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Pre amp options

C

Chris_AtariDoll

Dec 8, 2001
369
0
49
UK
www.ataridoll.com
#1
I have decided to get rid of my current head (Warwick pro fet IV) in favour of pre+power seperates. For the power i have a PV-2600 (running warwick 2x10 and 1x15 biamped). Now i just need to decide on a pre-amp.

I play in a alt-rock band and i am looking for something with more warmth (but still some punch and attack). I have about £400 to spend, i am currently looking at:
Ashdown RPM-1 EVO 2
Ampeg SVP-PRO
Warwick Quad (keeping the warwick theme, but no gfx eq, will i miss it?)

any preferences or other suggestions.

I love Dirk and P-nuts tone... if that helps.
 
#2
I'll apologize if this reply is of minimal use. I've actually never played through any of those preamps, although I've used other Ampeg products and not been wholely impressed. However, one of the members here (Vanselus, to be specific) hosts a great site with sound clips from numerous preamps, including each of the three that you mentioned. You can find it at Invalid Link Removed Check it out; hopefully it will be of some service to you.
 
#3
I love the tone I get from my old BBE, the 383. If the new BBE BMax is available over there, I suggest you check it out. Or, find an older used one like I did.

I also played through the Ampeg you are asking about. That is a real nice pre. Some people mention a problem with a humming sound coming from those though. I am not saying they all do it, but I have seen many people mention it around here. That is why I did not buy one.

-Mike
 
#4
I used to own the Ampeg svp-pro preamp. It wasn't exactly the tone I was looking for, but it was a nice pre. I may have been lucky, my preamp didn't have this humming noise that others had. It had a very slight hum, which was definetly not heard at low volume, and it did not come through the speakers. I didn't even know it had a hum until I read about it on here, then I had to place my ear against it to hear it. It wasn't an issue for me, and it definetly wasn't the reason I sold it. You shouldn't let the hum issue turn you away from this preamp. And Mike, if I remember right, you really wanted my Ampeg bad.

That said, out of the preamps you listed, I would suggest the Ashdown. That is one sweet sounding pre. A buddy of mine owns it and I got to check it out recently...through an Ampeg 8x10 ! That's one versitile amp. It may be my next preamp.
 
#5
Originally posted by nickelseye

That said, out of the preamps you listed, I would suggest the Ashdown. That is one sweet sounding pre. A buddy of mine owns it and I got to check it out recently...through an Ampeg 8x10 ! That's one versitile amp. It may be my next preamp.
Click to expand...

The ashdown does have a lot of usefull features - x-over, tube blend and sub harmonics. I think this is winning at the moment.
 
#6
Originally posted by Chris_AtariDoll
The ashdown does have a lot of usefull features - x-over, tube blend and sub harmonics. I think this is winning at the moment.
Click to expand...

I own it and it's very nice. IMO, the tone that you're looking for is probably in there because it's very flexible but sounding like the people that you mentioned is going to have a lot to do with your hands also.
 
#8
Originally posted by Chris_AtariDoll

Warwick Quad (keeping the warwick theme, but no gfx eq, will i miss it?)
Click to expand...

With the quadramatrix knob, you can choose 4 different frequency response curves and the underlying frequencies for bass/mid/treble boost etc. It's insanely flexible.

Having said that, I'd say the Ashdown has a warmer sound and might be closer to what you're looking for.
 
#9
Originally posted by ebozzz
I own it and it's very nice. IMO, the tone that you're looking for is probably in there because it's very flexible but sounding like the people that you mentioned is going to have a lot to do with your hands also.
Click to expand...

I'm starting a incubus tribute band as a side project... so getting dirks tone is quite important... but i also wanna have the flexability to change to something different, when i need to. I think the ashdown is winning at the mo.
 
#10
Originally posted by davidmwilson
With the quadramatrix knob, you can choose 4 different frequency response curves and the underlying frequencies for bass/mid/treble boost etc. It's insanely flexible.

Having said that, I'd say the Ashdown has a warmer sound and might be closer to what you're looking for.
Click to expand...

just worried about not being able to cut troublesome freqs in bad rooms.
 
#11
I have the ashdown pre. What I do for bad room effect is I run an eq pedal in the effects loop. I keep the pedal flat and cut if its a bad room. With the pedal I dont have to use up a rack space and I use velcro to keep it in the back of the rack. Works for me.
 

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