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Post by kbsmoove on Feb 9, 2024 13:21:48 GMT -6
I'm looking to sell my pair altec 1566a preamps for something a little more useful. I pretty much only use the 1566As when i need heavy color and/or distortion, which they're great at. But I'd like something more versatile that can also be a distortion box.
I recently used a UA 2-610 while tracking at another studio and it did the distortion box thing super well, and the combo of pad/gain/level controls plus the limited EQ really helped shape the tone of the distortion. I imagine it is more useful on other sources as well, but my experience is limited.
what else should i be looking at? strong preference for 2 channels in 2ru and 120/240v operation a big plus, as I might be moving across an ocean soon. Budget is around whatever I can get for the altecs, or $2500ish?
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Post by phdamage on Feb 9, 2024 13:23:49 GMT -6
I really love my Sebatron vmp 4000e. You can often find on eBay for around $1k. Very useful and versatile with the tone switches
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Post by ab101 on Feb 9, 2024 13:24:23 GMT -6
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Post by Tbone81 on Feb 9, 2024 13:39:34 GMT -6
Sebatron vmp4000. It fits that description exactly. Can be clean or a really nice distortion of if you push it. Massively underrated piece of gear.
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Post by theshea on Feb 9, 2024 14:01:37 GMT -6
my la-610 can sound good when overdriven on vocals. but it can also record clean and sound good. people bash this channelstrip but it has good sounds in it. just don‘t overdue the optical compressor.
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Post by skav on Feb 9, 2024 14:21:10 GMT -6
Coil Audio have been getting ALOT of praise around here. I doubt you'd be able to get two channels on your budget though, if you're not lucky on the used market. Also, they don't include phantom power, so that is a potential extra cost.
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Post by crillemannen on Feb 9, 2024 14:49:34 GMT -6
I'm looking to sell my pair altec 1566a preamps for something a little more useful. I pretty much only use the 1566As when i need heavy color and/or distortion, which they're great at. But I'd like something more versatile that can also be a distortion box. I recently used a UA 2-610 while tracking at another studio and it did the distortion box thing super well, and the combo of pad/gain/level controls plus the limited EQ really helped shape the tone of the distortion. I imagine it is more useful on other sources as well, but my experience is limited. what else should i be looking at? strong preference for 2 channels in 2ru and 120/240v operation a big plus, as I might be moving across an ocean soon. Budget is around whatever I can get for the altecs, or $2500ish? You should check out the Analogue Tube AT-3. Its Loosely based on the Altec. Super short signal path and very fat sounding. It's within your budget as well. I have several tubepreamp demos on my YouTube channel so check them out and I hope that helps Christian Svedin |
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Post by kbsmoove on Feb 9, 2024 14:52:51 GMT -6
my la-610 can sound good when overdriven on vocals. but it can also record clean and sound good. people bash this channelstrip but it has good sounds in it. just don‘t overdue the optical compressor. yeah folks bash the UA 610s in general. I've used it on inconsequential stuff (like scratch guitar) and it sounded fine, and it really sounded great on some super distorted drums. might just snag a 2-610 because i know it'll do the crush thing i'm looking for, plus has the EQ. though the sebatron and the 86B-2 are both intriguing for very different reasons. i know the coils are well loved, and i might try a channel just to see if i need to go that route. |
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Post by drumsound on Feb 9, 2024 15:24:40 GMT -6
I do like my Useful Arts SFP-60
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Post by doubledog on Feb 9, 2024 15:33:55 GMT -6
I like my LA-610 as well. I have the older silver one (bought it new in 2011) sometimes wish I had 2 of them, but I get along with 1. This weekend it will be on "scratch vocal" duty with an SM7B (and yes it does just fine w/o any booster, although I do have the +10 engaged on the preamp). The scratch vocal sometimes becomes the real vocal in these live off the floor sessions. oh, and the pairing sounds really good too. You can get them used for under $1K if you look. these look nice too -- www.electricandcompany.com/products |
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Post by unit7 on Feb 9, 2024 15:45:15 GMT -6
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Post by drbill on Feb 9, 2024 17:47:16 GMT -6
With your specific budget and mentioned requirements, I'd second (third?) the Locomotive 86B. Two thumbs up.
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Post by andersmv on Feb 9, 2024 18:07:36 GMT -6
Coils are great, but a little out of your budget for two (and you’ll have to factor in more for their separate phantom power supply). I wouldn’t hesitate to grab the Locomotive Audio pres, they’re amazing too!
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Post by Hudsonic on Feb 10, 2024 6:33:28 GMT -6
Bypass the heavy advertisers in "Tape Op" magazine and head directly to AnalogueTube AT-3. Pure vacuum tube technique from a very skilled listening designer, Simon Saywood. In use here and shining and standing tall above all others. www.analoguetube.com/ |
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Post by crillemannen on Feb 10, 2024 6:52:55 GMT -6
Here is my AT-3, D.W Fearn, Chandler Redd and WT-72 test.
The WT-72 is great , midforward and very affordable. The AT-3 is a bit like comparing a U87 and U67. The U67 has that highbass authority which the AT-3 also adds to the signal.
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Post by niklas1073 on Feb 10, 2024 7:40:27 GMT -6
I have been glancing at the earlier mentioned locomotive 86b and also the above mentioned wt72 myself for a future purchase. But here’s a couple of wild horses in the link I wouldn’t mind taking for a spin. The other with comp/lim incorporated and the other seem to be a quite new product. Especially the pure tube is price wise quite competitive. www.igsaudio.com/preamplifiers |
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,086 
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Post by ericn on Feb 10, 2024 9:18:13 GMT -6
I’m going to go and recommend and old standby, actually the pre most credited with the resurgence of tubs pre’s the Demeter VMP2. Are there better today? Yes, but I guarantee you plug a FET LDC in it put the mic in front of a decent vocalist and you will instantly think “yup that’s what I was thinking tubes would do”.
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Post by niklas1073 on Feb 10, 2024 10:04:03 GMT -6
I’m going to go and recommend and old standby, actually the pre most credited with the resurgence of tubs pre’s the Demeter VMP2. Are there better today? Yes, but I guarantee you plug a FET LDC in it put the mic in front of a decent vocalist and you will instantly think “yup that’s what I was thinking tubes would do”. Yep. And for like 700 bucks used for 2 channels it sure is bang for the buck. It’s made in USA for Chinese crap money. |
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Post by ab101 on Feb 10, 2024 11:29:13 GMT -6
I’m going to go and recommend and old standby, actually the pre most credited with the resurgence of tubs pre’s the Demeter VMP2. Are there better today? Yes, but I guarantee you plug a FET LDC in it put the mic in front of a decent vocalist and you will instantly think “yup that’s what I was thinking tubes would do”. So true. And a tube change helps it. |
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Post by ironinthepath on Feb 10, 2024 12:01:24 GMT -6
If I had that budget I’d be looking at the Sonic Farm Berliner, still thinking of getting one this year sometime.
I should clarify, I’ve never tried it myself…but really want to
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Feb 10, 2024 12:05:35 GMT -6
I’m going to go and recommend and old standby, actually the pre most credited with the resurgence of tubs pre’s the Demeter VMP2. Are there better today? Yes, but I guarantee you plug a FET LDC in it put the mic in front of a decent vocalist and you will instantly think “yup that’s what I was thinking tubes would do”. Yep. And for like 700 bucks used for 2 channels it sure is bang for the buck. It’s made in USA for Chinese crap money. And no cheap parts, yeah the transformers are not the latest and the greatest, but go price a replacement Sifram gain knob for a Demeter. I Always wanted to hear the giant tube Mono blocks he had at one time built for Rick Rubin. |
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Post by Ward on Feb 10, 2024 12:09:30 GMT -6
You can get a Traverse 652 for that money, easily. Really good general purpose 12ax7/12at7 based dual tube preamp.
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Post by kristoferharris on Feb 10, 2024 12:24:24 GMT -6
I'd be looking out for a used Tube-Tech MP 1A (or 2A) in that price bracket. The Locomotive/Weight Tank preamps appear to be a good suggestion. I'm massively impressed by the Weight Tank compressor. Fantastic value for money.
Chandler REDD is sublime. One channel only, of course, and would possibly need a tech involved going from 110v-240v. But sometimes it pays to make the compromise.
I've used those UA 610 preamps plenty and found them to sound great. They're just super fussy to set right, with a narrow sweet spot, so they can sound bad in the wrong hands.
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Post by the other mark williams on Feb 10, 2024 12:28:40 GMT -6
Bypass the heavy advertisers in "Tape Op" magazine and head directly to AnalogueTube AT-3. Pure vacuum tube technique from a very skilled listening designer, Simon Saywood. In use here and shining and standing tall above all others. www.analoguetube.com/I'm super interested in this preamp from everything you've said in the past here, plus the vid from crillemannen, but unless I'm misunderstanding Simon's website, the cost on two of these would be well outside the OP's stated price range, no? I'd very much love to be wrong, b/c I'd love to check one out myself... |
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Post by chessparov on Feb 10, 2024 13:29:26 GMT -6
I do like my Useful Arts SFP-60 I finally got to try out/sing through this Pre, with Peter at his Booth. It does sound great. The little Hornet, that's a more realistic purchase (here in the Cheap Seats) would be my first Hardware Pre upgrade. Maybe not quite on the level  of it's Big Useful Arts Brother. Or the other worthy suggestions here. But talk about bang for the $300 Buck!  Chris |
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of it's Big Useful Arts Brother.