What were the best vintage solid state preamps?

[seamonkey]

Neve and other channel strips

And active basses from way back had SS circuitry

Acoustic 360 pre-amp

If you can't afford or find an original, , Just like with many things, these are all being archived with modeling (emulation, simulation)

 

[spiltcoil]

Vox actually had some nice Beatles-era solid state stuff. The solid state Sunn amps were crap. I think the benchmark may just be Acoustic.

 

[Juicyanalog]

...The solid state Sunn amps were crap...

the 1972-5 Sunn Coliseum (sliver-face) sounds like crap ??? !!

i guess it's all a matter of opinion in the end...,

{ but back to my 2¢ on this thread }

as far as just pre-amps....Ashly SC-40 (blueface) & acoustic 360..., were / are in a select sonic "niche" {as far as SS goes....}

 

[allexcosta]

Neve and other channel strips

This

 

[godofthunder59]

Acoustic, Sunn are my top two picks.

 

[Juicyanalog]

oh yes...and Neve...no doubt...

 

[dhsierra1]

The Alembic F2b is outstanding.

a fantastic preamp, but I believe the OP was requesting vintage solid state models, the F2B is tubes all the way......

 

[dhsierra1]

...and I miss my Furman PQ-3, was stolen some years ago

 

[grobe]

I like new myself!

Fine. Please list some newer ones then. Hopefully sub $300.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...and I miss my Furman PQ-3, was stolen some years ago

I used to have a couple of those, very nice, really. My first was a greenface from 1978. The second one was a blackface that my drummer now has in his studio.

 

[Fab Superlative]

There was the Invalid Link Removed

 

[grobe]

I used to have a couple of those, very nice, really. My first was a greenface from 1978. The second one was a blackface that my drummer now has in his studio.

Many players used that alone as a preamp, huh? A quick search brought up Geddy Lee.

 

[dhsierra1]

yes, they have a gain stage as well as a switchable 3 band para EQ section. Very versatile and clean, I sure liked mine. Another bass-playing buddy of mine at the same time (we're talking early 80s here) had the PQ-6 which was the stereo version. That was some nice gear, I just saw a late 70s greenface on eBay for just south of 500 clams, ouch.........

Might want to look for the later blackface versions as they could be cheaper. BTW, guitarists also like these things (both green and black) so you might want to look over at some of their sites for prices.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

Intersound IVP. Have had a half dozen over the years. I've played newer preamps but the Intersound is the best.

 

[johny martin]

Acoustic

+1 Acoustic 360

 

[grobe]

Intersound IVP. Have had a half dozen over the years. I've played newer preamps but the Intersound is the best.

Why so many? Were you replacing them?

 

[Korladis]

I don't know if it qualifies as "vintage," but I quite like the Peavey Mark IV's preamps. Pretty cool for rock, though I also like using both of them with different settings for some interesting sounds.

 

[greenbass5]

+1 Acoustic 360

Do these push a new power amp okay? I've never had one to try.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I don't know a ton about this stuff, but I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Invalid Link Removed. It's a vintage reissue I believe...

I recorded through this preamp recently at a studio and it made my P bass sound incredible.

 

[countrybass007]

I used both Standell and Yamaha solid state amps. The Standell had 4 15s in two powered cabs, the Yamaha had 1 15. I replaced them with a Boogie D180 and a 1 18 cab.