Preamp Pedal Advice Wanted

[AllanAllen]

Looking to spend up to $150 for a preamp pedal to run my guitar through my QSC K.x powered speaker.

It would be cool to have a tweed sound, but my BAM 200 doesn’t have that sound and I get along just fine.

I feel the tone plugging my guitar directly into the speaker is lacking…. Something.

[Jthompson48]

Not a tweed, but I've been enjoying the tc electronics combo deluxe, easily in your price range used.

[sgosnell]

The Joyo American Sound does that fairly well, and is inexpensive. There are many others that I haven't tried, though. There is certainly no shortage.

[Woody Sound]

Probably depends on if you just want a clean sound with some warmth, or need multiple degrees of od.

[rpjazzguitar]

The Joyo American Sound does that fairly well, and is inexpensive. There are many others that I haven't tried, though. There is certainly no shortage.

I'm running a Joyo American into a JBL Eon One Compact. It works well. I've gone into both the hiZ and lowZ inputs. Both work, at least with the 8 foot cable run I'm using. The output impedance is 1 or 2k ohms, depending on who you believe. Output level spec is not available, but is probably like a pedal.

[Spook410]

Joyo American. Think every jazz guitar player should have one in their kit as a backup if nothing else. Works fine directly into a powered PA speaker.

If you want to experiment, Valeton GP-5 is a full multiFX plus amp models and speaker IR's for $80. Probably won't have great electronics at the analog level.

[AllanAllen]

Probably depends on if you just want a clean sound with some warmth, or need multiple degrees of od.

I don’t need any more OD than Charlie Christian had.

[AllanAllen]

Joyo American. Think every jazz guitar player should have one in their kit as a backup if nothing else. Works fine directly into a powered PA speaker.

If you want to experiment, Valeton GP-5 is a full multiFX plus amp models and speaker IR's for $80. Probably won't have great electronics at the analog level.

That second one sounds too complicated for me. Guitar straight into a tube amp is what I like. But I’m sacrificing that for an easier load out. I’m beat after 3 hours of playing.

[Hammertone]

I like the Koch OD '63. Very simple 2 channel box with a 12AX7. Maybe $150-200 used. They also make a "Superlead" - same thing, with some different voicing that is irrelevant if you play clean or just a bit dirty.


I run mine into one of two open-back cabs - either a 1x12" 8 ohm cab or a 1x12"+1x10" 4 ohm cab. Each cab has a 100 watt Hotone "Loudster" power amp velcroed to its floor. Dead simple, light, looks great on stage, works like a charm.

[GuyBoden]

Valeton GP-5

Then you can use NAM files for the sound you want, Polytone, Fender Tweed, or any NAM file that's available.

Here is my Valeton GP-5 on top of my Alto active speaker.

[supersoul]

anything from the SansAmp school of analog preamps.

The Joyo American (clone, but some people think it's slightly better than the SansAmp Blonde) is great and can be had new for under $50.
The SansAmp GT-2 is good.
The Tri-AC is similar but has a middle control that is really useful, and it takes 9V batteries for less cable mess.

I have a Palmer PocketAmp, which is a copy of the GT-2 but with a headphone output as well as a balanced XLR-out. It was around $100 new. It's also battery powered, which is pretty important for me.

[Woody Sound]

I run mine into one of two open-back cabs - either a 1x12" 8 ohm cab or a 1x12"+1x10" 4 ohm cab. Each cab has a 100 watt Hotone "Loudster" power amp velcroed to its floor. Dead simple, light, looks great on stage, works like a charm.

That's a cool system.

[alltunes]

That second one sounds too complicated for me. Guitar straight into a tube amp is what I like. But I’m sacrificing that for an easier load out. I’m beat after 3 hours of playing.

What is an easier load out then a guitar, cable and tube amp?

[Woody Sound]

What is an easier load out then a guitar, cable and tube amp?

The SS amp makes it easier.

[DawgBone]

A blues junior is too much load out? Lol

So whatcha gonna do when you have two 3 hour shows booked in a day?

You need to get in better shape...

I guess it comes off as bragging but in july of '18 i did 33-3 hour shows and still had five days off. In two days i had six shows....i couldnt speak for the first hour everyday most of that month my voice had grown so tired. By the time i had finished the last gig on that grueling two day stretch.....i caught my second wind and wanted to haul my amp to another gig before the night ended. Long story there but i had a pocket full of cash that month....

But, cause you asked, if by preamp u just mean an OD pedal then, rockett blue note all the way. You wont be disappointed, no bad tones found inside. Gain from very mild to pretty wild available via a hot switch.

Or, i just tried this at rehearsal yesterday. 100 watts, more than enough juice for the average jazz gig. And has some light OD you can dial in there. Not a tube amp but sounds pretty good for what it is.

[AllanAllen]

More context for Dawgbone and alltunes.

I can't put my mic through the guitar amp, buy I can put my guitar through the Powered Speaker.

My goal is less overall trips to the car after the gig. I already have a lightweight amp option, But Guitar, amp, PA, backpack and mic stand isn't a single trip. If I change the amp to a preamp-pedal, I'll have a free hand and a single trip.

[alltunes]

More context for Dawgbone and alltunes.

I can't put my mic through the guitar amp, buy I can put my guitar through the Powered Speaker.

My goal is less overall trips to the car after the gig. I already have a lightweight amp option, But Guitar, amp, PA, backpack and mic stand isn't a single trip. If I change the amp to a preamp-pedal, I'll have a free hand and a single trip.

And you need a microphone to sing or to introduce songs, band members etc?

What about a cheap mic that has an on/off switch and plug that into input 2 on your tube amp?

You might love an AER Compact 60….handles vox and guitar nicely…also a couple built in effects

[rpjazzguitar]

I had the occasion to use my Roland JC55 for vocals at a restaurant gig. Maybe 30 people. The person who was supposed to bring the PA forgot it.

The JC55 did surprisingly well. Not that we decided to rely on it in the future.

One issue is that singing sounds good with reverb but announcements are clearer without it. How often have you heard somebody talk on mic and be unintelligible?

My Yamaha mixer comes with a jack for a pedal to turn off the reverb. I haven't done it yet, but I'm tempted to bring an extra mic and set it up without reverb and then pick it up when I talk -- and use the regular one when I sing. I already have enough stuff on the floor.

All that said, what I've been doing lately is using the Joyo American to warm up the JBL Eon One Compact. And, mostly, that has been working well.

One more point. I picked the JBL partly because it has extremely flexible EQ. But, now, with the Joyo, I mostly run the JBL flat and use the Joyo's three band EQ and the tone control on the guitar. Sometimes I've wondered if the JBL's EQ actually does what the phone app shows. Before I got the Joyo I spent too much time fiddling with the parametric EQ.

[DawgBone]

More context for Dawgbone and alltunes.

I can't put my mic through the guitar amp, buy I can put my guitar through the Powered Speaker.

My goal is less overall trips to the car after the gig. I already have a lightweight amp option, But Guitar, amp, PA, backpack and mic stand isn't a single trip. If I change the amp to a preamp-pedal, I'll have a free hand and a single trip.

Not sure what kinda PA arrangement you are using but I used to get two Twins, a cable/mic bag, my personal bag, and mic stand onto a dolly using some webbing and military buckles I picked up off rockywoods.com. I'd carry my guitar in the other hand and make the few blocks from my parked rig to the gig as a matter of routine. A good dolly can haul a lot of stuff assuming you fasten it down and can fit the dolly in your car.

[AllanAllen]

Not sure what kinda PA arrangement you are using but I used to get two Twins, a cable/mic bag, my personal bag, and mic stand onto a dolly using some webbing and military buckles I picked up off rockywoods.com. I'd carry my guitar in the other hand and make the few blocks from my parked rig to the gig as a matter of routine. A good dolly can haul a lot of stuff assuming you fasten it down and can fit the dolly in your car.

But that’s more stuff, not less. I want less. I’ll probably have an extra trip at load in and load out to put the dolley back in my car. Nobody wants to eat a $100 steak next to a pile of gig bags and a dolley.

[AllanAllen]

And you need a microphone to sing or to introduce songs, band members etc?

What about a cheap mic that has an on/off switch and plug that into input 2 on your tube amp?

You might love an AER Compact 60….handles vox and guitar nicely…also a couple built in effects

Blues Jr is only 1 input and the SM55 is part of the vintage vibe. (No switch on my SM55)

Not trying to be dismissive or contrarian. I’ve put a lot of thought into this, but I’m happy to discuss why I want to do it the way I asked.

If this fails, I’ll look into an acoustic/mic combo amp. But it’s easier to try a pedal with stuff I already own.

[AllanAllen]

I had the occasion to use my Roland JC55 for vocals at a restaurant gig. Maybe 30 people. The person who was supposed to bring the PA forgot it.

The JC55 did surprisingly well. Not that we decided to rely on it in the future.

One issue is that singing sounds good with reverb but announcements are clearer without it. How often have you heard somebody talk on mic and be unintelligible?

My Yamaha mixer comes with a jack for a pedal to turn off the reverb. I haven't done it yet, but I'm tempted to bring an extra mic and set it up without reverb and then pick it up when I talk -- and use the regular one when I sing. I already have enough stuff on the floor.

All that said, what I've been doing lately is using the Joyo American to warm up the JBL Eon One Compact. And, mostly, that has been working well.

One more point. I picked the JBL partly because it has extremely flexible EQ. But, now, with the Joyo, I mostly run the JBL flat and use the Joyo's three band EQ and the tone control on the guitar. Sometimes I've wondered if the JBL's EQ actually does what the phone app shows. Before I got the Joyo I spent too much time fiddling with the parametric EQ.

I’m going to go with the Caitlinbread 5F6 it’s one of their tweed style preamps, it’s got 3 band EQ, used ones on the Guitar Center website and hopefully I can resell it close to cost if it’s not for me.

[sgosnell]

Some people seem to think that the way they do things is the only way. That is not true.

[AllanAllen]

Some people seem to think that the way they do things is the only way. That is not true.

This beautifully applies to both sides of the discussion in the thread.

[Christian Miller]

But that’s more stuff, not less. I want less. I’ll probably have an extra trip at load in and load out to put the dolley back in my car. Nobody wants to eat a $100 steak next to a pile of gig bags and a dolley.

No Allan, you actually need three Marshall stacks, a mid 70s stage piano, a Mellotron Taurus bass pedals and the azimuth coordinator. You should be able to do the whole thing in 50 trips with a good dolly.


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