The Friedman IR-D is a twin tube preamp pedal from Friedman Amplification, designed by Dave Friedman as the follow-up to the IR-X. It is a pedalboard-format preamp built around a pair of 12AX7 tubes running at high voltage, with an onboard DSP section providing power amp and cabinet IR simulation, so it can feed a power amp, a PA or an interface without a real cab12. Friedman describes it as "a genuine preamp in every way"2.
The circuit is based on Friedman's Dirty Shirley and Twin Sister amplifiers, which Guitar Pedal X places in Plexi-type territory, while the IR-X covers JCM800-type territory1. It launched on 25 April 2024 at $499 MAP/RRP in the US, £499 in the UK and €595 in the EU21, and Guitar World still lists it at $4993.
What it does and how it sounds
The IR-D gives you two independent, identical channels, each with its own boost, built on the Dirty Shirley/Twin Sister circuit1. The tube stage does the preamp work, and the onboard DSP handles IR cabinet and power amp simulation for what Guitar Pedal X calls studio-quality tone1. Guitar World's reviewer describes it as based on similar architecture to other tube preamp pedals and, sonically, picking up where the Tone King Imperial leaves off, with Marshall JTM-inspired rock tones3.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson found the IR-D and the IR-X to be authentic renditions of the Friedman amps they model:
"These both sound amazing and are indeed very authentic representations of the Friedman Brown Eye and Dirty Shirley / Twin Sisyrt original Tube Amps they are based on - respectively JCM800 and Plexi type territory."1
Cosmetically, the IR-D is dressed in a similar silver-panelled livery to the Twin Sister amp heads2.
Controls, IRs and connections
The pedal has three multi-function footswitches and a three position CAB/IR select switch per channel, with the switch positions programmable via software1. Thirteen Friedman cabinet IRs are included, and you can load your own IRs through the Friedman Editor software1.
Connections cover a full preamp rig:
- Guitar input4
- Send and return for an effects loop4
- TRS balanced output1
On his demo video, Pete Thorn walked through the pedal's layout:
"we got an input for the guitar we got a send in return for an effects Loop"4
Pete Thorn's demo on YouTube covers the two channels, the voicing switches, the built-in IRs, the boost and the MIDI control, and shows the pedal as the second entry in Friedman's IR series after the IR-X4.
MIDI control
Over MIDI the IR-D exposes a set of programmable features: channel select and boost, IR select, the Thump and Presence controls, effects loop on/off, and Boost Lock1. That means a MIDI controller can recall complete preamp states, not just switch channels, which puts it in the same practical territory as other MIDI pedals used to run a pedalboard rig.
Power
The IR-D runs on 12V DC at 800mA with center negative polarity, and a universal 12V power supply is included1.
The IR-D is a tube-driven preamp rather than a typical stompbox, so check its power requirements against your pedalboard supply before planning a build around it. Friedman describes it as "a genuine preamp in every way"2, and its twin-tube design means it is not the kind of pedal to run from whatever output happens to be free.
The IR-D in Friedman's IR series
The IR-D is the second pedal in Friedman's IR pedal series, following the IR-X4. Both are twin tube preamps with DSP power amp and IR simulation, but they are voiced from different Friedman circuits: the IR-X from the Brown Eye, in JCM800-type territory, and the IR-D from the Dirty Shirley and Twin Sister, in Plexi-type territory1.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Rabea Massaad
Questions
Does the Friedman IR-D have real tubes?
Yes. The IR-D runs a pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes at high voltage inside the pedal, which Friedman describes as a genuine preamp in every way. The tube stage feeds an onboard DSP section that handles power amp and cabinet IR simulation.
Can you load your own IRs into the IR-D?
Yes. The pedal ships with 13 Friedman cabinet IRs, and you can load your own impulse responses using the Friedman Editor software. A three position CAB/IR select switch per channel lets you choose between them, and the switch positions are programmable via the software.
What is the difference between the Friedman IR-D and IR-X?
The IR-D is the second pedal in Friedman's IR series and follows the IR-X. Both are twin tube preamps with DSP power amp and IR simulation, but they are based on different Friedman circuits: the IR-X draws on the JCM800-style Brown Eye territory, while the IR-D is built on the Dirty Shirley and Twin Sister circuit, which sits in Plexi-type territory.
Does the Friedman IR-D have an effects loop?
Yes. Alongside the guitar input the IR-D has a send and return for an effects loop, so time-based effects such as delay and reverb can be placed after the tube preamp stage. The effects loop can also be switched on and off over MIDI.
Can the IR-D be controlled by MIDI?
Yes. Over MIDI you can control channel select and boost, IR select, the Thump and Presence controls, effects loop on/off, and Boost Lock. These programmable features make it practical to switch full preamp states from a MIDI controller.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-04-30
- “Two glowing hot 12AX7 preamp tubes, running at the proper high voltage, are this pedal's beating heart”: Friedman unleashes the IR-D, a twin-channel boutique fire-breather inspired by a modded JTM45, MusicRadar, 2024-04-25
- Tone King Imperial Tri Tube Preamp review, Guitar World, 2025-07-02
- FRIEDMAN IR-D TUBE PREAMP, YouTube (Pete Thorn channel), 2024-04-25
