Take a "Blackface" AB763, gut the reverb and vibrato, and wire up channel 2 more like a super HOT-RODDED "800" style amp. Then add relay-driven CHANNEL SWITCHING and dual footswitchable DRIVE and master LEVEL controls on channel 2 and hook it all up to a HiFi grade power amp section.

Description

The FRENZEL BUD ("Blackface"/"UltraDistortion") 50 was designed for the player that wants the highest quality, hand-wired multi-channel all tube guitar amp that will produce both super sweet clean tones as well as aggressive, powerful high-gain tube distortion. 

CHANNEL 1 on the BUD is the super sweet clean channel with tones inspired by the vintage "Blackface" style amps. VOLUME, BASS, MIDDLE, and TREBLE controls. Simple and straight-forward, with a great bark as you get louder and begin to overdrive the power amp section.

CHANNEL 2 is the high-gain tube "Ultra-Distortion" channel that's basically like a 2 channel amp in itself. It has dual footswitchable DRIVE and master LEVEL controls that share a BASS, MIDDLE, and TREBLE tone stack. This gives you the option of either setting up an overdrive/distortion setup (where LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 are at about the same volume setting, but DRIVE 2 is set to a higher gain setting than DRIVE 1), or a volume boost setup (where DRIVE 1 and DRIVE 2 are set to the same gain setting, but LEVEL 2 is set to a higher volume setting than LEVEL 1), or a rhythm/lead combination of both more gain and volume (where DRIVE 2 is set to a higher gain setting than DRIVE 1 and LEVEL 2 is set to a higher volume setting than LEVEL 1). 

The power amp section of the BUD Series has been dialed in to provide a perfect balance between the two differently voiced preamps, and utilizes FRENZEL Multi-Valve biasing so you can swap out the power tubes with many other popular types such as KT66s, EL34s, 6550s, or KT88s. 

Other features include relay-driven channel footswitching circuitry with absolutely no solid state in the signal path, slick gloss black laser engraved aluminum front and rear panels with bright silver lettering, and heavy duty knurled aluminum knobs all packed in a genuine Tolex covered 13-ply birch head cab with black hardware and a tinted "plexi" acrylic front panel.

At first, the clean tones of CHANNEL 1 may make you think the BUD is a really nice amp, but once you switch over to CHANNEL 2 you'll instantly realize that this is not so. The BUD is not really your "bud" at all. It wants to take control of you and your guitar. There's enough gain here to literally suck notes out of your fingers. Perfect for scorching rhythms and screaming leads. Super-saturated with just the right amount of compression while still retaining clarity of individual notes. So overdriven that it's almost clean... and yes, it can be somewhat tamed and still sound great if you turn the DRIVE control(s) way down, and with its interactive 3-band tone stack, there are virtually unlimited high-gain tones available for you to dial in. Versatile enough to get just about anything from the heaviest modern scooped rhythms, to endlessly sustaining "brown" midrange lead tones, to over-the-top psychedelic feedback, to killer metal tones. 

Two awesome extremes...sweet cleans...brutally beautiful high-gain tube distortion...with a power amp section that has been carefully dialed in to provide a perfect balance for both. 

Reviews

"Amp is received! Excellent quality of sound and manufacturing! Real metal beast!"
Taras - BUD owner

CLICK HERE to check out reviews of the BUD on Harmony Central!!!

Features

• CHANNEL 1 inspired by the classic "Blackface" amps for beautiful vintage clean tones.
• High-gain "UltraDistortion" CHANNEL 2 with dual footswitchable DRIVE and master LEVEL controls.
• 2 button footswitch with LED indicators. 
• "MultiValve" biasing allows you to use different output tubes (KT66, EL34, 6550, KT88) as drop in options.
• 4-8-16 ohm output impedance selector.
• Dual speaker output jacks.
• Extra long 10' grounded power cord.
• Heavy duty knurled aluminum knobs.
• Slick GLOSS BLACK aluminum faceplate.
• Heavy duty STANDBY and POWER toggle switches.
• Genuine Tolex® covered 13-ply birch head cabinet with a heavy duty handle, rubber feet, and metal corners.
• Tinted "plexi" acrylic front panel.

Tech Notes

• True point-to-point hand-wiring for the highest quality and shortest possible signal path.
• Input/output jacks isolated from chassis, DC on the filaments, and star grounding for super low noise and hum.
• Built using only the finest of parts including low noise polypropylene caps, metal film resistors, ceramic sockets, Switchcraft jacks, etc.

Tube Compliment

• (3) Electro Harmonix 12AX7EH
• (1) Electro Harmonix 12AT7EH
• (2) Electro Harmonix 6L6 (EL34s also available on request)
• (1) Electro Harmonix 5U4GB

Front Panel

• INPUT JACK
• CHANNEL 1 CONTROLS
•   VOLUME
•   BASS
•   MIDDLE
•   TREBLE
• CHANNEL 2 CONTROLS
•   DRIVE 1 (Pull CHAN 2)
•   DRIVE 2 (Selectable via footswitch)
•   BASS
•   MIDDLE
•   TREBLE
•   LEVEL 1
•   LEVEL 2 (Selectable via footswitch)
• STANDBY SWITCH
• LED POWER INDICATOR
• POWER SWITCH

Rear Panel

• POWER CORD
• FUSE
• FUSE
• FOOTSWITCH
• PREAMP OUT LEVEL
• PREAMP OUT
• POWER AMP IN
• SPEAKER OUTPUT JACK
• SPEAKER OUTPUT JACK
• IMPEDANCE SELECTOR (4/8/16 OHMS)

Output Power

• 50 watts

Dimensions

• 18.5" W x 9.5" H X 11.75" D

Pricing

Thank you for visiting www.FrenzelElectronics.com!

© 2005-2009 Frenzel Electronics