Glossary
preamp
A preamp is the gain stage of an amplifier, or a pedal designed to function as that stage. In an amp, the guitar signal is boosted into the preamp, where driving it harder produces more saturation1,2. Some pedals act as a standalone preamp, replacing the amp's own stage, for guitar or bass3,4,5. Others are described as preamp-style gain pedals delivering overdrive or distortion tones6,7,8,9. Boost pedals can also send an amp's preamp tubes into overdrive10,11,12.
Sources (12)
- “From the very beginning, I had something in my head… I had a sound.” Yngwie Malmsteen reveals the 60-year history behind his new MXR signature overdrive, guitarplayer.com, 2024-09-27
- TONEHOME, tonehome.de
- Mad Professor Super Black Mini review, guitarworld.com, 2026-10-15
- New Grizzly Bass & Holy Fire 9 by Creation Audio Labs, premierguitar.com, 2014-11-13
- SFT (Traditional Ink Collection) by Catalinbread, rockboard.de
- Jack White delivers a pedal demo for the ages as Third Man Hardware partners with MXR for the Double Down, guitarworld.com, 2022-12-09
- Carlos O'Connell reveals the secret weapon on his pedalboard, guitarworld.com, 2025-06-05
- DOD Rocks 50 Years with Overdrive Preamp LTD, gearnews.com, 2024-11-29
- JHS Pedals unveils the Overdrive Preamp, a clone of a DOD classic that “didn't exist”, musicradar.com, 2022-02-25
- Earthquaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal gold reissue, gearnews.com, 2019-08-22
- EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) Life Pedal V3, delicious-audio.com, 2024-11-25
- EarthQuaker Devices go once more round the Sunn O))) with the Life Pedal reissue, musicradar.com, 2019-08-22