Modular amplifier, yay or nay?

[iainpunk]

Hey guys n grills

I know its not technically a pedal topic but, meh, close enough.
I'm building an amplifier from scratch, and plan on using a "modular preamp". I was thinking about a standard input buffer, master volume and poweramp, but "rack mount" preamps. Switching those preamps is going to be done by relays. Everything has to run off of a 12V supply.

At this stage i have only breadboarded one preamp, loosely based on something resembling a Matsumin valve caster, but jacked up on steroids with a solid state boost in front.

I was hoping to get your opinions on this idea and maybe some recommendations for other preamps, preferably solid state. The one i have now is great for high doom type gain so i was hoping a preamp that is somewhere between clean and overdriven/crispy.

Thanks in advance.
Iain

[R.G.]

Modular designs at the "functional block" level is how most skilled designers work. It amounts to using higher levels of abstraction to insert functional blocks, then going back and implementing the special cases to make all the blocks be happy about their power needs, signal levels, gain, etc.

It's a great idea. It's how all the good designers work, excepting possibly the super geniuses who can visualize everything from high level function to the last wire length and solder joint simultaneously in their mind.

[digi2t]

It's a great idea. It's how all the good designers work, excepting possibly the super geniuses who can visualize everything from high level function to the last wire length and solder joint simultaneously in their mind.

Ronnie: Do you ever change your clothes?

Seth Brundle: What?

Seth Brundle: Your clothes. You're always wearing the same clothes.

Seth Brundle: No, these are clean. I change my clothes every day.

Ronnie: [Veronica looks into his closet and finds five sets of the same suits, ties, shoes and pants] Five sets of exactly the same clothes?

Seth Brundle: Learned it from Einstein. This way I don't have to expand my thought on what I have to wear next, I just grab the next set on the rack.

[vigilante397]

Five sets of exactly the same clothes?

I've always wanted to do that but the wife doesn't approve.

[digi2t]

Five sets of exactly the same clothes?

I've always wanted to do that but the wife doesn't approve.

Pffft! I hear ya brother. I'm barely able to get 5 same socks past my wife.