Huge Amps... Tiny Pedals! - Donner Preamp Pedals

These pedals are the perfect solution for someone who does not want to haul around a heavy amp, playing in a venue where they must plug directly into the PA, or even home recording. In this review/demo, I test out Donner's five preamp pedals. Each pedal has an A (clean) and B (dirty) channel, just like many amps. They are modeled after classic amps and do a pretty good job of replicating them, especially if played in a mix. These are the pedals and the amps they are simulating
Donner Incredible V (Fender 65 Twin Reverb* and Marshall Super Lead 1959)
Donner Sweet Juice (Fender 65 Twin Reverb and Orange AD30
Donner Force 2 (Soldano SLO 100)
Donner Black Devil (Peavey 6505)
Donner Green Land (Fender Bassman and Marshall JTM45)

[@Wildman9]

These pedals are great for direct to P.A. or to have on hand in case of rig failure.! Great demo.👍😎✌

[@Eidenbites]

This is perfect.. I like these because I don’t have to carry my amp on tours I just plug directly to the PA

[@lar57jsy]

Am I hearing the "clean" A side channels somewhat overdriven? Is that the pedals or your setup...? With my hearing and headphones, the B channels sound too much alike to be choosing one over another. It seems good that the A channel and B channel settings are remembered when switching back and forth, but then the dials no longer show what is actually being heard, which creates a bit of confusion unless the dials get reset manually for a new tone setup. I can see how they're handy for recording and live through a PA sound board, but it would be nice if the knob settings automated back to their true settings when switching back and forth...then again, that technology would cost far more.

[@jamalabdul2009]

I own the Incredible V and it is awesome.

[@daveredfern8258]

sounds like the cab sim is not engaged?

[@adamstein9333]

I have the Valeton Coral Amp and some Mooer micro Preamps and the mist Radar! So the Valeton has 16 in all the exact same construction except no reverb and the rotary knobs light up. It has every single one of these amps plus 6 More! Cab sim is Off when lights are Flashing! So which IR if any did You Use?

[@ThrashinYorkie]

Where can I find these pedals? Seems like they don't make them and there's nothing on the USED market.

[@StickmanCyclops]

Those are some great classic amp sounds in the Green Land pedal.

[@kimmolingonheimo]

Donner is my latest buddy, just bought the Triple Looper ( with 3x 30 minutes recording time!) for 43€ delivered!!!

[@guitarray3596]

Hi Kennis, I like your vids and thank you for your work. I own the orange juice and like it a lot. Only the reverb is way too much. In my opinion the cab sim is on, when the light ist not flashing. So I think, you did most of the demos with the cab sim off. The incredible v had the lights shining, so the cab sim was working and it sounded better. Maybe you should try some pedals again. The light is also the button to turn the cab sim on and off. Just in case you didn't know.

[@docf.n.t.2310]

I realize that time wise, my idea may be asking too much, but I would have loved hearing those same clean channels ALSO using a Strat ( all 5 positions) and a Tele (all 3 positions). I'm looking for a micro amp for those guitars that I use in my own studio. I, personally, rarely use double coils for clean sounds, almost always use Strats, but occasionally Teles.

[@jland12]

Thanks for showing how to change channels. Does it save settings after you unplug it?

[@RHINOSAUR]

Yes.

[@salmonline]

Very cool. Thanks.

[@Bbh4535]

Well I don’t think this video does these pedals any justice, I just was browsing and thought I would check it out, if you do not already, can we get a video of you using them through a small PA and the power amp section of your amp? Thanks for the exposure of these great pedals.

[@christophersinisi1109]

Does anyone know why Donner is not making these pedals anymore?

[@jeffgerencser6052]

If I don’t use the distortion, because I have a favorite overdrive pedal already, then do these serve as a simple boost pedal ?

[@idanshahar]

no. these are preamp pedals. they go after drives in the chains, and before time based affects.

[@MrJoeyBoombotz]

Direct? Through an amp?

[@Lawrence330]

Yeah man, would like to know!

[@Eidenbites]

Where can you buy them?

[@MrCahouette]

They have , cab simulations include ? Or its not necessary ?

[@steven_uk]

Good video. Thanks for making it. I have a question - is there a delay/noise cuts out when you switch the channels? I had a Valeton preamp pedal, but the guitar would drop out for a split second when I was changing channels. I had to send it back.

[@adamstein9333]

Was it the Coral Amp?

[@need2retire543]

Where you you place these modeling pedals in the effect chain? If you use the reverb, it needs to be at the end of the chain?

[@ryanp7782]

Since these are preamp pedals I think it'd be best to put them as the first in the chain.

[@adamstein9333]

Get the Valeton coral Amp! All these preamps plus 6, missing the high gain stuff the most. Boogie, Engl, and Diezel call eagle and dizz. She’s should sell for 15 bucks or less. The other three is a foxy ,flagman, and match. Don’t worry You still get the Soldano and EVH called EV 50! No reverb. He didn’t use cab sim on. So don’t know his Ir. Pair this with a Mooer Radar and You pick an OD and whatever Mod and You have the smallest rig in the world for a show. By a Baby bomb and BooooooM

[@650thunderbird]

Good job, Kennis!

[@Cluless02]

Sounds pretty smooth - Epiphone hardly does any device justice.

[@DreidMusicalX]

How do they work with other effect pedals?

[@thomasseveroii5093]

Can the cab sim be on or off?

[@RHINOSAUR]

Yes, but it stays on switching back and forth to A and B channels.

[@DavidDavid-uh8ry]

I go directly into the PA. Have a lot of money in reverb & OD / Crunch. Don't need those options. Would like to hear it clean. Looking for a cab simulator.

[@jafethuerta]

Check the Mooer Radar.

[@tankdarla637]

do they do a mesa model?

[@adamstein9333]

No! You get all these amps though with the Valeton Coral Amp

[@adamstein9333]

That also has a mesa

[@wj74]

Serious question, why are churches so obsessed with “controlling room volume”? Other venues with live performances aren’t this way. Why is that?

[@JoeRoganPodcastirl]

wj74 I wish I knew. It would make playing in Church bands a lot easier.

[@jonathangonzalesmusician1504]

I've played in churches for years. The front row isnt there for volume, they are there to spend time with God. It's hard to know if an amp setup is too loud once the house is full, so it's nice for the sound guy to be able to control the levels. That's also why you'll find alot of electric drums In church too. It's a sacrifice for sure.. i use my amp as a monitor positioned towards myself and i mic it. Win/win.

[@texanfournow]

los ancianos...

[@janseendiguiseppiThomasMC]

Elderly people normally find another church if the music is too loud. A lot are using hearing aids so the sound is amplified even louder to them. Church then lose money and community members. They try their best to make an environment that will be fitting for everyone

[@tinbasher5951]

Any one tried these on bass yet? The Joyo ones sound fantastic.

[@RHINOSAUR]

I’m using it on bass, but not in a traditional manner. I’m a lead bassist (no guitar in my band), and I’m running it through an octave up pedal first, then through the Black Devil… and the sound is incredible.

[@laouterakhs]

Great idea,but hate the sounds ( not for me!). The first channels are not clean but just less distorted. Great idea,not for me!

[@BoltRM]

I noticed the Gain was at 12 o'clock when the green light was on. Is that maybe the reason for the distortion? I was hoping to hear a clean 65 Twin which that amp is noted for..

[@icebob8555]

I Fold it in half then again and again tie it in a knot never gets the twist do what the band leader wants

[@Smurf431]

The Joyo ones sounds better IMHO.....

[@ymelfilm]

I m about buying one. Is Joyo way better? Why?

[@joetreadonme]

Those sound absolutely terrible.

[@Bbh4535]

Nonnasmyladie there actually pretty good, the trick is going through the power amp. I received the incredible v a few days ago. I have discovered you don’t get good results putting a preamp into a preamp. I bet if you put these into a PA it still wouldn’t sound as bad as it would plugging it into a the preamp part of an amp. I actually use it then will push it or blend with an overdrive drive pedal, sounds great! I find it handy to have at least the two famous overdrive drives pedals for this application, an ibanez ts and a boss sd one for different textures of drive. Hope this is helpful. Thought I would shed some light.

[@daveredfern8258]

Sorry bro, but that was a terrible review.... just constructive criticism.

[@zawszebadzsoba798]

inside these effects are noise gate

[@mikecooper8465]

Sorry.not impressed with these pedals..

[@jamalabdul2009]

Mike Cooper These pedals sound much better in person. I placed mine right at the end of my pedal chain into my Marshall Vintage Modern and it rocks. I have the Incredible V.