Tube preamps vs. Tube amps

Greeting Dynastar Fans:

Today a short blog. Why use a preamplifier vs. a complete amplifier with preamp built in? Well, here is some food for thought.

With say a combo amp, you are limited by power output, and the type of speaker you are comitted to. Of course if you have an amp head then you do have a choice of selecting a different speaker cabinet.

Now with a preamplifier, new opportunities exist to nail in the tone you desire. First, a separate power amplifier allows you to have the power level you want and the type of amplifier you want –tube or solid state. Solid state eliminates power tube biasing, and maintenance. You can have a 1kw pro-audio power amplifier allowing you to have several cabs for those large gigs. You can also run stereo as our vintage 7025 preamp used to do with separate effects loops. Your set up can get very sophisticated to crazy… but hay… you are a rock star.. right?

Additionally, preamplfiers can offer more versatility with midi controls, larger footwitch pedals for more control, and still keep your prized tone.

Nowadays the DSP simulation/guitar processor pedal boards can actually be configured to drive a power amplifier, except it sits on the floor vs. in a rack. I myself would not want a lot of wires, peddles, etc. on the stage, because dancing and moving around while playing is a critical part of entertaining, and it is simply in the way. Heck I worry about banging my guitar neck against a mike stand.

So preamplifiers can offer some advantages. You could theoretically have a massive tube power amp on the rear end of your rig. You can insert peripherals between the preamp and power amp aside from the effects loop. That could be pretty powerful. Think of the possibilities!

Dynaman!