The Beekeeper is a two-channel D-style preamp inspired by the work of a well-known L.A. boutique builder whose name has become synonymous with a sophisticated guitar tone. Among the few owners of his remarkable amps are musicians such as Robben Ford, Carlos Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and John Mayer. This impressive lineup suggests something truly unique about the sound of these amps.
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.