tube guitar amp for mic pre?

[gusfinley]

for the sake of interest, has anybody ever tried using a guitar amps preamp stage as a mic preamp - considering that levels and inpedences where properly matched. Mine has a D.I. out so I can bypass the pwer stage. This idea just kinda popped in my head last night and I wanted to see if anyone had tried it- thanks.

 

[chessrock]

It might make for an interesting effect, depending on how it's done.

Most of the time I've heard it, it just sounded like ass , but then maybe I just haven't hear anyone do it the right way yet.

 

[Marik]

Gusfinley,


Chessrock has already answered this question, I just wanted to elaborate a bit. The main reason it won't sound good (unless you want a special effect) because of different design parameters for each one. Guitar amps (and pres) are designed with tubes to be overdriven, i.e. conciously to put more signal on the tube, when it works in its non linear region. On the other hand, mic pres are disgned to be as linear as it is possible. Did you get the idea? There are other factors, as well. To make them quiet enough, usually mic pres use input transformers. Also, since the signal is much lower, the filaments should run on DC to keep hum down. The gain control arrangement is also different. Yes, it is possible to redesign the guitar pre to work as a mic pre, but then, it won't be good as a guitar pre...

Hope it helps.

 

[darrin_h2000]

I tried it with my crate vc-5 with a mullard tube in the preamp.using it with my Yamaha MLA7 thru the vc-5 going through th direct out...there was distortion there but usable for some things.

The VC-5 technically is an amp for harp so inpedence isnt an issue,