Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I've narrowed my search for a preamp, down to only those that are floor-based preamps. The Engle 430 that speed2dirt had mentioned sounds really apppealing but its out of production and hard to find used.

So I am currently considering the AMT SS-30, to use for my clean tones. It's clean channel sounds the "cleanest" to my ears, out of AMT's whole product line and other stuff I've checked out. All their other preamp pedals seem to have more grit in their clean channel tone, than the SS-30.

Is there any other pedal-based preamp with superb clean tones, that you would recommend I consider? I've already checked out the [Edited] Hughes & Kettner Tubeman, ISP Theta preamp, Lehle Sunday Driver, ADA APP-1, Effectrode Blackbird and EHX Microamp.

The ideal candidate would have two channels, one clean and one overdrive. And if it is multi-channel, it must have separate eq's, gain and volume for each channel.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Look at Tech 21.

Bill

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Not sure if any of these will fit soley for CLEAN tones, but here are some attractive preamp pedals:

Tube-based
Koch PedalTone: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Feb02/articles/kochpedaltone.asp
Mesa-Boogie V-Twin: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1994_articles/jun94/mesaboogie.html
Seymour Duncan Twin Tube Classic: http://www.electric-guitar-review.com/2009/10/26/review-seymour-duncans-twin-tube-classic-overdrive/

No tubes
ISP Theta: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ISP_Technologies_Introduces_the_Theta_Preamp_Pedal
ADA APP-1: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ADA_APP_1_Pedal_Review
Xotic Effects AC Booster Plus: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/xotic-effects-ac-plus-1
Randall RG13: [video]http://www.guitarworld.com/review-randall-amplifiers-rg13-three-channel-1-watt-amp[/video]

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Look at Tech 21.

Bill

Bill, I am really liking what I am hearing in the Tech 21 Blonde demo videos. It's not 2 channel, but since I can get one used for around only $100 vs. $274 for the AMT SS-30, that leaves me good funds left over to buy the ideal overdrive pedal. Thank you, sir!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

The Blonde pedal is great. Another Tech21 choice is the Flyrig5, coming out soon. It has a Blonde pedal, with reverb, and a Plexi pedal (with dedicated hot switch) built in. It sounded amazing at NAMM.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Bill, I am really liking what I am hearing in the Tech 21 Blonde demo videos. It's not 2 channel, but since I can get one used for around only $100 vs. $274 for the AMT SS-30, that leaves me good funds left over to buy the ideal overdrive pedal. Thank you, sir!

I am resurrecting this thread because I renewed my search for a clean preamp pedl. I did try the Tech 21 Blonde a few months ago and thought it lacked headroom - that was based on trying it as a feed into my Fender BDRI's power amp in as well as into the BDRI's input jack.

What got me interested in this again, is I tried a Randall RG-13 preamp at home the other day, doing so primarily out of interest in its distortion tones. Suprisingly, I really dug the clean tones achieved by using Channel 1 on the RG-13 and feeding that into the power amp in on my Fender BDRI. That clean tone is pretty much what I am after in a clean preamp pedal, and hearing how much better my clean tones could be versus straight out of the amp, made me to want to really square this away and get the right preamp pedal. But I can't justify keeping the big and bulky Randall RG-13 if I am not going to use either of the two distortion channels (which I didn't like). So the search goes on, and any of your suggestions for preamp pedals to try are appreciated.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

The Blonde pedal is great. Another Tech21 choice is the Flyrig5, coming out soon. It has a Blonde pedal, with reverb, and a Plexi pedal (with dedicated hot switch) built in. It sounded amazing at NAMM.

Hadn't seen this thread when it was initially posted, but I now looked up the "Tech 21 Fly Rig 5" (which still seems unavailable) and really liked it's demo....I mean really!
I have a JOYO American Sound, which is supposed to be a clone of the Tech21 Blonde. I love it's sound, BUT it is 'hissy' and must be accompanied by a noise reduction pedal.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Does the AMT-30 have better clean than the AMT F1 or V1? What kind of clean sound are you after? Did you try the AMT-SS20 too? How good is the clean of the AMT SS-20 compared to the F1 and the ISP Theta? Can you share a description? Which one is the best platform for stomp boxes?

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Does the AMT-30 have better clean than the AMT F1 or V1? What kind of clean sound are you after? Did you try the AMT-SS20 too? How good is the clean of the AMT SS-20 compared to the F1 and the ISP Theta? Can you share a description? Which one is the best platform for stomp boxes?

I have hands-on experience with only the Tech 21 Blonde, the AMT SS-30 Bulava, and the Randall RG-13. For all the others, my conclusions are based on the audio and video demos I have found on the Web. How is that AMT F1 working for you? I have been very tempted to try one since learning more bout them from your post a few weeks back about the special switching feature it has....

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Kingswebe, I am still debating on what to buy. I was so willing to buy a marshall then an F1 but my bad knee made me think this twice. I am amateur player but I dont wanna be confined to play low volume home for the hassel of heavy amps. I have decided to go instead for lightweigth rig so I want a pedal board based preamp and power amp and stil be able to use regular stomp box to fill the gap the preamp may not be able to fill. So far I like the AMT SS-20 demos cause of its real tube vibe but it s no in stock. I may be able to try a ISP Theta.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

Kingswebe, I am still debating on what to buy. I was so willing to buy a marshall then an F1 but my bad knee made me think this twice. I am amateur player but I dont wanna be confined to play low volume home for the hassel of heavy amps. I have decided to go instead for lightweigth rig so I want a pedal board based preamp and power amp and stil be able to use regular stomp box to fill the gap the preamp may not be able to fill. So far I like the AMT SS-20 demos cause of its real tube vibe but it s no in stock. I may be able to try a ISP Theta.

I hope the SS20 comes back in stock for you soon. want to try an ISP Theta, too. If you try either of them (or the F1), please post how you liked them. And good luck!

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

For a clean preamp... I don't think it gets any better than the Ethos Clean.

The best clean tone in the world and the Speaker Simulator output is a KILLER idea. I think they are taking pre-orders for shipment in a couple of months or maybe even less.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

For a clean preamp... I don't think it gets any better than the Ethos Clean.

The best clean tone in the world and the Speaker Simulator output is a KILLER idea. I think they are taking pre-orders for shipment in a couple of months or maybe even less.

I just heard Bret King demo and it sounds sweet. It is a shame there is not dealer here in Mexico and the overseas shiping price can go stupid high then douple or triple the price, but If that was not the case this would be a serious contendent!!! At least for me here in Mexico, maybe Kingswebe can try it and let us know what he thinks about it, it is his thread after all

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

The first thing that came to my mind when I read the title of this thread is the Tech 21 Blonde. The Liverpool is also very nice on cleaner settings.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

My opinion is that all of them color the tone and compress too much. I prefer to have a separate clean amp w/reverb, and then use the preamps for gain tones only. Clean preamp sections can work, but to me they never sound open and dynamic enough......nothing like a Fender combo.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

the seymour duncan twin tube blue has a really nice clean channel. bright open and chimey

 

[briggleman]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

the seymour duncan twin tube blue has a really nice clean channel. bright open and chimey

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

My local music store has both the twin tube Classic and the Blue for $79 and $100 respectively in the used pedal dept. Let me know and I will send you their contact info.

Your call.

Brad

 

[jeremy]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

i have one of each already but thanks. over all i prefer the ttc but i use fender amps so my clean tones are just fine as they are.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

the seymour duncan twin tube blue has a really nice clean channel. bright open and chimey

But his question was about preamps, ain't that kind of pedal gonna sound different than expected when used like a preamp (into power amp, FX return) ? It is my understanding the the goal of using preamps is to plug them into power amps and make your rig more portable. That way if you pick the right preamp you can get lots of clean headroom on high volume which is also the reason why I started reading about using preamps + power amps.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Pedal-based preamp for CLEAN tones

But his question was about preamps, ain't that kind of pedal gonna sound different than expected when used like a preamp (into power amp, FX return) ? It is my understanding the the goal of using preamps is to plug them into power amps and make your rig more portable. That way if you pick the right preamp you can get lots of clean headroom on high volume which is also the reason why I started reading about using preamps + power amps.

Yep, you are right, he sure did.... and then he mentions the AMT series and that's a lot of buck for the bang.
You can pick up one of the old SD Twin tube Classics or Blues that do exactly what he wants for a lot less and they use tubes too! When set up, they delivery very clean tones and then have a second channel for the grind. So you tell me.... where did we go wrong??? OH, they are pre-amps, in every sense of the word, with the gain component built in for the 1st or 2nd channel he is looking for. The AMT's will give a lot more control, but bang for the buck and what he wants to do..... I know where I would spend my money..... but alas we can only offer words of encouragement and direction. Each must take his own path to enlightenment.