Best Preamp For Guitar (2024 Update)

I bought this used through Guitar Center to boost the output of my Eastman 815 acoustic-electric mandolin, which has an internal microphone but was too quiet. I'm a hobbyist but play in worship settings. I was able to EQ the output to sound like the natural mandolin tone and to boost the volume which was important to me, since, on occasion, I play outdoors or in a large church sanctuary. The tuner is a great asset, making clip-on tuners unnecessary. The tone boost gives the mandolin even more volume for those times when you want to play a solo. The unit runs on a 9V battery or a 9v DC adapter. I happened to own already own a 9v DC adapter, and it gave the unit much more power than the battery, which was great. I definitely recommend getting a 9v DC adapter. This was a good buy!Jamie

The addition of the Boss style adaptor plug was a very welcome modification. The indicator light is cool as well. Both were absent in earlier versions of this classic overdrive. I've owned all versions of this pedal, including the original grey and yellow pedals. This is a nice take on them and the lighter weight casing appears to be aluminum. The originals and later reissues used a cast material that was heavy and was a bit of overkill for such a simple circuit. This is a great alternative to those. The circuit has a tendency to be a little bassy especially as the gain is increased. It lends itself to single coil guitars very well(yngwie) but works great with humbucking pickups as well. One of my all time favorite over drives, and I own them all. Stacks well with other pedals. Everyone should try this one, it rips.Duke

I'm in an acoustic jam group and needed some extra punch for my vintage Guild D-40 so it didn't get swallowed up when taking solos. Running a Fisher soundhole pickup through a 25W Danelectro solid state amp just didn't do the trick, but adding this does. I set it very clean with the gain dial at its lowest setting and the level up, using the eq on the Danny to brighten up the highs. A very natural sound, not like through the mic, but good for my purposes. With the gain up a bit, the added sustain on the low end was a pleasant surprise. The LED light is so bright, I'll never forget and leave it on. My one complaint so far is the changing the battery involves unscrewing four screws and taking the back off — why not build it with a slide-open compartment? When I hooked it up to my Tele, it took a little tweaking to get the setting right, but it produces a nice gritty sound. For the price, I'm happySwampy

Palmer > = Der SoundQualitt ! so hab ich das erfahren und gelernt! Von Netzteil ber Kabeltester / Di Boxen / usw alles Atomkriegs tauglich > also extra heavy Haptik – da knnten Panzer drber fahren. Klasse ! Bis auf die paar Plastik Sachen kann da nix kaputt gehen … Bei diesem kleinemn Amp ist auch alles Palmer – bis auf den seltsamen Fuschalter ? Da hab ich wohl einen Montags – Griff gemacht. Man tritt rein – – – und erst im letzten micro millimeter knackst es und dann schaltet "dat Dingen ' .." alles funktioniert – fhlt sich aber komisch an – kann aber Palmer wohl nix dafr – also behaupt ich mal – oder kann man sowas wollen? Der Sound ist gut – wenn man bedenkt was man damit vor hat. Einen Amp! einen Rhren Amp mit entsprechnder Box – Microphonie – usw …und das alles in der kleinen Kiste. Naja mit etwas geschraube werden die Sounds schn bis sehr gut – abstriche gibts natrlich bei der Verzerrung – ist aber auch klar – einen Vox AC30 ( 2×12")angezerrt kann man nicht simulieren – punkt oder einen JCM800(4×12") angezerrt – auch wenn man die Microfone in drei verschiedenen Stellungen simuliert. Es bleibt simuliert. Denkt mal an die Grundschule vierte Klasse – morgens vor der Deutscharbeit. Die simulierten Bauchschmerzen waren nie so erfolgreich bei Mutti wie die echten. Aber zum ben ist beides schn!sfptomi

Good vintage clean and crunch tones. The other 7 amp settings are disappointing though. I use it mainly for practice with headphones, sometimes as a preamp for recording.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

As a bass player who plays multiple styles but also unconventional lines, I needed a device capable of multiple tones. Many reputable companies have sounds they are known for and only that sound. This pedal gives you not only signature GK sound, but loads of available other sounds using the countless features it has available. This is a wonderful pedal that's 6 amazing amps in one lightweight box. Along with tons of sculpting abilities. Also plays so nice with pedals put in its loop and is super sensitive to pick ups of all strengths by using the trim knob.fontkado

I have many amps, effects pedals and di's I am confident that I could get the sounds I need from the Gallien Kruger Plex Bass preamp pedal as a stand alone if necessary.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This enhances the Graphtech Ghost bridge I installed. Installation was relatively simple since all the wiring is modular and plugs into the pre amp. Minimal soldering was required for the jack and switches. There are a lot of wires so the electronic cavity in my guitar is full but I did not have to enlarge it or modify the cavity.Martin

Absolutely the best acoustic guitar sound from any electric guitar hands down. I've tried and owned aftermarket piezo systems and OEM piezo equipped guitars, the ghost just has that nature sound. It reacts like a "plugged in" acoustic guitar. Soft passages are smooth and even, all the strings have equal output, something the other systems did not have. Step into it and the Ghost just gets dynamic, no piezo "quack" or unnatural thin, sharp distorted tones. Add the fact that string breakage becomes a thing of the past, will pay for its self inside a couple of months. Once you've been able to play a cool acoustic intro, then light into the electric chorus, you'll never go back!Anonymous

Put this in my LP Studio and I've got better acoustic tones than many Taylor players I've heard. The difference on the Graphtech compared to regular piezos is dramatic. This setup is worth every penny!bdotson--vm.q

I was looking for a boost pedal to drive an old Gibson GA-25 with a Strat. The Archer sounds above and beyond. It has plenty of volume to drive the amp and setting the gain between 10 and 2 and rolling off the treble smooths out the crunch while still maintaining it character. Used it with a Plexi 100 and a Twin Reverb as well as a Rickenbacker, Tele, and Les Paul with the same result. The Archer sounds fantastic and each amp and guitar sounds like that amp or guitar. Worked the same on other pedals. Used it to drive an OCD and it the perfect bump without having to use an amp with complicated switching. No noise from the pedal while toggling on or off. Treble knob is super useful to smooth out or add clarity. It was really easy to dial it in and there's a pretty wide sweet spot. It's super responsive to picking and fingering. I kinda want to buy another to have an Archer drive an Archer. Would that be weird?Nickname

The pedal is small and therefore pedalboard-friendly but is still built like a tank. The knobs and switch feel totally quality stuff, the chassis is rock-solid and good looking. This pedal can be used, just like a Klon Centaur, as a clean boost up to a mild unique sounding overdrive. It gives you plenty of volume and headroom (you generally have to keep the volume knob close to zero if you want to match the bypass volume) and the Gain control is very accurate and allows you to shape your tone just as you desire. It is a great blues or rock pedal and gives its best if put on top of a tube amp that's almost breaking up but you can still use it, as a regular drive pedal, in front of a clean amp and it's guaranteed to sound better than most of the amplifiers' internal gain stages. Not a cheap pedal, in line with its main competitors, but definitely worth the price. If you want a Klon-like quality pedal that really gives you the Klon feeling without destroying your wallet, the Archer is a perfect choice.reptile_breath

I used heavy fuzzes for many years, I decided a few years ago to switch to something different. Been switching between the germanium ocd and the Xotic BB preamp last few years. The Archer does what I was looking for. Sounds great with my guitar volume slightly turned down. I've never used one of those real klons. But I now can understand why everyone likes em. Put a good compression pedal in front of it and it will almost sing.Duane

I use this unit with an upright bass and a small bass amp. has a very nice sound. I am able to turn the gain down on the amp and and still get a clean powerful sound. The pro unit works better than the studio unit. I do have both! Works well with other instruments and vocal too.gtinstman1990

Sound: Quiet preamp unless you want a little tube grit. Compressor is very musical. One might want a bit more fine tuning control but at what cost? Features: This one unit can be a mic pre, instrument DI, even a guitar overdrive. Pretty useful. Ease of Use: Tweak a couple of knobs and let this baby sing. Quality: I have several ART products. They're built very well and pass the hard knock test. Value: Excellent bang for the buck. Manufacturer Support: I haven't had to deal with ART for service or repair on any of my items, some of which are nearing ten years old. The Wow Factor: I'm not much on wow. I prefer good quality at a reasonable price. Overall: This is the second Tube MP/C I have purchased. It's such a great value, I had to have another one. I have a small home studio which operates on a tight budget, so inexpensive, good quality gear is a must. I have been a fan of ART products for many years and I have never been disappointed. This particular unit is a real gem. I use several ribbon mics which are notorious for needing lots of gain. These have plenty of gain for any mic and the pre is very quiet. Dialing in just enough tube warmth is simple and the built-in compressor is sweeeet.Mark

Overall: This is the second one of these I have purchased, primarily because I have been so happy with the first one. I don't own any $1000+ preamps so I can't compare this to those high-end units but for the money, this is an awfully good buy. The preamp is quiet within reasonable limits. Maybe with a mic that requires extraordinary drive levels, this would be a bit noisy but for all of the mics I have used with these it's drop dead quiet. The tube drive provides just the right amount of warmth for my needs. The built-in compressor is quite effective. It lacks the ability to really fine-tune attack, comp, etc, but it's very musical and I don't find that I need much else.Mark

Overall: I was looking for something that would give me compact unit that would leave me prepared for any eventuality.This box with its outstanding effects for acoustic, and great options for output, leaves me feeling prepared for any eventuality. No direct box needed!Its very small footprint gives me a lot of functionality in a very small space, without chincing on quality. IT feels durable and substantial without being a tank.My Taylor K14C sounds awesome through it!Its hard to comment on customer service when you have had no need to contact the Mnfg. so don;t consider my rating on that since I cant really commentJoseph

I love this thing! Pairs well with my Taylor 110. The preamp is responsive, the boost is a nice touch, and the chorus and reverb are lush. Tap tempo delay is great. I will use this weekly for worship guitar at church. My only bone to pick was the power adapter was bad right out of the box. I had another so it worked out, but still. Great unit and you definitely get what you pay for.Imnotluckyjustsaved

I play mandolin and guitar in the church band and I have long since found that going direct through the P.A. system is the most efficient and quickest way to get a fidelity acoustic tone into the mix. The great thing about the Trace Elliot is that it is a quality direct box with XLR outputs with quality effects. I love the simplicity of the controls which allows me to individually dial in the effects such as reverb, delay, chorus, and, since I often take solos, a dedicated boost stomp for the extra punch I need for taking the lead with distinction. The simplicity of the controls allows me to make individual tweaks right on stage, unlike my Zoom A3, which has to go through several computer digitized manipulations, and actually requires pre-programmed patches. The Trace Elliot eliminates the digital windows through plain straightforward simplicity.randalcummings

I am using the Orange Acoustic Preamp Pedal to boost and shape the signal from a piezo pickup on my double bass. The notch and Q controls on the parametric plus the XLR phase inverter have greatly reduced my feedback problems at higher volumes.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Works nice with my acoustic pickups – soundhole and K&K. Well made although Im not a huge fan of how the battery fits into the preamp! Be prepared to pay customs charges but still works out cheaper than buying from UK.mrspike_celtic

I use this as a preamp for my Telecaster into a high powered steel guitar amp. The pedal steel amp which can be a little sterile with the 2nd instrument. The Q-Strip sounds great for the Tele. Some knowledge of parametric EQ is a good ideal. Prefect for picky tone snobs! LOL I play loud clean country style leads.Steely Ken

Sounds good, cheap price, small space and good looking pedal.. this is not a two rock amp but gives you a smooth sound for good price.franciscmendoz0

Overall: I installed this item on my guitar and plugged it in. Immediately, there was a bunch of static. I traced it to the jack on the bottom of the unit where the line from the input jack plugged in. I can't move my guitar without the noise. The pickup is unusable, and zZounds refuses to allow me to return the unit. I am very disappointed in both the Acoustifex Go and zZounds.Jim

I was debating whether to buy a new acoustic electric guitar. But I love my yamaha acoustic and only wished it was acoustic electric. I was going to buy a cheap pickup and I decided to invest in this pickup. I feel it was worth the money. I've been recommending it to my buddies and can't wait to show it off to family when this pandemic is overSalTheBeardedBrewer

Its fantastic. My internal preamp in my Fluance RT-81 cut the high frequencies quite a lot and the PreII REALLY changed how I listen to my albums. Im so grateful I made this decision! Clear and wonderful sound. People talk about the blue light… where I have my turntable it is not an issue for me however I understand it can be bothersome. I unplug it when not in use. I absolutely would recommend!!!briamoren38

Recently retired, I now have the time and motivation to digitize selections from my rather large collection of LPs. The vintage turntable preamp that I had intended to use developed a faulty left channel, forcing me to remove it from the mix, and find a suitable replacement. This failed preamp was highly regarded for its state of the art phono section, and I knew that a replacement of its caliber was going to cost me some serious coin! Notice that I began this review by stating recently retired, and that translates into: Serious Coin is used for prioritized needs and wants Groceries or expensive pre-amp? Hmmm! Enter the ART Pro Audio DJPRE II Phono Preamp. Although I have never used an ART component, I am familiar with the company by reputation, and decided it would be a no brainer to give one of their products a shot, that of course being the object of this review. Expense wise, I guess one could say, its right on the money, but would it be sufficient to fulfill my needs? Absolutely. Its minuscule chassis is well built, and esthetically pleasing, and would be fairly inconspicuous if not for its airport landing strip blue LED located on the face of the unit. No joke, this thing throws enough light to illuminate every corner of my 12 x 15 music room at night. Annoying?, yes, but that is its only kink in the armor, IMHO. Maybe a dab of black paint? I did not take a look-see at the circuitry encased, so I cannot comment on the quality of the components within. Im sure, based on price alone, that there is nothing esoteric in the internal parts, my hunch being cheap Chinese components. Regardless, whatever is used is implemented in the design to perform adequately and reliably. To be honest, I have yet to record but a handful of LPs, but have not noticed any degradation of the signal using this preamp in the chain. Combined with the recording software I have chosen, the digitized version is almost indistinguishable from its analog source (to this old mans ears), so what more could I ask for? With the exception of the blue beacon that resides on the face of this preamp, I am thoroughly satisfied with the ART DJPRE II. It amplifies the styluss signal, and outputs that signal upstream without adding any noticeable coloration or distortion. For me and the money, its a Gimme.soundman3

Over the past 3-5 years, I probably purchased 3-4 different phono preamps. Whenever I was looking for one, I passed on the ART DJ PRE II Preamp.Typically I passed, because the design (as far as I could tell from internet photos, looked cheap to me). I'm kind of kicking myself for not giving this a go, earlier. This preamp is great! It is solidly built, with a metal chassis. I love that it has a gain knob. Gain knobs, have oddly been one of my 'want' lists for phono preamps, which is funny because they are a rare feature. The sound output on this unit is so great, that I haven't even had to adjust the Gain (something I had to do in the past to compensate for LP pressings that had less-than-desirable fidelity). The sound passing through is crisp, with absolutely no 'noise' 'hiss', etc. Of note, as well, I don't have anything connected to the Ground (earth) pin. So if you're someone who has a turntable that doesn't have a ground wire, then there's potential that you may not need it with this pre-amp. I'm using a Technics SL-1200 M3D (which has had the ground wire integrated with the RCA plugs) *for whatever that info is worth*. Over the sound and build quality of this phono preamp is much higher than I expected, and will most likely meet and exceed the needs of anyone who is looking in this pricepoint.complete93

Well you know how some people are when it comes to amplifiers on stage for church worship services. They don't want them because they think everyone will start cranking up and jockeying for sound. So I bought this direct box. Its amazing! You will like it a lot. I plug my acoustic guitar straight in and then send it to the house speakers. We have a Presonus 32.4.1 AI mixer in the new building. My favorite thing about this is the eq settings. I can dial in a sweet tone, my settings are bass at 2oclock, mids at 2 o'clock and presence and highs at 1 o'clock. Gain at 12 and volume at 3. This box is really all you need. I don't like tinny trebly sounding acoustic guitars. The bass and mids are wonderful for balancing out some highs and giving the guitar a "fullness". This box sounds very realistic. It is a very good representation of how the guitar sounds unplugged. I have a B Band pickup under the saddle so i have never had any frequency issues. I don't use the notch. I also use a TC electronic arena reverb pedal. Make sure you send the acoustic into the Para DI first and then to the reverb pedal or else it don't sound good. You can do this by getting an effects send return 1/4" cable and using the FX jack on the DI. Nice feature!! I will say i think this box sounded better on the old analog mixing board at our church, but I'm sure we can tweak it to the Presonus. Our church just moved from a 14,000 sq ft building into a 30,000 sq. ft. new building and new sound system so the room is playing into effect also. You need to keep this in mind. The old room had 12 ft. tile ceilings. The new building has 40 ft. ceilings. I think it sounds good coming out the house but it still sounds a bit digital in my headphones. Especially the b and e strings. That has more to do with the digital mixer though i think.guitarguy1981

If you've ever faced the problems of booming (or too thin) bass, acoustic feedback, "quacking," nasal sounding treble, or clicking picks, you will welcome this marvelous box. On my very first gig with the Baggs, I told the sound man to set the board flat and let me handle the EQ. With just a little experimentation and adjustment, I was able to boost the bass to the point where it was full but not booming, eliminate quacking and feedback, and balance the sound on my Taylor GS7 across the musical spectrum from low to high. When the sound man called down from the booth that he could hear my picks clicking on the strings, a few tweaks of the mid-high and presence knobs dialed that right out, without sacrificing volume or clarity on the treble strings. Admittedly, it's a bit tricky to master the somewhat complex settings on this sophisticated device, and the minimal instructions provided by Baggs don't help as much as one would wish. But there are some helpful videos on YouTube, and with a little experimentation you can get this box under control. I love the sound that it lets me get out of my guitar, and can't imagine that your experience would be any different. It's also extremely rugged — built like a tank, in fact — and should stand up to a lot of on-stage use. I can't imagine ever plugging in without it.marconelli

The best DI for acoustic guitar I've ever used. I bought one of these little gems at a local music store for almost ten years ago and it's like brand new. Quiet. Clean. I have a Tascam DP24 and there is ZERO hum or hiss in the signal. Onstage, I darned well won't use anything else for my Guild J series. The control over feedback in a live setting is incredible. I can notch out any hint of feedback with just a tiny alteration of the sweep knob. If my strings are a little old, I can dial in some crispness. The control in the lower mid to low high end is most sensitive–and very impressive. Most DI's give you a flat signal all across the spectrum which is okay for bass guitar or keys, but somehow this little guy gives me a certain springiness in the mid's, about 800 Hz to around 1.5 KHz. I frickin' love it. It turn my acoustic into a lead instrument that doesn't get lost in the mix.Michelle

Love this pre. I have 4 of them. Warm makes some incredible gear at ridiculous prices. Competes with other pres costing 3 to 4 times as muchSm

Overall: Is it an API? No. Is it close? Yes, and I have heard API 312 pre-amps that don't sound like other API pre-amps. I have had this for awhile now, and I find it excellent. The price-point makes it easier to do stereo pairs, if desired. I can drive it dirty, or make it very clean. It is flexible, and easy to use. I have used it on vocals (though for my voice, I like my LA-610 MK II better), but it shines on guitar and bass. I love the sounds I get be it with my EVH 5150, my Boogie, or my Randall. It is also great with my WA76 and Sans Amp RBI if I want a fat bass sound for grimy, modern blues. All in all, great product. Don't be scared by the price, it is far from cheap from a sound or quality standpoint. I only contacted them via email to ask a question, and they responded in less than 15 minutes. I give it four-stars for WOW factor only because I hate orange, but that's my problem.Jeff

Overall: I bough this unit to pair with my new Manley Ref C. Also to replace my Daking Mic Pre One which died due to the carelessness of the postal service! It's tough to compare the two as I never got a chance to use the Manley with the Daking, but it is definitely more versatile with all of it's different features. The sound is amazing and HUGE. With the Manley, big, detailed and clean is the sound you achieve. This pre is in the same league as the amazing Daking(rip), while being a little cheaper.The name speaks for itself, you can get so many different tones out of this baby! You can go for the crunchy, gritty sound, or a clean, airy style. I do Hip Hop vocals and like to go for a middle ground between the two. I've always been told I have a "Jay Z like voice", and adding a little bite to the mid freq. while maintaining the smooth highs is MAGIC. I like the +6db tone button also. However, with this amount of features, there is a learning curve, but never a "bad sound".The TB12 and the Manley are an amazing pair. Modern, radio ready sound right out the box! Rarely needs any EQ. I will be testing with my cheaper (but still great) Nuemann 102 for a more accurate comparison to the Daking, but I am very pleasedAnonymous