Best high gain preamp pedal?

  • Thread starter Thread starter maddnotez
  • Start date Start date
maddnotez

maddnotez

Banned
Well-known member
I'm sure this is an old topic but some newer pedals may be out. Curious of everyone's thoughts on the best (and affordable) preamp pedals for high gain/metal.

I've listened to YouTube clips as my only source and from what I've heard I think the Blackstar HT Dual, AMT P1 and Empress Heavy were some of the better sounds.

Was wanting to get one as a backup so I do like the small pedal sizes and I'd probably take the AMT over the Empress due to the price point.

So what do you think? I know it's all preference but for modern/brutal metal tones in a box at a decent price what are the best pedals you've heard?
 
The what you want 2 is cool my brother has it and he likes it. the torpedo pedals look cool.
 
Anyone able to try the VH4 pedal yet? Only pedal I'm interested in getting
 
mniel8195":2i2jxang said:
The what you want 2 is cool my brother has it and he likes it. the torpedo pedals look cool.
Click to expand...

That two notes LE Lead does sound really good. A little on the high end price wise but probably the best I've heard so far.

Can't seem to find any good demos of the VH4 that I liked.
 
Diezel makes a pre-amp pedal now? WHAT?!

Serious recommendation though, check out Airis Effects. Contact Rick at Airis Effects and ask about the Hades pre-amp. It is THE pre-amp pedal for high-gain metal. It's super tight and articulate with the proper OD thrown in front of it (like the Airis Effects Savage Drive ;) ).
 
godgrinder":yygx33qi said:
Amptweaker Tight Metal
Click to expand...

I just heard this pedal on the Andertons YouTube NAMM coverage and thought it sounded really good as well.
 
Amptweaker sounded good. That Hades sounded killer, love that sound. (Have to edit this. In a mix they both sound great, maybe even the edge going to Amptweaker. Tough call for me)

Definitely curious to hear some other clips of the VH4 pedal but need to find out about the Hades, I like that one the best so far.

As long as it's not too much $$ I may end up with that. The Amt P1 seems like the best "cheap" option I can find.
 
Ive been using the MXR 5153 pedal, I cant recommend it enough...
 
Lampshade1973":2bipt97r said:
Ive been using the MXR 5153 pedal, I cant recommend it enough...
Click to expand...

Sounds great. Didn't know about this one either. Never looked into a preamp pedal before.

Seems like a good amount of options out there.
 
ISP Theta Preamp pedal which I use into their Stealth poweramp, tons of usable gain and awesome tone than anything else I tried. Also runs perfectly into the Fx return on any tube amp, it's too much for in front of an amp I think.

I haven't used a tube amp in ages and not missing it. I'm using their new ISP Theta DSP Pro digital unit for recording.

I used to have a Blackstar HT Dual pedal but wasn't happy with it, felt like I needed to boost it to tighten up the gain, which I don't need with the Theta and the Theta has built-in decimator noise gate as well.
 
nigelpkay":sjo6y5lu said:
ISP Theta Preamp pedal which I use into their Stealth poweramp, tons of usable gain and awesome tone than anything else I tried. Also runs perfectly into the Fx return on any tube amp, it's too much for in front of an amp I think.

I haven't used a tube amp in ages and not missing it. I'm using their new ISP Theta DSP Pro digital unit for recording.

I used to have a Blackstar HT Dual pedal but wasn't happy with it, felt like I needed to boost it to tighten up the gain, which I don't need with the Theta and the Theta has built-in decimator noise gate as well.
Click to expand...

Fluffs Theta demo did sound really good.

What spawned this thread is that while I was ampless for a while, I started using the bias app with the 44 magnum pedal and I was floored by how good it sounded. I still prefer the tube amp and have one now but I figured for home practice and for a live backup a couple of pedals would be a great choice on the fly.

Would save my back from bringing another amp around and I can't lie it's pretty awesome being able to keep up in a band and actually sound good with a couple of pedals :lol:

I have no probablem throwing a boost in front if I need to. I'd ditch this whole idea and would just use the bias app as the back up but it's kind of a pain using it considering its on my phone, I have to use the interface and also the $30 lightning cable now has a short in it :(

Anyway thanks for all the suggestions. Keep posting them if you want. I have a good list here and will try to get to a shop to try some of these out.
 
I am working on a demo for the PLX FX Spyritus distortion. It is bad ass. What do you consider "high gain metal" is an important question though? Are you looking for Hell Yeah, Primal Fear or Cannibal Corpse?
 
JerEvil":2u3vd6t6 said:
I am working on a demo for the PLX FX Spyritus distortion. It is bad ass. What do you consider "high gain metal" is an important question though? Are you looking for Hell Yeah, Primal Fear or Cannibal Corpse?
Click to expand...

I just got a Rev 2 Uberschall if that tells you anything and previously I had a Pitbull 100CL.

So far that Airis Hades was the best sounding pedal clips I've heard however, I don't mind the 5150 tones.

Out of those 3 bands if I had to chose a tone I would go with Primal Fear I suppose.

Edit: just heard a clip of that PLX with the guy playing cannibal corpse. Looking fwd to your demo because I know you always get the best sounds out of whatever you're playing. So far a good impression of that pedal.
 
nigelpkay":3tpvnnny said:
ISP Theta Preamp pedal which I use into their Stealth poweramp, tons of usable gain and awesome tone than anything else I tried. Also runs perfectly into the Fx return on any tube amp, it's too much for in front of an amp I think.

I haven't used a tube amp in ages and not missing it. I'm using their new ISP Theta DSP Pro digital unit for recording.

I used to have a Blackstar HT Dual pedal but wasn't happy with it, felt like I needed to boost it to tighten up the gain, which I don't need with the Theta and the Theta has built-in decimator noise gate as well.
Click to expand...

^This. ISP Theta rocks. Sounds like a super high gain JCM800 type sound.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top