Best Guitar Preamp

January 29, 2010

Musical Instruments Expert

As guitar technology grows more sophisticated, the possibilities also increase. No longer to you have to suffer the limitations of just one combo amp. If you need to segment your sound, and shape your signal with more sophistication, today’s components offer features that pretty much eliminate old-world limitations. On the front end of things, you really are what you eat; what goes in eventually does come out. So, more than ever, if you use a pre-amp, it is critical that you start with the best ingredients. Here we have the best five guitar pre-amps available today. Each unite

brings to the table its own unique balance of features and design. Before you shop, print this list out, and use it as your guide. Who needs Google Maps? If you are in the market for a guitar pre-amp, you’ve got everything you need below. Minimize

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Engl Tube Preamp E 530

Why it's best: When it comes to guitar amplification technology, smart engineering is always a sure-fire indication of a terrific product. Engl Tube Preamp E 530 impresses right out of the box in just this manner. Very cool and very useful is the built-tin 1.5 Watt power amp that will work...read full review

Tech 21 RPM SansAmp RPM - 1U rackmount instrument pre-amp

Why it's a best pick: Tech 21 always seems to know where to focus their efforts. In the case of this SansAmp RPM, much of the action takes place in the EQ section. The sweepable semi-parametric EQ allows you to shape your sound in a much more intensive way than most. By selecting the center frequ... read full review

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Amazon.com $329.00

Rocktron Gainiac 2 Guitar Preamp

Why it's a best pick: Rocktron’s Gainiac 2 is primarily designed for metal guitarists. Boasting over 70dB of gain, you know that this pre-amp is not made for the faint-hearted. What impressed me most is that you can swap out the internal 12AX7 pre-amp tube for another similar tube. This wil... read full review

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Amazon.com

AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp

Why it's a best pick: An impressive amount of thought went into the electrical engineering of this product. At time dizzying, the spec sheet can read somewhat like an operational manual for a 747. But what lies underneath counts, and there is much to consider under the hood. Overall, great care h... read full review

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Amazon.com $349.95

Randall SL+ Module Guitar Preamp

Why it's a best pick: What is so cool about the Randall SL+ Module? Well , I’ll tell ya. This module can be attached to the front panel of an MTS amp simply via thumbscrews, for quick changes to the amp’s overall voicing. Based on Marshall’s flagship “Super Lead”, th... read full review

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