AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp
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res13052309981184820170134AMT Electronics SS-11 3-Channel Dual Tube Guitar Preamp Clas... $347.96 - $399.95
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- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
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res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
- res13052309981184820170134
A tube guitar preamp pedal with a huge range of tonal dynamics!
The SS-20 Guitar Preamp from AMT Electronics has incredible Clean, Overdrive, Distortion, and Lead tones in a compact tube valve driven pedal. AMT is raising the bar in guitar pedal design and offers affordable high end tone pedals. This one is going to be finding its way onto lots of pedalboards. AMT's principle and motto for this device is it is the VALVE that sounds and sings, however, the transistors do their best to help it sound in all its beauty and originality.
In order to achieve the full opening of input valve cascades working in the "hottest" conditions the giant amplitude of one hundred and more volts is necessary. The dynamic properties characteristic to valve—based preamps are implemented in the SS-20 preamp due to the elimination of signal limiting OA (feed level of 20-25V) in the part of preliminary amplification and using special cascades capable of reaching 250V amplitude with nonlinearity similar to a 12AX7 triode. Thus, AMT has managed to achieve full dynamic characteristics of guitar signal without usual hybrid "squeeze" as well as assign special sound character to SS-20.
Special attention was also paid to to the SS-20's clean channel—in this section AMT has also followed the way of preserving the dynamics of guitar signal with simultaneous formation of soft "nonlinearity" inherent in the cascades on vacuum triodes. It also allowed us to escape both the "squeeze" and "refinement" peculiar to many clean-channels of hybrid devices.
The basis of the inner preamp structure is the principle of maximum use of amplification and nonlinear transformation of the valve part of the device. Thus, the semi-conductor part of the hybrid practically does not participate in the sound limitation (except for the use of preamp in LEAD mode at Gain LEAD level of higher than 7) and the entire spectrum is formed by the valve preamp part. In the preamp stage the quantity of semi-conductor cascades is not used in the sound processing, and in the absence of jacks in SEND and RETURN the signal is forwarded to OUTPUT through compensating circuits directly from the output triode cascade. Therefore it is advised to use high quality minimum length cables for connecting the preamp output with guitar amplifier input.
The SS-20 guitar preamp uses the original cabinet emulator, however, ONLY in direct out mode. It models the amplitude-frequency characteristics of guitar amplification systems for the most accurate reproduction and ease of recording direct. Secondly, it simulates own nonlinearity of dynamic head peculiar to instrumental loudspeakers, that in its turn colors the output signal with short-range harmonics making it live and closer to real. AMT's unique speaker emulator circuitry supplements the signal with 2nd and 3rd harmonic with smooth increase in their level at signal level growth (it actually is similar to instrumental head in the closed cabinet), not found on other manufacturers pedals.
Features
- Two high-grade channels CLEAN and DRIVE with the possibility of Drive-channel operation in two basic modes: moderate sensitivity (CRUNCH) and high sensitivity (LEAD).
- Effects Loop Send and Return.
- Operation via both direct unaltered signal for guitar amplifiers heads, combos, and speakers (OUTPUT jack) as well as speaker cabinet compensated output for mixing consoles, computers, or other recording devices.
- Cabinet emulator in direct out mode
- High-grade high-voltage feed of triodes.
- Complete elimination of operational amplifiers traditionally used in hybrid preamps for sound amplification and processing.
- Application of special semi-conductor amplifiers modeling triode-based harmonics and providing signal amplitude necessary for high-grade valve operation.
Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp Specifications:
- Power: External Adaptor AC 120V 12V DC .8A (included)
- Tubes: 1 x 12AX7 Incandescence - 12.6V (6.3V)
- Anode Voltage: DC 290V
- Jacks:
- Amplifier Output - for Combo Connection
- Mixer Output - for Mixer/Recorder Connection
- Effects Loop Send and Return
- Input In
- Bypass: Left F Switch - DRIVE effect on/off
- Right F Switch - DISTORTION effect on/off
Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 5 reviews)
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Displaying reviews 1-5
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Excellent Sound
- Good Warmth
- Portable
Cons
Best Uses
- Amateur Recording
- Home Studio
- Performances
- Professional Recording
Comments about AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp:
This is a fantastic 2.5 channel preamp. Tube sound all the way with a little solid state help only with the highest gain setting on the "lead" channel. The clean channel is crystal clear Fender style. Depending on which guitar I use I might have to use a boost or OD to get breakup. This is perfect to get pure flavor from my OD pedals. The Crunch channel is an OD breakup sounding channel with good character. On one of my guitars it did not sound good with both hum-bucker pickups on but with one at a time it sounds great. I like the tweak switch for that channel. The Lead take you from mild to metal. Plenty of gain. All channels take pedals well. I love my three Sansamp Character Pedals but this fills the gap that I had for Fender crystal cleans and over the top gain (I am not a fan of the mesa sound). I almost got the S-1 or B-1 but I am happy I spent more and have a few more options on my pallet. A bypass would be nice but that can be worked around. This is a very nice preamp that is small for what it does. I try to go US on most things but this is quality, well made, and its own design (not just a knock of of something else).
Comments about AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp:
I play Christian rock in a church. Typically I go through a Roland KC-150 keyboard/PA amp (sometimes straight to the house PA). I do not own a decent tube amp and don't want to lug an 80lb amp from the sanctuary to the youth room anyway. So, I needed something that would provide great sound and portability.
The AMT SS-20 does everything I need and it does it with great sound and versatility. I play a Suhr Custom electric guitar with dual humbuckers (with a single coil switch) and a Taylor acoustic. The SS-20 has what amounts to 3 channels clean/crunch/lead which accomodate everything I need with both guitars and does so with great sound (using the cab emulator out, of course). The clean channel sounds unbelievable, even with my Taylor. The crunch channel enables me to add power and gritty rhythm without being overwhelming. The lead channel is pure power. And it does all this and can fit into my guitar case!
I have to also add that an invaluable addition to the SS-20 is Keeley's dual knob compressor. The two have produced for me a sound that is warm, sweet and sustained. Please note, however, that a noise gate pedal will be needed with this combination (especially on the lead channel).
Comments about AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp:
I'm going to give it an 8 overall even though the features don't really work as advertised. The reason being is that for direct recording the cab sim out is fantastic and works wonders. It's far far superior to any digital amp modeler that I've ever tried, and I've tried them all.
I changed the stock tube, which was very good by the way, just wanted a different flavor. I dropped in a groove tubes gold series and it just opened up and started singing to me. The clean channel is versitle and warm. The crunch will go from light fuzz to 70's arena rock. The high gain channel should be enough to please most metal fans and lead players, but is way more gain the I ever use. So you'll have to judge that one your self.
Overall a great investment for direct recording. Just run the cab sim out by itself and add effects in the mix. I couldn't be happier with it for those purposes. I had hoped to use that FX loop but at the end of the day, the tone I'm putting to tape is far more important.
Okay so I'm giving the features a 7 out of 10 when I would like to give it a 5 out of 10. Let me explain. Yes it has an fx loop, and yes you can use the direct out and the cab sim out at the same time but, it changes the tone of everything once you start plugging in cables.
So for example say your using the cab sim out to the PA and you want to plug into the fx loop. The minute you do, the overall tone and feel of the sound change, almost like an eq curve being applied. Same goes for the direct out feeding a your combo, the cab sim gets darker sounding.
That being said if you forgo the fx loop and only run the one output it sounds fantastic. Although the direct out sounds terrible to my amp. The cab sim sounds better feeding my amp then the direct does.
Comments about AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp:
Now this bad boy took my old Jcm 800 from being alow tone achiever at bedroom recording levels to having hendrix page and townsend in the room. Its amazing how this pedal can liven up a jcm 800 marshall stack. Dont need a hotplate attenuator to get a beautiful warm valve distorion. That said the clean channel is my fav. Just gets the marshall to start overdriving. The gain channel is slick. The lead channel. Well i will leave that for the mega death shredders. There is so many eq knobs and gain vol knobs that you can get pretty well anything you like. Myself i like it on clean channel with a touch of fulltone Ocd. Thats when i start having those out of body channeling jimmy page episodes. Not cheap but very boutique....and im a poet and didnt know it..
Comments about AMT Electronics Tube Guitar Series SS-20 Guitar Preamp:
Spiteful, readable and good sound. The price justifies.
Displaying reviews 1-5
