Preamp pedal?

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

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

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

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.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I played a tube Victory The Jack preamp pedal and the lead channel was great, although the clean channel isn't quite there with the real thing. Overall conclusion, get the real amp if you love that sound. The Jack blows The Kraken out of the water for me in person, preamp pedal or full amp, very tasty.

The current Soldano SLO pedal is closer to the real thing if you have a good power amp. And I'm not willing to spend $4K on a SLO100, so the pedal scratches that itch well enough for me since I'm mostly into Mesa Marks. They recently released a 2-channel version of the SLO pedal also.

Preamp pedals are fine for capturing most of a particular sound you like. But I wouldn't accept one for my main sound.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

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.

I guess I have trouble empathizing with this thought process. Quiet for me is 99 dbs. 105 is a good volume. 112 is heaven.

When I was a drummer, I wanted to play the drums. I am a guitarist now and want to hear and feel the guitar.

All this is in the bedroom. All my friends play loud in their "bedrooms" too. That is where the amp is an experience.

I do have a family and play silent with and ir on the computer when necessary, but it is mainly for composition and practice. It is severely disappointing to play quietly. Sports cars were made to be driven. Amps were made to be played.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I guess I have trouble empathizing with this thought process. Quiet for me is 99 dbs. 105 is a good volume. 112 is heaven.

When I was a drummer, I wanted to play the drums. I am a guitarist now and want to hear and feel the guitar.

All this is in the bedroom. All my friends play loud in their "bedrooms" too. That is where the amp is an experience.

I do have a family and play silent with and ir on the computer when necessary, but it is mainly for composition and practice. It is severely disappointing to play quietly. Sports cars were made to be driven. Amps were made to be played.

And fast cars were meant to be heard also. I am in the Resistance against EVs.

Sometimes when I record late at night, I'll use the preamp out only, so I can hear through the monitors, but it's never as inspiring as going natural and feeling the crushing riffs.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I just feel like as kids, most of us were told to turn it down. I don't understand why anyone would accept that as a man. My hobbies are not ever done halfway. I lift heavy, ride motorcycles and play loud music. I just don't see any reason to be limited when doing something you love.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

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.


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)?

Just a few things come to mind on the choice.

From the manufacturers' points of view there are still quite a few players whose starting point is their clean to vintage cranked amp tones, and who use high gain or fuzz tones just for lead tones. Especially playing covers. For them it makes sense to have a great clean amp that covers those base tones, and a preamp, distortion, or fuzz pedal to cover their dirty needs.

As far as the snake oil part goes, nope. I played a channel switching high gain tube amp rig for decades. My main amp was an indisputable modern classic, a Mesa Dual Rectifier Tremoverb. I've played plenty of Marshalls (JMP, JCM800, JCM900, DSL, TSL, JVM410), Mesas (Mk II-IV, a Mk IIC Coliseum, Triples, Duals, DC5 and 10, Triaxis into Stategy 500), 5150/6505's, VTM 120, a couple Riveras, Bogner Shiva, Fender Super-Sonic, a couple early Wizards, and my Matamp GT150. I'll take my Hiwatt or Reeves Custom 100 with a good distortion pedal, preamp, or fuzz over all of them for both clean and dirty tones.

For me 1st I need a clean tone I love from the amp. After that I like to be able to add different flavors of dirt depending on what I'm playing.

Tbt I'm thinking of selling my Matamp because 9/10 times if I'm playing through an amp I play my Hiwatt.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

Just a few things come to mind on the choice.

From the manufacturers' points of view there are still quite a few players whose starting point is their clean to vintage cranked amp tones, and who use high gain or fuzz tones just for lead tones. Especially playing covers. For them it makes sense to have a great clean amp that covers those base tones, and a preamp, distortion, or fuzz pedal to cover their dirty needs.

As far as the snake oil part goes, nope. I played a channel switching high gain tube amp rig for decades. My main amp was an indisputable modern classic, a Mesa Dual Rectifier Tremoverb. I've played plenty of Marshalls (JMP, JCM800, JCM900, DSL, TSL, JVM410), Mesas (Mk II-IV, a Mk IIC Coliseum, Triples, Duals, DC5 and 10, Triaxis into Stategy 500), 5150/6505's, VTM 120, a couple Riveras, Bogner Shiva, Fender Super-Sonic, a couple early Wizards, and my Matamp GT150. I'll take my Hiwatt or Reeves Custom 100 with a good distortion pedal, preamp, or fuzz over all of them for both clean and dirty tones.

To be fair, that is a pretty damned good base amp to use as a pedal platform. And my one question for you would be, What do you consider high gain? Rock?

I think a lot of times a distortion pedal into a clean amp gives a very good classic rock sound as it is how a lot of the artists did it.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

To be fair, that is a pretty damned good base amp to use as a pedal platform. And my one question for you would be, What do you consider high gain? Rock?

I think a lot of times a distortion pedal into a clean amp gives a very good classic rock sound as it is how a lot of them did it.

Nah, I love old school thrash, doom, stoner rock, some early death metal, punk, some prog metal, hard rock. Don't get me wrong I love a lot of classic rock too, play a few Zeppelin songs, lots of early Sabbath, but mostly heavier stuff.

For high gain tones I use a Soldano SLO pedal, KMA Wurm 2, or one of my fuzz pedals often paired with a Treble Booster.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

I would add I never thought a dirt pedal into a clean amp was lacking for rock. Just for the tight metal sound that I was always looking for.

As far as a fuzz pedal, that is exactly the sound I am trying to get away from with high gain. I like clarity and it is often hard to find the more gain you have.

 

[Drew]

I guess I have trouble empathizing with this thought process. Quiet for me is 99 dbs. 105 is a good volume. 112 is heaven.

When I was a drummer, I wanted to play the drums. I am a guitarist now and want to hear and feel the guitar.

All this is in the bedroom. All my friends play loud in their "bedrooms" too. That is where the amp is an experience.

I do have a family and play silent with and ir on the computer when necessary, but it is mainly for composition and practice. It is severely disappointing to play quietly. Sports cars were made to be driven. Amps were made to be played.

You are playing at 105-112 dB's in your bedroom? Wow. That's impressive.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I would add I never thought a dirt pedal into a clean amp was lacking for rock. Just for the tight metal sound that I was always looking for.

As far as a fuzz pedal, that is exactly the sound I am trying to get away from with high gain. I like clarity and it is often hard to find the more gain you have.

When I'm wanting tight high gain metal tones I generally stick with the SLO pedal, or Wurm 2. When I'm playing doom/stoner metal, or some classic rock it's one of the fuzz pedals.

Nothing I've ever played through crushes for heavily distorted tones at loud volume like the Hiwatt and Reeves do. They have a level of punch, and clarity to them that is unique. I also briefly owned a Hi-Tone DR103 clone, and it was the same sound.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

You are playing at 105-112 dB's in your bedroom? Wow. That's impressive.

Most of the guys I play with do the same thing. If you haven't done it, I strongly recommend. 120 dbs gets a little harsh in a smaller room, but I have done it more than a few times.