Differences between these tube pres? Art / Presonus / EH 12Ay7

jibreel · #1 08-12-2010, 09:59 AM

I came across an Art Tube MP preamp and I like the sound. So now I am off on my next chase.

I am aware of the need to instal a better tube. Other than that, are any of these other not so expensive tube preamps better than others.

I have read a lot of the threads. Just seeing if there is any additional info.

I am interested in warmth and fatness, not overdrive at all.

Considering the:

Art Tube MP [ which I have ]
Presonus Tubepre
EH 12Ay7 Mic pre [ more expensive ]
Beheringer Mic200

Thanks for any info

bassbrad · #2 08-12-2010, 10:33 AM

The Presonus is nice but I prefer the TubeMP, have not tried the others and while i appreciate the Behringer stuff why bother when the TubeMP is the same or in some cases cheaper. The nice things about the Tube MP are the ease of use, versatility, low cost and they are pretty easy to upgrade using a better tube. I have several around as well as a TPSII all with different tubes. While you can overdrive them a bit they are not really good at distortion but you can get all the warm round tube goodness. On bass I have an older unit with a JAN (Joint Army Navy) tube in it that is very sweet, the tube was more $ than the MP but worth it. They are pretty sweet DI, preamp for acoustic gtr and bass. My wife uses one with her Naint mic for sax and clarinet that needs phantom power.

Swift713 · #3 08-12-2010, 10:55 AM

I have tried the EH 2ube mic pre and it does some wicked overdrive if you run one channel into another.

3506string · #4 08-12-2010, 11:40 AM

I think that the EH unit is supposed to run at full plate voltage. Also you would have to run a DI before it since it only has xlr in and the 1/4" out is not effected by the tube circuit. It is also said to have issues with humming when not connected to a true balanced signal.

The presonus is a nice little box great clean sound. Seems to take well to tube upgrade. The short amount of time i've spend with the behringer wan't enough time to make any conclusion.

jibreel · #5 08-12-2010, 02:23 PM

Thanks all.

Is there a specific Jan tube you would recommend for this unit?

Any other tubes?