I almost picked up a Matrix FR212 before getting this. I think I would have dug it but love my Friedman! Maybe the secret to the Friedman ASM-12 is that it is not spikey and there is some wiggle room in terms of the tone, especially when cranking it. A lot of those harsh or boomy tones usually appear when you increase volume with a piece of gear.
I don't know, can't explain how Dave did what he did but like I've said on here before, I knew as soon as I hit a chord that I had finally found my FRFR solution. Others sounded great with cleans and mid gain stuff but did not achieve MY hard rock/metal tone. The Friedman was instantly there for me. I honestly forget it is FRFR sometimes. When I look down at it and playing, it is a guitar cab.