How much is an 1176 worth

$5,299 here in New Zealand

Despite what Drew at UA has said about UA being a software AND hardware company, it's pretty clear at this point that when they say hardware, they mostly just mean digital hardware.

I think their main focus these days is the plugin/Apollo/Volt/UAFX pedal/Luna market and that any straight analog hardware, other than the recent addition of mics, is kind of an afterthought, with the upshot being that continuing to sell these few all analog pieces helps to give UA the aura of "legacy" and "legitimacy" that they need/want to sell their digital products.

I think that's the real reason they still sell the 1176 and LA2A. When's the last time you heard somebody say that these reissues sound as good as the originals, or even as good as some of the best clones out there, especially for the price? But, hey, if you really just must have an 1176 with the UA badge on it, they'll sell you one for two to three times the cost of the best clones.

It's kind of win win for UA, really. They're not really focused on analog hardware anymore these days, but here's what it costs for them to be bothered to make more 1176s for people that gotta have them, and they get the additional whiff of legitimacy for their digital products as part of the deal too.

No doubt.

And I say this as a customer of the Apollo, UAD plugins, and Luna. Maybe even one or more of the UAFX pedals, eventually.

Since the 1176 is a pretty simple design, it really raises the question of what are you paying for. As mentioned, there are great clones out there, at least as good as or better.

As it is with all recreations of vintage products, you can never say, This is how the 1176, La2a, 1073, 610, fairchild, U47 etc etc. sounded, as the variations of component’s and tolerances was just too large at the time to make that one true reproduction. So what you will end up with is an average of the unit’s at hand to clone, of which none are NOS.

But let’s not underestimate the value of being the original. That will always carry a premium price whether it’s vintage or repro, the resale value will hold better and the status can be a strong selling point for many clients.

Are they over priced for what they are as workhorses? I believe absolutely. Would I personally consider buying one? Never, I am super happy with clones I use and actually feel a much stronger attachment to them, as they come from small boutique builders with their own story. I would not feel the same for a UA repro.

Don’t get me wrong, I really dig UA products. I use Apollo and mainly their plugins and have heard nothing but great things about the amp modeling pedals and ox-box and what not.

You’re paying for the name and look of the original, give me a pair of Purple MC76’s or Audioscape or Hairball kits. I have no problem laughing at the cash leftover.

The UA 1176 reissue pales in comparison to virtually every 1176 clone I've tried. It's not that it's a bad compressor, it's just that it doesn't really sound like ANY of the vintage 76s I've used. Save a few grand and buy an AudioScape 76D if you want the best all-around *UREI*-flavored 76.

I like my hairball D kit better than the 2 reissues we have at the studio.

Yup, this is precisely how I feel.

The other thing to remember unlike many cloners UA has had no problem with changing the parts with no notice to the public ( remember when you couldn’t get the attenuator for the 1176?). They are completely reliant on name recognition.

To true. Was your price rrp or discount by the shop. There are a few shops here saying $6200 rrp with discount at $4500 but when you look they are out of stock or only have 1 or 2.

It’s just a dated design fetishized for its distortion from before they figured out how to cancel the non- transient distortion most it on the JFET gate and before they had reliable parts. You can get less fetishized distorted compressors that are better than a 3630 for 100-800 a channel used. The ones used in live racks were often 50 bucks a channel pre Reverb gear Ponzi scheme. Most have less distortion and smoother action than an 1176.

Drawmer and Kush too. Yes without any tone killing part substitutions or with lower distortion while having more consistent or smoother behavior. There’s more complex side chains in stuff from the 70s than in any UA product.