Preamp pedal?

[Smash]

When I began high gain, there was a lot of (mis)information on how it should be approached. Some claimed a clean amp pedal platform was the way, and I see the theory being a good one as you click off the boost/preamp pedal, and have a perfect clean, then on and you have a high gain beast.

The reality is underwhelming imo. You have a 200-400$ pedal that somehow has a better high gain sound than a well designed tube preamp circuit? Snake oil.

Others claimed you get a rack preamp and pair it with a power amp. And that premise has been successful for some with the latest iteration being synergy. But ime, this is never as cohesive and effective as a well designed amplifier that matches the preamp circuit to a power amp.

I have played several high gain amps that could easily be a forever amp and even though they aren't cheap, I believe it is cheaper than a constant accumulation of inferior gear. Some of them require a boost to take you into metal territory, but most of us have a boost or three laying around.

So my question is what is the purpose of a preamp pedal? I see manufacturers making them, so someone is buying them. Is it just for another flavor for fun, or is someone trying to replace a high gain amp with a power amp and preamp pedal(s)?

 

[DanTravis62]

When I began high gain, there was a lot of (mis)information on how it should be approached. Some claimed a clean amp pedal platform was the way, and I see the theory being a good one as you click off the boost/preamp pedal, and have a perfect clean, then on and you have a high gain beast.

The reality is underwhelming imo. You have a 200-400$ pedal that somehow has a better high gain sound than a well designed tube preamp circuit? Snake oil.

Others claimed you get a rack preamp and pair it with a power amp. And that premise has been successful for some with the latest iteration being synergy. But ime, this is never as cohesive and effective as a well designed amplifier that matches the preamp circuit to a power amp.

I have played several high gain amps that could easily be a forever amp and even though they aren't cheap, I believe it is cheaper than a constant accumulation of inferior gear. Some of them require a boost to take you into metal territory, but most of us have a boost or three laying around.

So my question is what is the purpose of a preamp pedal? I see manufacturers making them, so someone is buying them. Is it just for another flavor for fun, or is someone trying to replace a high gain amp with a power amp and preamp pedal(s)?

IME its to get a different sound (that isn't your MAIN sound) in a relatively cheap, effective way

 

[RaceU4her]

I have a couple distortion pedals that sound great and are a cheap way for a different flavor

 

[mrhiwatt]

My main sound is Friedman IR-D into headrush frfr. My other tone is ENGL Fireball IR into frfr or into power amp into 1x12. Using a MOOER baby bomb 30 power amp. Sounds good and is loud. Only play at home.
Digging using these preamp pedals
MrHiwatt

 

[tallcoolone]

Just picked up an AM4--at $700 it pretty much annihilates the preamp pedals on the market. For high gain stuff it is the tits. My IR-D is on Reverb

 

[Smash]

I have a couple distortion pedals that sound great and are a cheap way for a different flavor

I have used distortion pedals into a clean amp. And they sound pretty cool for sure. But if you played it in same room as some of the top high gain amps, it just seems lacking.
I am not arguing it isn't usable. Maybe it is just that I don't really look for variety as much as trying to find MY sound.

IME its to get a different sound (that isn't your MAIN sound) in a relatively cheap, effective way

This is what I figured must be the case with guys that gig or just like variety. I was just wondering if people actually found this as a way to make their main sound more effectively than a cohesive amp. I understand the cheap factor for sure if one just grabs a preamp pedal to run into their cheap amp's loop or a dedicated power amp and just call it a day

 

[cardinal]

I think it's just a reasonably-priced way to try new things. If we were all "practical" musicians, we'd just use a 5153 or the modeler/profiler with our preferred workflow and go. Those certainly are good enough. But of course we don't because it's fun to use something different.

 

[cobrahead1030]

Most of the desirable high gain amps work best in loud band settings, which a lot of players don’t utilize every day.

So having a 50 or 100w forever amp to use at home becomes a challenge. There are some great load boxes & attenuators that make them more useful in that context, but you’re still not getting the most bang for your buck.

That’s where the pedals & clean amps can really shine. You can get a pretty great tone at lower volume with a deluxe or Princeton and a nice high gain pedal. Even for guys that play out, a lot of venues aren’t fans of bands running loud half stacks these days.

It’s also a lot more affordable.

 

[Spaceboy]

Preamp and distortion pedals have come a long way since the old days. You can absolutely get great tones through an effects loop, a clean amp, or IRs. The feel is differently than a tube amp, but not necessarily bad depending on what you like. I’m actually about to switch to a preamp pedal based stereo rig for one of my bands, mostly because we do some unorthodox things with our music.