preamp secrets

[manny08]

Hi

Does anyone have any information on using preamps? tips for getting the most out of them for different instruments etc?

Thanks

Shane

[brandondrury]

Well, to be honest, this preamp thing is fairly straight forward. The typical high end preamp has one knob. What can you do with one knob? Not a whole lot. Preamps with transformers often offer a bit more harmonic content (distortion) when you overload the transformer, so if a preamp has a separate input and output level I crank the output and knock the signal down with the input level.

Other than that there aren't really any "preamp secrets" that I'm aware of. It's a volume knob. Not much of a mystery there.

In regard to different instruments, a preamp has a specific color and ther are certain pres that people will typically match with certain instruments. This is a fairly subtle thing, but if you've got a money to blow it can be worth exploring. Generally speaking, fast preamps are great on instruments with transients. Slower preamps with more harmonic content are usually better for more RMS style instruments such as electric guitar, but there are no rules on this and the difference between one and the other is not a huge difference.

You may want to check out the preamp shootouts in the Member's Only section.