Brett Blackmore

Hi,

I cannot turn up my Plexi 1987 50w at home. I have looked at some 'Power soaks' on eBay but they are expensive and there is also the problem that I will probably still need an od or dist pedal when I play in the rehearsal room or live. I borrowed a Hughes&Kettner Tubeman pedal which is very responsive and gives me a very good and smooth overdriven sound - sadly it is faulty so I cannot keep it. So I decided to buy some cheap pedals to try to reach the same sort of sound. None of them were as good as the H&K Tubeman. I guess tubes are better...

So, finally getting to the p. The H&K Tubeman comes fairly close to what I want but maybe there is something else which is even better. Which tube pre-amps would you recommend?

Cheers Brett

Jodyzuza

Hey, check out my post about the ibanez ts7 - cheap, and sounds great! It has a hot switch which will give you more gain at bedroom levels

Joe

heres what i'm talking about:

Buy Ibanez TS7 Tubescreamer Pedal and other Guitar Effects online at Musician's Friend

Brett Blackmore

Hi Joe,

i have also tried an Ibenez Tubescreamer but it did not give me enough bedroom distortion. I am sure it would be fine once the amp is louder. I admit I have not got the extra boost switch, but the sound I am looking for is more like a saturated tube preamp.

Thanks anyway.

Cheers Brett

PaoloJM

Tung Sol 12AX7 for V1 is great for a bit more gain and keeping the bright charactor of the amp. JJ's are also good for gain but I found them a little dark in my 1987. These will only make a moderate/low difference though.
Has your amp got a MV? If it's a re-issue it might be worth considering a PPMV if it's pre amp distorition you're after, it would be sacraligous on an original though, obviously.

Brett Blackmore

Hi Paolo,

mine is without a MV so I think need something more than just an o/d pedal. I hve not tried it out loud yet so maybe a simple Tube Screamer might be enough. The Hughes&Kettner Tubeman is creamy though... shame it is faulty.

Cheers Brett

Brett Blackmore

I bought a Guvnor II and my search is over. Fantastic gain and very transparent - my 1987 sounds like a 1987 on steriods! It really brings the Marshall out of the box!

This was the list:

1) Hughes& Kettner Tubeman I - nice gain - very transparent - rate= 4 from 5 - shame it is faulty...
2) Ibanez TS 5 with 4558P opamp- sounds a little cardboardy - not very transparent and barely enough gain - rate= 1 from 5.
3) BG EO10 (TS clone) - sounds ok - not very transparent - just about enough gain - rate= 2 from 5.
4) Behringer OD100 (TS clone) - sounds ok - not very transparent - just about enough gain - rate= 2 from 5.
5) Behringer 100MD (3 in one) - Ratt / Neutral / Boss DS1 - all sounded 'hmm' - the Boss DS had just about enough gain - the other 2 were weaker yet more transparent -still did not move me... rate= 2 from 5.
6) Biyang Tube - sounded ok at lower gain levels - choked at hi-gain - bad tube? Did not move me... rate= 3 from 5.
7) Guvnor II - gain - transparent - 5 from 5

Cheers Brett