I strongly agree with this DMP3 recommend, for the price range you'll have a hard time beating it.
Also, if you search a bit, you can find a
SoundCraft Compact 4 for (maybe) $99 bucks. I was going to buy the DMP3 but the GC clerk lied when he said they had one on the shelf. On the way home I stopped at the used place and they had
a Compact 4 used for $89. I tested it, dang if that thing didn't have quiet clean gain all the way up to 60db, with eq, inserts, pads, sends, monitor sends, and phantom power. I couldn't beat it, and for $10 bucks more I got a new one from MF I think. IF you shop around you might still be able to get them for $99.
Keep in mind that the budget tube preamps are designed to add harmonic distortion to the signal, to color the sound......they do not actually use the tube to preamp the source. (if I understand correctly what I have read on other forums and news blogs......dont quote me on that word for word, research it before you spend hard earned $$$$$) If you want true tube preamp'ing that is clean then you have to get the full voltage (300-450 volt) stuff like (for budget starters) a Brick. Or you can stick your neck out and experiment with an Electro-Harmonix tube preamp that doubles as a guitar preamp pedal. Not quite as clean as a Brick, but is a high voltage design and a lot cheaper than a Brick.
