Rack Preamp help please!

pinto79

pinto79

New member
Hey all. I have been using a Marshall JMP-1 preamp as my main tone for about 3 years now. A few days ago it bit the dust and repairing it would exceed it's replacement value. So I'm looking to replace it with something different. Problem is, I can't think of many decent rack preamps.

One that is on my radar is the Engl E530, but I'm not completely sold on it. Can anyone offer any suggestions? Budget isn't a huge concern right now, just trying to figure out what is out there.

Thanks!
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

I am not sure about what you are looking for as far as functionality goes. I have had a ton of guitar preamps and the one I have liked the best is the Chandler Tube Driver. It is no frills, no midi. It does have the warmest creamy sound and beautiful dynamics. It is very Marshall like in the sound and the controls. There are no presets and it is 100% analog but the sound is mind blowing.

Chandler1.jpg
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

At this point I don't really know what level of function I want. A big thing would be a good drive sound that takes pedals well. A good clean would be useful too but I can work around that. What I would love would be something along the lines of a Fender Deluxe and a Marshall 2203 (JCM800) in a single rack space. :)

The tube driver sounds interesting... I'll look into it.
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

Pinto, check out the Kasha Rockmod II. It does exactly what you are looking for. 3 channels but 1 1/2 rack spaces (most likely for cooling reasons). I have one which I'm sort of passively selling recently. Killer preamp with some history. Mine is actually one of the golden units since it has some of the last mods before they took a gap in production for like 10 years. I have the II+c version.

rockmod.jpg
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

Mesa has a few decent ones. Peavey Rockmaster is all tube. AMT makes a rackmount preamp as well.
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

I'm still rather fond of my elderly MESA/Boogie Quad pre-amp. (The old bugger needs a service.) Its little brother, the Studio Pre-Amp might fit the bill.
 
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Re: Rack Preamp help please!

For what it's worth, I use my gsp 1101 more than my jmp-1; on the 68 and 77 Marshall sims. I like the jmp, but the digitech has what the French call a certain I-don't-know-what.
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

Funkfingers said:
I'm still rather fond of my elderly MESA/Boogie Quad pre-amp. (The old bugger needs a service.) It's little brother, the Studio Pre-Amp might fit the bill.
Click to expand...
Yes. I have a Quad and I love it. You'll likely need a switcher for it, tons of MIDI ones out there, Octopus style. It's weird if you want to footswitch it with 1/4" jacks, switching turns each channel on. You can leave multiple channels on, but if you want to quickly switch from one channel to another you'd have to hit two footswitches.

I had a JMP-1 and later got an ADA MP-1. The reason I sold the JMP-1 was because it was worth more than the ADA, but I did really close, critical A/B tests against the ADA and for the types of sounds I wanted to get out of the JMP, the ADA did them as well.

I've had a ton of tube pres as well. Hafler T2, Hughes & Kettner Attax, lots more. The Mesa Studio is great too.
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

I still have my ADA MP-1 that I bought from Bob Hartman of Petra and I have an H&K Attax, but neither of them fit the bill for my every day stuff.

I actually came across a JCM900 SL-X in extremely nice condition that I have decided to buy. So it's back to a head for me! I'm going to run a rack alongside it for my Wireless receivers, tuner and a couple of rack effect units along with a Bass GX700 that I'll setup to A/B for clean. I'm thinking to drag the 1959RR out of the bedroom and have three half-stacks in my jam space and pick between them. I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thanks for the suggestions! I really liked the Kasha unit and it will go on my list of preamps to acquire!
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

Mesa Boogie Triaxis. Try to get Version 2.0 without the fat mod for the most versatility. (PM me if you want version details and why) I have this paired with a 2:90 power amp, but you don't have to do that. It sounds great and you can get almost any sound you want. Despite what the manual says, it doesn't sound quite like any particular Mesa amp, but pays decent tribute to many of the Mark series. You must of course like the Mesa sound. If you don't, then its not for you. You can get them used for $700-$800.

I had a JMP-1 some years back. It wasn't too bad, but the Mesa blows it out of the water. The same for the Peavey Rockmaster. Had one of those, and its not bad, but doesn't hold a candle to the Triaxis.
 
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Re: Rack Preamp help please!

The Marshall JMP-1 was a fine idea but contained far too many ICs to faithfully reproduce the tone of classic Marshall amplifiers without adding a tizzy edge to the overdrive.
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

LTF said:
I'm just going to lay it out here...

According to the Suck Tone® Vicious Circle Theorem, your needs would best be served by acquiring, simply enough:

1) Fender Deluxe
2) Marshall 2203

... or vice-versa.

If that's what you really want, why not get the real thing? Everything else will pale in comparison (Suck Tone®) and will be band-aid purchases.
Click to expand...

Well sure... that would be the best. I was looking for the versatility of a rack arrangement. I bought a JCM900 SL-X and then promptly returned it... the FX loop is unusable, yet vital to my rig...

So I'm back at square one...
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

uOpt said:
What's wrong with original gizmo?
Click to expand...

It stopped working. My tech, who has much experience with these says that the troubleshooting would outweigh the cost of replacing the PCB ($400 +tax for me).

I don't want to spend the $400 on the unit. I'd rather replace it with something different for a change of scenery. :)
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

pinto79 said:
It stopped working. My tech, who has much experience with these says that the troubleshooting would outweigh the cost of replacing the PCB ($400 +tax for me).

I don't want to spend the $400 on the unit. I'd rather replace it with something different for a change of scenery. :)
Click to expand...

Well if he didn't troubleshoot how does he know that a new PCB is needed? :)

I mean not that I argue you should get something different. You can always flip back later.
 
Re: Rack Preamp help please!

ADA. Have had the same one since they first came out. Put a BBE in line and its golden.

Got a spare last year for tinkering and testing new pickups on recordings. Did the battery mod and the noise mod on it and it's even better now.

Need to do the same on the main one as well.
 
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