Stereo Tube Preamp
The LPB2ube uses 2 Sovtek 12AX7WB tubes to boost the incoming signal. Peeking out a rugged metal housing , the tubes are protected by an industrial looking arched metal canopy. An input level switch adjusts both channel of the stereo unit at once to accomodate either high or low gain input signals. Drive controls for each channel adjusts the gain level, and the L/R volume knobs the output of the unit.
In mono, the LPB2ube can be used either to overdrive a guitar amp or send a strong signal to a mixer for direct recording of electric or acoustic guitar. As a buffer amp, it restores high end lost to cable capacitance, and using mono in and stereo out, it becomes a splitter box. By wiring the two channels together with an extra patch cord, the LPB2ube acts as a self-contained tube distortion unit.
Plugging a guitar into the LPB2ube with a 10' cable, and the effect into an amp with another 10' cable, I found that turning on the preamp instantly restored the sparkle to my sound, without coloration or harshness. By carefully balancing the unit's drive and volume with my amp's gain control, I was able to acheive complex harmonic overtones redolent of an old archtop through only a small tweed amp.
This unit can definitely can make the difference between good sound and great sound !
(From Guitar One, June 2003 report by Michael Ross)
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