Pedal as preamp?

[Artie]

I'm kinda embarrassed to ask this. I should know better. But I want to make sure I'm not overlooking anything before I blow something up. I have a certain 112 combo amp that has pre-out/power-in jacks. The power-in goes to a Bogner tube amp. Am I correct that I can run my Palladium/EVH 5150/BBE Acoutimax/Boss GT-001, etc., into the power-in and let the pedal be the front end?

Thanks all.
Artie

 

[devastone]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Yes, people do it all the time. That is the equivalent of an fx loop, correct? If it is an electric guitar amp, not sure an acoustic will sound that great through it, at least it won't have a full range sound like an acoustic through a PA, it will still sound like an acoustic through an electric guitar amp.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

I suppose you could call it that, but it isn't labeled "Send/Return". It's actually labeled "Preamp Out / Power Amp In". (It's a Line 6 Spider Valve 112.) :wall:

I intend on using it pure electric, but just wanted to make sure I could use my Palladium, et al., as a front end.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

There's a quite famous video about a guy running an MT-2 as a preamp. I don't think you should have any issues.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Cool. That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Yeah, you can totally do this. This is the appeal of a pedal like a Palladium- you can fundamentally change the sound of your amp by changing the preamp.

 

[devastone]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

I suppose you could call it that, but it isn't labeled "Send/Return". It's actually labeled "Preamp Out / Power Amp In". (It's a Line 6 Spider Valve 112.) :wall:

That's what a fx loop is, a send from the preamp and a return before the power amp, although some manufacturers label it as preamp out/power amp in, I think Peavey used to do that too.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

That's good to know. I always thought that "send/rtn" was somewhere in the middle of a preamp section. I hate getting old.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

The aforementioned famous video is Ola England using a Metal Zone as you’re describing to get some pretty brutal tones. The pedal sounds way better in this manner, and I bet you’re Palladium will too.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Not only the Palladium, but the Acoustimax too. I haven't posted about it here yet, but while it's intent is to be an acoustic preamp, it's also killer for electric. Sweet, clean, and versatile, while being one of the best implementations of the Sonic Maximizer I've heard yet. (And I have several.)

I'll look for that video.

Edit: Found it. I've seen this before. Cool video. I found it before because I have a Metal Zone.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Yes, just want to mention that this was the origin and specialty of the great Tech21 Sansamp line (get it's "SANS" AMP as in "without AMP" -either without power amp by using the SAMSAMP pedal direct out and a DI box into a Recorder or Mixer input -OR without a PRE AMP by using the Sansamp direct into a power amp and avoiding a regular guitar amp or combo circuitry.

http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/index.html

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Miss my Sansamp Tri AC a lot.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

I SO want to add a Tech 21 to my stable. GAS'ing for a Blonde.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

I was such an idiot with crappy tone back in the day. I ditched the Tri AC because the Mesa setting wasn't brutal metal.

 

[LLL]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

More examples of stomps that are preamps (I have 'em) to use in front of amp:

Badgerplex Trilogy (true EP-3 circuit preamp)
Badgerplex 1011 (AIWA 1011 tape deck preamp a la Ritchie Blackmore)

 

[LLL]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

If you have 2 amps with FX loops, you can theoretically (works with some, not all) take the FX loop send (preamp signal) from the 1st amp and put it into the FX loop return (to power amp) of the 2nd amp.

Maybe you want to try a different preamp section, or power amp section or vice-versa...

You could take a stomp preamp and put it into the FX loop return of an amp as well.

So many configuration options out there that a lot of people don't consider.

 

[devastone]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

That's good to know. I always thought that "send/rtn" was somewhere in the middle of a preamp section. I hate getting old.

Yeah, I've seen some circuits with fx loops in different places in the preamp, even some before the tone controls, but most are between the master volume and the power section.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Cool. I'll play with this tomorrow.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

that should sound pretty sweet with the tube power section.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Pedal as preamp?

Not all pedals can be used as standalone preamps into FX returns, though. Some are just not voiced for it. The MXR EVH, for example, is a little too dark and sounds muddy when run through the effects loop rather than the front end.