Tube Preamp Build Ideas?

[1911A1]

I just bought an 80s or 90s TG Raxx preamp and want to gut it and put something else inside it. I looked at 84's tube preamp, but he says it's not a switchable distortion type thing. I've put a Matchless Hotbox in it already and have ripped that out (too farty and mushy in the low end-I guess the web-based schematics were correct). Does anyone here have any suggestions on a good-sounding preamp that they have TRIED? I have two 12AX7 types to play around with. I'm looking for a good drive but not necessarily metal. Thanks for the info, Pike.

[thermion]

there is a schematic in the library for a pretty straight-forward tube preamp with 2x 12ax7. it states it's not a distortion box but looking at the schematic there are a few places where you could bilk a little more gain out of a given stage. try sovtek 12ax7lps for maximum bark. it's a nice design and the cascading of the stages will help you get the sound you're after.

[1911A1]

Thanks, Thermion.  The preamp you're mentioning was the one I was talking about. I haven't heard this particular preamp so I was wondering how it sounds. Thanks again for the input, Pike.

[EL34]

The pre amps, rack and pedal on my library page do not clip or overdrive like a distortion pedal.

I use the preamp for recording.
The guitar sound that comes out of the preamp is real warm and clean and that goes right into the line in on my computer sound card.

You can get a bit of grit by cranking it all the way up but it's not real nice sounding distortion.

You just need to find a preamp design from some amp that has multi stage overdrive and copy that, although that might be more than two 12ax7's?

[jerrydyer]

EL34 "You can get a bit of grit by cranking it all the way up but it's not real nice sounding distortion. "

I disagree. I think the tube pedal makes a great distortion. I've used it maxed into a stereo effects processor, into the powr section of a 2204. Its killer.
 ,

[1911A1]

Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna try a 2204 or something like that.

Thanks again EL,Therm and Jerry

Regards, Pike.

[EL34]

I guess I meant that it is not a tube screamer type pedal distortion sound or any other distortion pedal type sound.

I guess it overdrives, but I don't use it for that.

I feed the nice warm tube pre amp signal into the computer and then use Guitar rig to color the signal with effects.

[ampgeek]

Any thoughts/experience on how Doug's stereo tube preamp would work with microphone level signals?

Thinking that it might be useful in those cases where you want to stick a mic on a speaker to include it's flavour in the signal path.

TIA,
Dave O.

[EL34]

I have used my stereo tube pre amp many times with a SM57 for voice.

I just plugged into it with a 1/4 hi-lo z adapter

[ampgeek]

Excellent!
Sounds like that lends significant flexibility to the design.  Thinking about not only home recording but live sound support as well.  I have been toying with the following:

guitar---->non-time based effects----->tube amp---->mike on speaker in isolation box---->stereo pre amp (bridged input)---->EQ---->time based effects---->power amp---->speakers

Lots of stuff but I already have most of it.  Just needs some creative packaging to keep it manageable.

Should be able to create some excellent stereo effects even in a small venue!

Thanks Doug,
Dave O.  

[EL34]

I have a Palmer PGA-04.
http://palmergear.com/

No mics, no speaker box, sounds real good but is pretty expensive.

You feed the amp load into it, tweak the knobs to get a great line level signal which you can send to a board/pa or use for home recording.