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Topic: tube preamp |
Tom Cooper
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 11 Dec 2008 7:38 pm |
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| I play through a PV nash 400 and would like advice on a tube preamp in the 4-500$ range. Would like to round out the sound a bit. TC |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 5:48 am
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Tom,
in that price range, I don't think you can beat a used Mesa Boogie Studio preamp. Not too hard to find. You may be able to find a used Alembic in that range too. There are some better tube preamp for steel, but they do cost a little bit more.
Brad |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 7:09 am
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I have tried many different preamps over the years and I always go back to a Blue Tube II made by Tube Works (now Genz Benz).
Not only is it a great sounding preamp but there are so many controls on the back that just about any effects unit can be used in conjunction with it.
You can pick these off of e-bay quite often for less than $200. |
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Roger Francis
From:
kokomo,Indiana, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 8:46 am
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| And if you want to save up a few more bucks you positively can't go wrong on an RTP or the Sonic Pre from Brad Sarno, I know, becase i own an RTP (Revelation tube preamp) Great amp. |
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Tom Cooper
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 12:54 pm preamp
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| Thanks for the replies. As soon as I get some time I'll check them out. I just want a little tube action in my signal chain. thxs, TC |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 2:10 pm
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Peavey made a unit a few years ago called the "Tube Sweetener".
That helps sweeten up the sound from solid state. |
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David Nugent
From:
Gum Spring, Va.
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 2:56 pm pre amp
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| I found it surprising that no one has suggested a "Black Box". |
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 4:10 pm Sgbb
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| The Steel Guitar Black Box. Voiced for steel and makes your 6 stringer sound really good too. Great 'tube' addition to your sound and in your price range. |
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Delvin Morgan
From:
Lindstrom, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 5:33 pm
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| Not knocking the Black Box, but I tried it on my Williams w/GeorgeL 12-1 p'up and through a Pv NV112 and had little or no difference in sound. In my opinion, I gave it back to the owner, and he swears by it, go figure. |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 6:16 pm
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| The BB is very effective into a SS amp that will give you a tube vibe. For the best response you have to go from the guitar pickup to the input of the BB then output of the BB to the volume pedal then to the amp input. |
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Henry Nagle
From:
Santa Rosa, California
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Posted 12 Dec 2008 11:47 pm
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I have found the Black Box to work wonders with a solid state amp. Not many knobs to turn, but I really did notice a great positive change in the sound. It made a Webb sound a lot closer to a Twin Reverb.
Henry |
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Eric Philippsen
From:
Central Florida USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 4:21 am
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I understand that budget is definitely a factor.
That being said, the Sarno Tonic preamp is pretty sweet. It's so portable and compact, I know a steeler who packs it in his backpack to and from gigs and studio work. It does hold its $$ value, too. Really, the few used ones that show up for sale on this site are sold in minutes.
But it does cost more than what your budget is and, again, I understand that. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 7:28 am
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Isn't that unit solid state?
I thought he was looking for a tube unit. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 8:14 am
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Actually the Revelation and Tonic are entriely, purely 100% tube preamps from input to output. High voltage (300V B+ supply) tube signal path. Ironically, it's the Blue Tube II by Tubeworks/Genz Benz that is a transitor preamp. Those are actually transistor/solid-state preamps with a couple of low-voltage tube stages added for injecting a bit of tube warmth (harmonic distortion), but for the most part those are solid state devices. The marketing and labeling can be misleading sometimes. The Blue Tube II is indeed a nice sounding and very affordable preamp, perhaps not as "tubey" sounding as an actual tube preamp, but they do sound good nonetheless.
Brad |
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Tom Cooper
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 8:50 am preamp
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| Thanks so much for all the info. I really enjoy learning about steel guitar stuff. Pls keep it coming. Thank God for the Steel Guitar Forum! TC |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 8:58 am
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| Tom, you didn't whether or not if your Nashville 400 had the "mod"? If it's a newer amp, the mod is included. If it's an older one (and doesn't have the mod), that will probably do far more for your sound than a preamp. |
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Steve Feldman
From:
Central MA USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2008 9:08 am
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Mesa also made a V-Twin tube preamp of slightly later vintage than the Pre. I think it's also very good.
_________________
"...An admission of interest in protracted commentary is certainly no reason to capitalize on surmised aberations that do not exist." - BH |
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Tom Cooper
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 14 Dec 2008 6:29 pm preamp
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| In the meantime researching preamps, I hooked up my Presonus tube mic pre. I hooked it up like you would a Black Box, in front of the chain. It definitely produced a sparkle and life that was not there before. I'll use this until I can fully research and learn about all the options. As for the Nash, the serial # is 8A 03530583. I may try to go to Peavey site and look it up when I have time. At least for now I have a reasonable solution, although I may upgrade eventually. Thanks for all the great posts. TC |
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James Collett
From:
San Dimas, CA
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Posted 16 Dec 2008 5:44 pm
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I use a V-twin- I don't have a rack so I use the stomp-box version; I go from that into the poweramp in of a Mesa Mk11B- man does that sound good!
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James Collett |
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Dave Diehl
From:
Mechanicsville, MD, USA
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Posted 18 Dec 2008 4:31 am
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| Given your original desire of something in the $4-500 range, I honestly think (after getting one) that one should try to find the extra $$ to get a Tonic Preamp. It's not that much more and it may save you from buying one for the price range you're seeking (as I did) to turn around, sell it and go for the Tonic after all. It is an excellent preamp. |
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 19 Dec 2008 4:06 pm
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| Delvin Morgan wrote: |
| Not knocking the Black Box, but I tried it on my Williams w/GeorgeL 12-1 p'up and through a Pv NV112 and had little or no difference in sound. In my opinion, I gave it back to the owner, and he swears by it, go figure. |
Delvin - I understand - when I got my BB, I felt the same way - but it took a weekend on the bandstand before I really 'got' what the BB was doing for me. I wouldn't want to play without it now. It's not like an overdrive stomp box where, when you stomp on it you hear a change right away. |
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ajm
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 20 Dec 2008 5:25 pm
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On the complete other end of the price spectrum........
If you happen to see an ART MP Studio V3 (I think that's the number, it's the one with the 20 position rotary preset knob), you might want to give it a try. It'll probably be way under $100, and you might like it. I'd stay away from the dual channel rack unit and stick with the single channel desktop model. There is definitely a difference between them.
I'd also like to say that there is a certain "mojo" factor with tubes, and don't get too hung up on it. Just because something has a tube in it doesn't really mean anything. |
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Leland Ogle
From:
Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2008 6:59 am
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I just received my Tonic Preamp on Thursday and used it on a gig last night. I won't leave home without it now. Even the sound man said it was awesome. He said he had always boosted the highs on my steel, now everything is set flat.
Lee |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Dec 2008 12:15 am
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Fender & BOSS recently got together and came up with a Stomp~Box for under $150 called: BOSS [FBM~1 ’59 Bassman] It contains Presence, Middle, Bass, Treble, Level & Gain Knobs. It works on either 9-Volt or AC–Adaptor and is designed to be used preferrably in the Pre-EQ Effects-Patch and simulate a tube pre-amp., or directly from instrument to Amp. Input. I purchased one and it seems to work well for me!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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