With MIDI programmable features, all-tube high-voltage preamp, and included Friedman Editor software, the IR-D delivers classic tube tone with modern control.
Friedman Amplification has introduced the IR-D dual-channel tube preamp, an entire Friedman rig in a compact pedalboard-friendly package. The IR-D boasts two fully independent identical foot-switchable channels which are based on Dave Friedman’s legendary Dirty Shirley/Twin Sister designs. This Dave-modded JTM45circuit delivers the signature British tone that Friedman is known for.
Powered by two high-voltage 12AX7 preamp tubes, each channel delivers the harmonic richness and touch response of Dave Friedman's finest designs. DSP IR cabinet/power amp simulation sends a studio-quality mic'd-up tone to your DAWor Front-of-House. The IR-D provides easy-to-use controls without complex menus and 100-page manuals.
IR-D isn't simulating a Friedman tube preamp. It is one. While many available preamp pedals utilize tubes to 'warm up' their digital or solid-state circuit, two glowing hot 12AX7 preamp tubes, running at the proper high voltage, are this pedal's beating heart. A genuine preamp in every way, IR-D delivers all the tone, response, gain characteristics, and harmonic complexity you expect from a Friedman design. Both channels feature their own independent and highly tweakable Boost circuits. This essentially gives you four channels, accessible with the tap of your toe.
All great tube amps need a great speaker cabinet, and whether sending your signal straight to the board or silently playing through the onboard headphone output. IR-D gives you a selection of Dave Friedman’s favorite IRs. Select the IRper channel using the 3-way mini toggle switches or load your own quickly and easily via Friedman’s editing software. You can even disengage the onboard IRs entirely to use IR-D’s tube preamp with another IR loader.
The Friedman Editor software includes 13 free Friedman IRs to choose from. The first three listed below are the ones which are factory set to the hardware.
1. 6402 57 121
Dave Friedman's favorite 4x12 cab in bare wood. This is Dave's primary workshop cab and has been used to voice his amplifiers since the very beginning. It's fitted with four 6402 Greenback speakers and was captured with an SM57 and R-121 for a nice balance of cut and body.
2. 1960 GREEN 5757121
This cabinet IR is the classic 1960B cabinet from the 80's. Fitted with 20w British Greenbacks. It has a distinctive sonic signature that sings 80's to modern rock tones. Captured with a pair of SM57 on two speakers, along with a R-121 to help fill out the body of the sound. These were fed into a set of API preamps with a touch of EQ to enhance the presence.
3. DS112 57 1973
The Friedman Dirty Shirley 1x12 open-back speaker cabinet with a G12-50GL features a detailed top end with an airy bass and mid response. A perfect choice for clean tones or if you’re looking for a more bluesy sound. Captured with an SM57 and a Soyuz 1973 into API preamps.
The IR-D’s transparent effects loop allows you to easily integrate your favorite effects with everything from the most straightforward setups to the most complex digitally controlled rigs. IR-D is MIDI-capable. Whether pulling up presets with a pedalboard controller or switching channels with the laptop running your entire show, IR-D is ready for the job. It truly is the perfect marriage of modern control and classic tube tone.
IR-D gives you broad tonal control, but its included Friedman Editor software takes it to a new level. With it, you can tweak each channel’s power amp simulation via the Thump and Presence controls, load your favorite IRs, activate the Boost Lock feature, select loop ON/OFF, and save it all to 128 MIDI presets.
IR-D Features
- All-tube HIGH-VOLTAGE preamp – DI
- 2 x 12AX7 preamp tubes Two independent identical channels + boost
- Based on Friedman’s legendary Dirty Shirley/Twin Sister designs
- MIDI programmable features:
- Channel select / Boost
- IR select
- Thump and Presence – three-way switch per channel
- Effects loop ON/OFF
- Boost Lock
- Power amp simulation with software editable Presence and Thump (per channel)
- Low latency Impulse Response cabinet simulation (bypassable)
- Three-position CAB/IR select switch per channel (programmable via software)
- 13 free Friedman IRs or load your own Boost Volume and Gain controls (per channel)
- Volume and Gain controls (per channel)
- Full EQ consisting of Bass, Middle, and Treble (per channel)
- 2-way Bright switch (Per Channel)
- 3-way Structure switch (Per Channel)
- Three multi-function foot switches
- Ultra-transparent series FX loop (bypassable)
- TRS balanced output, Headphone output
- MIDI 5-pin standard connector and USB MIDI
- USB software editor – powered by SYNERGY
- Universal 12V Power Supply Included
The Friedman IR-D carries a street price of $499.99.
For more information, please visit friedmanamplification.com.
Friedman Ir-D Dual-Tube Preamp Di+Ir Dual-Channel 12Ax7 Tubes Effects Pedal Black And Silver
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The 2018 CCL Deco Custom, in all its Pelham blue glory.
Anyway, we became friends and I started working on him pretty early—my 40th birthday was approaching, and that meant it was time for us to start designing his first solidbody build. If you stopped on this page, it’s because the photo of the finished product caught your eye. Beautiful, right? The 2018 CCL Deco Custom: Never shall there be another.
Old National Glenwood guitars were my design inspiration, but I wanted a slim waist like a PRS and the like. We used a solid block of korina to start, routed like MacGyver to get the knobs and switches where I wanted them. Dale builds all his own lathes and machines (usually out of lumber, y’all), as the task requires. This beast took some creativity—it’s tight wiring under that custom-steel pickguard. Many were the preliminary sketches. Four coats of Pelham blue, 11 coats of nitro. Honduran mahogany neck, Madagascar ebony fretboard with Dale’s signature not-quite-Super-400 inlays. He designed the logo; I just said, “Make it art deco.”
We sourced all the bits and bobs from StewMac and Allparts and Reverb and the like, mostly to get that chrome look I so adore. Graph Tech Ratio tuners, Duesenberg Radiator trem (had to order that one from Germany), TonePros TP6R-C roller bridge. The pickups were a genius suggestion from the builder, Guitarfetish plug ’n’ play 1/8" solderless swappable, which means I have about 10 pickups in the case to choose from: rockabilly to metal. And both slots are tapped, with the tone knobs serving as single- to double-coil switches. I put the selector on the lower horn to accommodate my tendency to accidentally flip the thing on Les Pauls—definite lifesaver.
Reader and guitar enthusiast, Cody Lindsey.
Dale offered to chamber this monster, but I said what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. It weighs in at 11 pounds, if it’s an ounce. We carved the neck to match a ’60s SG, so it’s like the mini bat you get at the ballpark on little kids’ day. Easy peasy. 1 11/16" nut, 25" scale, jumbo frets, just 2 1/8" at the 12th fret.
Delivery in its lovely, hygrometer-equipped Cedar Creek case actually happened a month or two shy of my 41st, but hey, you can’t rush these things. We ended up with a studio Swiss Army knife; it does a bit of everything and does it effortlessly. A looker, too. Dale didn’t spend his career doing this kind of thing—he was in IT or some such—and I imagine he’s winding this “hobby” of his down these days, enjoying retirement with a bottle of Killian’s and a lawn chair at Duluth Blues Fest. But this guitar will live on as a marker of his skill and otherworldly patience. It sits at the head of the class in my practice room, welcoming any visitors and bringing a smile to my face every day. And Dale, my friend, I’ll be 50 before you know it....
Cody requested that Dale design an art deco logo for the guitar’s headstock.