Dean Markley Preamp-DR

The first review for this preamp is really informative about all the features, etc. on the front. I'll just add my two cents worth. "DR" means double row (two switchable channels) and that's a great thing to have. Phone jack input on the front, Two balanced XLRs in the back with groundlift. Also on the back: Effects send and receive with individual volume knobs, Footswitch outlets for channel select, effects on/off and reverb. Preamp out for each channel, switchable AC outlet

Each channel has preamp, master, bass, mid, treble, presence and reverb. Having two separate controls for reverb is a real plus, and it's a great sounding tank.
This preamp is CLEAN when you want it, and has a variety of great, usable overdrive sounds. The top channel also has a Push/FET button that really turns on the Boogie juice.
I use this setup with everything frm a '63 335 to a MM Axis to a tele to a Yamaha classical guitar w/ pickup. And with basses ranging from a Yamaha fretless to a '64 Jazz. The tonal range and versatility of this preamp makes it all work great.

I bought it used in 1995 and it still works great. I've tried a few different tubes in it. For rockers, stay with a crunchy 12AX7. For a smoother sound, try a 12AT7 or 12AU7.
This is a very dependable rig.

Never dealt with them (never had to.)

I've been playing since JFK was prez -- jazz, blues, R&B, rock...pretty much everything but country. I usually drive a McIntosh 75 with this preamp (see review) but lately I've been using it with a low power (10-Watt) Dukane PA head, too. (see review)
If lost or stolen, I would definitely get another one. I've tried out a whole lot of preamps, and this is THE ONE for me. The combination of easy to use controls, quiet operation and switching, and fabulous tone is hard to beat. I know a lot of people are buying up old tube gear and spending a lot of time and money getting the pre-amp stage just right. Well, I feel that the power amp tubes give you most of the mojo. All 12AX7s and other preamp paraphrenalia can do is help you control the amp. So, get yourself a good preamp and send it to a Bogen, Duke, Heathkit, Mac, etc. and get the best of both worlds.

The Dean Markley Preamp-DR is an extremely versatile guitar preamp in that the unit offers both tube and transistorized selection. The tube section consists of 1 12AX7 tube while the transistorized offers a complete F.E.T. system with a push of a button. The Front of the single input preamp offers 2 Channels Clean/Overdrive (ala "Fender" style clean and "Marshall" Style Overdrive). Each channel has the following control knobs: Preamp; Master; Bass; Midrange; Treble; Presence and Reverb. Each channel can be accessed by from either the
front, via a switch,or the back, via a footswitch. The unit has a "Standby" switch. The back of the preamp has the following features: an AC Outlet; 1/4" Footswitch Inputs for Channel Switching, Effects and Reverb; an Effects Loops with a 1/4" Input for the Send Side, which also has a Master Volume Knob, and a 1/4 Input for the Receive Side, which also has a Master Volume Knob; Two 1/4" Outputs and Two XLR Balanced Outputs with Ground Lift capabilities via two push buttons.

Anwers to Feature questions:
1. All SR ("Single Row" Control Knobs) or DR ("Double Row" Control knobs)components were made from 1980 to 1995. Although the productions years were long actual number of units produced are extremely low. Naturally, they are very rare but not quite as popular has the name brands such as Fender or Marshall. The SR & DR units completely blow those two away in terms of the SR & DR's ability to sound like the classic Fender and Marshall amps without using a hundred tubes. New these units List Price was around $750 to 1200 for the Combo Amps and $400 to $600 for the PREAMPs and Power Amps. Used on Ebay or the net (if you can find one) is $100 to $350 for the Combo Amps and $150 to $300 for the PREAMPS and POWER AMPS. Again this depends on the seller, condition and the timing of the sale. The DR series are more popular due to their dual controls so expect to pay more. 40 Watt versions are more popular because they make a better recording amp than their 60, 80, 90, 120 watt counter parts so again expect to pay more. The PREAMP-DR is extremely RARE and you will probably have to pay whatever the seller is asking, but I think it will be the best and last preamp you will ever buy!
2. The PREAMP-DR is versatile to play pretty much any kind of music. I have used the PREAMP-DR to play country, blues, jazz, metal, rock, etc. The SR & DR were designed to be the "Working Man's Amp" and they are still being used by major recording artists such as Alex Lifeson of Rush and Andy Summers of the Police.
3. See above for features. No headphone jack.
4. I wish the preamp had a headphone jack, but I guess this would be a little redundant since the power amp and mixing console both have headphone jacks. At times, I wish the PREAMP-DR had chorus because the unit is so light and portable you want to take it everywhere and not have to carry any other effects around. Remember Reverb and essentially overdrive/distortion are built into the PREAMP-DR!
5. The PREAMP-DR's power is only as good as the power amp you are using so this question doesn't really apply.
6. See discussion above.

Answers to sound questions:
1. I have use a Rickenbacker 330, a White Blond Ash Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson Les Paul Custom and a Gibson Les Paul Special. Unlike a lot of preamps, the PREAMP-DR doesn't color the sound with compression or other mysterious side effects. What you put in is what you get out -- the pure tone of the Rickenbacker Single Coil Sound, a Fender Single Coil Sound, a Gibson Humbucker Sound and a Gibson P-90 Sound.
2. Once again the PREAMP-DR is very versatile for all music styles. Already covered this is the features section.
3. The unit is extremely quiet on both channels when the tube section is engaged. However, with the F.E.T. button pushed you do get the typical "white noise" transitor sound as you increase the volume of the unit. Like any tube amp, the tube section will pickup F-light noise if they are they are overbearing, but the noise isn't really a problem once you start playing.
4. Again the variety of sounds this amp can make is amazing. Super clean to super thrash with the twist of the knobs and push of the channel selector button. The tube section really warms up both the clean and distorted sides. To me the SR & DR series was created to allow players to achieve "true" tube tones without the expense of maintaining several tubes.
5. With the tube section engaged in all SR & DR series you will get a distorted tone if the PREAMP knob is 5 or greater. This effect is minimized with the PREAMP-DR since you can get the tone you want from the PREAMP-DR and then crank your Power Amp!
6. The brutalness of the distortion depends on your tube. The PREAMP-DR has a Grove Tube 12AX7, which produces the classic Marshall Overdrive (Hendrix, 70s rock) sound at settings 1 to 5 and the Thrash Metal Sound at any setting above 5 (Megadeth, Metallica, etc.). Again, the crunchiness of the distortion depends on the power of your Power Amp. Higher watted power amps will produce higher watted distortion sounds that can peel paint off the walls.

1. You bet your a@# I can depend on my PREAMP-DR. I have owned mine for over 10 years and have never used a back up. Built like a tank!
2. My PREAMP-DR has never broken down. I have only replaced the tube once or twice just because I felt like I should or I wanted to try a different sound.

1. Dean Markley is just another victim of the corporate takeover. They were as friendly as they could be, but no one I spoke knew anything about the SR & DR series and other great Dean Markley made in the USA products.

1. Been playin' since I was 15 going on 33 now. I good player never brags about what equipment he owns -- he lets his playin' do the talkin'. : )
2. If it were stolen or lost, I would dearly miss my little buddy. I have done many late night recording sessions with this preamp and the sounds I get out of it continue to amaze me. Plus the portability of this unit is the PREAMP-DR's best feature. Believe me it's much easer to walk when your only carrying your guitar and small SKB case w/the PREAMP-DR in it then to drag your guitar, 4x10 cabinet, head, pedals, etc.