A few days ago I received at home a unit from the prestigious brand Rocktron. Frankly, I had gone several years without keeping up with the systems this manufacturer might have been introducing. My only remaining link to this gear, in some way, was that I have owned, for no less than 15 years, a multi-effects unit from this company called the Intellifex. In its day this unit was a big step forward, offering extraordinary reverb, delay, chorus, etc. quality at a low cost, all with a very remarkable extra degree of clarity. So, with a certain anticipation, I opened the box of the new "Gainiac" unit and tried to explore its resources and possibilities.
Unboxing
Generally, when I come across a piece of gear, I tend to wonder what the aims of the manufacturers are, and above all of the engineers who design it. I imagine some simply aim to make money by putting out something their competitors already have, but offering certain advantages, whether in price or by improving on an already established template. I also imagine others are driven by the desire to explore, to discover new paths, accepting from the outset the risk of taking on something new. It seems to me that this is the case in many facets of life: art, technology and, of course, business. And when these aspects go hand in hand, all the more reason to assume a wide range of reasons and interests driving each new release. This brief reflection becomes part of my musings every time I face a new piece of gear. Mostly because I have the feeling that in a market oversaturated with models, whether guitars, effects or amplification, there is hardly room for "something more" unless it offers "something different."
Philosophy aside, the concept of amplification is defined as converting the acoustic signal into an electrical one and processing it until it is made audible by electronic means. Broadly speaking, we can say that to achieve this, units use either solid-state systems, which result in a cleaner sound, or tube systems, which add a certain degree of distortion, thereby generating a warmer sound. There are also hybrid units that try to give us the best of both worlds.
The Gainiac is therefore a preamp, but it will probably be responsible for 70% of the sound, although we should not underestimate the effect that using one amp or another, as well as the cabinets, can have on the signal
In this case, the Rocktron Gainiac is a preamplifier. That is, it is where we will shape a particular sound, EQ, color, level of distortion, etc. The final output power of that result is handled by an amp or, failing that, a power amp connected to its corresponding speakers.
From the outset, the most notable thing about the Gainiac is its simplicity. Hooking it up is an easy task, one a five-year-old could manage, although that is not recommended. It is up and running in less than 30 seconds. Basically, we find two channels: one for a clean signal and another for a saturated one. Pretty conventional so far. Both channels have bass, mid and treble controls. We also have a control for the distortion level on the saturated channel and an independent output control for each channel. Also on the front, a 1/4" jack input and the power switch. On the rear panel, the footswitch input for switching channels, the 1/4" jack output and the power supply connection. So far, everything you would expect; the interesting part comes now: the sound.
Sound
In this respect, my particular view of gear revolves around perceiving the natural color that identifies it. Every system has a core sound from which we can vary the nuances, often in great depth, but the primary color remains there, or usually stays latent in some way. In this case the personality of the sound is very evident. The clean channel is crystal clear and full-bodied, though with a slightly sharp tone that can be very desirable in certain styles, with the mid and high frequencies naturally predominating, although it is highly malleable. The distortions are quite powerful, with a certain gritty, sharp character, and they are also ideal for styles such as rock, heavy metal, etc. The sound they generate is open and full and, at high power levels, very forceful. It fully lives up to the concept of a tube preamp, reminding me of the sound color of late '80s and early '90s rock.
The sound is very clean, with a very fast response, and it is quite respectful of the instrument's natural timbre
Next I tried it with several guitars. With the electrics, I basically refer you to what I said above. I must say I liked the response with humbuckers, Gibson style or, in my case, the Ibanez AM200, more than with the classic Fender-style single-coil sound. For my taste, one way to tame that natural EQ tilt toward the upper mids is to use a pickup or guitar with enough body and a certain tendency toward the low mids. I also wanted to experiment with the clean channel using an acoustic guitar, in this case an Ibanez, as well as the Variax's Sitar, Dobro and acoustic guitar simulations.
Conclusions
All in all, I think the Rocktron Gainiac's strength does not lie in a large number of features, nor do I think it offers anything special that many other preamps on the market do not have. What it does have is a very particular sound, a very clear and evident signature, a color that, although malleable, prevails over whatever changes we make with its controls. Certainly, if this color, that primary sound, is to your liking, you may find yourself with the preamp of your life. I would recommend you try it, especially if you like playing heavy styles. To begin with, I should stress again that Rocktron has great prestige, and the brand itself is something of a guarantee of quality. I, at least, have still not parted with the magical Intellifex that left the factory back in 1992.
