Friedman BE-100 User manual

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BE-100
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INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Congratulationsonpurchasingthisincredible
newguitaramplifierdesignedbyoneofthe
mostwellknownampmoddersanddesigners
intheLAMusicsceneforthepast20years,
DaveFriedman.

DaveFriedmanhasbeendesigningand
buildingguitarrigsforthestarssincetheearly
nineties.Aftermanyyearsofmodding
amplifiersandconsultingforotherwell‐
knownamplifiercompanies,Davehasfinally
broughthistalenttoanewlineofproduction
ampsunderhisname,Friedman
Amplification.

Dave’sfirstproductionamplifier,theBE‐100,
iscriticalityacclaimedandoneofthemostin‐
demandBritishhighgain,meetsvintageamps
onthemarkettoday.

TheBE100isa100‐wattEL34poweredmulti‐
channelfirebreatherthatisalsocapableof
producingmanystylesofmusicfrombluesto
classicrockandheavyrocktometalbyjust
adjustingthegainandmastercontrolsonthe
BEchannel.SwitchingtotheHBEbooststhe
BEchannelgivingevenmoregainand
saturation.Ofcoursewecan’tforgettherich
cleansfoundwithinthe2ndchannelonthe
BE100.

Alotofpeopledon’tbelieveanEL‐34100
wattampcansoundgreatevenatbedroom
volumelevels.Webegtodiffer!
DavecompletelydesignedtheMastervolume
tosoundfantasticatanylevel.

Youwillnoticeinstantly,thetightbottomend
andrichharmonicallydetailedchordsand
singlenotes.Thisampcleansupremarkably
wellwiththeguitar’svolumecontrol,even
withtheamponhighergainsettings.

TheBE100takespedalsverywellandloves
boosts,OD’s,phasers,flangers,tremolos,
wahs,etc.TheBE100alsohasanultra
transparenttubeSeriesFXloopthattakes
timebasedFXpedalsandrackunitsequally
well.

Incrediblyversatilemulti‐channelamp.
100‐WattEL34PowerTubes.
Five12AX7PreampTubes
DirtyChannelhasVol,Gain,Treble,
Middle,Bass.
CleanChannelhasVol,Treble,Bass
and3positionBrightSwitch.
GlobalPresenceControl
SeriesEffectsLoopwithReturnLevel
onrear.
CustomTransformersandCapacitors
BE100VoicingSwitchesinclude:Fat,
C45,Satandfrontpanelvoiceswitch.
LineOutwithLevelControlonrear
panel.

PLUGGINGIN

WerecommendstartingtheampontheBE
channelwiththeBasson10,theMidsat
around6,theTrebleat5andthePresenceat
5.SettheGainaround8andthenbringthe
masteruptotaste.Afterpluggingin,youwill
noticeinstantly,thetightbottomendandrich
harmonicallydetailedchordsandsinglenotes,
that’stheFriedmansound.Thisampcleans
upremarkablywellwiththeguitar’svolume
controlevenwiththeamponhighergain
settings.ForevenmoregainswitchtoHBE
mode.SwitchtotheCleanchannelandset
theTrebleandBassat5andturntheVolume
uptotasteandexperimentwiththeBright
Switch.
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
WeknowyouwillloveyournewBE100.Ifyou
haveanyquestionsorhelpdon’thesitateto
emailusat[email protected]
orcallToneMerchants/RackSystemsat818‐
505‐0391.YoucanspeaktoDavedirectlyif
you’reinterestedinhimbuildingyourdream
rigwhetherit’sasmallpedalboardormassive
refrigeratorrack.
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INSTRUCTIONS
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Pleasekeepthisinstructionmanualforfuture
referenceandforthedurationofowningthis
FriedmanAmplifier.Pleasecarefullyreadand
understandtheinstructionsinsidethisuser’s
manualbeforeattemptingtooperateyour
newamp.Thisinstructionmanualincludes
essentialsafetyinformationregardingtheuse
andmaintenanceoftheamplifier.Take
specialcaretoheedallwarningsymbolsand
signsinsidethismanualandthoseprintedon
theamplifieritself.

WARNING!
TOPREVENTFIREORSHOCKHAZARD,DO
NOTEXPOSETHEAMPLIFIERTOWATEROR
MOISTURE.DONOTOPERATENEARANY
WATERSOURCE
WHAT’STHEMEANINGOFTHIS?
Thelightningflashwithanarrowtriangular
symbolisintendedtoalerttheusertothe
presenceofnon‐insulated“dangerous
voltage”withintheproductsenclosure,and
maybeofsufficientmagnitudetoconstitutea
riskofelectricshock

WHAT’STHEMEANINGOFTHIS?
Theexclamationpointtriangularsymbolis
intendedtoalerttheusertothepresenceof
importantoperatingandmaintenance
(servicing)instructionsintheusermanual
accompanyingthisamplifier!

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1.ReadInstructions–Allthesafetyand
operatinginstructionsshouldbereadbefore
thisproductisoperated.
2.RetainInstructions–Thesafetyand
operatinginstructionsshouldberetainedfor
futurereference.
3.HeedWarnings–Allwarningsonthe
amplifierandintheoperatinginstructions
shouldbeadheredto.
4.FollowInstructions–Alloperatinganduse
instructionsshouldbefollowed.
5.WaterandMoisture–Theamplifiershould
notbeusednearwater–forexample,a
bathtub,washbowl,kitchensink,laundrytub,
wetbasement,ornearaswimmingpool,and
thelike.
6.CartsandStands–Theamplifiershouldbe
usedonlywithacartorstandthatis
recommendedbythemanufacturer.
Anamplifierandcartcombinationshouldbe
movedwithcare.Quickstops,excessiveforce,
andunevensurfacesmaycausetheamplifier
andcartcombinationtooverturn.
7.WallorCeilingMounting
–Theproductshouldneverbemountedtoa
wallorceiling.
8.Heat–Amplifiershouldbesituatedaway
fromheatsourcessuchasradiators,heat
registers,stoves,orotheramplifier(including
amplifiers)thatproduceheat.
9.PowerSources–Thisproductshouldbe
operatedonlyfromthetypeofpowersource
indicatedontheratinglabel.
Ifyouarenotsureofthetypeofpowersupply
toyourhome,consultyourproductdealeror
localpowercompany.
10.GroundingorPolarization
–Thisproductmaybeequippedwitha
polarizedalternation‐currentlineplug(aplug
havingonebladewiderthantheother).This
plugwillfitintothepoweroutletonlyone
way.Thisisasafetyfeature.Ifyouareunable
toinserttheplugfullyintotheoutlet,try
reversingtheplug.Iftheplugshouldstillfail
tofit,contactyourelectriciantoreplaceyour
obsoleteoutlet.Donotdefeatthesafety
purposeofthepolarizedplug.
11.Power‐CordProtection
–Power‐supplycordsshouldberoutedso
thattheyarenotlikelytobewalkedonor
pinchedbyitemsplaceduponoragainst
them,payingparticularattentiontothecord
incorrespondenceofplugs,convenience
receptacles,andthepointwheretheyexit
fromtheamplifier.
12.Cleaning–Theamplifiershouldbe
cleanedonlyasrecommendedbythe
manufacturer.Cleanbywipingwithacloth

slightlydampwithwater.Avoidgettingwater
insidetheamplifier.
14.Non‐usePeriods–Thepowercordofthe
amplifiershouldbeunpluggedfromtheoutlet
whenleftunusedforalongperiodoftime.
15.ObjectandLiquidEntry
–Careshouldbetakensothatobjectsdonot
fallandliquidsarenotspilledintothe
enclosurethroughopenings.
16.DamageRequiringService
–Theamplifiershouldbeservicedbyqualified
servicepersonnelwhen:
A.Thepower‐supplycordortheplughas
beendamaged;or
B.Objectshavefallen,orliquidhasbeen
spilledintotheamplifier;or
C.Theamplifierhasbeenexposedtorain;or
D.Theamplifierdoesnotappeartooperate
normallyorexhibitsamarkedchangein
performance;or
E.Theamplifierhasbeendropped,orthe
enclosuredamaged.
F.Theamplifierneedstubereplacementor
biasing
17.Servicing–Theusershouldnotattempt
anyservicetotheamplifierbeyondthat
describedintheoperatinginstructions.
Allotherservicingshouldbereferredto
qualifiedservicepersonnel.
18.Ventilation–Slotsandopeningsinthe
cabinetareprovidedforventilationandto
ensurereliableoperationoftheproductand
toprotectitfromoverheating,andthese
openingsmustnotbeblockedorcovered.The
openingsshouldneverbeblockedbyplacing
theproductonabed,sofa,rug,orother
similarsurface.Thisproductshouldnotbe
placedinabuilt‐ininstallationsuchasa
bookcaseorrack.
19.Attachments–donotuseattachments
notrecommendedbytheproduct
manufacturerastheymaycausehazards.
20.Accessories–Donotplacethisproducton
anunstablecart,stand,tripod,bracket,or
table.Theproductmayfall,causingserious
injurytoachildoradult,andseriousdamage
totheproduct.Useonlywithacart,stand,
tripod,bracket,ortablerecommendedbythe
manufacturer,orsoldwiththeproduct.
21.Lightning–Foraddedprotectionforthis
productbeforealightningstorm,orwhenitis
leftunattendedandunusedforlongperiods
oftime,unplugitfromthewalloutlet.This
willpreventdamagetotheproductdueto
lightningandpowerlinesurges.
22.ReplacementParts–Whenreplacement
partsarerequired,besuretheservice
technicianhasusedreplacementparts
specifiedbythemanufacturerorhavethe
samecharacteristicsastheoriginalpart.
Unauthorizedsubstitutionsmayresultinfire,
electricshock,orotherhazards.
23.SafetyCheck–Uponcompletionofany
serviceorrepairstothisproduct,askthe
servicetechniciantoperformsafetychecksto
determinethattheproductisinproper
operatingcondition.
24.FUSES–Alwaysusethecorrectratingand
typeoffuseasindicatedontherearpanel.
Notetheproperratingfuseisdeterminedby
theAClinevoltageinthecountrythisunitis
beingoperated.
25.ACSELECTSWITCH:Thisswitchmustbe
settomatchtheAClinevoltageinthecountry
thisunitisbeingoperated.
Tochangethesetting,loosen(donotremove)
thetwoscrewsaboveandbelowtheslide
switch.Temporarilymovetheprotective
coverstripandslidetheactuatortomatchthe
voltageinyourcountry.Placetheprotective
coverstripbackovertheswitchandtighten
thetwoscrews.
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CAUTIO
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
POWERSWITCH:TurnthisONforaboutoneminutebeforetakingtheampoutofStandbyformaximum
tubelife.ALWAYSMAKESURETHEREISASPEAKERLOADCONNECTEDTOYOURAMPBEFORETURNING
ON.

STANDBYSWITCH:WaitaboutaminutebeforeplacingthisswitchintheONposition.Thiswillputyour
ampintoPLAYmode.

POWERINDICATORLAMP:Thisisagentlereminderthatyourampispoweredup.

PRESENCECONTROL:Adjuststheuppermidsandhighsinthepowerampsection.Globalonall
channels.Startatabout4‐5andadjusttotaste.
Note:Thispotwillsoundscratchywhenadjusted–thisisnormal.

BASSCONTROL:Thisaddsortakesawaybassorbottomend.Astheampgetslouderyoumaywantto
backthisoffabit.Startat7‐10forbedroomvolumes.

MIDDLECONTROL:Addsortakesawaymidrange.Startat5or6,lowersettingswillscoopthemids,
higherlevelswillallowyouraudiencetoactuallyheartheguitarinthemix.

TREBLECONTROL:Thisaddsortakesawaytreble.Startat5andadjusttotaste.

MASTERCONTROL:ThisistheBE/HBEVOLUME.Themoreyouturnitupthelouderitgets.IftheFX
loopisengagedthisbecomestheamp’sSENDlevelandshouldsetataround5foroptimumloop
performance.WiththeFXloopengagedtheRETURNLEVELontherearoftheBE100wouldnowcontrol
theamp’soverallvolume.

GAINCONTROL:Thisaddsgain/distortion.Adjusttotaste.Don’tbeafraid.

CLEANVOLUME:Adjuststhecleanchannel’svolume.

BRIGHTSWITCH:3positionswitchthatvariestheoverallbrightnessoftheCleanChannelONLY.

TREBLECONTROL:Adjuststhetrebleonthecleanchannel.Startat5andadjusttotaste.

BASSCONTROL:Adjuststhebassonthecleanchannel.Startat5andadjusttotaste.

VOICESWITCH:ThisisasubtleyeteffectivetonalvariancefortheBE/HBEchannel.Leftpositionis
slightlydarkerwithmoremids,rightpositionisslightlybrighterwithabiggerbass.

CHANNELSELECTORSWITCH:SwitchesbetweenClean.BE,HBEchannelswhenFootwitchisnot
connected.

INPUT:Justlikeitsays.ThisistheBE100’sGuitarInputJack.



FATSWITCH:Likeitsays,makestheBE100soundfatter.Greatforsinglecoilpickups.

C45SWITCH:Thisisacustom‐voicingswitchfortheBE/HBEchannel.Turniton,ifyoulikeleaveiton.
It’skindacool.

SATSWITCH:PrimarilydesignedtobeusedintheBEorC45modetoaddgain,compressionand
saturation.Itisnormalforthevolumeleveltodropwiththisswitchengaged.Compensatewiththe
amp’sMastervolume.

FOOTSWITCHJACK:Thisiswhereyoupluginthefootswitch.

EFFECTSLOOPSWITCH:ThisengagestheseriesFXLOOP.MasterVolumeonfrontbecomestheSEND
LEVEL(Setat5)andtheRETURNLEVELonamp’srearbecomestheMASTERVOLUMEfortheamp.

SENDJACK:ThisiswhereyouplugtheINPUTofyourEffect(s).Useahighqualityshieldedguitarcable.

RETURNJACK:ThisiswhereyouplugtheOUTofyourEffect(s).Useahighqualityshieldedguitarcable.

RETURNLEVEL:WhentheFXLOOPisengaged,thiscontrolstheoverallvolumeofyouramp.

LINEOUTLEVELCONTROL:Thiscontrolstheoveralllevelofthelineout.

LINEOUTJACK:Connectahighquality¼”guitarcabletosendsignaltoexternaldevicessuchas
additionalpoweramps,FX,etc.Thisisnotspeakeremulated.

SPEAKEROUTJACKS(2):Plugspeakercabinetshere.SetImpedanceselectortoappropriateposition.

MAINSINPUT:PlugthesuppliedIECpowercordhereandintoa115vwalloutlettopowerthebeast.

MAINFUSE:Thisisthemainfuse.Replaceonlywithtypeindicatedonrearpanel.Thisisalsomost
likelytheresultofabadtube.Constantblowingofthisfuse(evenwhenusingnewtubes)isan
indicationthatsomethingcouldbeseriouslywrongwithyouramp.STOPandcallussowemayhelpyou
diagnose.

HTFUSE:OnlyreplacewithTypeindicatedonrearpanel.Ifthisblows,don’tfreakouttoomuch.It’s
mostlikelyabadpowertube.Werecommendyoucarryafewsparefusesandasparesetoftubes
whengigging.
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

FRIEDMANLIMITEDLIFETIMEWARRANTY

ThankyouforchoosingFriedman.Friedman
manufacturessomeoftheworld’smostreliable
hand‐wired,all‐tubeamplifiersandspeaker
cabinets.Friedmantakesgreatprideinan
extremelythoroughtestingprocedure,whichis
implementedoneachproductpriortoshipment.
Intheunlikelyeventthatyouhaveaproblem
withyouamplifier,pleaserefertowarranty
below.Friedmanstandsbehindourproductslike
nootherandwe’reheretohelpyou!

AMPLIFIERS:Friedmanoffersalimitedlifetime
warrantytotheoriginalpurchaserthataFriedman
amplifierwillbefreefromdefectsinmaterialand
workmanship.Adatedsalesreceiptwillestablish
coverageunderthiswarranty,PLEASEKEEPYOUR
PROOFOFPURCHASETOUSEYOURWARRANTY.
Thiswarrantydoesnotcoverserviceorpartsto
repairdamagecausedbyaccident,neglect,abuse,
normalwear,disaster,misuse,abuse,over‐
powering,negligence,inadequatepackingor
shippingproceduresandservice,repairorany
modificationstotheproductwhichhavenotbeen
authorizedorapprovedbyFriedmaninwriting.
ANYMODIFICATIONTOTHEAMPLIFIERWILL
VOIDYOURWARRANTY.Ifthisproductis
defectiveinmaterialsorworkmanshipas
warrantedabove,yoursoleremedyshallberepair
orreplacementbyFriedmanasprovidedbelow.

CAUTION:DoNOTattempttorepair,modifyor
serviceyouramplifierbyyourself!!!Pleaseread
theinstructionmanualforallsafetynotifications,
warningsandinstructions.Friedman,likealltube
amplifiers,hasextremelyhighvoltagesthatcan
causeseriousinjuryordeath.Donotremovethe
chassisfromtheamplifier.Allrepairandservice
workmustbeperformedbyFriedmanoran
authorizedservicecenterofFriedman.ANY
UNAUTHORIZEDREPAIRSWILLVOIDYOUR
WARRANTY.

TUBES:Friedmanwarrantstheoriginalpurchaser
thatthespecifictubesusedinFriedmanwillbe
freefromdefectsinmaterialandworkmanshipfor
aperiodof90daysfromtheoriginaldateof
purchase.Adatedsalesreceiptwillestablish
coverageunderthiswarranty.Thistubewarranty
willautomaticallyterminate90daysafterthe
originalretailsalesdate.Thistubewarrantyisin
lieuofallotherexpressedwarranties.Iftubesfail
withinthe90daywarrantyperiodyoursole
remedyshallbereplacementoftubesasprovided
below.

RETURNPROCEDURES:Intheunlikelyeventthata
defectoccurspleasecallusat818‐505‐0391.In
mostcaseswecanhelpyoudiagnosetheproblem
overthephone.Ifaproductmustbesenttous,
pleasefollowtheprocedureoutlinedbelow.
Defectiveproductsmustbeshipped,
togetherwithproofofpurchase,freight
pre‐paidandinsuredtotheAuthorized
FriedmanServiceCenterordirectlyto
Friedman.
IfaproductmustbereturnedtoFriedman
forwarrantyreplacement/repair,aReturn
AuthorizationNumbermustbeobtained
fromourCustomerServiceDepartment
priortoshippingtheproduct.
PleasecontactFriedmanCustomerService
DepartmentfortheAuthorizedFriedman
ServiceCenternearestyou.
Productsmustbeshippedintheiroriginal
packagingoritsequivalent;inanycase,
theriskoflossordamageintransitistobe
bornebythepurchaser.
TheReturnAuthorizationNumbermust
appearinlargeprintdirectlybelowthe
shippingaddress.
Alwaysincludeabriefdescriptionofthe
defect,alongwithyourcorrectreturn
addressandtelephonenumber.
Whencallingtoinquireaboutareturned
product,alwaysrefertotheReturn
AuthorizationNumber.


IfFriedmandeterminesthattheunitwas
defectiveinmaterialsorworkmanshipatanytime
duringthewarrantyperiod,Friedmanhasthe
optionofrepairingorreplacingtheproductatno
additionalcharge,exceptassetforthbelow.
Allreplacedpartsbecomeapropertyof
Friedman.Productsreplacedorrepaired
underthiswarrantywillbereturnedvia
groundshippingwithintheUnitedStates
orCanada‐freightprepaid.
Friedmanisnotresponsibleforcosts
associatedwithexpeditedshipping,either
toFriedmanorthereturnoftheproductto
thecustomer.

AllwarrantyrepairsoutsidetheUnitedStatesand
Canadamustbedirectedtothedealeror
distributorfromwhichyoupurchasedthe
product.



INCIDENTALORCONSEQUENTIALDAMAGE:Inno
eventwillFriedmanbeliableforanyincidentalor
consequentialdamagesarisingoutoftheuseor
inabilitytouseofanyFriedmanproduct,evenifa
Friedmandealerhasbeenadvisedofthe
possibilityofsuchdamages,oranyotherclaimby
anyotherparty.Somestatesdonotallowthe
exclusionorlimitationofconsequentialdamages,
sotheabovelimitationandexclusionmaynot
applytoyou.Thiswarrantygivesyouspecificlegal
rightsandyoumayalsohaveotherrights,which
mayvaryfromstatetostate.

FORYOURPROTECTION:Pleasecompletethe
warrantyregistrationonlineat
www.FriedmanAmplification.comwithin(10)ten
daysofthedateofpurchasesothatwemay
contactyoudirectlyintheeventasafety
notificationissuedinaccordancewiththe1972
ConsumerProductSafetyAct.

CUSTOMERSUPPORT:Ourdedicatedandfriendly
staffisreadytohelpyouwithanywarrantyor
productquestionsyoumayhave.Pleasecallusat
818‐505‐0391–Monday–Friday9AM‐4PM
(PacificStandardTime)

ThankyouagainforchoosingFriedmanandwe
lookforwardtoalongrelationship!
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