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Post by guitfiddler on Oct 23, 2017 21:19:58 GMT -6
I am searching for a great all around 500 series EQ for strictly Vocal and Acoustic Guitar...so many out there impossible to even narrow it down...I was thinking CAPI, aren't there a few, but which one?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 24, 2017 8:00:58 GMT -6
I'm really happy with my Tonelux EQ's.
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Post by Bob Olhsson on Oct 24, 2017 8:04:02 GMT -6
API 550a!
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Post by mdmitch2 on Oct 24, 2017 8:14:27 GMT -6
CAPI BT50 would be my choice for vocals and acoustic. w/gar1731 opamps. The other CAPI EQ's are the LC25 and LC40 which are 10 band fixed frequency (switched graphic EQ's).
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Post by c0rtland on Oct 24, 2017 15:03:44 GMT -6
API 550a. I haven't heard the capi BT50 but I'm sure it would be great too.
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Post by ragan on Oct 24, 2017 15:55:03 GMT -6
550a (or I'm sure CAPI's version) is great. Great River Harrison 32c is my fav for those duties, and lots of others. EQ is lush and natural, filters are amazing.
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Post by joseph on Oct 24, 2017 18:32:01 GMT -6
I would think the 500 series pultec would be good for this too, but if it were me I'd get the bt50.
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Post by guitfiddler on Oct 24, 2017 21:27:31 GMT -6
Thanks guys
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Post by drbill on Oct 24, 2017 21:40:24 GMT -6
550A all the way - a classic for good reason. I do like the CAPI LC25 and LC40 as well. LC25 first due to it's freq selection. But for certain vocals, the LC40 might get the call. But all around, definitely the 550A's. The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying.
Out of all my 500 EQ's, the 550A's get used the most, the LilPEQr's second even though they are not too versatile, and then the LC's. For filters (technically EQ, right?) the missing link is great as well.
I'm on the fence about some mastering style 19" EQ, but if I don't go that direction, the 500 EQ that I haven't heard yet, but that has got me allllllllll interested is RND's 551. Really gotta try that one.
Bottom line for me is to get another pair of 550A's, a pair of 551's (I think), and another LC25.
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Post by drsax on Oct 24, 2017 21:48:25 GMT -6
550a would be my vote hands down. The CAPI equivalent I’m sure is a great choice as well although I have yet to try it.
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Post by wiz on Oct 24, 2017 23:53:24 GMT -6
550A all the way - a classic for good reason. I do like the CAPI LC25 and LC40 as well. LC25 first due to it's freq selection. But for certain vocals, the LC40 might get the call. But all around, definitely the 550A's. The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying. Out of all my 500 EQ's, the 550A's get used the most, the LilPEQr's second even though they are not too versatile, and then the LC's. For filters (technically EQ, right?) the missing link is great as well. I'm on the fence about some mastering style 19" EQ, but if I don't go that direction, the 500 EQ that I haven't heard yet, but that has got me allllllllll interested is RND's 551. Really gotta try that one. Bottom line for me is to get another pair of 550A's, a pair of 551's (I think), and another LC25. I didn't like the 551... the high end sounded "scratchy"... blech.... be interested to see what you think when you try it cheers Wiz |
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Post by adamjbrass on Oct 25, 2017 8:16:42 GMT -6
I like the Great River Harrison 32EQ a lot
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Post by drbill on Oct 25, 2017 9:49:28 GMT -6
550A all the way - a classic for good reason. I do like the CAPI LC25 and LC40 as well. LC25 first due to it's freq selection. But for certain vocals, the LC40 might get the call. But all around, definitely the 550A's. The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying. Out of all my 500 EQ's, the 550A's get used the most, the LilPEQr's second even though they are not too versatile, and then the LC's. For filters (technically EQ, right?) the missing link is great as well. I'm on the fence about some mastering style 19" EQ, but if I don't go that direction, the 500 EQ that I haven't heard yet, but that has got me allllllllll interested is RND's 551. Really gotta try that one. Bottom line for me is to get another pair of 550A's, a pair of 551's (I think), and another LC25. I didn't like the 551... the high end sounded "scratchy"... blech.... be interested to see what you think when you try it cheers Wiz Thanks for the heads up. Scratchy is not my thing. Look forward to checking one out at some point. In the meantime, I'm still leaning towards a Stereo 19" solution that I can use for mix bus and/or mastering. |
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Post by joseph on Oct 25, 2017 10:16:53 GMT -6
I have two of the Shelford eqs, which appear to be basically the same design as the 551, just more headroom and silk options, the blue being mellowing and a little low end fuzzy and the red being exciting in terms of harmonics. Compared with some BAE 1073Ds (which like 1084 has 10k, 12k, 16k), the high end although still pretty smooth on most sources is just less euphonic. However the low end is tighter and you get the bell option, which is very useful, sorta GMLy. The mid band is very nice actually, more colorful than the high band.
I'd say the most noticeable thing is the perceived lack of phase shift. I actually think the 8khz shelf and peak are quite useful, on toms for instance, in that you can cut the mud a bit (also the hi q option) and lift some high mids, which you can't do on the 1073, and the 16khz is nice too for ribbon mics. Also quite nice on snare for same reason, and electric guitars, because I find once you eq the low mids on guitar with most eqs, an obvious phase shift kinda messes with the being there feeling, and the 1073 low shelf is often not tight enough if you want to add lows to electric guitar and bass.
I think if you have harsh recordings particularly with cymbals and such they are less forgiving than 1073 for sure. But I still like them a lot for keeping things naturally captured without the phase/depth shifting and the tightness. They seem to complement ribbons better than condensers.
So for most bus and vocal sweetening, they would not be my go to, but I wouldn't discount the 551s if the Shelfords are any indication. They definitely aren't grainy or pointy sounding, they sound expensive.
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Post by mulmany on Oct 25, 2017 10:48:27 GMT -6
Are you looking for mojo or clean carving.
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Post by indiehouse on Oct 25, 2017 11:03:34 GMT -6
550A all the way - a classic for good reason. I do like the CAPI LC25 and LC40 as well. LC25 first due to it's freq selection. But for certain vocals, the LC40 might get the call. But all around, definitely the 550A's. The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying. Out of all my 500 EQ's, the 550A's get used the most, the LilPEQr's second even though they are not too versatile, and then the LC's. For filters (technically EQ, right?) the missing link is great as well. I'm on the fence about some mastering style 19" EQ, but if I don't go that direction, the 500 EQ that I haven't heard yet, but that has got me allllllllll interested is RND's 551. Really gotta try that one. Bottom line for me is to get another pair of 550A's, a pair of 551's (I think), and another LC25. To be fair to the BT50's, most really, really dig them. I think your experience might be in the minority (at least vocally). But that's not meant to discredit your opinion/experience at all. Diversity is what makes the world an interesting place. Just thought I'd add a counterpoint to the discussion! |
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Post by jsteiger on Oct 25, 2017 11:23:28 GMT -6
....The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying.... This does baffle me a little. You are honestly the only person I know of who doesn't think the BT50's hang in between the vintage 550 and the vintage 550A. I think that roundbadge and noah shain just to name a pair, would strongly disagree but hey, different strokes for different folks!  |
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 25, 2017 11:37:13 GMT -6
550A all the way - a classic for good reason. I do like the CAPI LC25 and LC40 as well. LC25 first due to it's freq selection. But for certain vocals, the LC40 might get the call. But all around, definitely the 550A's. The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying. Out of all my 500 EQ's, the 550A's get used the most, the LilPEQr's second even though they are not too versatile, and then the LC's. For filters (technically EQ, right?) the missing link is great as well. I'm on the fence about some mastering style 19" EQ, but if I don't go that direction, the 500 EQ that I haven't heard yet, but that has got me allllllllll interested is RND's 551. Really gotta try that one. Bottom line for me is to get another pair of 550A's, a pair of 551's (I think), and another LC25. So interesting...I had directly the opposite reaction with the 550a's...I thought the BT50s sounded better in every application. Thought the were more similar to the 550s. |
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Post by drbill on Oct 25, 2017 11:41:35 GMT -6
....The BT50's didn't hold up well for me - and I tried em with 5 different op-amps. Oh...one other - the Avedis is pretty cool too. I'd give that a listen as well if I was buying.... This does baffle me a little. You are honestly the only person I know of who doesn't think the BT50's hang in between the  vintage 550 and the vintage 550A. I think that roundbadge and noah shain just to name a pair, would strongly disagree but hey, different strokes for different folks! Yeah, I know. Believe me, I've tried REALLY hard.  The BT50's sit RIGHT next to the 550A's in my racks, and I tend to try to start with the BT50's cause I wanna like em. But like I mentioned, 4 out of 5 times, I switch to the 550A's and I'm more satisfied. I haven't sold them yet, hoping to "figure it out", but I still haven't. I'd say I can't quiiiiiite get there with them. Not sure why. It's not that I don't like CAPI EQ's - I really like the LC25 and Missing Links. The LC40 is every bit as good, but I favor the Freq Points on the 25 more. So...... Head scratching..... |
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Post by drbill on Oct 25, 2017 11:42:50 GMT -6
I should note that my 550A's are vintage (out of Leon Russell's old console).....Not sure about the differences between those and new units. Oh, and funny enough, they are A-1's, although I get along equally well with A's in vintage consoles.....
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Post by jsteiger on Oct 25, 2017 11:50:07 GMT -6
I should note that my 550A's are vintage.....Not sure about the differences between those and new units. Oh, and funny enough, they are A-1's, although I get along equally well with A's in vintage consoles..... Intersting. The A-1's are not proportional Q and a fairly different circuit than the rest of the litter. I have one but I've never really investigated or done my own sweeps or comparisons. I use to have a 6-pack of them a few decades ago and thought they were fabulous. I never had the vintage A's to compare to at that time. It's funny that people hate on the A-1's but compared to other EQ's in existence, they are simply killer. One of these days I will dig mine out of the moving box its been in. |
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Post by guitfiddler on Oct 25, 2017 11:58:11 GMT -6
I should note that my 550A's are vintage.....Not sure about the differences between those and new units. Oh, and funny enough, they are A-1's, although I get along equally well with A's in vintage consoles..... Intersting. The A-1's are not proportional Q and a fairly different circuit than the rest of the litter. I have one but I've never really investigated or done my own sweeps or comparisons. I use to have a 6-pack of them a few decades ago and thought they were fabulous. I never had the vintage A's to compare to at that time. It's funny that people hate on the A-1's but compared to other EQ's in existence, they are simply killer. One of these days I will dig mine out of the moving box its been in. I would really like to know some info on this as well! |
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Post by guitfiddler on Oct 25, 2017 12:01:06 GMT -6
Are you looking for mojo or clean carving. Mojo! |
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Post by guitfiddler on Oct 25, 2017 12:02:13 GMT -6
I’m really starting to like this thread even more...maybe we ought to start a CAPI/API EQ vintage thread? Or just continue down this path on this thread, very interesting and I would like to know more ...thanks guys!
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Post by Tbone81 on Oct 25, 2017 12:47:54 GMT -6
If Chameleon labs ever get around to releasing them I'd take a look at their 560 eq's. They're supposed to be the same eq's as in the 7602's although I understand that they're making their own inductors now...so I really hope they sound the same. If they do sound the same then the price point is just ridiculous. My 7602 eq sounds better than my aml ez1073 eq's.
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vintage 550 and the vintage 550A. I think that 
The BT50's sit RIGHT next to the 550A's in my racks, and I tend to try to start with the BT50's cause I wanna like em. But like I mentioned, 4 out of 5 times, I switch to the 550A's and I'm more satisfied. I haven't sold them yet, hoping to "figure it out", but I still haven't. I'd say I can't quiiiiiite get there with them. Not sure why. It's not that I don't like CAPI EQ's - I really like the LC25 and Missing Links. The LC40 is every bit as good, but I favor the Freq Points on the 25 more. So...... Head scratching.....