Members craigny Posted December 12, 2010 Members Share Posted December 12, 2010 Well guys i know that you all think that this may be better in the amp section, but ive been there, and lets just say i feel more comfortable with my peeps here!! anyway, im looking to get a rack setup as an alternate/backup rig to my Marshall MKlll..i have my Tonelab ST which i wanna try out with some kind of power amp, but im looking into some other pre amp/power amp suggestions...also im on a budget, so no suggestions of a Mesa Triaxis or an Axe Fx cause i dont have the fundzzzzz!!! Ive been looking into the old ADA's..the MP's were the shiznit back in the day and im impressed with some of the youtube vids...seems you can snag one of these in the 200 dollar range...not bad for a tube preamp, any other decent preamp/processors in the 200 buck range?? also as far as power amps im looking for mabye a solid state to keep costs down.....whatdaya all think...rack guys chime in!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ten56gibby Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 I recommend an old Peavey Classic Stereo 50/50. All tube. And I'm pretty sure it uses EL34s. My GSP1101 sounds fantastic through it. I think you're on the right track though. Time-tested quality gear on the cheap FTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlackCustom Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 I have an MP-1 from back in the day, and to me anyways - it's a very gigable pre. It's primarily known as a high gain affair, but it's clean tones don't get proper credit if you ask me. I dug mine out of the basement this year, and am running it with a TC G Major 2 into 2 small combos. For a power amp, I would consider a Marshall 9005. It's basically 2 JCM 800 power sections in a 4 space box. They seem to be going for around $400 these days which is a bargain for what they are. The down side is they are quite heavy with all of those transformers in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 Yeah im really getting into this idea...a tube power amp would be great..mabye one of the Peaveys or a nice Carvin..who knows...im really jonesing for one of the ADA's though..there is a local music store that specializes in used rack/pa equipment, and they have a ton of used rack gear...i bought my BBE Sonic Maximiser rack mount for peanuts there (which will be going into my rack!!) so ill see what they have there....i have some pedals that i dont use and a small amp that i can offer up as partial trade, so well see!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ten56gibby Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 Just be sure that if you're going for 4 spaces or more in your rack AND going to have a tube power amp, make sure your rack or rack case has rollers. I made the mistake of getting a 6 space w no rollers and it's ridiculous heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 Just be sure that if you're going for 4 spaces or more in your rack AND going to have a tube power amp, make sure your rack or rack case has rollers. I made the mistake of getting a 6 space w no rollers and it's ridiculous heavy. Ahhh...good to know.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maxnew40 Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 The MP-1 is a great preamp. I have two of them right now. One I left stock and the other I modded for less gain, using the cathode follower mod (JCM 800) that I found at ada depot. I just used it on Sunday for band rehearsal with a line 6 M13 for effects. I normally use a peavey classic tube power amp but this weekend I used a solid state rocktron velocity and it sounded great. Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 The MP-1 is a great preamp. I have two of them right now. One I left stock and the other I modded for less gain, using the cathode follower mod (JCM 800) that I found at ada depot.I just used it on Sunday for band rehearsal with a line 6 M13 for effects. I normally use a peavey classic tube power amp but this weekend I used a solid state rocktron velocity and it sounded great.Max Hey thats awesome to know..ive been looking at the rocktrons for the price!! so you were happy with the ADA along with it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members k_strat Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 I recommend an old Peavey Classic Stereo 50/50. All tube. And I'm pretty sure it uses EL34s. My GSP1101 sounds fantastic through it. I think you're on the right track though. Time-tested quality gear on the cheap FTW. I have a Peavey Classic 50/50 too. Great sounding power amp. However, they use EL84 not EL34 tubes. Unless of course the specs changed at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BG76 Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 The MP-1 def has its own sound. If it will work for you or not will be the big thing. I have heard the older version sounds a little better then the updated version - not sure how or why. The Chandler Tube Driver is really nice. A lot of the Digitech stuff is pretty good - especially for the price. Are you looking for lots of effects or just for a good clean and dirty sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 The MP-1 def has its own sound. If it will work for you or not will be the big thing. I have heard the older version sounds a little better then the updated version - not sure how or why.The Chandler Tube Driver is really nice. A lot of the Digitech stuff is pretty good - especially for the price.Are you looking for lots of effects or just for a good clean and dirty sound? Not looking for alot of effects. Mainly want a good high gain chugging sound with some decent body as i do alot of palm muting thrash rhythm playing, and a nice decent clean..the only effects i use are a reverb and mabye a little chorus or delay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarman3001 Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 I've had a {censored}load of rack preamps over the years. The ones that really stand out in my mind are the MP1 and a tubeworks realtube II. I used the MP1 for probably 5 years as my main rig for everything and it's capable of some great sounds. The realtube II is also nice and I curse the day I ever decided to sell it. Not sure what got into me. As for the power amp, I went through a few different ones. The Mosvalve 160 watt one and for a while I had the 500 watt one. Loud!!! but heavy. I finally settled on a Marshall 8008 rackmount amp. It's solid state but has a very nice warm sound and feel to it. I still have that one although I don't use it anymore. I keep it mainly for nostalgia and as a backup just in case. For effects I used to use mainly digitech rackmount stuff. I had a GSP21 in all of its various versions then moved to a GSP2101 which I didn't like. Also tried an ART unit but didn't like that one too much. I miss the days of huge racks for guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metal0822 Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 if you want good thrash tones, and decent cleans, it sounds like the mp1 would be for you. i always wanted one, but wound up with an engl e530 pre instead. had that into my peavey classic 50/50, that was a sweet setup, but man carrying that thing around was a pain in the ass...seriously, not exaggerating, it sucked. i agree to get a case with wheels. they have a huge following and can be had for beans...not to mention the things you need it for are exactly what its niche is, i say go for it. i might go with the marshall power amp, but thats just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 13, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 Yeah im going to get something together...i may just concentrate on a poweramp for now and mess around with my tonelab, but if i see a MP locally around for a good price im snagging it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BG76 Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 I miss the days of huge racks for guitars. Racks will come back. If you miss it go on ebay because you can buy rack stuff for pennies on the dollar. I have 3 GSP-21s (orig, Pro and Legend) and a couple Twin Tubes - cost me less then $300 for all of them- I just wanted them for nostalgia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarman3001 Posted December 13, 2010 Members Share Posted December 13, 2010 Racks will come back. If you miss it go on ebay because you can buy rack stuff for pennies on the dollar. I have 3 GSP-21s (orig, Pro and Legend) and a couple Twin Tubes - cost me less then $300 for all of them- I just wanted them for nostalgia. Cool. I sold my last digitech unit a few years ago. It was a GSP21 pro with the legend upgrade chip. My very last rack item was a sansamp PSA1 and I sold that almost exactly a year ago. All I have left is the marshall 8008 amp. I've gone from a rack with enough gadgets and processing power to run the space shuttle to a single space rackmount amp that I never use anymore. Sad..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 14, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 Well i went into the local shop i was talking about, and he diddnt have any ADA's , but he did have a couple of other pre amps. He had a ART DPS ll tube preamp that he said is goood for guitar, but is designed for vocs, bass etc.., and he had a Digitech Twin Tube GFX 1, anyone have any experiences with these?? Is the Digitech good for chunky thrash?? The only reason i ask is cause hes willing to take some old gear i have on trade and i can score a killer deal...he said i can try any piece of equipment there, but you guys have any feedback on these two units?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 14, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 ????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 14, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 Well let me ask this..i can basically trade up with the stuff i have here for the twin tube GFX 1, so is it good for metal tones..not nu-metal but 90's era or something a little older (master of puppets, ride the lightening?) Is the ADA that much better or better at all? It just would be so much easier for me to get the twin tube GFX 1 cause he has it right here and hes willing to trade so, for the ADA id have to go into the pocket and probably wait a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metal0822 Posted December 14, 2010 Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 just go in and play it. if you like it get it, if you dont, walk away. seems pretty simple to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maxnew40 Posted December 14, 2010 Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 Hey thats awesome to know..ive been looking at the rocktrons for the price!! so you were happy with the ADA along with it?? The velocity 100 worked for me with an 8 Ohm 2 X12 open back cabinet. It should be loud enough to gig with (I don't play metal, so I don't need massive low end). Max Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarman3001 Posted December 14, 2010 Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 Just my opinion but I was never very impressed with the digitech preamps. I liked their effects unit but their preamps just didn't do much for me. Even when I had the GSP2101 which had a tube preamp section, I never used the preamp and used the 2101 just for effects. I was still using my MP1 as a pre. That said, I don't have much experience with the Twin Tube so maybe that one's a little better than the other ones like the GSP21 and GSP2101 which are the ones I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 14, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 just go in and play it. if you like it get it, if you dont, walk away. seems pretty simple to me. And that is exactly what im going to do today!!! Let me ask this..., he dosent have any guitar power amps there right now, so if i had to test it id have to try with a combo amp, or a head and cab....he happens to have the same Marshall head that i have there, i was wondering if i were to use it on the head or an amp to get the best sound of the processor alone, do you use it in the fx loop send and return and plug into front of amp, or can i plug the guitar into the twin tube, and run the twin tube through the fx loop send and return and bypass the amps pre amp...im thinking that the latter would be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarman3001 Posted December 14, 2010 Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 I'd probably run the preamp's output to the amp's fx return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members craigny Posted December 14, 2010 Author Members Share Posted December 14, 2010 I'd probably run the preamp's output to the amp's fx return. so youd plug the guitar into the preamp and output into the return... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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