Need advice on rack pre to put in front of Hartke LH500 head

[jcburn]

Love the power and for most the sound of my Hartke LH500 head but I'm looking at adding a rack preamp that has...
At least 1 parametric mid control or low and high mid shelving controls (plus bass and treble)....
If not the above a graphic EQ....
I'm looking for a bright/modern tone.
Any suggestions - I know nothing about standalone preamps. I am currently using an MXR M80 and while I like the sound with the colour switch engaged you get a fairly scooped sound with no control over the basic EQ curve. I'm thinking of going a rack pre for my sound and maybe Aguilar Agro for some grit..
OR...
Would a Aguilar Tone Hammer do everything I am asking? I think it might it's just that all the clips on the Aguilar website actually sound nothing like the sound I want, nor do they look like they are EQ'd the way I would.
I'm just a little stuck. No way of trying any of this gear out.
Thanks all.

[jcburn]

Anyone?

[bongomania]

The thing is, you may not be able to make your tone more modern or bright by adding an external preamp or EQ to the head and cab you have. It's like sunglasses--you can't make a dark pair of sunglasses "less dark" by adding a lighter pair of sunglasses on top.

I'd say start with a cheap EQ pedal. That way you can find out for sure whether boosting any highs or upper mids will actually get you a usable bright/modern sound from that amp and cab. If it doesn't work with an EQ pedal, it won't work with any preamp at any price point. So that way if it doesn't work, you're only out the cost of a pedal. You can probably find one used for very cheap, too.

[jcburn]

Yeah good point, although the sound from my amp is great. I dont think I was clear enough. I DO like the sound, just would like the ability to dick around with more EQ versitility. Originally the MXR did it for me but I would like more options than it privides.
The only 2 pedals that would do it to my knowledge are the Tone Hammer or EBS Microbass II, but I would like something in a rack if possible.
The LH500 has volume only, Bass/mids and treble. I would like something that has input gain, master volume and some more control over mids whilst still using the LH500. I really like the generic sound AND the volume from this head, just would like to "add" something overall.

[the low one]

Why not just turn off the color button on the MXR M80 ? I like the M80 and it's a great tool for tweaking the EQ but I also find the color button tone too scooped.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by jcburn

I DO like the sound, just would like the ability to dick around with more EQ versitility. Originally the MXR did it for me but I would like more options than it privides...
The only 2 pedals that would do it to my knowledge are the Tone Hammer or EBS Microbass II, but I would like something in a rack if possible.

Reality check: there are literally hundreds of rack and pedal-format preamps and EQ's to choose from. And the pedals you've named have about the least EQ versatility of any of them.

If you just want more EQ versatility in a rackmount device, then go to any music gear store and ask for a rack EQ. They'll have a few to choose from. Go online and be amazed the selection of rack EQ's. Forget these "preamp pedals" with two or three EQ knobs, they are the wrong tool for the job.

[RickenBoogie]

+1 to both the respondants. The MXR pedal is a good tool, but the color button does the opposite of what you want. Don't press the color button, and then you've got 3 bands of eq right there, for free.