Whats a good tube preamp?

[taxistationary]

I've been thinking about buying a tube preamp for my Roland JC-120. Somethings i've been thinking about are:
1. Hughes & Kettner Tubeman
2. Lee Jackson/Perfect Connection GP-1000
3. POD Pro or PODxt (yes i know, not tube)
4. Peavey RockMaster
5. Rocktron Intellifex (older version)

If anyone has had experince with any of these, PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

[rodrigo_echeverri]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Originally posted by john:
5. Rocktron Intellifex (older version)

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">WTF?... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

My voodu would have been the one... but it is gone now (10 minutes ago)... whooooaaaaaaa.....

Look into a Carvin Quad X man!... look at the Thread here about them... not very often you find that much praise for a US$300 piece of gear.

[ May 11, 2003, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: rodrigo_echeverri ]

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Strangely, just recently is the first time I've EVER heard people talk so much about the Carvin...

[rodrigo_echeverri]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

StuTDavis pointed that preamp out... I didn't know it either... that's why I decided to do research on it and the more I hear the more impressed I am.

I will give a thorough report when I get the chance to play with it... I will also record some and post...

The most impressive statement is that jgcable plays Metallice/Master of puppets through channel 4 with the gain set at 4!... no "11" needed there eh!... that is just a consequence of the thing having 9 tubes in it!.. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ May 11, 2003, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: rodrigo_echeverri ]

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

ehh, your Voodu did that stuff. Master of puppets doesn't impress much.

Gain has to be useable. My CAE has so much unuseable gain, it's funny. I run mine quite low in the gain dept.

At least the Carvin is true tube and not any DSP. For some reason though, I thought before, you wanted something with effects. Hence my advice to the voodu.

Then, I thought you were wanting White Lion? Now you want MOP? I'm confused...

[Infernal Death]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Hmm i am not that familiar with Rocktron stuff but isn't the Intellifex "just" a effect unit ? From your post i guess you want a full preamp with gain settings and so on. That's not exactly what the Intellifex is about (from what i remember). So better check it if it's really what you are looking for. Also no tubes here from what i remember.
Maybe you want to look into the Soldano SP-77 and the ADA MP-1 for tube preamps. Sometimes there is also the Hafler/Bogner preamp out there. Maybe it's worth considering.

Flo

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Intellifex is a strictly a Time Based Effects unit. Choruses, reverbs, delays, doubling and echoes. With a hush built in. Nice piece for the dough.

[jackson1]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

I wish there was more ENGL E530 users around with comments.

Sorry john, not much useful input there for your list [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Prioritize MIDI capability if you like using many different sounds.

[taxistationary]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Yea sorry about that guys...I meant the voodu valve.
How is that Carvin? I'm looking for something that can produce a brown sound, and also nice cleans. I've also heard good things about the ADA MP-1, but i personally don't know that much about it.

[ May 11, 2003, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: john ]

[rodrigo_echeverri]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Voodu: It is a very nice piece of equipment!... I really recommend it. However I couldnt stand having my effects and my preamp together...

Carvin: hey, I can't tell you any experiences in person with the carvin but go do yourself a favor!... read the manual, check out the features and then look at other preamps!... what a monster this is... it makes everything else in the price range look sooo weak!... the thing is like full midi, has four channels... 5 band EQ... separate effects loops for all the channels... hahaha... channel four has 6 dedicated tubes in cascade!.... that's just hilarious!...

http://www.carvin.com/manuals/quadx.pdf

Sorry, but I am just sooo happy!.... I will shut up now ... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ May 11, 2003, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: rodrigo_echeverri ]

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Ahh, yeah, I always used my intellifex with my Voodu as it was already programmed with all my stuff. I only used the effects for a week or so when I was without the intellifex. I looked at the preamp from that point of view. It really is good to have them seperated. But, for some one with a limited budget or space, it fills out the needed extras for a fair price.

Post clips of the Carvin...

I remember when they came out!!! And always wondered about them. But really, I've played the
MESA Quad and it did not impress me. My CAE slaughters those in tone and gain. Still, I'm curious.

[taxistationary]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Well Rodrigo, that carvin might be good for the price. BUT, a Lee Jackson GP-1000 goes for about $200, and i've heard that preamp is VERY good.

[rodrigo_echeverri]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

John: I will post clips of the Carvin, promise.

Other John: Yeah, I am looking at that Lee Jackson and it looks cool. How much do you think the Carvin is though?...

Look at this:

Completed items: Quad X

Yeah, I guess they are more expensive... I was looking for the GP-1000 and couldn't find any though!...

By the way, congrats on your new swwweeeeetttt axe!... [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[ May 11, 2003, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: rodrigo_echeverri ]

[taxistationary]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Thanks!
There's 2 GP-1000's on ebay right now. Here's the link to one of them... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=10171

[rodrigo_echeverri]

Re: Whats a good tube preamp?

Loudness... [img]graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

You have said the magic words, I will shut up now.. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Only one channel though...