Is there a tube pre that has both....

  • Thread starter Thread starter NL5
  • Start date Start date
NL5

NL5

Unpossible!
Is there a tube pre (real tube - not toob, or tewb) that has both input and output gain controls? I want to be able to push the pre into slight (or maybe heavy) distortion.

Thanks in advance.

:D
 
A Sebatron VMP2000e channel can be routed back into the second channel with an unbalanced patch cable for precisely that use.

Might not be what you are looking for but it is a nice pre......

around 1100$


Good Luck
 
A Pendulum Audio MDP-1a has both gain and output controls, allowing you to do what you mentioned.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NL5
sdelsolray said:
A Pendulum Audio MDP-1a has both gain and output controls, allowing you to do what you mentioned.
Click to expand...


What is the difference between the MDP-1 and the MDP-1a?
 
Last edited:
I am not sure that I am aware of a tube pre that does not have both input and output controls. You should not have to run a second pre just to get distortion unless your pre does not have enough gain and you were using it with something like a low output ribbon mic on a quiet source. Thats about the only time I can think of that you might need a second pre to overdrive the preamp a little.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NL5
NL5 said:
What is the difference between the MDP-1 and the MDP-1a?
Click to expand...

There is no MDP-1, but there are MDP-1a, MDP-1b and MDP-1c. All identical except which input transformer is used. In the "a" model, a Jensen tranny is used (called "full"). The "b" has a custom tranny (called "focused"). The "c" model has one of each tranny.
 
xstatic said:
I am not sure that I am aware of a tube pre that does not have both input and output controls.
Click to expand...


Well, I currently have a VMP-2, and it does not......
 
xstatic said:
Then I stand corrected:)
Click to expand...


Well, I started looking more closely at tube pre's, and for the most part, you are right - most DO have it. :D
 
NL5 said:
Is there a tube pre (real tube - not toob, or tewb) that has both input and output gain controls? I want to be able to push the pre into slight (or maybe heavy) distortion.

Thanks in advance.

:D
Click to expand...

You can do that by cascading channels on the dual channel Sebatron. It sounds great as an electric guit DI. I absolutely love it for that app.

Here are the notes I have:

Cascading Channels:
"With the Sebs you can take the output of one channel and run it into the di / line input of a second, third etc .... then you can drive the first channel harder and use the second to either add another gain stage or to attenuate the output of the first, just like a channel / master set up on a guitar amp. This makes the Seb very flexible. The Sebatron uses a single tube for gain and a transformer only across the input. The output is electronically balanced. This configuration allows the Sebatron vmp to go from very clean and almost completely uncolored, all the way to nasty dirty grungy. It really is one of the most flexible mic pres I have ever used." Kurt foster

"""Daisy chain out of the 1/4" out on a channel into the 1/4" input (d.i.) on a second channel.. adding more stages of gain. Futz around with the gain setting on both channels, pad and boost and cut switches, lots of options there. """

yeah , excactly ... either one.
Although i must say i prefer the unbalanced out because it feels a bit less contaminated....seeing that it bypasses the input transformer and is closer to being directly coupled to the grid of the next valve gain stage—Sebatron
 
  • Like
Reactions: NL5
With the Sebs you can take the output of one channel and run it into the di / line input of a second, third etc .... then you can drive the first channel harder and use the second to either add another gain stage or to attenuate the output of the first
Click to expand...
i'm using linking channels for bass and guiatrs with success always.
sometimes even three channels
 
Why cascade channels if you can just get a good preamp that allows you to do it on one channel?
 
xstatic said:
Why cascade channels if you can just get a good preamp that allows you to do it on one channel?
Click to expand...


Because that would make too much sense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NL5
xstatic said:
Why cascade channels if you can just get a good preamp that allows you to do it on one channel?
Click to expand...

I've got a crapola m-audio 2496 that doesn't allow me to lower the input gain that goes to my sequencer. So, if I crank the pre, I overload my sequencer and get clipping.

So there's one reason. Put that in your hard-drive and smoke it, Chesrock!

I know, you're going to blast me with, "why are you wasting money on another cheap pre when you should be upgrading your crappy soundcard?" That too might make too much sense!
 
Ben Logan said:
So there's one reason. Put that in your hard-drive and smoke it, Chesrock!

I know, you're going to blast me with, "why are you wasting money on another cheap pre when you should be upgrading your crappy soundcard?"
Click to expand...

No, your sound card is fine. Actually, I was going to say:


Jburn34 said:
You can get a Shure inline pad to solve that problem.
Click to expand...

But that would just make a ridiculous amount of sense. :D
 
Summit Audio 2BA-221 has input and output controls.

It is a hybrid solid-state/tube pre, but it is not "toob."
 
Silly me for responding to the original post. It was about a tube preamp with both input and output controls so that the input signal could be driven hard, but then attenuated with the output signal. All of a suddent people are talking about cascading channels. Seems like a waste of money and equipment to me to have to use more than one channel for something that most single channel preamps can already do. If you are really pegging a preamp, an inline pad may not be enough to bring the signal back down low enough.

NL5, if you like the sound of your current preamps, maybe you might want to consider a Distressor for a little distortion. Then you get the added benefit of having a Distressor later too:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top