Looking for Rack Preamp for clean tone

[malachi1616]

Hey everyone, like the subject says I need advice on choosing a new preamp.

My rig right now is:

BOSS AC3 Acoustic simulator (using as clean tone plus an A/B switch)
A side goes into a small 4 channel Nady mixer
B side goes into my Decimator Pro Rack G
then to an Engl 530
then to the Nady mixer

Nady mixer goes into an ART power amp.

So right now everything is in the rack except the mixer and acoustic simulator. I like the tones I get and everything is gravy but I want to explore some other options like a rack mount tube preamp for a clean tone. I know about the triaxis and all that, but I can't afford that stuff, and its overkill for what I need. I basically want a single unit tube preamp that has a cool good acoustic clean tone. I don't care about other tones it has, and I don't want to pay for a huge unit with a million effects, just clean with maybe reverb. Basically just the acoustic simulator in a rack unit, with tube sound and not all digital sounding. The AC3 is great as a clean sound but it's missing something and I think a rack preamp would take care of it. The Engl's clean channel is ok, but I absolutely hate the way the footswitch works on that thing.

EDIT: I guess I should mention the AC3 would be traded out for a passive A/B switch. Also, not looking for a transparent clean channel, something more of an acoustic simulator with tube sound.

 

[Sardocasm]

What's your budget?

 

[Shask]

Mesa Studio Preamp has a GREAT clean sound.


If it has to be a single space, look for a Mesa Formula Preamp for a little more $$.

 

[Qweklain]

If you are willing to spend, the Egnater ie4 has fantastic clean tones. It also does everything else amazingly too, except maybe the absolute most brutal of metal tones that suck anyway.

 

[Rufus Leaking]

If you can find one, the Groove Tubes Trio has an amazing clean sound. I used to run mine in stereo with an E530, both clean and dirty, and it sounded fantastic. I miss that rig...

 

[Aidanspaghetti]

+1 on the groove tubes trio.... Cool preamp..

 

[malachi1616]

What's your budget?

I don't think I want to spend more than $200, trying to find a solution where I don't have to spend money on extra features, just a preamp specifically for acoustic modelling.

Aside from the mesa/boogies mentioned those are all 2 units, I need a single unit. I think mesa is going to be out of my price range at the moment. Besides I can't find a formula for sale anywhere.

EDIT: Also, want to mention again, not just looking for a good clean tone, but an acoustic modelling tone. Probably wont find a perfect match, maybe I'll just stick with my AC3.

 

[Shask]

If you like the AC3, why not just pick up an old Boss GX-700 or Boss VF-1? Just run 1 preset with the acoustic simulator and call it a day!

 

[malachi1616]

GX-700 seems like a cool toy. Doesn't have the acoustic simulator in it that I can see though. Maybe I missed it though.

 

[FUZZboat]

hate to come off like a gear pimp but, my Johnson J Station (which is for sale in the classifieds) excels at clean tones

Its Version 2 - which is a vast improvement over Ver 1 & it has these sim models

00 - J Crunch (based on JM150 Millennium Crunch)
01 - J Solo (based on JM150 Millennium Solo)
02 - J Clean (based on JM150 Millennium Clean)
03 - Boutique (based on a Matchless DC30)
04 - Rectified (based on a MesaBoogie Dual Rectifier)
05 - Brit Stack (based on a Marshall JCM900)
06 - Brit Class A (based on a '63 Vox AC30 top boost)
07 - BlackFace (based on a '65 Fender Twin Reverb)
08 - Boat Back (a piezo acoustic guitar)
09 - Flat Top (a dreadnaught acoustic guitar)
10 - Hot Rod (based on a Mesa Boogie Mark II C)
11 - Tweed (based on a '57 Fender Tweed Deluxe)
12 - Blues (a dynamic blues tube combo)
13 - Fuzz (a 60's fuzz tone)
14 - Modern (based on an SWR bass)
15 - British (based on a Trace Elliot bass amp)
16 - Rock (based on an Ampeg SVT bass amp)
17 - More A1 (based on a Hiwatt Custom 50)
18 - More A2 (based on a '78 Marshall Mstr Volume)
19 - More A3 (based on a '81 Marshall JCM800 w/EL34s)
20 - More A4 (based on a '72 Fender Bandmaster)
21 - More A5 (based on a '65 Fender Bassman)
22 - More A6 (based on a SWR Interstellar Odrive)
23 - More A7 (based on a '83 Fender Concert Head)
24 - More A8 (Direct - no modelling)

The Flat top is a really nice acoustic sim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO4cHTMjgUQ