Rackmount Tube Preamp Suggestions?

[projectk2r4]

I've got rack system that I used to have a Voodoo GCX, Rectifier Recording Preamp, G-Major 2 and Mesa Boogie Stereo 2:Fifty in. I got rid of the Rectifier Recording Preamp and want some other tube preamp to stick in there. What options can you guys recommend that I could go with besides the obvious Mesa and Engl?

What have you used and liked and why? I primarily do Hard Rock and Metal stuff. My main amps are a Mesa Mark V, Triple Rec and 6505+ so I'd rather get something very different.

 

[Ventura]

Hey Braddah...

Seriously, the best bang for the buck (and even regardless of the money) is the Mako Mak4 in my HUMBLE opine. Thing crushes. Makoplex is a sick channel. Crunch is an amazingly versatile channel. Dorado is djent and high powered high gain seering hot heaven, and the Clean is super clean.

I ended up re-glassing mine when it arrived - played with a bunch of different preamps tubes, and ended up going with Gold Lion ECC83's in all sockets except the clean channel (which I used a Jan-Philips 5751 for) and the PI/buffer, which was a Tung-Sol 12AX7 if my memory serves me correct.

Just buy it, and bottle it to your own tastes. Terrific preamp. Andrew is a great guy to work with, and although the biggest complaint about the Mak4 was its 4U real estate usage, he's now retrofitting the original Mak4s into 2U chassis for a nominal charge.

Peace,
Mo

 

[rlord1974]

This is easy. Bogner Fish, hands down. One of the top 3 preamps ever made and fits your needs perfectly.

 

[screamindemon]

Langner !

 

[Anonymous]

ada mp1 on the cheap...can't be beat!

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Rocktron Piranha, have one, works great.

 

[Anonymous]

Marshall JMP-1...oh!! I happen to be selling a clean one!!

 

[mboogman]

I'd say an Egnater M4, if you can find one. Can be anything you want it to be. Still the centerpiece of my rig.

 

[Ventura]

I'll second the Fish... But I'm still holding true to the Mak4

 

[Shark Diver]

Soldano X88
CAE 3+ or SE 3+

I like the Soldano the most for tone across the board, had Dave Freidman do a little mod for better cleans.

The 3+ is much more organic than the SE - which is more modern.

The X88 and 3+ are great open, articulate crunch preamps, the high gains are tight and harmonic.

Tubes make all the difference in these, as does the power amp used.

 

[Ventura]

Soldano X88
CAE 3+ or SE 3+

Money reply.

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

Soldano X88
CAE 3+ or SE 3+

APPROVED

 

[GtarLover]

So I would agree with the comments you have here.

I own and love the Bogner Fish, Soldano X99, Mako Mak4, ADA MP1-3TM.
They are all excellent pre's and can cover other tones than you already have with your amp heads. Never tried the CAE 3+ or SE 3+...

The question is what's you budget?

Soldano X99 is most expensive (discontinued around $3600 used)
Fish is next (re-issues are available for about $2000 used)
Mak4 is third (can be had for about $800 used)
ADA MP1-3TM is least expensive (are available for about $350 or so)

Hope this helps, anyone please correct me if any of these prics are off...

Have fun assembling your new rack.

 

[Spaceboy]

I'm fairly certain you can get any of the Peters amps in preamp form.

 

[LukeCurd]

I'm fairly certain you can get any of the Peters amps in preamp form.

http://www.petersamplification.com/preamps.htm

http://www.larryamps.de/

 

[firegate]

It's not quite the tone monster that a X99 or Fish is, but check out the Marshall JMP-1. They can be had on the cheap, get some great tones and are road-tested - Dave Murray and Adrian Smith have toured with them for years. Would do a good job of filling a different sonic space from your Mesa and Peavey gear but still fit in well with the rock/metal vibe.

 

[glpg80]

Soldano X88
CAE 3+ or SE 3+

APPROVED

This!

Also a BIG + to peters amplification.

And dont hold your breathe on a larry's preamp. He lurks here but it has been 2 years since i heard anything about any product releases or any updates. He admitted himself he only builds about 4 units a year because he trusts no one else to do the labor grunt work.

 

[LukeCurd]

Soldano X88
CAE 3+ or SE 3+

APPROVED

This!

Also a BIG + to peters amplification.

And dont hold your breathe on a larry's preamp. He lurks here but it has been 2 years since i heard anything about any product releases or any updates. He admitted himself he only builds about 4 units a year because he trusts no one else to do the labor grunt work.

That's good to know. Then Peters and Mako are the only preamps still being produced today.

 

[daveg62]

For what it's worth I've used the JMP-1, Piranha, and mesa triaxis. The triaxis is the most versitile tone-wise and really can be further customized with specific preamp tubes. You'll get a lot of channels, and a lot of different sounds. The piranha is much better sounding than the JMP-1 in my opinion, sounds really good with darker tubes in it since it's a kinda bright preamp. Decent cleans, crunch and lead channels. JMP-1 isn't bad but kinda gives you one good channel and that's about it.

 

[pstar]

Kemper works as a preamp and will give u unlimited amount of tones. You don't have to sample any amps, use the available library.
Boogie v-twin rack preamp.
Different approach without being rack able foot pedal devices. Can all be racked also, selves in rack and controlled by various foot controllers.
Another route use a line level device to boast signal into power amp adding various drive pedals (multiple units )before the boast. Simplest form something like lehle Sunday driver it's straight preamp with no coloration. There are other similar devices.