Frenzel Tube Amps

[wurs]

Any thoughts on these amps? Anyone have one? For the $$ I might consider taking a chance but I thought I would see what people thought first.

[Mike9]

I had a Frenzel 5E3 Deluxe Plus for a while and it was a really nice amp. Had a passive FX loop, cathode biased for different octal tube types and the two inputs could be switched, or blended with a good AB/Y and it took pedals like a duck to water. It really is one of those amps I maybe should have kept. For the money it was a quiet, quality PTP build and Jim is a super nice guy. Which one are you considering?

[wurs]

I'm looking at the FRENZEL FM-5E3 DP3 "Deluxe Plus III"

[soundchaser59]

I have the 5E3 Deluxe Plus (not sure which version, but wish I woulda got the fx loop) and I love it. When I go play somewhere it's the amp that I leave the house with......the Mesa stays home in the basement studio. I put 5751 preamp tubes in, and 6V6's for power so I can crank it any way I want without breaking eardrums. Nothing like it, it does Fender better than Fender does. Plug straight into it and crank it full blast, stand back about 30 feet, and do your best Allman Bros impression! Wish I had money to burn, I'd get a Champ Super Sportster and a Hotbox too!

Plug it in to an EVM speaker if you want to hear what your pickups and pedals are really spitting out. I do that to set my sound, then I know I can plug into any Weber or Tone Tubby and it will sound awesome, even if I have to crank it a bit more to make up for the less efficient speakers. When I go out I use a "128" cab with a 50 watt Weber Michigan 12 and a Weber 8F150. I find I use less pedals with this amp, cuz it's so much easier to get what I'm after. Right now I'm using a Barber Half Gainer, CMATMODS Tube Slammer, and a Damage Control Liquid Blues, and it really sings!

[mwhy]

Awesome amps, and Jim is an awesome guy to work with.
I play jazz through his "Super Deluxe Plus" with reverb -- the rack case model. I actually go back and forth on different gigs between the two inputs -- they both sound great! It's 40W, and can knock the wall down while still sounding good. I'm thinking about one of his Twin models next ...

[kingsxman]

so can someone give some good input on the differences in tone between the F input and the M input?

[soundchaser59]

so can someone give some good input on the differences in tone between the F input and the M input?

F is phatter, fuller, more low and low mid especially with the presence knob pulled out, not as much crispy highs, maybe a bit louder. M is brighter, less low and low mid, more mid and hi mid, seems to be about the same as far as headroom and punch/volume/grit.....both inputs seem to start breaking at 12 noon and higher, depending on the tubes you use.

I plug in my Strat and I can run the tone knobs half or full on with the F input and get exactly the kind of Fender-ish tone I want. If I want more bite to leads I plug into both inputs and turn the M up about half what the F is set on.

I dont really know what a Marshall preamp sounds like, but Frenzel has definitely nailed the F sound. I put Tung Sol 6V6's in and I run it with the master on 3 o'clock or up full, and use the F gain for volume, pushing with a couple three pedals.

[jetstrat]

Ok, thread revival here. Any other Frenzel users or any updates from Frenzel amp players? I should be receiving my Frenzel JF JTM45 Super Bluesbreaker Reverb soon. I ordered it with a rack mount road case for all the gigging I do. I am looking forward to getting the amp.

[soundchaser59]

Well, since my last post I have switched speakers and pedals. I still have the Damage Control Liquid Blues for rhythm sounds, now I use the Allums modded pedals, BD2 Stacked and CS3, to get the clean sustainy lead sounds. (Without the CS3 I would have to crank the 5E3 up all the way to get the same effect!) Since I did not get the fx loop, I simply did an experiment with a modded GE7 going into the front end "F" input, that seems to really warm up and cook the sound without creating any added break up or distortion. It's really sweet with the Strat. Also have a modded BF2 flanger and a Hardwire chorus for sweetening.

All of my speakers now are EVM's and Tone Tubbys, EVM12L in a Thiele ported cab, 15L in a ported Yamaha wedge, 2x10 Tone Tubby + EV, and a 2x12 Tone Tubby. Looking to add a 2x10 Weber hemp 10F150 cab with the speakers custom spec'd to handle 100 watts each. But gotta wait for Weber to start offering the hemp cones, soon they say, very soon....

I also acquired a Frenzel HBX-WC30, and man as much as I love the 5E3, this thing blows that Deluxe outa the water. I wish I had a cab for it, I would gladly take it out with me. I use an ABY box to run both "F" and "M" inputs at the same time, keeping the M gain about 25% less than the F gain. It is truly a shock and awe kind of sound! I love it! Put the modded GE7 in the fx loop and man those power tubes sing, a pair each of EL34 and EL84 at the same time!

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! I've reached the point where I think about what speaker or what pedal or what amp to try next, and the only answer I can come up with is "What for?"

[guitarslinger21]

I love my FM Preamp.

cheaper than dirt
PTP wiring
small
light
sounds great.

I had to wait a couple of months, but it was worth it!

[gill]

If you like Blackface tones, you can't go wrong with the 5E3. Great build quality, great price. Funny, like Soundchaser, I also recently got a handwired Vox clone that I prefer to the 5E3, but only b/c I found out I like vox tones more than Fender tones.

[jetstrat]

Great! Keep the good news coming. I can't wait to get the Frenzel Bluesbreaker Reverb I have on order. Should be here within the next three weeks I am guessing. I am hoping this amp lives up to ALL the great reviews I have been reading about Frenzel amps. Some of the soundclips on youtube sound really nice.