Best Preamp of 2018

#11
Cornerstone Gladio Double Preamp on RigShare
Cornerstone
Cornerstone

Gladio Double Preamp

We’ve always been fascinated by the sound of great artists like Robben Ford or Eric Johnson (to name a few) and it’s always been our dream to recreate those sounds in a pedal. To do that, we soon realized that the key was to be able to offer something close to the amps they were using. The design goal had a name: Dumble. This is the reason why GLADIO is an Overdrive with a realistic tube-compression behavior to mimiq the Dumble famous preamps saturation, still always retaining a rich touch-sensitive response. Why two channels? It’s all about versatility. GLADIO has two independent channels with totally different voices, which combined together offer an even wider range of sounds. WHAT ABOUT CHANNEL 1? The 1st channel is able to deliver a smooth and creamy sounds (inspired by songs like Robben Ford’s Cannonball Shuffle). It’s really transparent and with a round touch-sensitive response that helps enhancing the playing. Controls (Gain, Tone and Volume) are self-explaining and there’s a toggle switch called COMP to choose between two different compression levels. WHAT ABOUT CHANNEL 2? The 2nd channel is designed to offer a special hard clipping sound pretty much inspired by Sonny Landreth’s tone. Controls are all self-explaining and there’s a toggle switch called JAZZ/ROCK, which should not need presentations. WANT MORE VERSATILITY? The Gladio is eequipped with a special toggle switch to choose between two different switching modes. "S" which stands for "SINGLE" and "D" which stands for "DOUBLE". In Single mode you can use only one channel at a time, which means that pressing the footswitch of one of the two channels makes the other turn off (avoiding tip tap dancing). In Double mode you can stack the two channels to reach a huge fat Dumbl-esque sound.

#13
K&K Sound Pure XLR Preamp on RigShare
K&K Sound
K&K Sound

Pure XLR Preamp

The Pure XLR Preamp has the same great sound and low noise circuitry as our best-selling Pure Preamp with the addition of a DI balanced XLR output and a phase switch. The Pure XLR Preamp is specially designed to complement our line of Pure pickups. However, due to its adjustable input gain and wide frequency range it will work with many more applications. The Pure XLR Preamp features +/-20 db bass, mid, and treble controls, plus an adjustable input gain control. Its noiseless circuitry provides unsurpassed clarity and power and the adjustable input gain allows you to dial in the precise amplification factor needed for your instrument. The addition of the phase switch is one of the most important tools for live sound amplification of any acoustic instrument. Phase switches are usually marketed as a feedback-controlling device, but they accomplish more than just that. Every acoustic instrument projects sound waves in a certain phase. The phase that is projected out of the amplified speaker source needs to be "in phase" with the acoustic instrument's own soundwaves or the result will not be optimal. If the amp projects in the opposite phase, the acoustic instrument will fight its own sound and no balanced tone can develop. Round and warm tone is only achieved when acoustic and amplified sound oscillate in the same phase. The Pure XLR Preamp's phase switch allows for instant correction of this problem. An LED light indicates if phantom power is present. The unit can optionally be powered by a 9-volt battery, which will not be drained as long as the phantom power provides more than 10 volts. Frequency response is 10-30,000Hz. The bass control is set to roll of at 100Hz, the midrange at 1.5kHz with extra large bandwidth and the treble are set at 10kHz. Input impedance is 1 meg. Output impedance on balanced XLR and 1/4" line out is 100 Ohm. The 1/4" line out can conveniently be used as a monitor out or for connection to a tuner.

#14
Walrus Audio EB-10 on RigShare
Walrus Audio
Walrus Audio

EB-10

A tone tweakers delight, the EB-10 works as a preamp, EQ and boost with three available presets to meticulously craft your guitar's sound allowing for studio-grade electric guitar tone in a live setting. Each rotary knob offers up to 12dB of boost OR cut of Low, Mid, and High frequencies, based on where you have the toggle switches set. When the Boost switch is engaged, add a 10dB MOSFET boost for some great extra punch. Use the EB-10 to compensate when switching between low and high output instruments. Push through the mix during solos, or even use the onboard presets as three different gain stages by using combinations of increasing boosted EQ settings and the Boost switch! With nine different EQ positions on each knob, bring out new tonal characteristics you didn't know your guitar or bass even had. The EB-10 offers two operating modes, “Live” and “Preset”. In live mode, the pedal responds to current position of all the knobs and switches. Dial in a specific sound and turn the pedal on and off with the Bypass switch. In preset mode, the pedal offers preset slots to store three unique sounds. When in preset mode, the pedal is locked on and the user can scroll through the presets by clicking the Bypass switch. The pedal will boot up in the last known operating mode and if that is preset mode, it loads preset 1 by default. Enter preset mode by pressing and holding the bypass switch for 3 seconds until you see the preset light P1 turn on. Repeat to exit. You are in live mode when all preset lights are off. Refer to the manual on saving presets.

1 Rig

#21
Effectrode Blackbird Vacuum Tube Preamp on RigShare
Effectrode
Effectrode

Blackbird Vacuum Tube Preamp

The Blackbird™ is a genuine all-tube preamp in a pedal! This tube tone engine is specially designed to give guitarists access to a wide palette of exceptionally classy guitar sounds whether recording direct to computer in the studio or when used with a tube amp in a live situation. The tone of the drive channel is best described as “Bourbon & honey”, being voiced for a full-bodied, warm, bluesy overdrive. As the gain knob is rolled-up the overdrive fattens up beautifully to become a rich distortion full of depth and even harmonic overtones. The gain channel also features a second, entirely different voicing (“Creamy” mode) which hot biases the tube circuitry, adding more odd harmonics to thicken up the soup for some devastating classic rock, crunch and creamy, harmonically-saturated guitar sounds. This channel utilises exactly the same dynamic and touch sensitive all-tube clipping circuitry found only in an elite few hi-end guitar amps. By simply digging in or easing off with the guitar pick the tube circuitry responds musically and works with you to create soaring expressive solos and its natural tube compression means you can effortlessly transition into rhythm or chord playing. The clean channel has a beautiful, open and glassy musical tone that lends itself to country and jazz playing, however, because it’s a replica of the ‘Blackface’ tube circuit, it too can be pushed into breakup and overdrive with higher output pickups or a booster pedal. A huge engineering effort has gone into developing and refining the thermionic circuitry in Blackbird and as a result of this the tone and feel of the pedal is superbly balanced – guitar tone really does not get any better than this. Again, this channel has great depth, clarity and richness – a polished, classy sound that tubes excel at. The Blackbird can be further ‘tweaked’ (a formal engineering term) to allow players sculpt their own truly unique signature sounds. The character of the overdrive response can be altered by adjusting tube bias points and swapping out tubes giving access to a virtually unlimited range of classic and undiscovered tube preamp voicings. It’s great fun – finding bargain tubes and experimenting. In the time it takes to change a light bulb tubes can be swapped out for N.O.S.(new old stock) vintage types such as Mullard, RCA, Tung-Sol, etc altering the gain, biting point, feel and fundamental tone of the Blackbird.

Mel Symphonic

1 Rig

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