Recommend me a good old tube pre-amp?

[silentrage]

As I had to find out the hard way, the 120w 212 is just not that useful for bedroom use.
So I gotta get myself something to use with headphones or DI recording.
I looked around and found some good candidates, but hard to decide based on shitety youtube clips,
thought maybe I could get some input here. :)

ADA MP-1
Carvin Quad X
Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp

The mesa sounds the best to me, meaty and smooth, the Carvin sounds really versatile.
What do you think?

If you know a good cheap preamp that I didn't list, put it up too.

[Antag]

Of those you've listed, I'd probably choose the Mesa.

ADAs have attained cult status & I very nearly bought one years ago.

One you've not listed that I'd recommend is the Rocktron Piranha.  They're no longer made, but if you're considering ADA then you're happy to buy 15+yr old gear from ebay :)  Feline has one & every time I visit his workshop I'm impressed by how good it sounds.  FWIW, I have the Rocktron VooduValve & it's a very versatile piece of kit, but the Piranha sounds much better...

Also the Marshall JMP - I've heard a few of them & quite liked some of the available sounds.

How about the Engl E530?  If you don't need MIDI switching & loads of channels it's relatively inexpensive.  They also make some "bigger" preamps including one based on the SE.  Never tried any of them, but as an owner of the Savage 120 head I'd vouch for Engl quality...

[silentrage]

I would LOVE a engl E530.
I think I'm learning towards the mesa or engl, but I can only know 100% when I get to try one or hear a high quality sample.
I'm afraid the high end Engl stuff are way out of my budget, I only got about $300 USD Tops for a pre-amp. :(
I'm only listing the ADA because I heard so much about it, I'm not the biggest marshal fan to be honest.

Can you tell me the differences in tone between the mesa studio and e520/530?

Edit: listened to some piranha clips, wow, it sounds so good for the price.
The plot thickens...

[HTH AMPS]

Rocktron Prophecy...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fYiYao2dH0o&feature=channel_page

[silentrage]

Rocktron Prophecy...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fYiYao2dH0o&feature=channel_page

Sounds nice but I can't afford it. :(
Did megadeth use this on UA?

[HTH AMPS]

Rocktron Prophecy...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fYiYao2dH0o&feature=channel_page

Sounds nice but I can't afford it. :(
Did megadeth use this on UA?

Mustaine is indeed using this preamp.

[silentrage]

Anyone selling a mesa boogie studio pre? :)

[Will]

Not valve, but Sansamp PSA series?

[silentrage]

Thos psas sound pretty nice, I gather they emulate the tube sound pretty well?
Could you tell me how it compares to the mesa studio preamp? I know it has a mesa boogie preset but I've never heard it.

[dheim]

i sold my e530 a week or so ago!
it's veeeeery brutal, but it looses completely character when played through a solid state poweramp, and i think that's what happens to every single tube pre... tube sound is mainly created by power tubes... pre circuitry just affects the amount of gain and the equalization, but any tube preamp will sound just like a distortion pedal if put before a SS amp, and possibly even fuzzier than a solid state distortion, because of the higher output gain. direct registration is unthinkable. for that you have to use a simple, cheap emulator with way better results... valves are chic (and are absolutely unreachable in live situations), but don't stick on them when you can get more from digital technology!

[silentrage]

Thanks, I did hear a lot of AXEFX users had success with power amps instead of SS, and I was planning to go that way too.
Probably mesa boogie studio pre + vht 2/50/2 or something like that. (when I have a job)
But I think for now a nice tube pre + ReValver would do.