The VS Audio Platinum Preamp, sold in full as the Platinum Preamp and Overdrive, is a preamp pedal and overdrive that puts the character of the Marshall 1987 Silver Jubilee amp on a pedalboard. VS Audio built it around hand-selected discrete JFETs, which Delicious Audio says create "a unique blend of Plexi and Marshall-style tones" and provide "a similar high gain, dark, and smooth output" to the amp it is modeled on1.
The pedal was presented at the NAMM 2023 show and was reported shipping by October 20231. As of July 2024 it was available for order on the VS Audio Webstore and at several international dealers2.
What it is and where it came from
VS Audio introduced the Platinum Preamp and Overdrive in 2023, and Delicious Audio reported it shipping that October1. It sits in the maker's line of amp-in-a-box pedals, which also includes the BlackBird and the Royal Flush+.
The design goal is straightforward: reproduce the sound of the 1987 Silver Jubilee, the amp Marshall released to mark its silver anniversary, in a floor unit. Delicious Audio describes the circuit as based on "the coveted Marshall 1987 Silver Jubilee amp," using hand-selected discrete JFETs to create a blend of Plexi and Marshall-style tones with "a similar high gain, dark, and smooth output"1. Delicious Audio's later buying guide of Marshall-inspired pedals repeats the Silver Jubilee basis and the JFET construction3.
The controls and the Rhythm and Lead outputs
Guitar Pedal X lists the full control set as Input Gain, a Presence switch, Output Master, Bass, Middle, Treble, Bypass and Lead2. Delicious Audio's product page gives the same picture: Input Gain, Output Master and a three-band EQ of Bass, Mid and Treble, plus a Presence switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Input Gain | Sets the amount of drive into the preamp circuit1 |
| Output Master | Sets the overall output level1 |
| Bass, Middle, Treble | Three-band EQ1 |
| Presence switch | Attenuates negative feedback or boosts high-end frequencies1 |
| Lead | Selects the Lead output2 |
| Bypass | Footswitch to bring the pedal in and out of the signal2 |
The Presence switch is the control that reaches furthest into the amp's behavior: Delicious Audio says it "offers the option to either attenuate negative feedback or boost high-end frequencies"1. That mirrors the way a presence control works on a real amp, changing how much high-frequency content the negative feedback loop lets through.
The pedal carries two outputs, Rhythm and Lead, echoing the Silver Jubilee's two-channel layout. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer Stefan Karlsson was direct about them2:
"Both Rhythm and Lead outputs sound amazing!"
How it compares with the VS Audio Jangle Master
VS Audio's companion pedal is the Jangle Master, a Vox AC30 Top Boost style preamp released in July 2024. Guitar Pedal X reviewed the two together, installing them as a matched Vox and Marshall pairing in the reviewer's pedal chain, where they replaced Victory's The Copper and The Sheriff V12.
The practical difference between the two is headroom and drive. In Karlsson's words, the Platinum Preamp "has substantially more output power than its newer sibling, both in terms of output and maximum gain"2. A player who wants the chime and lower-gain character of a Top Boost AC30 reaches for the Jangle Master; one who wants the darker, higher-gain Silver Jubilee character with more level on tap reaches for the Platinum.
Price and availability
Guitar Pedal X listed the Platinum Preamp at $229, also given as €229, in July 2024, and reported it available for order on the VS Audio Webstore and at several international dealers2.
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Questions
What amp is the VS Audio Platinum Preamp based on?
The Platinum Preamp is based on the Marshall 1987 Silver Jubilee amp. VS Audio built the circuit with hand-selected discrete JFETs to recreate that amp's high gain, dark and smooth character in pedal form, in the words of Delicious Audio's product page.
How much does the VS Audio Platinum Preamp cost?
Guitar Pedal X listed the Platinum Preamp at $229, also given as €229, in its July 2024 review. It is available for order on the VS Audio Webstore and at several international dealers.
What does the Lead switch do on the Platinum Preamp?
The Lead control is one of the pedal's front panel switches, listed by Guitar Pedal X alongside the Bypass footswitch. It selects the Lead output, one of the pedal's two outputs, the other being Rhythm. The reviewer found both Rhythm and Lead outputs sound excellent.
How does the Platinum Preamp compare with the VS Audio Jangle Master?
The Jangle Master is VS Audio's Vox AC30 Top Boost style preamp, while the Platinum Preamp takes its character from the Marshall Silver Jubilee. In Guitar Pedal X's review, the Platinum Preamp has substantially more output power and maximum gain than the Jangle Master.
Where can I buy the VS Audio Platinum Preamp?
According to Guitar Pedal X in July 2024, the Platinum Preamp is available for order on the VS Audio Webstore and at several international dealers. The pedal was first presented at the NAMM 2023 show and reported shipping by October 2023.
Sources (3)
- VS Audio Platinum Plexi Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2023-10-23
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-07-12
- 2024 Best Plexi Pedals & Marshall-Style Distortions: A Buyer's Guide, Delicious Audio, 2024-09-16
