ART tube preamp, steel, tele, one amp

[D Schubert]

I had used this 2-channel pre-amp in a PA application at one time, but it had been put away for months. This is a 1-space rack-mounted preamp with a 12AX7A tube for each channel, with 1/4" and XLR inputs and outputs. Each channel has an input gain knob linked to the tube, and a second knob to adjust the output volume. Yesterday I took it along to a jam at a friend's house, where I was playing both PSG and telecaster.

Normally, I would have taken two amps, but this time I used my LTD 400 for both. I ran the steel through channel A on the preamp, and into the no. 1 input on the amp, with minimal tube gain and more solid-state output. And, I ran the guitar through channel B on the preamp, and into input no. 2 on the amp, with maximum tube gain and very little solid-state output. With a tiny bit of tweaking on the EQ of the amp, it sounded pretty good for both instruments and didn't feel like a compromise at all.

Since I'm at the age where equipment gets twice as heavy when I put it back in the truck after the gig, and three times as heavy when I unload it at home, this was a pleasant discovery.

[James Quackenbush]

DS,
Did you plug your steel into the tube setup..
You would have had ANOTHER smile on your face if you did !!....Sincerely, Jim

[D Schubert]

Yes, I plugged the steel into one channel of the preamp, and the Tele into the other. It took a lot of tube "sweetening" for the Tele to sound right, and the steel only needed a little bit. I was smiling.

[Ivan Posa]

ART make a 1 rack unit called a "Tube Channel" which is great. It has a tube pre-amp, 4 band parametric Eq and a compressor. Plug it into the power amp of the likes of a NV 400 or 1K and get a nice warm tube sound. Great unit and not expensive....IP