Overview:
Model: Dual Pro 1
Model No. FM-DP1
The FRENZEL FM - DP1 "Dual Pro One" dual channel guitar tube preamp is part of our "INSPIRED" line of products and will give you the classic vintage tones of our Type F(Fender) and Type M (Marshall) tube amps ....and much more. This is the same preamp we use in our FM-5E3 and other similar voiced amps. As with all of our "INSPIRED" Line of products, this preamp was inspired by the vintage 50's-60's amps with the "TONES YOU KNOW"....but it's far from simply a clone....this preamp incorporates features and mods developed over FRENZEL Tube Amps 50 plus years of building and fine tuning amps...plus it has the upgrade option to add a 1 watt power amp for low volume practice sessions.
The preamp uses two dual triodes with DC on the filaments for low noise. The first tube is a 12AX7 wired as a dual input preamp…one Type F input for the vintage smooth warm "F" tones and one Type M input for the classic vintage "M" high mid rock tones. Each input has separate gain controls for each preamp section. The second tube is a 12AX7 wired as a common voltage amplifier to drive the tone stack with a cathode follower to provide a low impedance output. The three band tone stack was designed by the “tube amp God” so no improvements there….but we did add a Master volume. With this tone stack and Gain and Master control combination you can get just about any sound you want.....including great clean tones…or the classic tube preamp distortion that the vintage tube amps are famous for. Also, for you Bass and hollow-body guitar players a Deep Bass Boost pull-switch has been added on the Bass control to give that Bassman 864 contour for those deep bass tones; and a Bright Pull-Switch has been added on the F and M Gain controls for sparkling Treble tones. There is a Trim control on the rear panel to match the input drive level of the amp you are using it with. Also...an added extra…..you can use an “AB-Y” pedal on the input jacks and blend the Type F and Type M preamp sections for your own custom sound.
The preamp is build into a custom pro-audio style cabinet. The front panel controls are Type F Input, Type M Input, Type F Gain with Bright Pull-Switch, Type M Gain with Bright Pull-Switch, Bass with Deep Pull-Switch, Middle, Treble, Master, LED, Power On/Off. The Output jack, Trim control, Power Line fuse and IEC 3 prong power cord plug-in socket are on the rear panel.
The inputs are high impedance and the output is low impedance. This allows the preamp to work as an effects amp between your guitar and the input jack of your amp....or in your amp's effects loop. It will also drive studio mixers or PA amps. If you have never played through a tube preamp.. you are in for a real treat. If you have, you are still in for a trip, because of the combination of Type F smooth warm tones and Type M high-mid overdrive tones and other extras that have been added. It makes just about any tube amp sound better...and for you guys with solid state amps who are craving that vintage tube sound, you can insert it in front of your solid state amp and get that classic vintage custom sound of your own. It works great with guitar, bass and harp.
Tubes: The amp comes with 2 - 12AX7, but you can substitute 12AT7's or 12AU7's in the first stage preamp for different tones and and less preamp overdrive.
PRICE: $395.00 SALE PRICE $275.00
Please Note: This is a build to order auction. Please allow about 30 days for delivery after the auction is completed. Please note that this is just an estimate and the actual time may vary. (See Payment & Shipping Terms section for more info.)
UPGRADE OPTIONS: The following upgrade options are available on the amp. PLEASE NOTE: The upgrade options are not listed on the PayPal invoice for the amp. To purchase any of the upgrade options, you will need to email us BEFORE you purchase the amp with a list of the upgrade options that you want. We will then add them to your PayPal invoice once you purchase the amp using the Buy It Now button
1. 100 - 240 VOLT POWER TRANSFORMER - for operation outside the USA. Please specify line voltage. Add $50.00
2. POWER AMP - At the request of a lot of our customers, we have added a power amp as an upgrade option. The power amp uses a 12AU7 as a Class A output stage which will deliver F and M crystal clear cleans or overdrive tones at 1 watt of power into an 8 ohm speaker. This allows you to use the FM-DP1 as a low volume practice amp as well as a preamp. With this option a speaker jack is added to the rear panel. Please add $90.00 for this option.
3. JCM800 High Gain - Adds a third 12AX7 for three stages of JCM800 style gain on the Marshall channel. Add $50.00
4. HIWATT High Gain - Adds a third 12AX7 for three stages of HIWATT style gain and changes the inputs and tone stack from Fender Marshall to HIWATT Normal and Brilliant contours. Add $50.00
5. RETRO 6SL7 Preamp Tubes - Replaces 12AX7 preamp tubes with retro "big bottle" 6SL7's for the 40-50's smooth jazz and blues tones Add $60.00
About Frenzel Amps: For more info, sound clips, videos and pictures check our website.
Reviews:
As a self-proclaimed “old rocker”, Jim Frenzel has had a love affair with vintage tube amps since the ‘50’s. After building his first tube amp in 1952 Jim’s passions grew for building amps but his career path in the music industry wouldn’t rear its ugly head until much later. For the next five decades Jim found himself designing tube and solid state equipment for the various branches of the military, FAA, and even Texas Instruments. It wasn’t until 2001 after his retirement that he returned to building and designing his beloved tube amps. He has been building quality tube products at a bargain price ever since.
Frenzel’s design concept and philosophy is pretty straight forward. He is dedicated to manufacturing quality amps that can easily dial up “tones you know” while still allowing plenty of room for customization. His other passion is making sure he can do this while offering a ridiculously low price for the end user. One of the finest examples of this is the FM-DP1 Tube Preamp.
The FM-DP1 Tube Preamp is a dual channel dedicated guitar preamp for stage and studio use. The FM-DP1 is part of Frenzel’s “Inspired” line and is designed to give you the classic tones of their Type F and Type M wiring. These are inspired by vintage Fender and Marshall style amps with some of Frenzel’s own special modifications that he has honed over fifty years of designs.
The preamp uses two 12AX7s with DC on the filaments to help control noise. The first 12AX7 is wired as a dual input preamp. These are for the Type F and Type M channels of the FM-DP1. Each channel is then controlled by individual gain controls. The second 12AX7 is wired as a common voltage type amplifier with a cathode follower to drive the tone stack. The three band tone stack features individual knobs for bass, mid, and treble with an optional push/pull Deep Bass Boost pull switch on the bass knob to capture more of a classic Bassman vibe. Add in a master gain knob and you have the basics for a very useable workhorse preamp.
The FM-DP1 is much like all of Frenzel’s products in that it is hand wired point-to-point with no printed circuit boards. This is a feature that is most commonly seen in higher priced boutique amps and is a surprising addition to this little guy. Other cool design features are a trim knob on the rear panel for setting output gains. Another neat spec is that the signal goes into the FM-DP1 as high impedance and comes out as low impedance. This makes the preamp useable as an effect so that you can use it as an extra gain stage or to overdrive an amp. This also proves useful for studio enthusiasts so that you can use the FM-DP1 as a front end to your recording rig.
For testing purposes the Frenzel was used extensively on a number of demo sessions and a handful of live dates. Initially it was plugged into the power amp section of a 40-watt open backed combo amp driving a Celestion Vintage 30. With a solid bodied single coil guitar plugged into the Type F or “Fender” input the tone was instantly what Frenzel had referred to as a “tone you know”. This was the classic Bassman-esque vibe that one would expect from a classic amp of this design. The overall warmth made notes full with just the right amount of midrange snap. The top end of the treble knob was pleasant but not overbearing. Some players looking for a real chimey tone may need to crank the Frenzel’s treble knob though to get that extra bite out of the Type F channel. Luckily it does not get much hiss when cranked so there aren’t a lot of worries in cranking it up the treble for some extra presence.
Jazz players and bass players should take notice of the optional Deep Bass Boost switch that can be added as a push/pull knob on the bass control. In the Type F channel this helps the Frenzel to morph into a full figured rig with lots of bottom end. Hollow bodied guitars sound thunderous in the neck position and basses capture that old school bass tone that is still used in numerous applications. Considering there is no extra charge for this upgrade it is a no-brainer to get this added goodie.
The multiple personality of the FM-DP1 is made complete with the addition of the Type M or ‘Marshall” channel. While plugged into this input, the EQ section and voicing of the Frenzel takes on a whole new personality. Mids and highs now shimmer and the gain control helps you push the Frenzel to some searing rock tones worthy of any stage. Humbucker loaded solid bodies in particular took on the mass and girth that one would hope for from anything inspired by such a classic style amp.
Overall there are very little gripes with the Frenzel FM-DP1. The preamp is built well for the money. Granted you may fine beefier units out there that you can drive a bus over but the FM-DP1 can still hold up to steady use. This is also a unit stripped down to the bare essentials. There are no flashy graphics and the basic unit is an open chassis design so that you can either use it as a table top unit or put it into your own custom cabinet. Players looking for heartier models can opt for the optional steel cage or rackmount cabinet. One gripe though is the fact that there is not an LED showing if you are powered up or not. It is understood that this is a stripped down unit but it is pretty easy to forget that the unit is on and walk away. An addition of a power LED would be quite helpful but it is by all means not a deal breaker for the value of this preamp.
All in all it is hard to believe that you can dial up the sounds of two classic sounding amps in a hand-wired preamp for the same cost as some boutique pedals. The FM-DP1 can easily hold up on big stages with products four times its cost. Too cool considering you can have some money left for a burger and that whole rent thing. - Sean O'Bryan Smith (Reviewer for Vintage Guitar Magazine)
PLEASE NOTE: 2/13/10 UPGRADE - Per Sean's request, we have added the LED power light and the Bass Deep pull-switch to the F gain control as standard features on all future models. We have also added a Bright pull-switch to the M gain control. Best regards, Jim Frenzel
Please check the hundreds of positive feedbacks on our amps on eBay and on our website. Here are a few of them:
FM-DP1 - Jim, What can I say thank you so much, this is the sound I have been searching for....I am guessing you sent me more than I paid for with the cage and handles....that is truly a gift thanks from the bottom of my heart and may God bless you. I will be using this on Saturday it's in a Theater venue I will get photos/audio and video of your work in action..and send them with a testimony ..I believe that my network of "Jerry Garcia" style guitarist that I know will be fascinated to know about your workmanship and I will direct them to your ebay listing and web page......cant wait to buy the back-up this summer, PS. I bought this for the F channel and I found that the M channel is the perfect 70's Garcia tone .....so now I have to get an AB switch....gear gear gear it's good for the ear. Dave Hebert
FM-DP1 - Jim & Crew, - All I can say is WOW!! This preamp sounds awesome with my Pedulla 5 string bass. I'm using a Y cable combining F&M gain and the tone is incredible! I have played most of the high end pre's out there (I'm an old guy too)and this pre smokes all of them, not to mention the build quality, absolutely top shelf. I never really thought I would find that sound I had in my mind,,now I have. Thanks to all of you and your outstanding artistry and craftsmanship! Almost forgot,,This thing is dead quiet,,UNBELIEVABLE!!! Thanks again, Jeff R. (Ohio)
FM-DP1 - Dear Jim, I got your preamp 10 days ago and I done a lot of tests with various guitars archtops, solid bodies,different pickups, few amplifiers and directly to Cubase 5 in my studio and all together it's amazing device and above all my expectations. I was expecting nice crunch and overdrive, but as I'm more clean/jazzy fun I'm impressed with nice warm,sweet clean sounds with tasteful tranzients in all guitar frequencies. Also my Polytones and Evans got some new dimension. Both channels F & M work perfectly and I thought that F will be mine, but I like M even more for some bebop and Wes Mongomery sounds. Together F & M channels connected via Lehle pro splitter are great too. Anyhow I can and I will use your small monster in all situations regardless style and other equipment because he will add some tube juice into my sound. Dalibor J. (Croatia)
FM-DP1 - Hi JIM, I received the Preamp and first test are concluant; definitely pleased!!! Thanks again! Gilles M. (New Zealand)
FM-DP1 - Hey Jim, I got the FM-DP1 pre-amp you made and it sounds awesome! What surprised me the most is it not only sounds great for guitar (lots of possible tones), but I was able to easily tweak great harp tones out of it as well, especially on the Marshall side. Thank you. Charles C. (California)
FM-DP1 - Thank you fella's tone just oozes out of it and running through my bassman is fantastic!! Maurio R. (Texas)
FM-DP1 - Hi Jim, How are things? I hope everything is just great! Just wanted to let you know that I received the preamp some time ago and it arrived safe and whole. Really dig it!! Extremely versatile in terms of sound possibilities. The 2 watt power amp section is a wonderful feature! Perfect for playing at home without driving the neighbors nuts. It sounds amazing too, I am actually currently using the preamp 2 watt amp as my main amp (through a cabinet with a 12" Jensen alnico speaker) for some recordings I am doing at home and it works just great! Anders H. (Switzerland)
FM-DP1 - Gentlemen, Much satisfied with your product! Gives my tone a whole new life. I like my tone to start clean and crisp, and build from there. The “M” channel has that crispness I like, and switching to the”F” channel gets me those rich overtones I love so much! Attached are some pics of the oak cabinet I made for it. Thanks very much! Brian S. (California)
FM-DP1 - Hi Jim, I have received the FM-DP1 and am enjoying getting to know it. It’s remarkable how many options of warmth I have available to me now. I am using an Acoustic Image Clarus Series 4 (not sure if you are familiar with it) but the ¼”instrument in seems to be a very low impedance? Meanwhile, by happy accident - the xld channel is perfect, gives the sound(s) I love. I seem to use far less power and not have feedback issues etc. I now feel some relief that I had the happy accident of requesting an xlr out.
I am very grateful to you for the quality work you have done here Jim.. Thank you for the quality preamp, David O. (New Jersey)
SWEET MOTHER OF GOD!!! EXCELLENT AMP!
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ON TIME AS PROMISED A+!! Buyer krh19690 ( 15) 7387004889
Great product & great price. A pleasure do business with. Would buy from again. Buyer baj2k ( 140) 7400608901
Great amp, Friendly service. Overall excellent experience. Highly recommended!!!
Buyer dantillion ( 51) 7396836168
Great service, wonderful amp, smooth transaction, Greetings from Germany +++
Buyer guitarphilosoph ( 368) 7390318399
AMP with overdrive pedal or overdrive pedal with an amp? BUY ONE NOW!!!! GREAT!
Buyer buymsellmtradem ( 224) 7398843451
Great product at a great price, and great person do business with ! Thanks !!!!!
Buyer kmdmusic9or4 ( 158) 7394798795
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