What's your favorite Tube (pre)Amp?

[krispn]

Currently using a read Purity which is great for clean. I'm gonna pull the trigger on an Ampeg SVP-Pro and run them together for clean and dirty into 2x112's

Should give me a nice mix live!

 

[bongomania]

I've been through a LOT of tube preamps; my favorites by far are the TAB-Funkenwerk V71 and the Hughes & Kettner Blues Master. The TAB-Funk imparts this amazing "3D" width/depth to the tone, while the H&K (set to not quite clipping) brings a smooth rubber-mallet oomph, and they do this without ever getting mushy or flabby.

Too many 12AX7 preamps have a mushy, buzzy, inarticulate quality that disappoints me.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I love my SVP-BSP. It's super versatile. I can dial it in super clean and warm or super dirty and distorted. I also love all the fx loop option at my disposal with the split channel. But by itself its a really sweet pre. In fact, I'm tempted to buy another one just in case this one takes a digger.

After that it would have to be the SVP-CL. Then I'm heading into Aguilar land.

 

[SactoBass]

Too many 12AX7 preamps have a mushy, buzzy, inarticulate quality that disappoints me.

I know whatcha mean, Bongo.

I wonder if that's why the Jule Monique preamp is receiving such rave reviews (it uses 6SL7's).

 

[bThumper38]

Avalon 737 takes the cake, if you have that kind of scratch to spend.

 

[juledude]

I know whatcha mean, Bongo.

I wonder if that's why the Jule Monique preamp is receiving such rave reviews (it uses 6SL7's).

On paper, the same as a 12AX7, the 6SL7 (physically twice as big as a 12AX7) is more Hi-Fi ready - IMHO.

A case where size does matter.