FRENZEL HB-WC30 Hot Box Wild Cat

The FRENZEL HBX - WC30 "Hot Box Wild Cat" design was "INSPIRED" by the classic Matchless Hot Box and AC30 and its later version the Hot Cat 30. The preamps are modeled after the classic Hot Box and the output stage after the Hot Cat 30....but the amp has a lot more features that make it really unique. The amp has two channels...Clean and Boost... with separate HI - LO inputs, preamps, gain controls, tone stacks, and master level controls. This allows you to select either channel with an AB footswitch....and to finish things off we added a custom Presence control to contour the sound. This amp is truly a "wild cat" and will drive you crazy with all the tonal variations possible...some which you have never heard before!

FEATURES:

Input Jacks isolated from chassis for low noise, eddy currents, and hum.

DC on preamp and driver filaments for low noise and hum.

Star ground system to reduce induced current chassis noise.

4 Input Jacks - Hi - Lo Jacks for Clean and Boost inputs with separate Gain controls for the unique smooth warm clean tones or the great overdrive crunch boost tones....or you can use an AB-Y switch and create your own distinct tones.

Classic 60's vintage style 3-BAND TONE STACKS for extended flexibility in shaping your tone....plus Bright capacitor on Gain Controls for extra sparkle!

MASTER level controls so you can crank the GAIN's up and overdrive the preamps and drivers without overdriving the output tubes.

Classic vintage style Presence control .

Unique NNFB "Edge" switch on the PRESENCE control that transforms the power amp section into a No-Negative-FeedBack style amp for more open, less compressed tones.

Classic 60's style insertion type Serial Effects Loop with Return Jack (Power Amp In), Send Jack (Preamp Out), and Send Level Control.

Class A cathode biased EL34's for the purest reproduction of sound possible.

Power Output - 30 watts

Dual Speaker Jacks

Speaker Impedance Selector 4 - 8 - 16 ohms

5U4EH heavy duty rectifier for optimum pick attack and sag selection. Or you can use a 5AR4, or SS plug-in for different amounts of sag.

Primary Power and Secondary Fuses to protect the transformers in the event a tube shorts.

Extra long (10') three prong grounded power cord.

STANDBY switch to turn off the high voltage during warm-up to protect the tubes.

Rock solid point-to-point hand wiring using only the best of parts...low noise tubular polypropylenes caps, metal film resistors, ceramic sockets, switchcraft jacks...etc.

Sweet vintage clean to classic overdrive tones with three different types of distortion depending on whether you are overdriving the preamp, output... or both!

Weight - 30 lbs

Tube compliment: 4 - 12AX7, 2 - EL34, 1 - 5U4

FRONT PANEL:

TOP ROW
- CLEAN HI - LO INPUTS

- CLEAN GAIN
- BASS
- MIDDLE
- TREBLE
- MASTER

BOTTOM ROW

- BOOST HI - LO INPUTS

- BOOST GAIN

- BASS
- MIDDLE
- TREBLE
- MASTER

- PRESENCE with NNFB PULL SWITCH

- PILOT LIGHT
- STANDBY / POWER SWITCH

REAR PANEL:

- POWER CORD
- POWER PRIMARY FUSE

- SECONDARY FUSE

- PREAMP OUT LEVEL

- PREAMP OUT JACK

- POWER AMP IN JACK

- SPEAKER OUTPUT JACK

- SPEAKER IMPEDANCE SWITCH 4 - 8 - 16 OHM

PRICE: $1095.00

UPGRADE OPTIONS:

1. DUAL EL84 AND EL34 OUTPUTS - Using a selector switch on the back panel gives you a choice of either EL84's or EL34's or both in the output section of the amp. Add $100.00

2. FOUR EL84 OUTPUTS - four EL84's in place of the pair of EL34's. Add $50.00

3. WORLDWIDE 240 VOLT POWER TRANSFORMER - This transfomer is for use in countries that use 220 - 240 volts power. Please specify voltage required when selecting this option. Add $50.00

4. STEEL CAGE - classic 60's perforated steel cage with handle. Add $105.00

5. EDGE FOOTSWITCH - adds jack to rear panel for footswitch control on the NNFB EDGE switch. Includes classic heavy duty footswitch with LED. Add $100.00

7. RACKMOUNT ROAD CASE - heavy duty reinforced plastic military style road case with built in 19" rack. Front and rear covers for total protection during travel. Add $245.00

USER REVIEW:

eBay 170039151962 - I got my new WC30 a few days ago. Just wanted to let you know that everytime I turn this amp on, I am surprised. Depending on the pre/master setting, on the CLEAN inputs, I can go from bell-like clarity to a thick crunch overdrive with tons of attack and sustain. The variety of sounds from the CLEAN input alone is worth the price. I am literally blown away by the BOOST inputs. I can't believe the sustain and raw power of this channel. With the pre and master set to less than 1/3 of the knobs travel, the amp starts breathing fire. Most amps loose attack when the preamp volume is increased to higher distortion levels but this amp has the attack of a sledge hammer at all levels with amazing tone and sustain. I own many amps and have played most of the "big name" amps; I have not heard an amp yet that can stand toe to toe with the amp, at any price. I love this amp, thanks. Jimmy W. http://www.jimmywooten.com/

eBay 170062566164: Received amp head in March 2007. Killer. The best. Get this one. 30 watts of sheer tone. Two channels that can do any style of music. I hooked up an ABY footswitch to it to go between channels or to use both. It screams in any language. I will be dumping some of my other amps because this is the one. It also works perfectly with my powered reverb unit (and other effects) in the effects loop circuit. This is the model with the two EL34's in it. Can't say enough about his amp. You have to get one and try it yourself. Gary J.

Harmony Central Review: Click on link below:

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/product/Frenzel/HB-WC30+Head/10/1

SOUND CLIPS - Use this link for a selection of sound clips on the HB-WC30.