Tube Preamps....

[Schecter006Elite]

I am thinkin about geting a tube preamp like the Mesa V-twin or The Ibanez one(i forget what its called) My friend said that it wont sound right on my solid state amp (marshall mg100dfx) and that they are used for mostly tube amps. I want one so i can have tube gain when I use my amps distortion for better distrtion and boost my output for soloing. Am I looking for the right thing and is my friend right? Help!

 

[Gary Ladd]

Re: Tube Preamps....

I am thinkin about geting a tube preamp like the Mesa V-twin or The Ibanez one(i forget what its called) My friend said that it wont sound right on my solid state amp (marshall mg100dfx) and that they are used for mostly tube amps. I want one so i can have tube gain when I use my amps distortion for better distrtion and boost my output for soloing. Am I looking for the right thing and is my friend right? Help!

Well, welcome to the world of tubes...

First off, you're friend may be right. Tube preamps are designed to be used as an exclusive preamp going straight into a power amp, but if your amp has a "preamp-IN" input you can use your amp as a poweramp with speaker cabinet.

Actually, what you want is exactly how I ended up getting into tube preamps about 15 years ago...and I never went back to conventional amps since (rack gear only).

Believe it or not, if you buy a good tube preamp it will blow away the preamp section in your amp, so you won't miss it...the next stage for you will be "Do I want a killer EL84 power-amp to go with my killa pre?" LOL :laugh2:

BTW, I have been using a Carvin Quad-X preamp for about 12 years now, and I'd never want anything else, except the other half of my tone, Pod XT Pro modeler

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Tube Preamps....

Gary's hit the nail on the head... unless your amp has a preamp IN jack you probably won't be able to use it properly. I think it's better to find a good amp you like rather than a seperate preamp and power amp.. of course that allows for more tonal choice I would think.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Tube Preamps....

you can put the output of a tube preamp into the effects return of that amp ... in fact, a cool thing to try would be to use an A/B/Y box to split your guitar signal, then run one output to the amp's input and another to the tube preamp ... then run the tube preamp into the effects return .. you could tweak with the parallel effects return blend to keep a clean tone from the amp (with effects, if they sound good) and 'doubled' with the parallel smokin' tone from the tube preamp

i bet it'd sound sweet ... let us know how it goes

cheers
t4d

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Tube Preamps....

if you get the vtwin you can run into the front of your amp and use it as your distortion and forget the amps distortion. one of the guitar players from the darkness did this. ran a vtwin into the front of a plexi. you could do a similar set up. if it doesnt sound good going into the front run into the fx return on the back of the amp like what has been said eariler. if you get the vtwin though i wouldnt bother with the distortion that is on the amp. and if you want a boost for solos get a overdive pedal. or just set the vtwin up for it.

also might want to try and find the rack version of the vtwin it lets you use all 3 channels instead of just assigning just 2 for the pedal version. you could also look for a peavey rockmaster preamp and get a xlr-1/4" cord and run from the mixer out to the front of the amp. there are many possibilities. good luck!