Rack people, help me out.

jem7vwh · #1 07-05-2002, 10:50 AM

a few questions.

1. My PreAmp. I'm looking for a better pre-amp than my current setup. I've heard very good things about the Rocktron Piranha. I don't have the money for the 5150 or Marshall that I'd like.

2. A Compressor. I know that some people don't like them, but to get the thick fluid leads I like, I use a compressor. What's a good semi-pro/pro level compressor? I've been hearing really good things about PreSonus.

CQ7String · #2 07-05-2002, 11:19 AM

What's your current setup?

My preamp is old school, but I'm completely in love with it - the GSP2101. I like it better than the 2112 and 2120 - and they're mighty cheap now.

bammbamm · #3 07-05-2002, 12:10 PM

I'll bypass my opinion on the preamp. For a pretty good complressor I would look at the Alesis 3630 a good, reliable 2 channel unti that sells from 90-200 bux used or new.
I have only tried a few pre's I had the ADA MP-1, great if you have a good gate and power amp, the ProGap by Rocktron, solid state, but not too shabby for lead tones. and of course the Tri... I'll leave that alone.

Bamm

AudioTerror · #4 07-05-2002, 12:54 PM

Sansamp PSA-1.
You can get some really good sound with these + they are pretty cheap and you can record bass with them to

shredmaster · #5 07-09-2002, 06:22 PM

my opinion on a few i have owned.....

rocktron chameleon...... first version; good but transistor - sounding. fx are good. it's decent.

rocktron chameleon...... 2nd version....better metal tones....really good pantera...... i returned that one too cuz i wanted better.

rocktron pirahna....... eh....pass on that one. there was never enough gain.... it's sounds good if you like really overdriven clean channels. actually there is 1 or maybe 2 good distortions but they are not good enough. there are absolutely NO FX onboard. NOTHING! ALL DRY. OH, and the clean channel was ok.

alesis 3630.... excellent choice of musicians and engineers. i like it a lot.

alesis quadraverb.... excellent unit. can you still get the old school ones. i have the regular and the GT version.

pod......totally killer....choice to get.

musicdr · #6 07-09-2002, 06:45 PM

I had a piranha,similar to marshall jmp-1.I liked the built in gate and the gain was somewhat adequate(2 12ax7),depends what you are after.I ran mine through a mesa power amp,which probably gave it a little something extra.I have a tri now(more tubes=better) but the piranha was decent.

rikkbeatty · #7 07-09-2002, 09:56 PM

Pre amps: 2101 LE (great pre amps especially for the price now)

Compressors: The Alesis 3630 is too noisy for my taste (but then again I am speaking mainly from a studio viewpoint). A great compressor (less noise than the 3630 by Alesis) for the money is a Behringer Autocom pro or Composer Pro. For more high end I would look at the Bellari RP583 Studio Tube Compressor/Limiter or the Joe Meek SC2.2v4 Compressor.

The Bellari and Joe Meek have lower end compresors as well (around the $120 range and you can get into a new Behringer for the same. I remember when the 3630 came out. I paid $239 for mine brand new only a few months back Musicians Fiend was blowing them out for around $59.00 or so!! They go for $75 or so on average on Evilbay though right now.

On the pre-amps though, the 2101 and 2101LE have the balanced outputs on the back as well as the little magic cab emulator button when using the xlr outputs. Most people agree that the 2101 (Artist, LE or regular with the upgrade) sounds much better than all the remakes that came after it. (Its sorta like the Whammy pedal)

littlegreenman · #8 07-09-2002, 10:12 PM

For pre-amp and compressor,

Jump evil bay, and get an Alesis Quadraverb GT for $170. All the effects rock, except the distortion, I am not a huge fan of that, but the EQ's, reverbs, delays, everything rock, I use my GT for reverb's and compression and chorus over my Eventide.