tube preamp?

**asedas** · 04-09-2010, 05:23 PM

Hi folks,

I'm thinking about some tube preamp, to make the sound fat and warm instead of guitar or amp. Would like to use it on stage with ss amp. Is it worth money? Has anybody use tube preamp? I looked over web and there is so many tube preamps that I will appreciate any review

regards,
asedas

P.S.
would like to use it only for clean, jazz sound. no overdrive, crunch, etc...

**amusiathread** · 04-10-2010, 04:17 AM

Funny this topic got posted, I'm in exactly the same boat needing a nice preamp to warm up one of my solid state amps (clean tones ONLY). I'm not really in the position to build one of my own (don't have the time or the tools), are there any preamps on the market that are particularly good for this application?

**rabbit** · 04-10-2010, 05:30 AM

somewhere in here: EHX.com | Preamps & EQ | Electro-Harmonix

**billkath** · 04-10-2010, 07:10 AM

Just beware of cheapies. Certain manufacturers just put tubes in a "starved plate" circuit. Some just pop a tube in with the tube not doing much at all apart from to look good. Some have been known to put LED's behind that tube, to give it that nice glow! I kid you not. In this configuration, the Tubes are actually not amplifying anything.
Now-some of these can actually sound quite good for rock distortion,albeit a solid-state distortion, but in my opinion won't give you what you want-that "warmth" that you require.

**Drifter** · 04-10-2010, 12:36 PM

I use the EHX TubeEQ in the FX loop of my Fender Jazz King. It's not plug & play though. I swapped the tubes for JJs and needed quite some time to find the right setting. Since then, I can't imagine playing without it. Subtle to huge improvement in liveliness, depending on the guitar.

**asedas** · 04-11-2010, 04:42 PM

Thank you all for response. I know, that the difference won't be as tube amp. I like my Roland JC60, but sometimes would like to have tube pream on it - just for change a little bit the characteristic of sound amplitude - to keep only clean sound.

thanks you for info and rabbit's link!

**medblues** · 04-11-2010, 04:48 PM

I have a Damage Control Womanizer Preamp pedal with two Electro-Harmonix 12AXYs and a compressor in it and am happy with how it works with my Polytone Mini Brute II.

**Dystonian_Mode** · 04-11-2010, 07:35 PM

I've been using a Presonus Tubepre. Seems to be all I need to add a little extra warmth. I've never used an expensive one before so I can't compare it.

**cosmic gumbo** · 04-11-2010, 08:55 PM

Gosh, I only have to use my guitar's tone control to warm up the sound. Could it be that cheap and simple?

**Dystonian_Mode** · 04-11-2010, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Gosh, I only have to use my guitar's tone control to warm up the sound. Could it be that cheap and simple?

What kind of amp do you have?

**DRS** · 10-22-2014, 04:01 PM

Bumping an old thread to see if there are any more ideas?

**Teddyfm** · 10-22-2014, 04:15 PM

Getting my Frenzel tube preamp, FM DP1, next week hopefully. Going in to a Mambo 12. Will be interesting to see what it will bring soundwise. Will post my findings here.

Cheers
Ted

**monkmiles** · 10-22-2014, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by DRS

Bumping an old thread to see if there are any more ideas?

The Kingsley Squire seems worthy of a try. I'd like to try one. Pedal sized.

Originally Posted by Teddyfm

Getting my Frenzel tube preamp, FM DP1, next week hopefully. Going in to a Mambo 12. Will be interesting to see what it will bring soundwise. Will post my findings here.

Cheers
Ted

This seems like a great preamp that I'd like to try as well.

**docbop** · 10-22-2014, 07:25 PM

Alembic used to make one that was basically a clone of a Fender Dual Showman pre-amp. Bass players used them a lot tended to be too clean for most guitarists. They popup used from time to time.

**Encinitastubes** · 10-22-2014, 09:37 PM

Has anyone tried a Vox Tonelab. It's not made anymore, but I think has a tube preamp and has a couple amp models. Might be interesting at they are cheap on ebay.

**Spook410** · 10-23-2014, 01:24 AM

There's also the Radial Firefly which is popular with bass players. Would like to try one but they're kind of expensive.

**docbop** · 10-23-2014, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by Spook410

There's also the Radial Firefly which is popular with bass players. Would like to try one but they're kind of expensive.

That's a tube driven DI not a pre-amp. They do make a tube driven TriMode, but more about adding some over drive.

**ESCC** · 10-23-2014, 01:32 PM

I use a BK Butler Real Tube II 922 two channel preamp. It works extremely well going into an SS amp, adds warmth and dynamics missing from SS. They have been out of production for a decade+, can find them used on e-bay for $100 - $200, worth considering.

**Teddyfm** · 10-31-2014, 01:04 PM

So, have tried the preamp out a bit. It goes to an Mambo 12 SS. The Mambo is without a doubt a really good amp in every aspect, but for me, after the honeymoon period, I felt that something was lacking. Call it the "warmth", "classical jazztone" or something equally abstract. For me it was like eating a really good bread without butter

The FM-DP1 is the butter. Not very scientific but there you have it. It is almost noiseless. The first gain tube is an 12AX7. I got an 12AU7 aswell to remove any gain. I havent tried it out yet, as I see no point to at the moment. Silky smooth sound, very impressed. One of the best purchases I have ever made.

I am just loving it. And as always YMMW.

**Frank67** · 10-31-2014, 01:43 PM

Interesting - thanks for sharing! How is the 'Marshall' channel? Does it give these fat overdriven sounds? And is the clean channel 'tweed'ish' or blackfacy?

**Teddyfm** · 10-31-2014, 02:08 PM

Having not had much experience with Marshall amp I cant really say. What I can say is that its quite punchy and the overdrive is there. Its quite bright but the mids are really nice punctuated. As for the F channel, aka Fender, its nice and fat without any booming. Tried both channels at max gain and master at 2 oclock. Perfect. Its like a very well tuned engine.

There are some soundclips at the homepage from a really good player...
https://www.frenzeltubeamps.com/page17.php

Again, pretty much noiseless, just the noise from the Mambo.

Cheers
Ted

**marcwhy** · 10-31-2014, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Teddyfm

So, have tried the preamp out a bit. It goes to an Mambo 12 SS. The Mambo is without a doubt a really good amp in every aspect, but for me, after the honeymoon period, I felt that something was lacking. Call it the "warmth", "classical jazztone" or something equally abstract. For me it was like eating a really good bread without butter

The FM-DP1 is the butter. Not very scientific but there you have it. It is almost noiseless. The first gain tube is an 12AX7. I got an 12AU7 aswell to remove any gain. I havent tried it out yet, as I see no point to at the moment. Silky smooth sound, very impressed. One of the best purchases I have ever made.

I am just loving it. And as always YMMW.

I have a Frenzel "Super Deluxe Plus w/ reverb" amp, which uses the same pre-amp setup as yours. Great amp, great price.

Enjoy!

**Teddyfm** · 11-01-2014, 03:16 AM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

I have a Frenzel "Super Deluxe Plus w/ reverb" amp, which uses the same pre-amp setup as yours. Great amp, great price.

Enjoy!

Forgot to the mention the price. 245 plus a power conversion, 295$. Very good value for money.

I have to thank you Marc, as it was your comments that led me to research the Frenzel products. I am pretty sure that if I buy a new amp it will be the Super Deluxe one. If? Who am I kidding?! It is of course when I buy...

**marcwhy** · 11-01-2014, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Teddyfm

Forgot to the mention the price. 245 plus a power conversion, 295$. Very good value for money.

I have to thank you Marc, as it was your comments that led me to research the Frenzel products. I am pretty sure that if I buy a new amp it will be the Super Deluxe one. If? Who am I kidding?! It is of course when I buy...

yes, who are we fooling? Never "if," always "when" for gear-aholics!

**monkmiles** · 11-04-2014, 02:15 PM

I'm really eyeing these Frenzel heads. Either the preamp DP1 or the 5E3DP. I'm typically a combo player because I don't like to tote the various components (head, cab, reverb, etc). But one of these could sway me, especially if I mainly use it at home.