Budget Tube Pre Amp?

[tommyzai]

I'm looking for an inexpensive pre-amp to warm-up vocals, guitar, and bass without introducing too much noise. I almost bought this:

Art Tube MP Project Series Tube Microphone/Instrument Preamp

Then changed my mind. I was also considering an analog circuitry compressor guitar pedal. I'm considering anything under $200.

Thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated . . .

[tommyzai]

Anyone tried these?

https://dbxpro.com/en-US/product_families/500-series

[sin night]

Are you looking for tube hardware or also other technologies? Those DBX 500 series seems solid state to me (nothing wrong with that, I'm just trying to understand what you're really looking for).

I'm not the best person to give advice on the subject, but I think it could be worth adding some informations like about the recording chain (which microphone and which soundcard you will use).
How do you process your recordings at the moment? Do you expect a piece of hardware to replace/improve some of that processing?

My point is: I'm a bit skeptical about very cheap preamps. I still have a cheap starved plate tube preamp by Presonus, the tube can add some harmonics (in a starved plate configuration, the gain work is done with a solid state circuit, while the tube is a sort of "parallel distortion), but it's not "that special sound"... mine has been sitting in a box for years, maybe I'll take it out to raise the output level of my microfreak...
Maybe you can get a bigger improvement with a different purchase, such as a better soundcard or a different microphone (I don't know, I'm just giving some examples).


Cheap - but already over a 200$ budget, at least for new ones - there's the GAP Pre-73 Jr which is meant to provide a certain tone (it's not a clean and natural preamp)... but I honestly don't know if it's a good suggestion (it's decent for the price, but I'm not dure it will provide what you're looking for).
Maybe a better soundcard, with a better input stage, and then some plugins will be more effective? I don't know...

[tommyzai]

I am trying to add a little analog circuitry between instrument and interface. I am starting to thing a compressor limiter might be best

[cryophonik]

Maybe look for a secondhand JoeMeek ThreeQ or VC3? You can probably find one in the $180-200 range.

[zerocrossing]

I feel that at your price range, something like a UAD Volt is going to make more of a positive impact on your recording than some cheap compressor or preamp.

[Jim Roseberry]

An inexpensive tube mic preamp is going to be more dirt (starved voltage) than fattening/flattering.
I wouldn't bother.
You'd do better with the Focusrite ISA One... or as @zerocossing mentioned... a better audio interface (depending on what you're using now).

[bmanic]

Or for around 200$ you could look at the various DIY projects available? You'd need to source the components and do the soldering but you'd get far higher quality than trying to purchase something for 200$.

[Jim Roseberry]

I'd go further and say for $200, you're not going to find any piece of hardware worth buying (as far as fattening/flattering a vocal). Depending on the mic you're currently using, you might also be better putting that money toward a higher quality mic.

[Jim Roseberry]

Unless it's a high voltage tube preamp... it's going to be more like a dirt box.

[Jim Roseberry]

You might try an EQ boost centered around 150Hz... and skip the tube-preamp all together.

[tommyzai]

I found a guitar pedal builder who makes some cool pre-amp/tone box/clones, etc. I think I need to get me some custom analog.

[egbert101]

The Bastle Bestie is a stereo mixer that gives you about 20db of clean gain, but it can be pushed into distortion and wild distortion territory too. It's an interesting alternative.

https://bastl-instruments.com/instruments/bestie