Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn
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Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
Looking to invest in a tube preamp for recording pedal steel in the near future. Any recommendations?
Love the sound of Universal Audio’s LA-610 Mk II (great for a lot more than just pedal steel in the studio), but looking for other options at lower price points too.
Thanks, hope everyone’s doing well.
Love the sound of Universal Audio’s LA-610 Mk II (great for a lot more than just pedal steel in the studio), but looking for other options at lower price points too.
Thanks, hope everyone’s doing well.
https://playpedalsteel.com - An online resource for pedal steel.
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Haven’t tried this but it looks like it sounds good.
https://warmaudio.com/wa-mpx
At home, I’ve been recording with a Standel Custom XV (no speaker) into a Universal Audio Ox box, then into an ART Pro MPA mic pre. I think it sounds great without the ART pre, but even better with it.
https://warmaudio.com/wa-mpx
At home, I’ve been recording with a Standel Custom XV (no speaker) into a Universal Audio Ox box, then into an ART Pro MPA mic pre. I think it sounds great without the ART pre, but even better with it.
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Are you looking for a recording channel or a pre amp for your steel ?
If you are looking for a recording pre amp with tubes don’t go cheap. I would use a well priced great pre like the DAV BG1 or on the cheaper side the “really nice mic pre” is a great deal. Then go with the V8 or something like it. I personally do not like Warm Audio. They are primarily a marketing company that spends all there money on making something look like what they are copying and dealer kickbacks. Go with a craftsman who loves what they do rather than low bid Chinese labor.
There are some great deals out there but you need to get past whatever sweetwater is currently pushing.
If you are looking for a recording pre amp with tubes don’t go cheap. I would use a well priced great pre like the DAV BG1 or on the cheaper side the “really nice mic pre” is a great deal. Then go with the V8 or something like it. I personally do not like Warm Audio. They are primarily a marketing company that spends all there money on making something look like what they are copying and dealer kickbacks. Go with a craftsman who loves what they do rather than low bid Chinese labor.
There are some great deals out there but you need to get past whatever sweetwater is currently pushing.
Bob
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Really appreciate the feedback and suggestions. I’m really interested in the Sarno V8 - have always heard good things about the black box, but had never really researched any Sarno products. After y’all’s recommendations on it, really like the quality, price point, and how useful it can be in the studio for more than just pedal steel too. I’m probably leaning this route for a tube preamp.
Also had a good conversation with Bob on the phone, in which he was very helpful and thoughtful. He recommended the idea of getting a load box to use with my tube amps to essentially utilize them without having to get a tube preamp. I have an old small Fender Champ that I love the tone on, and it’d be great to utilize the tubes on these in a similar fashion and probably save some money too.
I’ve also checked out the Universal Audio Ox box before (I usually enjoy many of UA’s gear and plugins for studio) - going to look at this option too, glad you enjoy it Brett. Has anyone tried UA’s Solo/610 desktop tube preamp? Any other recommendations?
Thanks!
Also had a good conversation with Bob on the phone, in which he was very helpful and thoughtful. He recommended the idea of getting a load box to use with my tube amps to essentially utilize them without having to get a tube preamp. I have an old small Fender Champ that I love the tone on, and it’d be great to utilize the tubes on these in a similar fashion and probably save some money too.
I’ve also checked out the Universal Audio Ox box before (I usually enjoy many of UA’s gear and plugins for studio) - going to look at this option too, glad you enjoy it Brett. Has anyone tried UA’s Solo/610 desktop tube preamp? Any other recommendations?
Thanks!
https://playpedalsteel.com - An online resource for pedal steel.
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Yes ! I just spent a couple weeks dialing in and tweaking sounds in my opus one modeling sim thing. Then I plugged the V8 in and without any processing it sounded and felt better than any of the hundreds of sims I had available. Not even close.Mike Neer wrote:I want a V8. It has a richness to it that you don’t hear in many other pres.
Bob
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The V8 is definitely at the top of my list for tube preamps…really appreciate all the feedback.
https://playpedalsteel.com - An online resource for pedal steel.
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Is that even available yet?Bob Hoffnar wrote:The Sarno Spectrum is absolutely magnificent also. I don't know how he got that reverb to sound so good. It's my go to pre for direct recording these days.
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
Find an old Alembic F2B.
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
If you can find one, I like a Tube Works Blue Tube.
Sometimes you can even find one with the steel mod.
Erv
Sometimes you can even find one with the steel mod.

Erv
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
Has anyone tried the new Tone King Imperial? There is a review on Sweetwater from a steel player who likes it quite a bit.
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
I have one. And it’s awesome.. been waiting all summer for it because they’re backordered and they sell out very quick.Bruce Derr wrote: 3 Oct 2025 6:32 pm Has anyone tried the new Tone King Imperial? There is a review on Sweetwater from a steel player who likes it quite a bit.
I have mine mounted on a temple audio pedalboard. Both my telonics volume pedal and tone king preamp pedal are powered by a Ciocks DC7 power supply.
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
Interesting, know what the mod was intended to accomplish?Erv Niehaus wrote: 30 Sep 2025 9:01 am If you can find one, I like a Tube Works Blue Tube.
Sometimes you can even find one with the steel mod.
Erv
I have one of the more recent BK Butler built pedals, think that they are likely really similar...
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
David,
I think the mod was to make it more suited to steel guitar.
I think the mod was to make it more suited to steel guitar.
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
I bet those would sound great. I have one of the old BK Butler/Tube Works Tube Driver combo amps that uses the Tube Driver pedal circuit as a parallel pre-amp. Lately I've been using it as my practice amp for PSG and it does great.David Laveau wrote: 8 Oct 2025 4:03 pmInteresting, know what the mod was intended to accomplish?Erv Niehaus wrote: 30 Sep 2025 9:01 am If you can find one, I like a Tube Works Blue Tube.
Sometimes you can even find one with the steel mod.
Erv
I have one of the more recent BK Butler built pedals, think that they are likely really similar...
Carter Starter, Austin dobro, B/G Bender Telecaster, '75 Twin Reverb, '75 Super Reverb 1x15
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Re: Tube Preamps for Pedal Steel
I am a big fan of all the Tube Works stuff. 
