Affordable rack preamp substitutes

[mordecai]

What if I wasn't going for a preamp but just an amp in general? Anything else that would compare?

The mesa studio is nice, sounds really loomis-y. about how much is it and how does it handle mid gain?

if you can stretch the budget, an evh 5153 50 watt is worth a look. Used you can find them $7-750.

define mid gain? mesa studio is a good suggestion. you should be able to find one of those $5-600.

I still think the voodoo lab is what you're looking for.

sp77 would be good too but it potentially doesn't have as much gain as you may want.

I've never used an mp1 or marshall jmp1 but I imagine they're both worth a look as well.

I may be explaining things wrong and wrong terminology, but I do understand mixed tone =/= raw tone
I'm not looking for something super distorted that screams, just something that has bite but still thick and creamy - more of a fusion style tone versus straight metal or shred which I think the mesa is more geared towards (incredible loomis tone)

Specific examples of what I listed in the op
Friedman - lucretia or tornado of souls tone
Poland - Return to metalopolis tone

Trying to find something that can halfway emulate that without spending 2k.

Actually the sp77 is one I'm looking into, along with the voodoo lab pre, but I'm having trouble finding many demos on youtube and soundcloud.

 

[charvelstrat81]

Some like the rocktron "PIRAHNA" tube pre amp.
I got one recently and was going to use it on the clean channel of a amp
but decided to just use the amps gain.

 

[Chris O]

Actually the sp77 is one I'm looking into, along with the voodoo lab pre, but I'm having trouble finding many demos on youtube and soundcloud.

If you're basing it on the video clip above, I would caution you. Sounds like lots of production work done on it. That one was indeed "juicy", which is the LAST word I would use to describe the SP-77. Also seemed like a LOT of gain there as well, so I'm guessing it was boosted, compressed, whatever. The SP-77 has an input and an output. That's it. Not a real flexible pre-amp, at least by today's standards. If you like SIMPLE though, it's tough to beat.

Don't get me wrong - it's a great pre-amp, and I really liked mine.

 

[mordecai]

A JMP-1 sounds like it would be right up your alley. Very flexible too.

The Kasha RackMod might be a good choice too. Rocktron Piranha too.

The SP-77 is a nice pre as well, but I'm not sure it really does well in the territory you mention.

the piranha sounds really nice in this clip

couldn't find anything on the rackmod though

 

[mordecai]

Actually the sp77 is one I'm looking into, along with the voodoo lab pre, but I'm having trouble finding many demos on youtube and soundcloud.

If you're basing it on the video clip above, I would caution you. Sounds like lots of production work done on it. That one was indeed "juicy", which is the LAST word I would use to describe the SP-77. Also seemed like a LOT of gain there as well, so I'm guessing it was boosted, compressed, whatever. The SP-77 has an input and an output. That's it. Not a real flexible pre-amp, at least by today's standards. If you like SIMPLE though, it's tough to beat.

Don't get me wrong - it's a great pre-amp, and I really liked mine.

Thanks for the input, in that case unless i can find one to play before buying i'll probably opt out

 

[rsm]

If you are going into a power amp and cabs, why not look into a floor based modeler where you can use preamp / amp models and turn off cabs? That may be a lower price (used), and give you many tone options as well as effects.

I was a big ADA user (guitar and bass) back in the day. I had my MP-1 paired with an MQ-1, both of which I replaced (and kept) with a MP-2. I had two MP-1 and two MP-2 so I had a backup, all I have now is my main MP-2 with noise mod and shortened power cord. I just can't bring myself to sell it, even though I dig my Mesa TriAxis more these days. Sold my JMP-1 and JFX-1.

 

[controlled_voltage]

engl 520/530
i have a 520 that i bought from bruno engl in 1990
this particular model was modded a bit and was supposed to be going to george lynch himself but king george flaked and i got it
anyway in 25 years it has only needed tubes and it sound great
i don't think the 530 sounds as good

 

[mordecai]

^that 520 sounds really thick in this clip I found

unfortunately its the only one though

I saw several 530s on ebay for under 500, are the 520s rarer or worth more?

If you are going into a power amp and cabs, why not look into a floor based modeler where you can use preamp / amp models and turn off cabs? That may be a lower price (used), and give you many tone options as well as effects.

I was a big ADA user (guitar and bass) back in the day. I had my MP-1 paired with an MQ-1, both of which I replaced (and kept) with a MP-2. I had two MP-1 and two MP-2 so I had a backup, all I have now is my main MP-2 with noise mod and shortened power cord. I just can't bring myself to sell it, even though I dig my Mesa TriAxis more these days. Sold my JMP-1 and JFX-1.

I'm looking at the 11rack as well, but the specific tone I'm going for is going to require a tube amp of some kind, at this point I think I'm more interested in a preamp but am open to any suggestions

I was looking up the mp1 and didn't think it was 100% what I wanted. Right now my number one is a piranha preamp. I'm still trying to find more exampled of the voodoo lab preamp as well(and one for sale)

 

[d1469d]

ADA MP - 1 . I have been working with one for over a year tweaking it at home and at band rehearsal . I am a tone junking. The mods are good for the preamp but I find them 100 percent a waste of money. The preamp just needs pushed a little bit and I will share how to do this. I will start a new post for this. It is a good preamp and it deserves a chance.

 

[mordecai]

ADA MP - 1 . I have been working with one for over a year tweaking it at home and at band rehearsal . I am a tone junking. The mods are good for the preamp but I find them 100 percent a waste of money. The preamp just needs pushed a little bit and I will share how to do this. I will start a new post for this. It is a good preamp and it deserves a chance.

If you do feel free to link it in this thread or pm me, thanks

 

[diezelduder]

ada mp1
kaos hatred is coolio

and i love the engl 530

 

[sinnersmoon]

^that 520 sounds really thick in this clip I found unfortunately its the only one though

I saw several 530s on ebay for under 500, are the 520s rarer or worth more?

I have ENGL E520 preamp and I would not call it thick. It`s a good preamp with nice lead sound with good note separation but you need a thick sounding poweramp (I run it through the effects loop of Invader 100 and Savage SE - depending on the mood).
They are probably rarer than E530 cause they were discontinued in 1993-94 but they`re not expensive - 250-300EUR

 

[4406cuda]

If you have a good tube amp for your cleans, I recommend the Bogner Burnley Pedal. It is only $229 and sounds amazing.