Best preamp for playing through a PA?

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 29 Jan 2008 10:17 pm

It looks like I'll be on some airplanes soon and I can't bring an amp, so...... I'm thinking about getting a preamp and going direct to the PA. It would be nice if it had a tube or two and it would be great if it had built in reverb.

I've plugged into pods before in recording studios and been intensely dissatisfied, although that is the easiest solution.

Anybody have any wisdom for me?

Thanks!

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 30 Jan 2008 4:51 am

I use a Boss VF-1 in situations described.
I think used ones can be found for about 200.
The Tonic has tubes and fits in a pac a seat I hear.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 30 Jan 2008 6:28 am

Can't beat the TD-1
No reverb, but there are pedals for that.....

http://www.mil-media.com/td-1.html

Forgive me for the shameless plug, but these are the best....
I do own one, and use it all of the time.

Jay

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 30 Jan 2008 6:48 am

Get ahold of Brad Sarno!

Sarno Music Solutions

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 30 Jan 2008 7:35 am

Henry,
I just picked up a Mesa Boogie Studio pre amp.
This is a tube preamp and is reputed to be excellent for steel guitar.
There is an outlet on the back to go to a PA and it is supposed to have some speaker emulation built in.
It also has a spring reverb unit built in.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 30 Jan 2008 8:36 am

I've used a Digitech 2112 for several years for a preamp as well as effects processor. We play direct in the Praise band I'm in, and use in-ear's for monitoring. I run the output of the Digitech to a Countryman direct box, then to the main board. I just posted links to a couple of song from our band in the "Music" section if you want to hear how it sounds.

Here's my rig, the rack also contains my Shure in-ear transmitter and an Audio Technica wireless I use when I play guitar or mandolin.

Michael Hartz · Post by **Michael Hartz** » 30 Jan 2008 4:25 pm

Check with Brad Sarno and check out the Revelation Preamp. It is a tube preamp designed around a Fender Twin but with more control over tone for the steel guitar. It has a switch that if you set to dark, takes out the piercing highs that can come out the horns on a PA system. I run mine direct all the time and the Revelation sounds better than ALL my previous amps. But BEWARE, You will end up liking this preamp more than anything you have played thru previously, it is just that fantastic.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 30 Jan 2008 10:49 pm

Thanks for all the replies! I've got some research to do. Does the Revelation have reverb?

Curt Langston · Post by **Curt Langston** » 31 Jan 2008 5:17 am

Thanks for all the replies! I've got some research to do. Does the Revelation have reverb?

Unfortunatly not....... But you could always run a pedal through it.

Hey Henry, THIS is a very good choice for direct out to a PA. This preamp is widely known for its clean, warm tubelike sound. It has built in Accutronics reverb. Very quiet operation. They don't make these anymore, and they are highly sought after. As you can see, it has the ParaMetric EQ, for tweaking out any E9th honk. Lots of controls on the back such as balanced and unbalanced outputs with level. Effects send and returns with level. Ground lift, etc.
I'm about to put it on eBay, so send me an offer if interested.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 31 Jan 2008 6:41 am

Brad Sarno's Tonic Tube preamp can have an optional reverb module installed.

Joe Clymer · Post by **Joe Clymer** » 31 Jan 2008 9:52 am

If your needing a clean warm tube sound, the Tonic from Brad Sarno w/reverb should work well. It's small, warm sounding and the reverb sounds great.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 31 Jan 2008 5:44 pm

Thanks everyone!

Curt- That looks like a very good deal. I'm hoping for something even a bit smaller and lighter.

Looks like I'll sell something and try a Tonic.

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Best preamp for playing through a PA?

Best preamp for playing through a PA?

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