Clean tube preamp recommendation

[Zooberwerx]

Any of the SansAmp products, be it rackmount or pedal format, will do clean without sounding thin or lifeless and well within your budget.

Riis

 

[Nev375]

Good tube preamp and <$350 aren't going to happen.

 

[disssa]

I would also recommend:
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Developed for crunch sounds, they also have a very good and tuby clean sound.

Good tube preamp and <$350 aren't going to happen.

Why not?
Cheaper really good tube preamps:
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Cheap and tuby sounds without tubes:
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[Sunset Shalom]

I just got an art DMPA gold which is a tube mic pre. It is two channel and can run at 100 or 300 plate voltage. Still need to test it on bass and some other things but I am digging it so far. Was only 150 used for the old model though the new one is only 220$ or so on eBay.

Might not be what you are looking for but I read on a few sites people claiming it's one of the best sub 500$ tube preamps and it's the only cheaper one I have seen that doesnt just run on a low voltage.

It can definitely be very clean or very gritty depending on how you dial the gain. But it has tons of clean headroom at 300v or you can go to 100v and use the 20db boost for earlier breakup.

It has instrument inputs as well as balanced mic inputs so it should work solid on bass and guitar or mics. And with two channels you can use it for stereo rigs or for two different purposes at once.

 

[monsterthompson]

Curious to see where this goes.

 

[Deadsound]

At that budget you're looking at a pedal. Broughton audio makes the best tube pedals in my estimation - the super stack is excellent

Go up to 400-500 and you can get into some of the really good rack pres mentioned here, like the alembic, if you find them used

 

[JJR58]

I've got an SVP-CL, I got it for the purpose of which you speak, not a fan of dirt or distortion.
The Ampeg excels at clean, great tones in it.
I run it through the front end of a GK700rbii.
Without the Ampeg, the GK sounds pretty lifeless to be honest.

 

[Munjibunga]

EBS Valvedrive

 

[Systolic]

Another vote for the BBE BMAX-T

 

[jazzbass_5]

Find yourself an old Ampeg SVP-CL. That is exactly what it does. A Jule Amps Monique is also very nice for that sort of thing.

Absolutely! Love my SVP-CL.

 

[mark roberts]

I have and use two green-face SWR Grand Prix pre's. Love 'em. Single tube. I currently run GT ECC83/12AX7 in them, which I am told that the circuit was designed for. However, I have run JJ ECC803S gold pins (have a new pair staged for install) with excellent, creamy results. When you can find one for sale, they generally are in your target spend zone. These others...
GT Studio Tube Bass Preamp*...pre-Grand Prix preamp designed by Steve Rabe based on the front end of the SWR Studio 220...excellent!
Yamaha PB-1*...not tube, but great tone!
Trace Elliot V-Type
Ampeg SVP Classic*-classic tone. Watch/listen for cold solder, or development of cracked solder joints through even high-care handling.
BBE B-Max T...reviews on this one are pretty awesome
Eden Navigator...tone forever

...sold as used should be in your target spend. *=I have owned at one time or another. I also have used mic pre's and channel strips.

 

[BunchyMutt]

I have and use two green-face SWR Grand Prix pre's. Love 'em. Single tube. I currently run GT ECC83/12AX7 in them, which I am told that the circuit was designed for. However, I have run JJ ECC803S gold pins (have a new pair staged for install) with excellent, creamy results. When you can find one for sale, they generally are in your target spend zone. These others...
GT Studio Tube Bass Preamp*...pre-Grand Prix preamp designed by Steve Rabe based on the front end of the SWR Studio 220...excellent!
Yamaha PB-1*...not tube, but great tone!
Trace Elliot V-Type
Ampeg SVP Classic*-classic tone. Watch/listen for cold solder, or development of cracked solder joints through even high-care handling.
BBE B-Max T...reviews on this one are pretty awesome
Eden Navigator...tone forever

...sold as used should be in your target spend. *=I have owned at one time or another. I also have used mic pre's and channel strips.

Thanks!

Any tube mic pre's you'd recommend in the same price range?

 

[McFarlin]

I've searched through threads and they're either pretty old, not specifically about tube preamps, or not specifically about clean preamps.

I'm looking for a preamp that simply adds a harmonic depth, richness, je ne sais quoi while still retaining clarity. Something that takes pedals pretty well. I'm NOT looking for tube overdrive, or anything that adds hair.

I've tried the Tone Hammer DI, it wasn't what I was looking for. I'm wondering if I'm looking for a high voltage tube preamp. Any recommendations? I'm fine with a pedal format, though I'd prefer a 1U or 2U rackmount. Also no greater than ~$300-$350.

Out of your range, I know, but cut the craft beer, coffee or wool socks habit for a month and you'll make up the difference. This is the best deal I have seen on an HBP-1 with the Jensen upgrade. And it is exactly what you describe.
For Sale - DEMETER HBP-1 with Jensen Transformer

I have only used the VTBP-201s and the newer M-800D, but they take pedals good as anything else I have used long-term (Walkabout, ABM500). I would assume the same goes for the HBP-1, but with it you get more e.q. flexibility.

 

[superiorpine]

Lots of choices, depending on what you mean by clean. A micro heads snag a larger share of the market, rack mounted preamps can be had for less.

Although dated, this site gives some interesting contrast samples: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Your request is the perfect description of an Oxymoron.

If you want clean, you don't want tube.
Cleanliness is not what tubes are meant to do.

Good luck either way.
Dirk

 

[zorf]

i was just going to suggest looking at mic pres.
You can hang out in the recording forums and ask.
Used, you might find something that will fit your requirements.
Quite a rabbit hole, so stay on task.

 

[hennessybass]

I have a Fender TBP-1 Pre-amp. Running it in a rack with an older Carvin amp. Great sounding rig. I mostly use a TH500 amp, but there is no comparison between the two. The Fender slays the TH any day. The fender has a lot of features, but I pretty much just use the "vintage" channel and keep things really simple.

If you listen on good speakers, this is a pretty good way to get an idea about what a pre might sound like, especially vs a different pre. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[hennessybass]

Your request is the perfect description of an Oxymoron.

If you want clean, you don't want tube.
Cleanliness is not what tubes are meant to do.

Good luck either way.
Dirk

100% disagree with you. The rig I just posted above has MASSIVE clean headroom. Tubes do not automatically = dirt. There's a little bit more to it than that.

 

[fretno]

 

[BasturdBlaster]

I love my old ART tube channel #259 as a "clean" tone generator......