wired in the USA
Power Toggle: 50-watt pentode or 25-watt triode
Transformers: Custom USA made transformers
TUBES
Power Tubes: 2 x EL-34
Preamp Tubes: 4 x 12AX7
CONTROLS
Clean Ch: Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble
BE Ch: Gain 1, Master 1, Bass, Middle, Treble (shared with HBE Ch)
HBE Ch: Gain 2, Master 2, Bass, Middle, Treble (shared with BE Ch)
Power Section: Presence, Thump, Response
Switches: SAT, FAT, Bright and Voice
Gain Structure Switch: lowers overall gain
CONNECTIONS
Effects Loop: Ultra transparent series FX loop with bypass switch
Impedance: 4, 8 and 16 ohm Impedance selector switch
FEATURES
Footswitchable BE and HBE channels
Limited Lifetime Warranty
DIMENSIONS
Dimensions: 8.75″ (D) x 26.75″ (W) x 11″ (H)
Weight: 37.5 lbs.
