Any preamp pedals I should check out?

[Spaced Out Ace]

Looking at moving away from and getting rid of my Friedman IR-X. It just isn't cutting it and sounds like ass with quite a few overdrive pedals I attempt to use as a boost. I don't know if something is wrong with it, but moving on regardless.

Any suggestions for preamp pedals? The Tubesteader stuff might be cool, primarily the Beekeeper (Dumble ODS style) and Magnezium (Marshall esque Magnatone based preamp). Are the Carvin X1 or Legacy Drive any good?

I am going for something that doesn't have any digital in it. Primarily interested in tubes or something that won't fuzz out with humbuckers. Interested in 70s and 80s hard rock and metal. I am not a fan of fuzz or clipping that sounds strange.

[Maddnotez]

It's been years since I went down this rabbit hole but the best one for me was the Amptweaker Tight metal Pro. I actually think I bought it off Bodenhamer. Was a killer pedal BUT I play high gain metal so might not work for you.

I tried a lot of others including some of the Diezel and idk, they all had a weird digital or solid state sound but the Amptweaker sounded the most life like to me.

[Spaced Out Ace]

It's been years since I went down this rabbit hole but the best one for me was the Amptweaker Tight metal Pro. I actually think I bought it off Bodenhamer. Was a killer pedal BUT I play high gain metal so might not work for you.

I tried a lot of others including some of the Diezel and idk, they all had a weird digital or solid state sound but the Amptweaker sounded the most life like to me.

I had a Tight Drive Pro and Big Rock Pro at one time, the original proper versions. I liked them a lot and wish I still had them to try into a power amp rather than how I was using them then. The new owners have produced something that "has more options," but doesn't look as robust or worth the money.

[Vladimir Putin]

This is a terrible route to go down. Buy a great amp and a Power Station to achieve the exact tones you're looking for

[Guitarbilly]

Look at Kingsley, they have some good ones.

[heath]

Are you planning to go direct or into poweramp/fx return?

The legacy drive sounds very much like the Legacy amp. Great clean channel, warm and full-bodied drive sounds. I personally like it, but some do not. It will need a boost to tighten it up for anything heavy. I have not tried an X1 but I did not care for the clips. I would use something like the Mooer Radar or something that has a poweramp emulation and IR's if you are using this direct though.

The kingsley and victory preamps (loved the sheriff) sound really good but again would need something like the radar to get the best out of them.

I went down this route a year back with the IR-X and determined it was just not right for me. The IR-D sounded more amp like to me but would definitely need a boost. I ended up getting a Tonex pedal. I know you wanted to avoid digital, but it sounds really good. I captured my rockmaster and my ADA MP1 as preamps and with a poweramp and were I blindfolded, I do not think I could tell what was the actual preamp and what was the tonex capture.

[Spaced Out Ace]

Are you planning to go direct or into poweramp/fx return?

The legacy drive sounds very much like the Legacy amp. Great clean channel, warm and full-bodied drive sounds. I personally like it, but some do not. It will need a boost to tighten it up for anything heavy. I have not tried an X1 but I did not care for the clips. I would use something like the Mooer Radar or something that has a poweramp emulation and IR's if you are using this direct though.

The kingsley and victory preamps (loved the sheriff) sound really good but again would need something like the radar to get the best out of them.

I went down this route a year back with the IR-X and determined it was just not right for me. The IR-D sounded more amp like to me but would definitely need a boost. I ended up getting a Tonex pedal. I know you wanted to avoid digital, but it sounds really good. I captured my rockmaster and my ADA MP1 as preamps and with a poweramp and were I blindfolded, I do not think I could tell what was the actual preamp and what was the tonex capture.

I have a Fryette Power Station PS-2A that I use as a power amp. That would be going to a Mojotone British 412.

[Vladimir Putin]

If you already have a Power station then look for a Ceriatone Marshall clone and you’ll be golden.

[ninjaraf]

If you already have a Power station then look for a Ceriatone Marshall clone and you’ll be golden.

I agree. The pedal preamps are never going to sound as good as an actual amp.

[Spaced Out Ace]

I'm very strongly considering a JCM900 Studio and if I like it, possibly a JCM800 Studio when Sweetwater gets them in (says March, but who knows for sure).