Tubesteader Beekeeper 2-Channel D-Style Preamp

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The clean channel has a slight midrange emphasis, delivering a clear singing tone that cuts through the mix without sounding harsh. It responds well to playing dynamics, smoothly transitioning from a clean sound to a mild breakup as you dig in.
The overdrive channel has a thick, creamy tone rich in complex harmonics. As you crank up the gain, notes bloom under your fingers, giving the impression of being on the "verge of feedback."
A distinctive feature of this circuit is that the Clean and OD channels are connected in series, or "cascaded". It's much like having the clean channel act as a boost before the overdrive channel. Dialling the right balance between the CLN VOL and OD knobs will get you your perfect overdrive tone.
The EQ and toggle switches are located in the clean channel right after the first gain stage and affect both the Clean and OD channels.
There are several ways to integrate the Beekeeper into your rig. It can be used as a regular overdrive pedal connected to the front end of an amp (you may need to dial down the treble), run directly into a power amp, or, probably the most popular usage, used in an amp-less/direct recording setup paired with a proper cab sim.
The Beekeeper operates on a standard 12VDC voltage, which is then boosted inside the pedal to 280VDC for optimal tube performance and an amp-like feel.
The pedal comes with a high-quality wall-mount power supply, ready to use right out of the box. It can be powered with a pedalboard power supply from a 12VDC/500mA outlet or two 250mA outlets linked using a current-doubler adapter.
A non-buffered "true-bypass" switching keeps the guitar signal unaltered when the preamp is off.
The Beekeeper inspires creativity by providing a rich sonic palette for your instrument. While it excels in various musical styles, it shines best in blues and jazz.
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Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty
A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
- Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
- No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
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- Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
- Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
- Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
- Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
- Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.
Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
- NEW products: Starting at 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. Starting at 4% for each additional year.
- USED products: Starting at 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. Starting at 4% for each additional year.
- GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
- BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.