Rocktron Gainiac 2 Tube Preamp

I wish it had an internal 9volt power supply that is plugged in with power wires like computers have, since the 9volt power adapters with the thin wires are not rugged, I use electrical tape to keep them from bending and breaking off too close to the power supply so that it can be spliced for repair, this is from experience with this kind of stuff, just keep back up power supplies.

I???m pretty happy with the expected results and that is the simple trick professionals use and seems to be so buried in all the marketing crap with pedals, amp modelers etc.. Nothing is as good as layering; I use a quality distortion pedal in front just for some extra color without too much level or distortion, just a touch of each. Using the tube preamp plugged strait into the amp in order to energize the signal before the tube amp adds more energy again before sending it to the power tubes provides the clear notes distinction with the distortion, massive sustain, timbre, and the ability to control the 2nd and 3rd level of harmonic overdriven notes. Keep in mind this requires all tubs to be fired to up in the head, so I use a hot plate to let me crank the amp head up while reducing actual power fed to the speakers in order to keep the actual volume down while keeping the power tubes hot. Now I can hear the notes, never got that with amp modlers or solid state amps.

I would have extra tubes on hand for the amp and the pre-amp if I were playing around and an extra power supply because the thin wires on those give out when you wind them up all the time.

Never needed support.

I've been playing for about 20 year, and I'm shamed that the simple and rugged configuration of pre-amp / power tube amp is all you need the fancy pedals or modelers are for studio polish or for sound effects, not guitar playing.

It does it's job well. If you like a scooped yet natural tube sound this could be it. You can get a lot of color and different sounds out of it using it with the proper gear. Two channels, clean and high gain, lot of gain IMO. Channel switch, but pedal not included. Doesn't have on/off switch, just plug the adapter. These probably were meant to keep it at low price while still keeping sound quality. This is a real tube preamp and it's cheaper than some distorsion pedals.

Used it with different guitars it worked well and different an everyone so you can still hear your guitar playing not just a dull effect. Could be noisy sometimes but with this amount of gain it's expected. Best results I've had with it were with it plugged in a Peavey VK100 head (plugged into the poweramp, this is already a guitar preamp ), Marshal 1960A cab and 2 sm57 in front of it. It's good enough for me. Lots of harmonics, lots of gain, cool tone. It has 3 tone knobs, a very low bottom, scoop (which is like a "contour" for mid freqs ) and the highs which have a kind of sweet metallic sound and lots of harmonics as I said.

Didn't have any problems yet. Looks well made but I take care of my stuff anyway.

Didn't need it.

For it's price is a steal. But it's just the preamp. It doesn't make all the job, just a good tube distortion. You can also use it with a computer, just plug it into soundcard's line in, and use it with some speaker sims ( there are some free vst plugins which use impulses for cab modelling ). Used it with revalver (power amp, cab sim, reverb or delay if needed ) and it worked fine. Well for the real deal need a tube power amp and a good cab, and of course a lot of work with 2 mics to get your sound.

It was made 2006. Two independent channel, (clean, distotrted) footswitch option, one output. Thats all. No power button, just an adapter, therefore i give 8.

Clean: nice, sometimes little bit chrunchy...etc,etc
Dirty: metal! agressive, modern sound.
Rig: peavey wolfgang->rocktron gainiac2->tcgmajor->bbe422a->kitty hawk 2x60W poweramp-> 4x12 Englxxlcab. I use this rig just backup, when i can't deliver my main stuff. Price/quality=10.

I compere it with tubeman, tubeman plus, ADAMP2, MP1, but it cost 100euro, the other preamps 200-300(used). Rocktron the winner!

This is a brand new 2006 Rocktron Gainiac 2 Tube Preamp.
It's VERY minimal on features but it's priced extremely well so you can't really expect it to have a lot of bells and whistles can you?

It's a 2 channel tube preamp powered by an external 9V power adaptor. There is an internal voltage doubler so the unit is running on 18V of juice.

It DOES NOT have a power switch or an effects loop. It does have an input (front panel only) and a single output as well as a jack for connecting an external footswitch to change channels.

The Gainiac is sitting in a 4 space rack along with a Samson S-Curve EQ and a solid-state power amp. I'm driving a Framus Cab loaded with Celestion Vintage 30's.

As I mentioned, it's minimal on features but for the price it's great.

Ok, this is where it get's interesting. I was originally after a clean sounding (not dirty / distortion) valve based preamp. But guess what? No-one to my knowledge makes such a thing. Pretty much everything on the market is midi switchable and all that (JMP-1, Triaxis, Randall RM4 etc)
The closest I could find was the Voodoo Labs preamp but I couldn't get a hold of one here in Australia and they are quite a lot more expensive.

Enter the Gainiac 2! As other reviewers have stated the clean channel is the star here. I actually find the gain channel completely and totally unusable (Sorry Rocktron...) Even the most minimal gain setting is WAY too distorted for me. It's not just that either, the distortion is voiced totally wrong for me. Maybe it would sound better with a valve power amp? I dunno...

The clean though is outstanding...
The EQ on the preamp is very powerful too, it's an active EQ with +/-15db of boost or cut.
However I am glad I have an external EQ on board because there is a nasty 1K spike present, it's that midrangey "narghh" sound that is harsh on the ears and most distressing. Pull it out though and there you have it, an extremely musical and organic clean sound that takes pedals so very, very well.
I also disagree with the previous reviewer about noise, this thing is dead quiet especially with my solid-state power amp and humbucking p/ups.

Btw, here is my rig -

GUITAR*Keeley Katana Clean boost*Boss GT8* MI-Audio Blues Pro and Tube Zone in the loop of the GT8*Gainiac 2 preamp (clean channel ONLY)*Samson S-Curve EQ*Biema W-220i power amp*Framus 4/12 with Vintage 30's

I use Music Man and Fender guitars and my sound is great, I'm really happy. I play all styles, this baby can go there with me.

It get's a 7 because the Gain channel is just plain un-useable. It's simply nasty... The clean channel is where it's at for this thing.

Bar the tube going down or the external power supply I think this thing will go the distance. It does look a little cheap n' nasty when you see it for the first time but the knobs are very sturdy and tight and the jacks are also quite secure and rugged feeling. I hate the 80's look graphic though, Rocktron could class this thing up a bit.

Can't say at this point, too soon.

For me this thing is great, especially for the money. Sure, who wouldn't want to lay down 3k on the latest Bruce Egnator preamp? I sure would but I don't have that sort of money and that's where companies like Rocktron deserve some real credit and kudos. How they make this thing for $300AUS is beyond me but I'm real glad they have... If it was stolen I would definately buy one again.
Apart from the 1K spike, the clean channel is the shit.

It get's an 8 because of the poorly voiced gain channel and the inherent 1K frequency spike...

Gainiac 2 is a very powerful guitar preamp! It has 2 chanels, 1 clean and 1 dirty. It has 2 indipendent EQ and 2 master levels, one for each chanel. For the preamp section it uses a 12AX7 Tube(If you buy it new the tube is a Sovtek made in Russia, but you can change it). It has a mono input in the front and a mono out in the back. You change between the chanels from a button in the front or via a footswitch.

I wixh it had midi, effects loop(also one tube at the return of the effects loop), an ON/OFF switch(It does't have one!!!!!!what a shame for Rcoktron!!!!) and finally a Stereo out(or a mono out but split for Left and right chanel).

I use it in home and for a few lives with my band!

With this preamp you can play all the styles you want(from Jazz-Rock to Death-Black-Thrash Metal)

I use a Fernandes AFR-75 guitar with DiMarzio PAF Pron in the Neck position and a DiMarzio ToneZone in the Bridge position. I use also a PRS Tremonti SE.

Power Amp : Mesa/Boogie 50/50
Effects : Lexicon MPX1
Cabinet : Marshall 1922 2x12(Celestion Speakers)
Footswitch : Behringer FCB 1010

With both guitars it sounds realy great. The problem is that you need to buy another EQ(I use MPX1's EQ). With my current setup I can play all the styles I want.

Sometimes the clean chanel is distorted(If your pickups are Hi-output). To avoid this you can use a compressor, it realy helps!

It makes a noise when you 're not playing so you have to use a Noisegate.

I just bought it!

They are excelent!!I aked for a manual and the same day I had it via e-mail! Also I e-mailed some questions and the same day they have replied!

I chose gainiac 2 because it is cheap and It worths the money you pay!

Tube pre-amp
Made in 2004
The Amp covers different styles from 70s rock till modern Metal (but not without using an extra equalizer)
2 channels, footswitchable/handswitchable.
It could use an on/off switch, and a hush feature.

I use a B.C. Rich Warlock USA with EMG 81?s and SPC, and a Jackson King V With EMG Zakk Wylde Pickups, a Digitech GSP 2101, Rocktron Velocity 120, Rocktron Black cat moan? and the Gainiac2, I play Deathmetal and Metal and Rock, been playing for 20 years, on/off stage, in/out of the studio.
Well other then the online sound files on the Rocktron website would suggest, this unit doesn?t sound anything like that, I came to realize that I have to hook up a Boss GE7 Equalizer to come somewhat close to the online sound files. The sound is very thin, lacks power, and is way to noisy (the famous Hush would have been nice in this unit) For the price they sell this unit for I would suggest to everyone to buy a Boss Metalzone and a boss GE7, and you will have better sound, and less noise, just not tube like. (hardly noticeable, I checked)
I bought this unit to spice up my Digitech GSP 2101, but the 2101 sounds better overall, and the Gainiac2 no matter where I place it doesn?t add anything but noise.

If I would use this to gig with I would use it without backup.
Like all Rocktron equipment, it looks sturdy enough, it?s metal, but only time can tell so therefore a 9 and not a 10.

I e-mailed Rocktron about the connections on the back of the unit, since there was nothing about it on the website. Got a reply instantly from Jim Chowning Explaining everything I wanted to know.
So extremely fast ?. A specially for such a big company.

Not the best buy in the world.
It doesn?t do what the website suggests, don?t be mislead by the website!!!
It could use an on/off switch (strange it doesn?t have one)
For spicing up the sound of a combo or head? maybe?mine?s for sale? it?s crap!
Stick with older Rocktron units like Voodu Valve, Piranha, Velocity?. These are high quality products, the Gainiac2 is not.
There are better ways to spend your money, you can achieve the same thing with cheaper gear!
If yer new to guitar gear, you could like it, when yer a longtime user of different gear (like me) you'll hate it