The newish Boss ME-25 is a great little multi pedal too, but for what the OP is looking for some of the great single-shot pre-amps out there would do the trick without busting his bank or eardrums.

Digitech gets my vote as well... I use an RP255 with my HSS MIM Strat. It has a USB port for a direct plug in to your computer, and a 1/8" headphone jack as well. Models all kinds of effects, amps, etc. with a built in Wah/expression pedal, and has a forum where people upload/download/exchange their settings.

Digitech here too!

I have an older (1998?) Digitech RP7 Valve (the one with the 12AX7 preamp tube built in). It sounds amazing with headphones and also direct recording into a PC or other multi-track recorder.

Remember these solid metal cased multi-effects units from back in the day? (photo lifted from somewhere on the internet...)


It also sounds really good too through an amp - IF you take the time to really play with it, fiddle with it, tweak it, etc... versus using the previous settings you used to record with.

The only thing I don't like about the Digitech is the wah/expression pedal. The wah mode leaves a LOT to be desired... You're better off skipping the built in wah mode, and chaining in a real Cry Baby or a Vox wah pedal instead.

Edit: Long story short... If you come across an old Digitech unit on Ebay or Craigslist or somewhere, buy it. These old things are darn near bullet proof.

Got the same Digitech RP-7. Retired it for Line 6 Pod Live-XT.

Hey, that's cool...

My RP7 is still going strong after all these years. I use it to record with and play through headphones when I'm in the mood. Lately I've been trying to make it work with my new SS Fender Frontman 65 and/or try to make the Frontman "play nice" with it.

I don't know... I might just remove it and play clean through the amp for a while. I might go back to a very simple, very basic, setup of just a single chorus pedal and a type of OD pedal that has a preamp tube in it, or one that sounds so fantastic and almost emulates a tube amp. But then, I am using a Fender Frontman SS amp.

The Smoothies hit the nail on the head! Don't get me wrong I love my Boss ME-50. It's really fun to experiment with. That being said, the best tone I get is running my axe straight into my tube amp (Peavey Classic 50 212 with a Eurotubes Upgrade kit). The warmth of a tube driven amp can be imitated but never duplicated.

For home use I highly recommend looking into a "small" tube amp (1-5 watts). 5 watts is plenty loud, at least as loud as a trumpet, and you can get that power tube saturation without pi$$ing off the neighbors. 30 to 50 watts max for gigging. 100 watts is overkill in my opinion. Most places can't handle a 100 watt setup. Tubes are meant to be driven not played at 25%.