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Effects people: Help me choose a pedal pre-amp!

Eminor3rd

Eminor3rd

BLAAAAARRGGHH!!
Feb 10, 2008
2,602
1,184
Detroit
#1
I live and play in NYC now, and the thing I'm finding about the small-club circuit in NYC is you can almost never actually use your own amplification. Nearly every place is backlined with no exceptions.

But I'm in a piano trio, and the bandleader continues to stress how important my tone is to our sound since our mix is often pretty sparse. I've never been a pedal guy, but I was talking to a TB'er recently who suggested that I get a good pedal preamp that I liked and utilize the effects loop to bypass whatever rando preamp that's on the head or combo. I like that idea; I'm convinced.

But I need your help, because I don't know anything about these things.

Here's the relevant info:

- I love my Aguilar AG500, so I am of course considering the Tone Hammer, but while I'm sure I'll be satisfied with it, I figure I owe the matter some more exploration. There could be something much better!

- I would love it if the pre include a switchable overdrive. I don't use distortion much, but we have a couple songs where I kick it on for a solo -- it doubles as a source of extra sustain and a critical volume boost. Since its utility is limited, I just have a beater Behringer right now, which I'd love to remove from the chain completely if I can.

- Though the "distortion" thing is a limited use effect for me, I do like a fairly "gritty" normal tone, so something with a gain knob I can use to dial a bit of that in would be preferable.

- Price is a factor, but not a deal-breaker. If the holy grail is $500, then so be it, but if I can get 95% of the tone for $200, I'll do that instead.

- If it matters, I play a 5-string Pedulla Thunderbass primarily fingerstyle, but I'll grab a pick from time to time when I need that tone.

So what do you guys think? What should I try?

Thanks!
 
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#4
I have a lot of pre amps and many will do what you want it to do.

But, the Correct Sound custom beta is amazing. One channel is solid state, one is tube (with a real tube) and it can be stacked, or not and the order can be reversed. You can't go wrong with that one

The Rusty box is another one that will work.
 
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#6
Eminor3rd said:
I live and play in NYC now, and the thing I'm finding about the small-club circuit in NYC is you can almost never actually use your own amplification. Nearly every place is backlined with no exceptions.

But I'm a piano trio, and the bandleader continues to stress how important my tone is to our sound since our mix is often pretty sparse. I've never been a pedal guy, but I was talking to a TB'er recently who suggested that I get a good pedal preamp that I liked and utilize the effects loop to bypass whatever rando preamp that's on the head or combo. I like that idea; I'm convinced.

But I need your help, because I don't know anything about these things.

Here's the relevant info:

- I love my Aguilar AG500, so I am of course considering the Tone Hammer, but while I'm sure I'll be satisfied with it, I figure I owe the matter some more exploration. There could be something much better!

- I would love it if the pre include a switchable overdrive. I don't use distortion much, but we have a couple songs where I kick it on for a solo -- it doubles as a source of extra sustain and a critical volume boost. Since its utility is limited, I just have a beater Behringer right now, which I'd love to remove from the chain completely if I can.

- Though the "distortion" thing is a limited use effect for me, I do like a fairly "gritty" normal tone, so something with a gain knob I can use to dial a bit of that in would be preferable.

- Price is a factor, but not a deal-breaker. If the holy grail is $500, then so be it, but if I can get 95% of the tone for $200, I'll do that instead.

- If it matters, I play a 5-string Pedulla Thunderbass primarily fingerstyle, but I'll grab a pick from time to time when I need that tone.

So what do you guys think? What should I try?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It sure sounds like you are describing a Tone Hammer. Sometimes the obvious answer is the right one. Personally, I'd grab one of those and then do your exploration.

That said, the Swell/Myco pedals (same company renamed) are tube preamps that have two different drive channels. One can be set cleanish with the other as a heavier drive. Not sure how clean it can get if with an active bass, as I have no experience there.

The Tronographic Rusty box also has a two channel setup, but it's a preamp + boost setup. It's based on the Traynor amps.
 
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#8
While I have only heard the Correct Sound custom in clips, those clips sounded great. The Rusty Box is also high on my list to try and have heard great things. My recommendation would be the Verellen Meatsmoke. It is definitely the "Holy Grail", and used can be found around the top end of what you're wanting to spend. I've loved mine and it hasn't been off since the day I got it. It has two channels with one clean to cleanish, and one from cleanish to hugely distorted. Another one I have and love is the JohnK F2B. It doesn't have a second channel, but the it sounds amazing. I run both the F2B into my Meatsmoke 99 percent of the time, and they sound amazing.
 
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#9
BIG97BEN said:
While I have only heard the Correct Sound custom in clips, those clips sounded great. The Rusty Box is also high on my list to try and have heard great things. My recommendation would be the Verellen Meatsmoke. It is definitely the "Holy Grail", and used can be found around the top end of what you're wanting to spend. I've loved mine and it hasn't been off since the day I got it. It has two channels with one clean to cleanish, and one from cleanish to hugely distorted. Another one I have and love is the JohnK F2B. It doesn't have a second channel, but the it sounds amazing. I run both the F2B into my Meatsmoke 99 percent of the time, and they sound amazing.
Click to expand...


I grabbed a John k F2B based on your recommendation !!!! The meatsmoke is hard to beat for sure.....
 
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#11
Those Tone Hammers come up fairly often in the classifieds. You could grab one used to see how you like it, or what else you may be looking for, and then flip it if you so desire without losing anything. There are a bunch of preamps out there, and the tone hammer is as good a starting place as any.
I still swear by the Meatsmoke. It is a preamp pedal, that sounds like a full tube amp, and has two channels for clean and dirty. You could plug that into the power amp of any back line, and get your tone. Every gig I play is either that into the power amp in, or that to the board through monitors. I sound like me no matter what situation I'm in.
 
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#12
Eminor3rd said:
I live and play in NYC now, and the thing I'm finding about the small-club circuit in NYC is you can almost never actually use your own amplification. Nearly every place is backlined with no exceptions.

But I'm in a piano trio, and the bandleader continues to stress how important my tone is to our sound since our mix is often pretty sparse. I've never been a pedal guy, but I was talking to a TB'er recently who suggested that I get a good pedal preamp that I liked and utilize the effects loop to bypass whatever rando preamp that's on the head or combo. I like that idea; I'm convinced.

But I need your help, because I don't know anything about these things.

Here's the relevant info:

- I love my Aguilar AG500, so I am of course considering the Tone Hammer, but while I'm sure I'll be satisfied with it, I figure I owe the matter some more exploration. There could be something much better!

- I would love it if the pre include a switchable overdrive. I don't use distortion much, but we have a couple songs where I kick it on for a solo -- it doubles as a source of extra sustain and a critical volume boost. Since its utility is limited, I just have a beater Behringer right now, which I'd love to remove from the chain completely if I can.

- Though the "distortion" thing is a limited use effect for me, I do like a fairly "gritty" normal tone, so something with a gain knob I can use to dial a bit of that in would be preferable.

- Price is a factor, but not a deal-breaker. If the holy grail is $500, then so be it, but if I can get 95% of the tone for $200, I'll do that instead.

- If it matters, I play a 5-string Pedulla Thunderbass primarily fingerstyle, but I'll grab a pick from time to time when I need that tone.

So what do you guys think? What should I try?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I know I'm not the first to mention this, but to me you did an excellent job of describing the Tone Hammer pedal. If I were you, I'd buy it and try it out before anything else. However, note that it will NOT sound like your AG500, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing...just don't go into the purchase expecting to get that exact same tone.
 
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#17
I suggest a eden wtdi $149.99 and a mojo mojo overdrive for dirt $49.99. That combination gives you a nice clean sound with compressor and a super nice overdrive. Thats what i use for church. I like sansamp but is kind of noisy , you can't control the mids and no compressor. Is doing wonders for me.
 
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#18
jumblemind said:
That said, the Swell/Myco pedals (same company renamed) are tube preamps that have two different drive channels. One can be set cleanish with the other as a heavier drive. Not sure how clean it can get if with an active bass, as I have no experience there.

The Tronographic Rusty box also has a two channel setup, but it's a preamp + boost setup. It's based on the Traynor amps.
Click to expand...

I have a Swell Bpro and I gotta say that by itself with the "record out" it doesn't sound that great, its much better (well great actually)going into an amp or some kind of EQ(I run mine into the Darkglass B7K)
 
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#19
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] - just the basics of tone shaping with a single stomp for shaped/clean
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] - tone shaping with 3 presets, plus clean
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] - tone shaping with 2 banks of 3 presets, plus clean, with 2 inputs. This is the one I have. For a while I used it with 2 different basses, each with their own bank of 3 presets which was handy because one was way hotter than the other, so I have all the outputs at unity. Then I switched to just one bass and the 2 banks of presets are mirrored, except that the second channel's presets are slightly louder. So if I am playing a song on preset one and I have a need to be slightly louder for a passage, I stomp to the other bank, which is the same tone, just louder. This works for my needs.
 
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#20
The Tronographic Rusty Box does an amazing "gritty" normal tone that easily pushes into the drive and distortion territory with the boost. However, it Will shape/color your tone. It's meant to sound like a particular amp and there's not really a way around that, so you'll either like it or you won't. The "color" it imposes is tightened, punchy lows; very cutting highs; and mids to taste, but its mainly a boost or scoop of the higher midrange. A very particular sound I happen to enjoy.

I also have the MXR Bass preamp. I'm not sure if it'd be what you're looking for since it does not have any drive or gain options to it. It's a very transparent and clean DI. I do really like it though, even with the EQ set flat it just seems to enhance my tone. They usually can be had pretty cheap used, so you could get a drive pedal with the leftover money.

I might be getting a TH soon. From what I understand, it's a clean DI with the AGS off (similar to the mxr with its sweepable mids). To get a gritty normal tone you'd probably run the AGS on with the gain low. You could then use a boost or drive pedal to get the extra oomph you need.
 
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