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Howdy, looking for tube preamp pedal recommendations. Something that I can use for relatively clean applications and high gain as well. I've heard the Verellens are good, interested in the V-Twin as well. What else is out there? Please let me know and thanks for your time.

Aside from the verellen ones I'm super super skeptical of any tube preamp pedal. From the lack of voltage on them not really hitting the tubes hard enough makes it so that a lot of them tend to have the tubes essentially as only decoration. Even if they did provide a difference, having a series of tunes on the ground in a gig seems like a nightmare.

Baroni Lab makes some great tube preamps. I've tried the Hi(tube)-Tube, Custom (Fender) Twin, and Plex(i), and currently use the latter.

They run at real voltages, and are fantastic so long as one does not expect them to sound identical to their parent amps. without the associated power amps, it's not going to be a 1:1 sonic replica.

My one gripe is that the Plex preamp that I use is a two channel model with a single EQ section. I did not get nor use it for two channels-I wanted a clean Plexi preamp to hit with pedals, so I stick to the clean channel-but those wanting to switch channels without tweaking the EQ will likely the frustrated by the increase in treble when hitting the overdrive channel.

Check out the AMT SS20, 12AX7 preamp, with 2+1 channels with separated EQ (clean and drive with 2 stages of gain, crunch and lead).
Send-return for effects (mono, but I never use it) and 2 outputs (1 normal and one with cabinet emulation).
Size is the same as a Electro harmonix Superego (just to give you an idea), come with its own 12VDC power supply (the voltage is internally converted to 250-300V for the valve to work in the right range).
I have one and it sounds really good!

I had a EHX English Muffn a long time ago, I thought it sounded rad.

I could be wrong and encourage others to comments, but i believe any of the "high-voltage" ones mentioned in your previous thread on tube pedals would work fine here.

You could probably pick up a Tube Works Real Tube & Blue Tube for each application for less than any high voltage dual channel thing.
The ones that have the attached wall plug run at 18-ish volts, I think.
I played the Real Tube for years and thought it sounded really nice.

I've got a Verellen Skyhammer preamp and I can tell you it rules. I've used it for recording direct with the addition of a cab sim and into the Fx return of a couple of amps and it pretty much doesn't know how to sound bad.

Effectrode stuff is worth a look.

Sonaboy wrote:You could probably pick up a Tube Works Real Tube & Blue Tube for each application for less than any high voltage dual channel thing.
The ones that have the attached wall plug run at 18-ish volts, I think.
I played the Real Tube for years and thought it sounded really nice.

yea i like my blue tube a lot. it really rips

Sonaboy wrote:You could probably pick up a Tube Works Real Tube & Blue Tube for each application for less than any high voltage dual channel thing.
The ones that have the attached wall plug run at 18-ish volts, I think.
I played the Real Tube for years and thought it sounded really nice.

I don't think these qualify as "preamps", though.

I guess the question is, why are you looking specifically for a "preamp"? What's the application? Are you going for an amp-less rig?

fldrvr wrote:

Sonaboy wrote:You could probably pick up a Tube Works Real Tube & Blue Tube for each application for less than any high voltage dual channel thing.
The ones that have the attached wall plug run at 18-ish volts, I think.
I played the Real Tube for years and thought it sounded really nice.

I don't think these qualify as "preamps", though.

Oh - yeah, that's true. I guess they don't have line level outs. Only the rack versions.

now i'm curious what makes a preamp pedal then?

fldrvr wrote:

Sonaboy wrote: I guess the question is, why are you looking specifically for a "preamp"? What's the application? Are you going for an amp-less rig?

Howdy. This is the exact reason I'm looking into preamps because I'm trying to start up an ampless rig for recording/live purposes.

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone. I greatly appreciate it.

I really dig the SIB! old boxes: fat drive (also clean and great on bass too) and the vari drive.