Rocktron Pro-Gap Preamp

The unit is a simple preamp, NOT a multi-FX, with very sophisticated & professional features, as:
- Semiparametric equalizers PRE & POST gain (very important to get out many sound flavors, at any gain).
- Per preset programmable HUSH, in order to properly combine sound dynamics and noise suppression.
- Per preset programmable loop.
- 2 switches for further external operations, also programmable per preset!
- AGX for proper gating.
- Full MIDI Operating capabilities
- 108 user presets, for storing the own sounds. NO battery required, CMOS-based mamory is used here: Permanent storing!!!
- Good viewable LED display (Now old-fashioned, but still nice): All parameter values & preset names are clear to see.
The manual is really good, the unit is very easy to use. I still own the very first version, and have no purpose to update...
- Last-not-least: Total silence and absolutely NO delay on switching between the presets.
These features, are not met today together, even in expensive hi-tech products. Some people thing that "programmable loops" and "external switches" are now, in the age of full digital administration, old-fashioned. Well, I say, they might be not so commercial (by first view) as a "double expression pedal", or "10 effects in chain", but they are sophisticated and make this thing really professional in use.

I own the unit since 1990, and have used it in any possible situation: Live performances, Studio recordings (miked & direct), practicing at home, practicing with band(s), etc. I have played any possible guitar with it, always with excellent results.
If you have some basic knowledge on guitar sound creating, you may get almost everything out of it. As mentioned above, the two parametric EQs are the key: Sounds from ultra clean, twangs, jazzy, crispy, bluesy (of any age and area), 70's crunch, 70's old Marshalls, Boogies, 80's metal, funky, new-wave, british, californian, Nashville, and even special countered sounds (like some of Brian May, J. Beck, D. Gilmour, J. Satriani, etc.), are easily get out of this little thing... To me (graduaded el. engineer & taught guitar builder) is still easy and even so amazing to get (any) sounds out of it!!! The combined use of EQ-pre, Gain, EQ-post and Hush makes an excellent job here.
Use the PRO G.A.P. with any amp you like (main thing: the amp is set clean), plug it in the guitar's input, or in the loops return, plug it in front of any FX unit (I use it live combined with the "ol' good" Alesis Quadraveb+), you'll see what I mean... I mainly use it in the loop of a Marshall Mosfet amp, with a Marshall 1960 TV 4x12" Box. That's my favorite setup, and that's where 90% of my presets are programmed on. But also with other configurations (1x12", 2x12") it simply "sounds" always.
Live, it cuts through the mix easily, I have used it also in a mainstream rock/soul 12-man band, with excellent results!
Currently I use it very often in my home-studio for connect recordings. In combination with a speaker simulation and a little tweak, I can record anything, with superb sound, dynamics and the proposed response. Amazing!!!
Obviously, the main area of PRO GAP was supposed to be the heavy gain area. But, after all these years' use, I thing that the best sounds are in the crunchy/bluesy area, where is really difficult to get something useful, with a solid state device... Here you get smooth driven sounds with dynamics to hell...
The clean sounds are also nice, they although are very dependable on the setup you're using PRO GAP: A clean set Twin reverb helps PRO GAP's clean sounds more than a clean set JCM Marshall...
Last-not-least: The thing has immense gain reservoire!!! I use it 90% with normal strats and I get easily heavy gain sounds, from John Sykes' WS 1987 album up to Limb Bisquit's terror. No Problem!
It needs only a little attention with the AGX setting, in order to get an applicable noise gate and the wished sustain, that's why the AGX is not programmable (very wise!), but needs to get set upon the use volume (depeneds on the implementation: live, studio, practicing, etc.).
All-in-all a hit! For crunch up to heavy sounds I'll give a ten (or more), for all sounds it's a 9, only due to the dependence on other units for its clean sounds (see above text).

The unit is build for rack installation purposes, and I think it should be judged for that, and not as a floorboard or a stand alone unit..
For a rack, it's better than it should be: Solid metal chassis, all main connections are at the rear plate, only guitar input is in the front.
13 years now I had NO problems at all, even in extreme situations (hot wet indoor use, sunlighted, dusty outdoor gigs, etc), NO problem at all.

Don't know, cause I never needed any support!!!

As mentioned above, I own my PRO G.A.P. since 1990. I then bought it, because I had already started playing professional, and needed many sounds on my foot. This was the main reason, the unit was relatively cheap, especially in comparison to other tube pre-amps of the time, and so I moved on. I combined it with a cheap Rolls MIDI floorboard, and that's it.
Soon after, I started discovering its cababilities, not only in sound, but in many other aspects (AGX, progr. loop & switches, etc.). This thing really helped me in my (short, but intense) professional path, due to the fact that I could immediately apply my knowledge and get any wanted sound out of it... Even after year 1994, when I stopped playing professional, I kept using it live and in my studio, and never got dissappointed. Further, all people, (musicians, audience) were mostly surprised by the PRO GAP, and I thing that's the most important thing.

Let's come to the current days... It's really to wonder how, in the age of modelling and high tech tube amps, this pre-amp is still a favorite of mine!! In my 22 years as a guitar player, I have hardly seen units more reliable and useful than that. And keep in mind: I own today several modelling units (Roland VG88, Hughes & Kettner ZenTera, Behringer's V-Amp2), which sound farily good to superb, but the PRO GAP easily compares to all of them, and really shines with its simple but brillant perfomance. That's why it keeps surprising people even today.
I don't thing I am gonna give this thing away... Never ever...
If stolen, yes I'd miss it, but I don't know if I could replace it, because the unit is old and I'm not sure if it's easy to find one, even in ebay...
I am thinking to purchase Replitone pre-amp, which is Rocktron's answer to modelling tech.
For now, and for all the reasons above, PRO GAP is still an overall winner to me.

I won't go over the same information in previous reviews, but I'll tell you how the PROGAP helps me in my music making. I'm a freelance musician and studio musician in Nashville and surroundign area. So like most musicians, I need a reliable van and a reliable amp. The PRO-GAP is just part of my sound but an integralpart none the less. Mines a 2.1 version. I bought mine about a year ago.

My set is as follows[Martin Acoustic, Fender Tele, Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul Classic. When playing, one of these guitars goes into my Pro-Gap, out from Pro-Gap into Marshall 9200 or my Marshall 9100(depends how strong I am feeling that day:Heavy), then out to speaker cabs, Marshall 4x12 with 25 watt greenbacks. Yes, nice sounding. I have a Fender speaker cab but can't recall the model number(It's old, older than the hills). Sometimes I need super clean; sometimes I need gritty, other times and nead blistering lead solo stuff. I need to use great gear so that's why the Pro Gap is an essential part of my musical equation.

I would and have depended on it. I need reliable gear so Rocktron gear is reliable. It enables the true tone of the guitar to shine through. Great for acoustic too. Because the settings are programmable, it means I can preapre for gigs and studio works ahead of time which saves studio time and hassle at gigs. See!

I phoned them a few times and they have been helpful. They even sent me a free manual when I lost mine.

I bought mine used 'cause they aren't made anymore. Shame they aren't. I choose this pre-amp because it sounded the best and did the best job at preserving my tone and helping me make music. A few of the studios have offered to buy it from me but I've turned them down. These are hard to find so I'd be out of work without it.

Super easy. Very nice dials and programmability. I totolly dig the red display. Very Tronish. Lots of editing, very intiutive. I read the other guys review so I thought I'd review my baby. This dude is a superb rack pre-amp. Yeah, I'm a happy musician.

True to life. I can dial in the cleans of the cleans or the dirty of the dirties. I use a stereo Marshall 9200 tube power amp, a Rocktron Intellifex, a Furman Power Conditioner, and a Fender Tele. I make my own sounds and tones, so yeah, I get my own sound. I can also copy about 90% of the guitarist. I can even copy Dimebag Darrel if I wanted, but his tone sucks!

I've had mine for five years and no problems. Upgraded to the newest software for it. It gets better and better with age. I compaired this to a PLOD(POD) and my PRO-GAP blew it out of the water. POD is a plod. Pro-Gap is Pro-Stuff.

I've emailed them and they have been helpful. They are fine.

Well, well, well. I see what the Pro-Gaps sell for on the used market and OUCH! I got mine for a steal at $500. I've seen them go for the almost new price:close to $900 bucks.

I love this preamp. I managed to find it while working in the L.A. area and a studio that was closing down. They really didn't want to part with it, but we came to an agreement and now it's mine! This single-space rack-mount MIDI controllable preamp features MIDI-controllable gain, bass, treble and output level as well as two programmable parametric EQ's. The unit also features MIDI mapping, a HUSH noise reduction circuit, speaker and full-range outputs, and the ability to phantom-power a pedalboard using a 7-pin (MIDI-plus) cable. Programming is fairly easy; scroll through the parameters and change 'em until things start to sound good. I have to rave here about the HUSH. I'd never play without one again after using this little wonder. It can make all the difference in the world, especially in the studio. It's smart, non-intrusive and clean as hell. I would never sell my Pro-GAP, ever. It's the best rack pre. The cloeset preamp to it is the Mesa Triaxis, but that's way more expensive. I don't know why Harmony Central puts the Pro-Gap under guitar amps as it is a preamplifier and should be under the effects section. Why HC?? Why why why!

The distortions range from full-on buzzy Pantera-style stuff to a more mellow Marshall tone. It also does warmer bluesy stuff pretty well too. The bottom end is a little loose unless you spend quite a bit of time EQ'ing. Clean sounds are very good. I can get a good hard-rock crunch that still lets each note of the chord come through. I'm very happy with it.

Not a problem. I bought it used and even the previous owner had perfect reliability from this. I have to give it a ten, even though I've only had it for a year.

I don't know.

It's a great and equally rare guitar preamp. I love it and would trade it for anything except maybe for a Triaxis. These are quite rare, so keep your eyes peeled. Match it up with an effects unit and you have tone and variety. I'm so glad I bought it. It's just the sound I have been looking for, for a very long time. I've played through a lot of gear and this is the best. Pro-Gap all the way.

This single-space rack-mount MIDI controllable preamp features MIDI-controllable gain, bass, treble and output level as well as two programmable parametric EQ's. The unit also features MIDI mapping, a HUSH noise reduction circuit, speaker and full-range outputs, and the ability to phantom-power a pedalboard using a 7-pin (MIDI-plus) cable. Programming is fairly easy; scroll through the parameters and change 'em until things start to sound good. I have to rave here about the HUSH. I'd never play without one again after using this little wonder. It can make all the difference in the world, especially in the studio. It's smart, non-intrusive and clean as hell. I would never sell my Pro-GAP, ever. It's the best rack pre. The closest preamp to it is the Mesa Triaxis, but that's way more expensive. Easy to use.

The distortions range from full-on buzzy Pantera-style stuff to a more mellow Marshall tone. It also does warmer bluesy stuff pretty well too. The bottom end is a little loose unless you spend quite a bit of time EQ'ing. Clean sounds are very good. I can get a good hard-rock crunch that still lets each note of the chord come through. I'm very happy with it.

Not a problem. I bought it used and even the previous owner had perfect reliability from this. I have to give it a ten, even though I've only had it for a year.

I don't know.

It's a great and equally rare guitar preamp. I love it and would trade it for anything except maybe for a Triaxis. These are quite rare, so keep your eyes peeled. Match it up with an effects unit and you have tone and variety. I'm so glad I bought it.

Rocktron Progap Ultra made in '92. It's got great gain for metal. It's solid state so it will probably last for a long time.

I am using it with a BC Rich neck thru Mockingbird and a Schechter Avenger 7string with Duncans. Haven't used the clean channel much. I don't really have a use for clean sounds. The distortion is totally saturated, It's almost out of control. It's great for a high gain metal application.

I have not had any trouble with this preamp. I would like to have a backup just in case. Being that it doesn't have any tubes I can't imagine much can go wrong with it.

I have not dealt with anyone yet but I am playing hell trying to find a manual for free so I will be dealing with them shortly.

I've been playing for about 12 years. I have an old BC Rich Rave Ironbird, a Mockingbird neck-thru,a Schechter A-7 and a Squire Stagemaster 7-string. I am using a rackmount Marshall Valvestate 80+80 stereo power amp and a Behringer surround sound cab with 4 12" Jensen speakers. The Progap Ultra matches up well with the Marshall and the Behringer cab. If this preamp were stolen I would buy another one. It has worked well for me.

Not sure what year this was made but it the Pro Gap Ultra. The front looks like the newer rocktron stuff (not the one with the black & red knobs). Just going through the patches that were on it, it seems to cover a vast array of sounds. Using it with a Peavey Classic 50/50 power amp. I recommend a tube power amp for any pre-amp, but that just my preferance.

Using this unit with a neck thru warlock and neck thru mockingbird. Sounds great with both guitars. Good mild classic rock distortions to VERY gainy metal sounds ala any NWOBHM band (In Flames, Dimmu Borgir, etc.) Can also get the old school Dokken, Cinderella type distortions. It takes a while to get used to the whole pre and post eq sections and how they affect your sound. Distortion is very brutal without being too over the top. The cleans is where this unit seems to lack. They tend to be more of an old broken up low tube gain as opposed to sweet cleans. I play metal, so I didn't take this into consideration when buying the unit.

I am only rating this a 5 since I just got it off Ebay a month ago. For a unit that is at leat 9 years old, It seems very sturdy. No bend in the face plate, LED still looks brand new, all the functions/midi connections/inputs & outputs work fine.

Haven't had to deal with them yet

I really dig this preamp, mainly for the fact that for it's age the sounds I get are still relevant to todays modern guitar sounds. Great chunky distortion without being too over the top. I am trying to find another Pro Gap ULTRA as a back up. If this one died I would be very dissappointed.

Bought it new in 92 for $700 and have used it continuously since. I originally bought this unit because I was playing in a top 40 duo with a keyboard player and sequencers, and needed something I could run direct into the board. At that time, it was the only preamp out there with speaker emulation. Once I started playing in bands again, I worked great both as a pre-amp into a power amp, and as an extra gain stage into another amp. I've used it to play alternative, classic rock, country and blues. Since I already had a midi rig for my effects, using a preamp with midi switching was the next logical step.

I'm currently running a Carvin bolt with a Seymour Duncan Holdsworth humbucker on the bridge and 2 Lace Sensor single coils. This preamp does an excellent job of covering every style I've played. I can go from country spank, SRV blues to modern rock with the touch of my foot. The Hush unit works great. The thing is dead silent when I'm not playing. I've owned everything from Fenders, Yamahas, Boogies, Rolands and Pearces and this thing by far is the most versatile. The basic sounds are pretty good, and editing is a breeze.

13 years of steady road work and not one problem. The most reliable piece of gear I've ever owned.

I've never had to deal with them for this unit. I downloaded the manual for my Intellifex for free from their website.

I've been playing 25 years. I use a Rocktron effectron, Digitech DSP128, Dan Electro phaser and Crybaby wah for effects. ADA 200 watt power amp and Marshall 1922 2X12 cab. If this unit were stolen I might buy the Replitone pre-amp instead. But on the other hand, I can pick up another ProGap on Ebay for under $100. Overall, a great product that let's me get the sounds I'm looking for in any situation.

Easy to use, without manual, but having one would really be better. But, again, not really neccessary. Easy to program, manual is informative. Got my preamp from Ebay, but had to contact Rocktron for the User Manual. $15.00 fee to order from them.

Has some excellent sound/patches. Can create everything from a clean tone, SRV/ZZ Top sound, all the way up to a killer, skull crushing distortion. (Dokken, Pantera, In Flames...and much more!)

Not noisy at all, because it has their built-in HUSH System. Which is basically their noise-filter system. But, works like a charm!

Yeah, I can dial in anything and all my favorite artists can be dialed in. Everything from Jazz, Blues, Rock, Metal, and more.

Dependable? Yeah!

Use without backup? Yeah, probably!

Bought it used, had it for a number of years already, and still works 100%!

No comment. Never dealt with Rocktron, except to purchase manual. Which arrived very quickly.

I like to play everything from Blues to extreme metal! Is it a PERFECT preamp??? I doubt it! BUT, it does work pretty damn good! And, has a noise filter built in, and can REALLY do a great job with a WIDE variety of music. Has 25 built in patches from Steve Lukather and Allan Holdsworth. Can't be ALL that bad! hehe :)

If you can find one of these used, in fairly good shape, for a decent price, I'd grab one, give it a shot. Darn good preamp!

Bought used, no manual, I figured it out pretty quickly.
Easy to edit, and program...Nice scrolling digital LED readout/display.

Manual can be bought for $15 from Rocktron. Which is what I did after I bought this unit.

One main "adjustment knob", a couple of buttons...etc Very easy to use. :) Easier than most rackmount units.

My gear consists of: 80's Kramer Baretta, 2 Fender American Deluxe Strats, Laney 1/2 stack.

Unit is very quiet, has a built in HUSH. (Noise suppressor)

This unit can get everything from Alan Holdsworth to some pretty killer nuclear distortion, from such great heavy metal bands as Jag Panzer, Dokken, Primal Fear, In Flames...etc

PLENTY of adjustments to suit any sound you're trying to acheive.

Really a damn good preamp. I honestly can't find much fault with this unit. Pretty clean sounds, yet can get brutal distortion with just a couple tweaks of the knob.

Dependability, I think because this is a rackmount unit, it will last for years. It doesn't get stepped on, or abused, so, there's not much that can go wrong with rack units.

Dealt with them when I bought the instruction manual. Shipped it to me very quickly, but as far as actually talking to them, or technical advice, I really can't comment.

I really like this rack unit. It's extremely versatile, and if you're a metal-player like I am, you'll be pretty happy with what this unit can do. I bought it on a whim, and after really giving it a few hours use, I found myself loving it. As it turns out, it gives some nitro-distortion, and a pretty nice clean sound as well. Not to mention, it has a built in noise-supressor, which is called the HUSH system. Works VERY well in keeping the noise to a minimum!

Not a very common unit anymore, but if you can locate one, I recommend trying one out. And for $75-$80 bucks (used) you'll be HARD PRESSED to find ANY distortion pedal that can perform like this rack unit can!