NAMM 2025 saw Dave Friedman unveil a tribute to legendary amp modder José Arredondo: the Friedman José Mod Amp. This “end-all-be-all” 100-watt, single-channel amp is being created with the Arredondo family’s blessing, ensuring it honors José’s legacy.
Friedman José Mod Amp
José Arredondo’s modded Marshalls were favored by guitar icons like Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, and James Hetfield. While his influence on Eddie Van Halen’s tone is debated, Arredondo is undeniably a key figure among the first generation of “amp wizards.” He even built a mysterious, one-off signature amp for Van Halen that has since vanished.

Modded Marshall Plexi
Arredondo’s modding secrets were never documented, making him both famous and elusive. However, Dave Friedman, a fellow amp expert who knew Arredondo and his work intimately, is bringing those lost secrets to life. Friedman has worked on hundreds of Arredondo-modified amps, giving him unique insight into their inner workings.

Dave Friedman
The Friedman José Mod Amp will feature many of Arredondo’s most popular mods, selectable via switches. Friedman aims to capture the essence of Arredondo’s high-gain pioneering, spanning the late 70s and 80s rock era.
He’s emphasizing quality over quantity, suggesting production will be limited and highly hands-on. While pricing is estimated at around £4000, this is considerably less than the £15,000-£25,000 typically commanded by original Arredondo-modified Marshalls.

Tone-Talk
Friedman discussed the project on the Tone-Talk podcast with Arredondo’s daughter, Marisol. He explained that this amp will encompass all the gain styles Arredondo explored, representing his favorite interpretations of the mods he’s encountered. This tribute amp, bearing José Arredondo’s signature, is Friedman’s way of giving back to the family and preserving the legacy of a true amp legend.

Friedman Amplification
Driven by a deep understanding of tone and an unwavering pursuit of sonic excellence, Dave Friedman channeled his expertise into creating his line of production amplifiers: Friedman Amplification.
Below are some of our favorite Friedman amp heads that are currently available.
- Friedman BE-100 Deluxe Head at Andertons
- Friedman Brown Eye BE-50 Deluxe 50W Head at Andertons
- Friedman Twin Sister 2 Channel 40w Head at Andertons
- Friedman Jake E Lee 50W Signature Amplifier Head in Red Tolex at Andertons
- Friedman Dirty Shirley 40W Amp Head at Andertons
- Friedman Plex Vintage Series 50w Amp Head at Andertons
- Friedman BE-100 Deluxe Head at Thomann
- Friedman JEL-50 Head at Thomann
- Friedman Twin Sister Head at Thomann
- Friedman Small Box at Thomann
- Friedman Plex Head at Thomann
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