Preamps

[Drewmeyer]

I had a question about pedals claiming to be "preamps" (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/xotic-effects-bb-preamp-overdrive-guitar-effects-pedal, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/t-rex-engineering-hobo-drive-overdrive-and-preamp-guitar-effects-pedal). What makes these pedals preamps? Are they in any way related to preamps in an amp? If so, would it be possible to take an amp preamp and make it into a pedal? I'm new to the DIY thing and I'm trying to learn all I can. Thanks!

[J0K3RX]

I had a question about pedals claiming to be "preamps" (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/xotic-effects-bb-preamp-overdrive-guitar-effects-pedal, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/t-rex-engineering-hobo-drive-overdrive-and-preamp-guitar-effects-pedal). What makes these pedals preamps? Are they in any way related to preamps in an amp? If so, would it be possible to take an amp preamp and make it into a pedal? I'm new to the DIY thing and I'm trying to learn all I can. Thanks!

Q: What makes these pedals preamps? A: good question? I guess if you call it a preamp then it's a preamp... Note: Not all will sound or work well like this!

Hell, I have used a Crunch Box type circuit as a preamp and it sounded great!
Here is a demo of it done by Sam Bell.. You can skip to 1:50 in the vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrS-oyCHPI

Q: Are they in any way related to preamps in an amp? A: Yes! Some are even direct small scale copies using jfets in place of tubes, the rest of the circuit is virtually identical with a few minor changes to compensate for the lower voltages...

Q: If so, would it be possible to take an amp preamp and make it into a pedal? A: Well yes, but what are we talking about here? Tubes? Transistors? opamps? What did you have in mind?

[Drewmeyer]

I had a question about pedals claiming to be "preamps" (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/xotic-effects-bb-preamp-overdrive-guitar-effects-pedal, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/t-rex-engineering-hobo-drive-overdrive-and-preamp-guitar-effects-pedal). What makes these pedals preamps? Are they in any way related to preamps in an amp? If so, would it be possible to take an amp preamp and make it into a pedal? I'm new to the DIY thing and I'm trying to learn all I can. Thanks!

Q: What makes these pedals preamps? A: good question? I guess if you call it a preamp then it's a preamp... Note: Not all will sound or work well like this!

Hell, I have used a Crunch Box type circuit as a preamp and it sounded great!
Here is a demo of it done by Sam Bell.. You can skip to 1:50 in the vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrS-oyCHPI

Q: Are they in any way related to preamps in an amp? A: Yes! Some are even direct small scale copies using jfets in place of tubes, the rest of the circuit is virtually identical with a few minor changes to compensate for the lower voltages...

Q: If so, would it be possible to take an amp preamp and make it into a pedal? A: Well yes, but what are we talking about here? Tubes? Transistors? opamps? What did you have in mind?

Very interesting. Actually, my thought was to take a Silvertone 1483 preamp (http://music-electronics-forum.com/attachments/1534d1200001492-1483pre_mod.jpg) and build it in a stompbox format with the tubes and all to add some silvertone flavor to an amp. Is that plausible? And would it do what I'm looking for?

[J0K3RX]

Sure, you could do that. You have to take some things into consideration though. What are you going to power it with? I doubt you are gonna want a big high voltage transformer sticking outa the pedal?

How would you be using it? Directly into the input jack of another amp? If so, you would then be running a preamp into another preamp. You would really want to run it into a power amp...

There are thing you can do to make it work but I am not sure you would get the result you might be looking for. Do a search here for the GTFO pedal. I know, it's a high gain pedal but the idea is there and could be adapted for what you want to do.