Pre-Amps

Look at the EBS preamps. Many people decribe the tone of EBS clean, but versatile enough to be warm also.

 

The Demeter 201 is a great simple to use but awesome sounding preamp!

 

Slap a good GE or Sylvania 5751 preamp tube into that SM 900 to warm things up.
(the stock "select" GT tubes suck).

You've got one of the best amps on the planet.

I use a FBD to get some warmth with my SWR.
It's nice to go from driven to hi-fi with the tap of the foot.

Change if you must.

 

Heck...if you threw in a Sansamp BDDI in front of the 900, you could warm the hell out of it, and not set yourself back a load. IMO, anyway.

 

is an ampeg svp-pro good for a more rawer but warm slap sound?

 

couldnt agree more...

but Donne's also got a great point. before you splurge, try a simple tube swap.

5751's of whatever NOS pedigree would do wonders for a slap sound. adds a nice dalloup of treb transients to your tone for slap.

 

its good, but a little on the "too" warm side for me. i'm always finding myself crankin' up the highs for a sufficient treble snap when i'm using one at GC.

 

I second (or third) the Demeter VTBP 201. From your description, it sounds perfrect for what you are looking for.

 

the VTBP-201s is definitely my secret weapon of choice, but these days, i've been eyeing its more sophisticated cousin, the parametric HPB-1.

my db680's parametric EQ makes adjusting for certain rooms a breeze, but i'd like it in a Demeter tonality.

Gard's pretty happy with his.... Hmm....

 

Joker, please sell me your db680 and buy an HBP-1.
Then record and send me some sound samples of that because I'm unbearably curious about it. Someone on BGRA described it as "a pissed off Ampeg SVT backed into a corner in the back of a dark alley in the pouring down rain!"
And that was with a QSC 1000 watt amp. I think it would take very kindly to massive amounts of tube power.

 

Good suggestions, all of you guys, but I have to add one more that I think is the best balance of all the preamps.

Eden Navigator

Check it out, play it, love it, worship it. It is one of the most versatile and great-toned preamps out there. The warmth of the lows and the crisps of the highs are just mouth watering. I DEFINITELY recommend an Eden as your preamp.

 

Demeter hands down. makes every other amp at guitar center sound like poo.

 

Yeah, same circuit but a few more goodies. I recommend it if you're just looking for a PREAMP, not an amp, and that Eden sound. Just marvelous at everything.

 

Kern IP-777 preamp