Friedman | Plex Vintage Series 50-watt Guitar Amp
Dave Friedman Realizes the Dream of Recreating His Personal Favorite “Plexi”-Style Amp Head with the Friedman Plex!
Dave Friedman’s personal 1968 JMP Super Lead “Plexi” not only kicked off the master amp builder's lifelong quest for tone—it inspired the entire Friedman Amplification product line! Now, the Friedman Plex Vintage Series 50-watt head represents the realization of the master amp builder’s dream to capture the magic of his own beloved “Plexi” amplifier!
As the first model in a new series of unique amps based on the classic amplifiers that influenced and shaped Friedman’s tonal signature—perhaps, unsurprisingly—the amp maker, in his own words, called the Vintage Series PLEX “my favorite.”

Fender Highways Series Event Featuring Julia Rizik
Join us at Chicago Music Exchange on Thursday, November 30, for a special Fender event introducing the new Highway Series guitars and featuring Fender artist Julia Rizik in CME’s Lincoln Avenue showroom!
In addition to a demonstration of the new series, guests will receive Fender-branded swag. Guests will also be invited to record themselves playing a Highway Series guitar to enter an exclusive raffle!
The Vintage Collection Begins with the Friedman Plex 50-Watt Amp Head!
Taking care to define and utilize the best modern construction techniques, Friedman has spared no expense to source the exact essential parts—including the perfect tubes to reproduce this amp’s character—to make the Friedman Plex a “verbatim sonic twin” of the builder’s all-time favorite amplifier.
Equipped with distinct Lead and Normal channels, each equipped with respective Volume controls, this 50-watt, 2-channel, EL34-driven amp head meticulously captures the essential “Plexi” tone and feel of Dave's revered 1968 JMP Super Lead, replicating the non-master volume performance of its predecessor—i.e., the harder you push these channels, the more the amp responds with increased saturation, harmonic richness, and sustained brilliance.

Internal Channel Jumpering
Offering a seamless and convenient sound-shaping method that pays homage to the amp’s history, the Friedman PLEX features internal channel jumpering, which lets users easily blend the Lead and Normal channels to their ideal setting with the turn of a control knob, replicating the external blending technique used with vintage Plexi amplifiers.
Post-Phase Master Volume Control
Available in two configurations, the Dr. Z X-RAY amp head and 1x12 combo amp both come equipped with a tube-driven FX loop, letting users push signature voicing through the effects signal path of their choice without losing high-end, dynamics, or tone. The X-RAY 1x12 combo is outfitted with a striking quantum silver front valance and loaded with a WGS Retro 30—a 75-watt speaker that has become an overwhelming favorite in the Z test room, which was specifically chosen for this amp at the Doctor’s request.
Enhanced Tonal Flexibility
Presence, Bass, Middle, and Treble controls comprise the Friedman Plex’s vintage-style tone stack with Hi and Low instrument inputs to sculpt a wide range of sounds and gain levels. The 3-position Bright switch adds even more flexibility for fine-tuning the amp’s top end to different guitars, pedals, and pickups.



To hear the realization of Dave Friedman’s “Plexi”-style dreams, call CME, chat us online, or stop into our showroom today to plug your favorite guitar into the Friedman Plex Vintage Series 50-watt amplifier!
SHOP FRIEDMAN AMPLIFICATIONSHOP FRIEDMAN AMPLIFICATION
Related Posts
Bad Cat | Mark Sampson Mod Shop Black Cat 30
The iconic Bad Cat Black Cat returns—reimagined by legendary amp designer Mark Sampson. Hand-built in California, the new Mod Shop Black Cat 30 blends boutique tone with modern features, including EL84 power, two channels, lush reverb, and vintage tremolo. This limited-edition combo is the first release from Bad Cat’s Mod Shop series—and it's available now at Chicago Music Exchange.
Read moreIbanez | Summer 2025 Electric Guitars
Discover the latest 2025 Ibanez guitars at Chicago Music Exchange—your destination for cutting-edge electric guitar innovation, shred-ready performance, and legendary craftsmanship. From iconic RG and AZ models to bold new designs, the 2025 Ibanez lineup delivers next-gen features, sleek finishes, and high-performance specs built for today’s players. Be among the first to shop the newest Ibanez releases, available now at Chicago Music Exchange!
Read moreCME on Tour | Powers Electric May 2025
Recently, CME Director of New Product, Dan Bordonaro, visited Powers Electric’s San Diego headquarters to select tonewoods for a new run of A-Type Select guitars! Working with Andy Powers himself, who is uniquely hands-on with the tonewoods and building process of every Powers Electric guitar, the two selected tonewoods and specifications for our next run of striking Powers Electric A-Type Selects!
Read more