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Effects and Pedals | Guitar effector | Preamp
New | Condition: Brand New
catalinbread  |  Product Code: 863222

catalinbread Crooner (Preamp)

$197.59
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Product Condition
Brand New Unused, as sold.
Mint Like new, no flaws.
Excellent Barely used, very minor wear.
Very Good Light wear, fully functional.
Good Visible wear, plays fine.
Fair Heavy wear, still playable.
FAQ

Description
The "Crooner" is a model that recreates the RCA BA-31, one of the greatest studio preamps ever made, in a size that is easy to incorporate into a pedalboard.

Despite its unassuming appearance, this preamplifier has produced rich bass and astonishing clarity on numerous classic albums.
Building on the design philosophy of "Airstrip," the Crooner's input stage is equipped with a UREI-style discrete operational amplifier.
This allows you to actively overdrive the preamp circuit, and when the gain is set to maximum (full up), you can get a rich, sticky, saturated sound.
Furthermore, it covers every type of distortion sound, from clean boost and overdrive to distortion and even intense fuzz.

Have you ever listened to classic albums from the golden age of pop music and wondered how that smooth, deep, and wonderful vocal sound was created?

While I cannot provide a map that perfectly recreates the entire picture, I can tell you that many classic albums started with RCA microphone preamplifiers, and that one of the most popular models at the time was the "BA-31".
We developed the "Crooner," which is based on the BA-31 circuit, while continuing the legacy of the vintage-inspired "Airstrip Console Preamp."
This pedal extends the dynamic range of the Airstrip circuit, producing a clean preamp sound at low gain settings and a sticky, compressed distortion sound at maximum gain.
This preamplifier, equipped with germanium transistors and transformers, employs a discrete operational amplifier inspired by UREI in its input stage.
By simply turning the "Push" knob, you can go from a state with no gain change at the minimum setting to obtaining a powerful gain at the maximum setting, allowing you to push the delicate behavior of RCA preamplifiers into the "red zone" (overload state).
If you want an even more intense "sag" (compression caused by voltage drop) or melting harmonics, you can use the "Trim" control to increase the gain of the BA-31 circuit itself, and you'll get a trance-saturated distortion sound that would make even Neil Young jealous.

Between these two extreme settings lies a range of unique and superb overdrive/distortion sounds, among the finest in the pedal world.

Power supply: 9-18VDC center negative Current consumption: 3mA
Controls: Push, Filter, Volume, Trim

Payment & Security

Payment methods

  • American Express
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  • Google Pay
  • iDEAL Wero
  • JCB
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Visa

Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.

For orders exceeding Paypal’s transaction limit of 1 million yen, we will provide more details. For secure transactions, items will only be shipped to the address registered in your Paypal account.

Regarding detailed information and contact information to us, please check FAQ.

Please Note

The following information applies to international orders.

■ Condition

Items with “USED” in the product name are pre-owned and will be delivered as shown in the photos. Signs of wear may be present. All items are function-tested by our staff and rechecked before dispatch.

■ Stock

Many products are stocked across Ikebe stores in Japan. As a result, shipment may take several days. In-store sales may also cause items to sell out. If an item is unavailable, we will contact you promptly; in that case, the order will be canceled and any payment will be refunded.

■ Shipping

We ship via FedEx. Shipments are fully insured against damage or loss during transit.

  • Asia: 10–20 days (estimated)
  • North America & Oceania: 20–30 days (estimated)

Shipping costs are calculated based on the delivery address and confirmed at the time of dispatch.

■ Taxes & Duties

Import duties, taxes, and fees are the buyer’s responsibility and are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These fees are typically collected by the carrier upon delivery or at pickup. Please check with your country’s customs office for details before purchasing.

■ Other

We cannot declare a reduced item value or mark purchases as gifts.

* Warranty

Our product warranty is valid only within Japan.

* Voltage

All electrical products are intended for the Japanese market and are designed for 100 V operation.

*Regarding transportation

Based on the regulations of the shipping company, aviation laws, and the laws and import regulations of the destination country, we cannot ship dangerous goods or restricted items internationally.

Examples of such items include, but are not limited to, high-pressure gases (aerosol cans), flammable liquids (oils, paints, etc.), combustible materials, batteries, and other items classified as dangerous goods.

If your ordered items fall under these restrictions, we reserve the right to cancel your order or ship only certain items, at our discretion.

Furthermore, accessories and included items are also subject to these restrictions, so any items deemed ineligible for shipment will be removed before shipping. Please understand this in advance.

The final decision on whether or not to ship will be made by us based on the shipping company and relevant laws and regulations, and we cannot guarantee individual decisions in advance.

About us

Founded in 1975, Ikebe Music is one of Japan's largest general music stores.Thanks to its long history and proven track record, it has earned the trust of musicians and music fans not only in Japan but around the world.

Ikebe Music ships not only within Japan, but also overseas.As a well-known retailer of used musical instruments in Japan, we have a wide selection of used and vintage instruments.

We have a wide variety of unusual and rare instruments, so please take a look.Please note that we do not list new products, as our contracts with our suppliers prohibit international shipping.

About our stores

In Japan, we have about 30 stores in Tokyo (Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Akihabara) and Osaka.

We have just opened our flagship store, IKESHIBU (IKEBE SHIBUYA), in Shibuya, Tokyo, which brings together numerous musical instrument specialty stores and serves as a hub for entertainment culture.

Please be sure to stop by if you are visiting Japan.

Tokyo area
Osaka area
About Shipping

We carefully pack every item with protective materials to ensure it arrives safely.
The photos above show an example of how we securely pack a bass guitar for shipping.

Regarding handling of used products

All used products sold by Ikebe Musical Instruments Store are inspected, working, and maintained, ensuring their safety and security. We inspect each item individually for defects before shipping.

If there are any missing images, please contact us with your inquiry and let us know the angle and focus you need to better understand the condition of your item before ordering. We will respond after taking photos.

Because these are used items, we strive to provide detailed information about their condition so you can order with confidence.

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