Recommendations on Inexpensive Tube Mic Pre-Amps

[Muddy T-Bone]

Looking for some recomendations on good tube mic preamps that are in the $200-$300 range.

I would use it to "warm" vocals and acoustic guitar and send some more gain downstream.

Needs list-

Min of 1 XLR input, 2 is better
48v phantom
XLR out
Low noise (of course)

[Muddy T-Bone]

Well, foolish me..... I started this thread with out searching for this topic prior to posting. Plenty of information to get me started.

As I suspected, the word "good" and "under $300" in a tube preamp are mutually exclusive terms. I've owned tube gear for around 45 years nad should have known better.

I'm no longer in search of the holy grail tube preamp under 300 bucks that is worth a darn..does not exist

Now I'm investigating the Golden Age Pre73, a Sebatron, and Studio Projects NTB1. All tranny products I understand. But well done solid state can sound acceptable (not tube-like) but acceptable.

Any other preamps I should look at that you have experiance with?

Thanks in advance.

[Massive Master]

"Tube sound" never came from the tubes anyway. It's usually the transformers in the circuitry (which you'll find in the GAP, among others in that range).

[Muddy T-Bone]

Massive Master-

From what I understand that "tube sound" warmth is likely the even order distortion that pleases our ears.

As I remember it, the even order distortion results from the interaction of the tube with output transformer. So I guess that its both the tube and the transformer creating what we call "warmth"

[Phrasemaker]

These are quite handy without breaking the bank.

lg_pro_mpa-ii_front.jpg

Tim

[Hrchicoine]

Me and my band just got a little Presonus TubePre. I know it's on the smaller side, but at $50 used from Guitar Center we decided to give it a shot. I know Presonus has a decent rep, and those are about $130 new I think. Just an idea.

[jaynm26]

"Tube sound" never came from the tubes anyway. It's usually the transformers in the circuitry (which you'll find in the GAP, among others in that range).

LOL! Massive you cant throw knowledge out there like that to young eng's lol they only know what others tell them
it throws them all off lol. Gotta love Massive and he is right

[Fishmed]

"Tube sound" never came from the tubes anyway. It's usually the transformers in the circuitry (which you'll find in the GAP, among others in that range).

+1 on the Transformers!

But if you are looking for a good Tube Mic Pres for the least amount of money, look for a used Demeter or a GT Brick.

[witzendoz]

I own 2 x Studio Projects VTB-1 pres, could not resist getting a couple of extra pres for the price, they actually sound very good but I don't usually crack up the tube drive unless I am after that sound. review. The Golden Age 73 is well worth a look and I will grab one at some point.

Cheers
Alan.

[Muddy T-Bone]

Nice leads to investigate so far, thanks.

The GA pre73 keeps coming up