Tronographic Rusty Box or Meatsmoke or similar pre

[ptonewood2000]

Searching for a small preamp like the Rusty Box or Meatsmoke preamp pedal or rackmount unit to pair with a power amp.

Thanks!

[Jeroen]

I had never heard of either unit. That Meatsmoke sure is an expensive pedal, at 699 USD new! How can they justify such a pricetag for a fairly basic preamp pedal? Also, odd choice to not include a balanced recording output. There's a recording output, but it's a regular unbalanced jack. The Rusty Box does have a balanced output, but it's a jack and not an XLR. Unusual! I'd say that's a very desirable feature if you're going to use it live

What are you looking for in a preamp? What kind of tone are you after, and what features should it have?

[ptonewood2000]

I've tried the 90lb version of the Meatsmoke and the pedal and they're both fantastic. The pedal is not just a stompbox. It's the Meatsmoke preamp, with smaller transformers and preamp tubes. I work at a place that has carried Verellen before, but I don't think we're getting anything anytime soon.

I have an SVT, but I'd like a really small and efficient practical rig as an alternative.

[ptonewood2000]

Or, I'm pondering the VT Bass Rackmount from Tech 21. I just haven't gotten to try that out yet and we don't have any in stock.

[Jeroen]

Those look great! I just wish they were programmable, like the VT Bass Deluxe pedal.
I use an Ampeg SVP-CL, which is basically the preamp section of the SVT Classic in a 1 HE rack unit, and an SVP-PRO which is derived from the preamp section of the SVT-2 PRO. If that SVT tone is what you're after, the SVP-CL might do a great job at what you're looking for too. They don't make them anymore, but they can be found used for fair prices