Grateful Dead Music Forum

This thread is limited to pedals (i.e., I haven't forgotten options like the FYD and SMS rack mount preamps, both of which I already own).

I'm considering picking up a BF Twin-voiced preamp pedal to run directly into my MC50. Curious if anyone here has experience with one or more of these options:

(1) Mad Professor Super Black: https://www.mpamp.com/eu/super-black

(2) Ethos Clean II: http://www.customtonesinc.com/preamps.html

(3) Effectrode Blackbird: https://www.effectrode.com/products/eff ... be-preamp/

(4) Shift Line Twin MkIIIS: https://shift-line.com/twin

(5) Kingsley Maiden V2 BF: http://kingsleyamplifiers.com/products/pedals/65/

(6) Boss FDR-1 (discontinued): https://www.boss.info/us/products/fdr-1/

(7) Frog Tube Preamp Fx1 (waitlisted): https://frogpedals.com/index.php/produc ... uggedized/

(8) AMT F1 Preamp: https://amtelectronics.com/new/amt-f1/

(9) Tech 21 SansAmp Classic: http://www.tech21nyc.com/products/sansamp/classic/

(10) DSM & Humboldt Simplifier: https://www.simplifieramp.com/

(11) Origin Effects Revivaldrive: https://origineffects.com/product/revivaldrive/

(12) Two Notes Le Clean: https://www.two-notes.com/le-clean

(13) Skreddy Twangophile: https://www.skreddypedals.com/skreddy_p ... ophile.php

(14) OTHER?

(14) OTHER: JOYO American Sound



I don’t use it to chase Jerry tone, but rather bought it to use at a regular house jam where we all played direct into a mixer/PA. At $40 I figured it was worth the gamble, and I had no real complaints. Now I use it to un-muddy my little 5W G5222 amp, and occasionally as a DI for recording to my laptop. My biggest concern with it is durability of moving parts, coming from China and at that price, but it’s left on all the time and hardly ever gets stepped on, so that hasn’t been an issue.

Of course running a budget made-in-China pedal into your MC50 might feel a little bit icky!

wabisabied wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 1:59 pmOf course running a budget made-in-China pedal into your MC50 might feel a little bit icky!

Thanks for IDing your additional option.

In answer to your question, not at all. I'm from the "if it sounds good and it feels good, it is good" school.

As I go direct for IEM support I've tried many on your list. Quick thoughts:
- Ethos: dark and weird controls
- AMT F1: sounds great, but not so BF
- T21: Classic, only so-so, but the Fly Rig has a nice american clean

Shift Line is a clear winner in this camp. Especially with IR support.

Been using these for years with huge success and much appreciation.

Another contender should be Atomic AmpliFireBox. Get a Twin, right IR, and reverb.
Have one and takes some doing to get setup. And a laptop. But great awesome tones.

strumminsix wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:52 pmShift Line is a clear winner in this camp. Especially with IR support.

That's high praise indeed.

I like how (from their website) "The CAB switch affects the signal from the BALANCED OUT and the PHONES OUT but does not affect the signal from the main OUT."

At $440 it's not inexpensive but I don't mind paying more for a superior product. I'll look further into it.

Re: the Fly Rig, I have a friend who uses one with his classic rock band for all of his different tones and he always sounds great. Do you have a preferred Fly Rig model for folks whose tastes include a lot of Dead?

Jon S. wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 5:39 pm

strumminsix wrote: ↑Fri Jan 01, 2021 4:52 pmShift Line is a clear winner in this camp. Especially with IR support.

That's high praise indeed.

I like how (from their website) "The CAB switch affects the signal from the BALANCED OUT and the PHONES OUT but does not affect the signal from the main OUT."

At $440 it's not inexpensive but I don't mind paying more for a superior product. I'll look further into it.

Re: the Fly Rig, I have a friend who uses one with his classic rock band for all of his different tones and he always sounds great. Do you have a preferred Fly Rig model for folks whose tastes include a lot of Dead?

That shift line is sweet. Own 2. The benefit of the new model is IRs. Old ones didn't have that. But you won't need it with your application. If interested, I'll sell my old one.

Had the fly rig with blonde character series. Replaced that when AFB as it's superior IMO. What'd great with the new v2 are the effects.

Thanks. It'll be a while before I decide on a possible new preamp pedal but when I do I'll keep your offer in mind.

Question, though: what does "when AFB" mean?

Atomics AmpliFireBox

That ShiftLine Twin looks really cool.

Another to consider - Milkman The Amp 100. I know there's another thread and some haters, but I have one and love it. It has a tube, and you can go line out into the Mac. It also has a 100W class D amp built in if you want to travel light. Amazing Reverb as well. Not cheap, though...

After all is said and done, I could possibly end up just copping a 2nd SMS Classic Preamp.

perljam wrote: ↑Sat Jan 02, 2021 6:07 pmAnother to consider - Milkman The Amp 100. I know there's another thread and some haters, but I have one and love it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Do you know where I could find a link to the owners manual? I checked the Milkman site followed by an internet search but couldn't find it.

I don't know where a Milkman The Amp manual can be found online, but I can answer questions. Note that there is a (white) 50w version with Trem and a (black) 100w version with boost. Both have reverb.