3rd Power Phantom DRGN 45 112 Guitar Combo Amplifier
NOTE: Dragon Amplifiers are made to order and now shipping. Orders are processed through our USA exclusive Dragon dealer, Bananas at Large. New order lead-times are currently 10-12 weeks.
This product will ship directly from manufacture 3rd Power. Once you place your order, our team will follow up with ETA details. Questions? Click here
Phantom DRGN 45 is a 45-watt British-voiced amp delivering immediate response, focused control, and earlier access to stage-ready performance.
The balanced expression of the DRGN platform.
Phantom DRGN 45 is a balanced expression of 3rd Power’s British high-gain platform—built for players who want the authority, harmonic complexity, and physical response of a great Plexi-inspired amplifier, with earlier access to the voice and meaningful control under the hands.
This is not a copy of the past. It is a refined 3rd Power interpretation of British crunch and lead tone—designed to deliver impact, articulation, and feel at more usable volume levels.
Voice & Response
Rooted in the feel and power of late-’60s British amplifiers, Phantom DRGN 45 focuses that foundation into a more accessible and interactive playing experience.
It delivers the punch, growl, and harmonic richness players expect, while preserving note separation, touch sensitivity, and control across the gain range. The result is an amp that feels connected under the hands and alive in the room—capable of authoritative rhythm tone, vocal lead work, and dynamic transition directly from the guitar.
Phantom 45 Expression
This is a deliberate path through the platform—bringing the voice forward sooner while retaining key shaping tools for gain structure, frequency response, and feel. Not reduction. Connection.
Built for the Stage. Ready for the Moment.
Phantom DRGN 45 delivers the force and dimensionality required for live performance, while engaging earlier and responding more fully at usable volume levels.
Whether used as a dedicated British voice or as part of a larger rig, it delivers a direct, expressive, and uncompromised playing experience.
FEATURES
- 45-watt all-tube amplifier
- Balanced British-voiced DRGN platform expression
- Earlier access to power-section feel and harmonic response
- Selectable JTM / JMP tone stack voicing
- Plexi / Cascade gain structure with foot-switchable +Gain
- HybridMASTER™ volume management
- Tube-buffered effects loop
- Built for professional stage and studio use
- Hand-built in the USA
Build & Lead Time
Each Phantom DRGN 45 amplifier is built in small production runs using premium components and proven circuit design. Current lead time is approximately 10–12 weeks from order.
They often deliver sooner as production allows, but this window ensures your amplifier is built, tested, and fully dialed before it ships.
Ordering & Support
Every 3rd Power amplifier is supported directly by their team. If you have questions about configuration, compatibility, or how a model fits your rig, they’re here to help you choose with confidence.
SPECIFICATIONS
Performance Architecture
Phantom DRGN 45 is built around a dual-voice gain structure that moves from classic British authority into fully developed high-gain articulation without losing identity.
The Plexi foundation delivers immediacy, harmonic texture, and midrange authority. The cascaded gain structure extends that voice into higher saturation while preserving clarity, note separation, and control.
This is not a switch between two amplifiers. It is a continuous system — designed to engage earlier and respond more fully within real-world playing conditions.
- British-voiced Plexi preamp foundation
- Cascaded high-gain architecture (switchable)
- Class-A cathode follower tone stack integration
- Phase inverter tuned for dynamic response and authority
Control Architecture
The control system in Phantom DRGN 45 is designed for direct interaction — while preserving key elements of the architecture that allow the player to shape response, gain, and feel.
Frequency shaping, gain structure, and response characteristics remain closely integrated, delivering immediate connection under the hands with a focused set of controls that influence how the amplifier behaves in real time.
- Selectable JTM / JMP tone stack voicing
- Plexi / Cascade gain structure (switchable)
- Presence circuit tuned to 1968 Super Lead 100 response
- Dual-action Bass control with integrated low-frequency push
- Targeted response shaping for real-time player interaction
Power & Response System
Phantom DRGN 45 is built around a 45W EL34 output platform designed for authority, responsiveness, and earlier engagement under real performance conditions.
The power section is tuned to maintain clarity and dimensionality as the amplifier begins to work—preserving the integrity of the signal as it moves from preamp articulation into output stage expression with a more immediate and accessible response.
- Dual EL34 output section (Class AB, fixed bias)
- Optimized plate voltage for dynamic range and responsiveness
- Solid-state rectification for tight response and stability
- Custom USA-wound transformers by Heyboer
Volume & Stage Integration
Phantom DRGN 45 integrates patented volume management technology designed to maintain tonal integrity across a wide range of real-world playing environments.
Rather than reducing the amplifier to a lower-power version of itself, the system manages voltage, current, and output behavior to preserve feel, response, and harmonic structure at any usable volume — allowing the amplifier to engage earlier while maintaining a consistent, immediate playing experience from studio levels to stage.
- HybridMASTER™ volume management (patented)
- Venue Mode™ attenuation (patented)
- Maintains tone and feel across volume levels
- Designed for stage, studio, and controlled environments
- Foot-switchable +Gain integration
Build & Construction
Every Phantom DRGN 45 amplifier is hand-built in the United States using carefully selected components and a construction approach designed for long-term reliability and consistent performance.
- Hand-wired, point-to-point construction
- Premium capacitors (F&T, Mallory, Orange Drop)
- High-quality Alpha potentiometers
- Custom transformer set by Heyboer
- Built in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Limited lifetime warranty
Reference Specifications
- Output: ~45W (2x EL34)
- Preamp Tubes: 3x JJ ECC83S, 1x Sovtek 12AX7LPS
- Rectification: Solid-state diode
- Output Impedance: 16Ω / 8Ω / 4Ω
- Head Dimensions: 24″ W × 10.5″ D × 9.33″ H
- Head Weight: ~31 lbs
- 1×12 Combo Dimensions: 25″ W × 20.75″ D × 11″ H
- 1×12 Combo Weight: ~55 lbs
- Included: Single button footswitch with attached cable
Additional information
- Weight: 66 lbs
- Dimensions: 29 × 27 × 15 in
Bananas does not warranty tubes in transit. We offer tube removal and individual bubble wrap service for $45 per customer request (for standard amps, more complex amps that take more time may be a higher fee). Customers buying any tube product and having it shipped should understand and realize that Bananas cannot be responsible for damaged tubes from transit.
Warning: Some of the products purchased at Bananas At Large can expose you to chemicals, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or reproductive harm. For more information go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.
