THE AMPSAMPS PRE-Q!

Give any amplifier the punch, feel and musical midrange of your favorite vintage tube amp… the PRE-Q is a hand-built tube preamp inspired by the classic 1970’s Ampeg V-Series, combining a real high-voltage tube circuit with a custom Cinemag inductor to add dimension, harmonic richness, and powerful midrange shaping to any rig!

This particular unit is being sold at a discounted rate due to minor cosmetic imperfections in the powder coated enclosure. See top corner point above the AMPSAMPS logo, minor chip touched up with nail polish; also, minor scratch below the 3-way selector switch. The unit is otherwise new and functions fully as intended. See pics and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

A note from from the builder: Dustin Rieseberg of the band Simple Forms reached out to me a couple years back, and basically hounded me to build him a tube preamp with an inductor-based Ampeg midrange control. It took a while to dial everything in, but… the PRE-Q basically renewed my love for playing guitar. I figured I’d build us both one and that would be it… -Billy

The PRE-Q V2 is a hand-wired, high-voltage tube preamp in a pedalboard-friendly package. It uses a pair of 12AX7s and a custom Cinemag inductor to power an Ampeg-style midrange circuit that allows for a 20db boost or cut @ 300 Hz / 1 kHz / 3 kHz. I can customize your unit to have specific mid-points for no extra charge, just ask!

The PRE-Q also features an active Baxandall EQ (Treble, Middle, Bass) and a foot switchable Vintage Console Boost (my take on the Zvex Super Hard On - Crackle Okay!).

Perfect for: Gigging musicians that want vintage amp tones from a generic backline amp, studio musicians that want tube feel in front of their digital modelers, guitarists who’s tone lives on the edge of breakup. This is not another voltage-starved “tube” pedal - the circuit has 250 volts supplied by the step up board inside the pedal and sounds BIG - like an amp!

Each unit is hand wired by me in Salem, OR on eyelet boards and features the same real, substantial parts that you would find inside any full-size vintage amp: 600 volt Mallory 150 & WIMA capacitors, 1w carbon film resistors, JJ 12AX7s, Belton tube sockets, etc. (the only PCB in the unit is the step up power supply).

What makes the PRE-Q unique is it’s custom-wound Cinemag inductor (silver can top of unit) that is used to shape the mid frequencies in the preamp. Most EQs use a resistor/capacitor network, which can sound clogged or muddy in the mids. The use of an inductor to boost or cut mids lends more of a resonant character, emphasizing frequencies without sounding harsh or thin - like a high-dollar studio preamp!

Included: 12 V DC, 2.5 A adapter (2.1 x 5.5 mm) that steps up to ~250 V inside the pedal is included.

Controls: Top row — Treble, Bass. Bottom row — Boost, Middle, Volume. Size: 7 x 7 x 3 in (with knobs and tubes).

International buyers welcome! Please select “international shipping” at checkout. For more information on international shipping, click here.

“Aside from the outstanding customer service and friendly chats throughout the build process of the pedal, this is hands down the most amazing preamp and/or pedal out there. Coming from someone like myself who has owned hundreds of different amplifiers, gain structured pedals, preamps etc, this was the one that finally gave me that WOW factor. Nails the classic VT40 tone and infamous mid control, with the built in boost on top of it? Nothing else like it out there. HIGHLY recommend this unique and custom piece of equipment. Absolutely phenomenal. This is one of the few pieces of gear I will never sell. Thank you AmpsAmps!” -AD

Just got one. Absolutely in love. I have a V-4 and a VT-22 and this does those tones really well. Each of those two amps sounds a bit different and so does this pedal, but across them all is a variety of really wicked, mid-forward tones that nothing else seems to do. Highly recommended! -RH

“Just had my first band practice using it a couple of days ago.  It totally sounded like I was still running my VT-22! I think the low end may even be a bit tighter than the VT-22.  I’m very happy with it.” -BH

“Was just using with my Princeton Reverb and it sounds killer! Fenders have a natural mid-scoop to them, and having something like the PRE-Q to dial in the mids is super useful.” -DR

“I absolutely love them! Some of the best pedals I’ve ever owned. “-BL, on his PRE-Q & Vintage Console Boost

“The [PRE-Q V1 & 2] have been so much fun, and they’ve been part of my regular setup since you sent them. I actually use a Kemper a lot, and I have it in front of that to make everything a bit more analog ;)” -ES

“The PRE-Q has a really wide ‘edge of break up’ which I find particularly useful and uncommon… on most amps this is a narrow spot on the volume control, on the PRE-Q you have some range on the edge.” -JF