Find and examine an APT preamp from the late 70s. Designed by Thom Holman (the TH in THX) it not only has tone controls, but adjustable turnover frequencies, phase switches, A>B / B>A and a A-B to A+B fader that is an education in imaging and soundstage all by itself. Not to mention one of the best, most tunable MM phono stages ever built, with a proper subsonic filter. I have kept mine, recently had a Level 3 upgrade and rebuild done. It is a fabulous piece, one few current preamps can even approach in SQ a certainly not in flexibility.
Any High End Tube Preamps with *gasp tone controls?
After dropping in a vintage Scott 222C into my system while my amp was out for repair I'm really missing the tone controls now that my amplifier is back. It seems sacrilegious but I just can't get the bass where I want it without a bit of boost plus I'm sure my hearing is changing as I get older so why not be flexible... even if it results in me being thrown out of the audiophile club.