THD Uni/BiValve -OR- FRENZEL DeLuxe Plus III

[Mindcrime]

I'll be investing in an amp head (New or Used) within the next 6 weeks or so.
Right now I have it narrowed down to the FRENZEL DeLuxe PLUS III or a THD Univalve/BiValve.
I like line out features (to the house board) while I'm playing live. Reverb is not important as I use chorus/DEEElay/MoFaux vibe in place of reverb.
I love the fact of "NO BIASING". Being able to replace tubes for a different feel.
I'll run it into a 2-12 cab or a Peavey 5150 4-12 16ohm cab...depending on the live situation.

My question...which has the best reliability & flexible tone?? Anyone had or checked out both of these amps ?? Anything over 25 or 30 watts is overkill for me so these amps mentioned above for qaulity & price have my attention.

I just wanted to get some highly valued opinions from my fellow TGPr's..

Thanks for your input...

 

[straightblues]

I had a BiValve and it was a really fun amp. You can shape your tone to fit your situation. You can really controll the volume for the size of the room. It is more of a rock bassed amp. The overdriven tones are really good. If you want big cleans, this isn't the amp for you. I think everyone should own one at some point. It taught me a ton about tubes.

 

[gixxerrock]

Own a Flexi and love it (have not played or looked inside a Frenzel). I have not seen any other guitar amp remotely in league as THD as far as bombproof construction and reliability (I have a lot of experience with industrial electronics in hostile environments). Love the sound, but THDs are not for every one, you need to play.

One thing to mention, I don't think the line out is speaker emulated so you can't run it straight to the board without going through a speaker emulator.

 

[Joe Porto]

Just a note on the BiValve, you can very much get big clean sounds from it. You just need to switch the input tube to a 12AT7, and use high power tubes. I use Phillips 6CA7s, but 6550s or KT88s would be great in this application.

I run the BiValve through a 2x12 Tone Tubby AlNiCo, and get huge, clean chime at stage volume. In fact, I used this setup at an outdoor gig not too long ago. However, the BiValve is a very unforgiving, "in your face" amp, and not my first choice running clean with overdrive pedals. It does, however, do very well with boost and overdrive pedals when the amp is already overdriven.

I also own a Flexi, and that is a much more flexible amp than the BiValve. Great pedal platform when clean (contrary to rumors, you can get a very nice clean sound, it's just a matter of turning down the gain knob and using the Boost circuit). It also has some of the nicest, midrange-rich, cutting overdrive tones around, and is one of the best amps I've used as far as responsiveness to guitar volume and picking.

You do have to bias the Flexi when changing tubes, but it has bias test points and external bias controls per tube (so matched tubes aren't an issue). Takes about a minute to bias it once it's warmed up.

Oh, and it's about as sturdy as block of reinforced concrete.

 

[dandythomas]

I do not have any experience with Frenzel, but you will be hard pressed to find an amp of higher build quality than any of the THDs. The Uni/Bi-valve give you the ability to experiment with lots of different tube types - allowing you to tailor your sound beyond the tone controls and adjust the wattage. While changing tubes will alter the sound of the amp, it will not turn it into a Fender by using 6L6 tubes, or a Marshall by using EL34's. It might help you nudge the tone in a certain direction, but the Uni/Bi-valve will still sound like a Uni/Bi-valve (not a bad thing).

I have a Univalve and like it a lot, but it depends what you are looking for in an amp. I suspect the Frenzel will be a fairly different amp from the THD products, so you would need to try them out to see which one is better suited for you.

Andy

 

[Mike9]

Frenzel amps are extremely well built and sound wonderful. They are built point to point with the shortest runs possible and Jim has really thought his circuits out well. Plus it's really hard amp to beat at his price point - you would not be disappointed should you purchase. Mine had the Hammond OT upgrade and FX loop. I used an AB/Y switch for blending the two tone stacks.

 

[Joe Porto]

Well I just checked out the Frenzel site. Nice price point on the DeLuxe plus! If it does it for you, and it's as solid as people say, I'd go with that...actually, I'd get two.

 

[Mindcrime]

Thanks everybody for all your input & words of wisdom. These amps may very well be 2 different animals..but they both are very very close to what I want from an amp such as ALL tube quality construction & Components, tone to die for, a reasonable price, features, and just enough power (no more than 30 watts for me !) Well... made in USA is nice but not a deal breaker...

This will be a tough decision !

One last thing..I have a small pedalboard with 5 pedals so it needs to play well with the pedals...we'll see

 

[shadco]

Here hth

 

[sharpshooter]

I gotta agree about the build quality of THD, the pots, switches, parts, chassis, etc., are industrial standards. Suberb amps for recording, or live.
The transformers are sized for an amp that would have three times the power. First class service from the company.
The ability to use so many kinds of tubes is the icing on the cake.

 

[ala02c]

I have never played a Frenzel but I owned a Bivalve for a year and have to say Ive always regretted selling it. Awesome amp and I believe you can run just one power tube as well. Someday I will have another.

Will echo the comment that it is "unforgiving". But I got a great brit overdrive sound running the stock el34s in mine. sounds great in a band mix as well.

 

[stephen sawall]

I have never played on any Frenzel. THD makes my favorite amps. No one builds amps that are better quality than THD. Most do not even come close.

 

[shg]

Proud owner of Univalve #1566 here. Love it to death. I've never regretted that purchase.