Fender FR-12 preamp mod : The Hissterectomy

WKSmith said:
View attachment 146975

V3 change log 10/2024
The major changes for the V3 upgrade of the Archangel V2 Preamp.

Higher Headroom before clipping:
The V3 uses A Burr Brown OPA2134 for the first input stages, and includes 3 other Ti premium OPA amps in the circuit that feature rail to rail voltage swings for even higher headroom before clipping.

The single gain stage has been replaced with 2 isolated gain stages to cut the gain noise in half (pre-Eq) and also keep the signal far from clipping the rails.

New Cut control circuit:
The new circuit does not require an eq amp stage or resonant circuit so noise has been further reduced and the 3 remaining eq bands are now more efficient.
The Cut knob functions exactly like the stock control with the knob range set between 7:00 to 1:00.
Settings from 1:00 to 5:00 will reduce the horn level even further, to zero at 5:00.

Bright Switch Mod:
A MOD Jumper is included to slightly increase the level of the highest frequencies of the horn. In the off position the response is almost exactly that of the stock FRs and V2, In the on position there is a slight lift of the higher 3-5kHz and up bands. It really helps nail Vox type chime and clean pick attack. The Mod Switch increases the gain of the horn amp and as a result, it will slightly increase the hiss of the compression driver. Leave this Mod off for best signal to noise performance.

Rugged Volume Pot:
The volume control has been replaced with one of the premium 41 click custom pots used in the V2 eq. Now all 5 stock knobs and mounting nuts/washers will work with the V3.

Clip Light:
The clip light is now optional (it is included, but you may choose to not install it). It has been re-located to the back panel in the hole labeled ground lift. Installation is simple. Remove the ground lift plunger, push the switch in permanently, push the led holder in the hole, plug it in the V3.

This also permanently lifts the ground from the stock XLR out to keep phantom power from potientially reaching the XLR In. The V3 has internal Phantom Power protection, the stock FR input board and the stock FR preamp absolutely do not.

Premium Components:
The V3 continues the V2 design standard of using full size PTH (old school) low tolerance metal film Resistors, low distortion premium TDK film caps, and Nichion Electro Caps. The dual-sided PC boards are still gold plated with massive busses and ground planes. The only surface mounted SMT components are the 4 OPA OpAmps.

Aux Board Delete
The V2 aux board connectors have been re-designed to include a socket on the V3 board for the power LED and includes heaver AWG cables for the line out connector and horn out socket.
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This all looks SO good!! Congrats on completion and given I just received my (2) FR-12's a few days ago it's perfect timing, I absolutely can't wait to see 'em hit the market and hear 'em in action! Lastly, thanks for designing these with as much PTH implementation as possible, clearly this project is driven by passion and produced with quality in mind!🤘

Be well brother, and thanks for the update!:cool:
 
WKSmith said:
There are 11 folks left to clear the Feb waitlist. Many people are asking to be moved to the V3 mailing list.
I expect to finish the V2 production in the next 30 days and move everything over to the V3 direct sales in very large batches.

V3 production will take roughly 30 days starting tomorrow.. So the transition should be quick and smooth.
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Ooh, by my powers of deduction, I must be one of the 11 - yay!
 
Few days ago I received email from my music shop where I bought my FR12's that my performance warranty is about to expire with option to extend. ummmm I happily voided that months ago when I put the V2's in. Curious to hear what the differences are between the V2's / V3's. Sonically will they be pretty similar? I'm sure i missed some info earlier in this thread
 
Chewie5150 said:
Few days ago I received email from my music shop where I bought my FR12's that my performance warranty is about to expire with option to extend. ummmm I happily voided that months ago when I put the V2's in. Curious to hear what the differences are between the V2's / V3's. Sonically will they be pretty similar? I'm sure i missed some info earlier in this thread
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Very similar tone wise, but more clean headroom.
 
Yes
A good bit more than the stock preamp. And a little more than the "hiss fixed" reworked stock preamp

They use tube screamer 4558 ICs for the last 2 stages
.. and 2 4558s in the first two and last two stages in the original hissy stock pre.

Nasty. Clips like a drive pedal with the FR volume turned up.
 
I'm afraid to miss the V3 release date on Reverb, and never ordered from there before. Is there, by chance, any way to preorder or to subscribe somehow?
 
sprnk said:
I'm afraid to miss the V3 release date on Reverb, and never ordered from there before. Is there, by chance, any way to preorder or to subscribe somehow?
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Hey there 🙂
I don't do pre-orders or deposits. I handle sales through my Reverb store. I send my personal email addy to everyone that asks to be added to the V2 waitlist or the V3 mailing list.

The V3s are currently in production. I am hoping they will be available in a large quantity by Black Friday. I expect they will sell out in just a few hours. The V3 production orders after that will be for even larger quantities that will be available in huge batches every 4 weeks (ish)
 
WKSmith said:
Hey there 🙂
I don't do pre-orders or deposits. I handle sales through my Reverb store. I send my personal email addy to everyone that asks to be added to the V2 waitlist or the V3 mailing list.

The V3s are currently in production. I am hoping they will be available in a large quantity by Black Friday. I expect they will sell out in just a few hours. The V3 production orders after that will be for even larger quantities that will be available in huge batches every 4 weeks (ish)
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i believe i was added to the waitlist via this thread. do i need to also do something over at reverb to preserve my spot in line? sorry if i missed something.
 
WKSmith said:
The V3s are currently in production. I am hoping they will be available in a large quantity by Black Friday. I expect they will sell out in just a few hours. The V3 production orders after that will be for even larger quantities that will be available in huge batches every 4 weeks (ish)
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NICE!
 
Looking for clarification. Wait list only matters for v2 right? The V3s are on a "first come first serve" basis in the reverb store? Or can waitlist people opt to wait for V3s, and you will "reserve one" for those people...

Does what I'm asking make sense?
 
Everyone left on the V2 waitlist will be moved to the V3 mailing list in a few weeks. Several folks have asked to be moved to the V3 list already.

The mailing list is to give advance notice to waitlist customers before the general public has a chance to purchase the V3s. I will not be able to reserve any and offers will be turned off.

They will go pretty quickly. Once the first batch of V3s sells ..Reverb will take over the notices for anyone using the watch button and notify users as stock levels are replenished every month.

After the launch date on Reverb.. There will be a link to the listing on page 1 here. And no more lists to manage.
 
WKSmith said:
Everyone left on the V2 waitlist will be moved to the V3 mailing list in a few weeks. Several folks have asked to be moved to the V3 list already.

The mailing list is to give advance notice to waitlist customers before the general public has a chance to purchase the V3s. I will not be able to reserve any and offers will be turned off.

They will go pretty quickly. Once the first batch of V3s sells ..Reverb will take over the notices for anyone using the watch button and notify users as stock levels are replenished every month.

After the launch date on Reverb.. There will be a link to the listing on page 1 here. And no more lists to manage.
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I hope you make a ton of money, sell a million+ units and then find some time to sit back, rest up, and focus on enjoying life and all the good things you deserve.

Be well brother, standing by for the megalaunch! :cool: 🤘
 
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