Sooo many choices.....

[uni]

I've been searching this site for almost a week now. I'm putting together a rack system, and I am not too familiar with most of the components. I'm looking for a certain sound. I tried to come up with something just by looking through other posts. No luck.

I just have a few questions, then maybe my mind can be put to ease. I'm looking for a tube pre-amp that has heavy, deep, rip your face of distortion. I've looked at a few pre-amps: gainiac, jmp-1, ada mp-1, and a line6 pod blah blah blah.

I'm a big tone freak so it has to sound good. Any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated. Also any suggestions on any other type of rack gear that could help me accomplish this/fine tune the sound would be excellent. I've already decided on an eq, just by going through a few posts.

Oh yeah, I have a mesa 50/50 power amp. Thanks in advance.

[adrien]

you won't find too many rack whores on GG.
we need more info about the kind of tone you like... bands etc

many people like the jmp-1 for a marshall tone
triaxis is another option
engl make cheap preamp (no midi) which are supposed to be great for heavy tones.

an external EQ (parametric or band) will help a lot.

[uni]

I'm going for a heavy that I haven't heard in a while. It's hard to explain. Kind of.... deep. Like when you palm mute you can feel the notes in your chest almost taking over your heart.

I'm looking for somthing under $600 preferably.

[phantomlord2oo]

a good quality tube preamp for under $600 will be kinda hard to find. i recommend a mesa/boogie triaxis. very heavy with great cleans and very versatile!

+Mike+

[uni]

Alright. Looks like i'm going to have to suck it up and get a triaxis. It's definately a little more than i was wanting to spend.

Here's another question now. Would it be more efficient to get a 2x12 cab, or get a 4x12. It seems like a 2x12 would require less watts to push it to it's peak, where as it seems like with a 4x12 it wouldn't push it as hard, therefore not making it as loud.

[thefobia]

Originally posted by uni
Alright. Looks like i'm going to have to suck it up and get a triaxis. It's definately a little more than i was wanting to spend.

Here's another question now. Would it be more efficient to get a 2x12 cab, or get a 4x12. It seems like a 2x12 would require less watts to push it to it's peak, where as it seems like with a 4x12 it wouldn't push it as hard, therefore not making it as loud.

It all depends on what speakers you have loaded into the cab.

I much prefer an angled 4x12 to a 2x12 for self monitoring purposes. Unless you angle the 2x12 cab backwards (you lose quite a bit of bass) the sound is projected towards your ankles. A 4x12 seems to give you a bigger sonic spread, meaning it's easier to hear yourself and get a clearer, less muddy tone, especially if your tone has a lot of bass.