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Post by drew571 on Feb 11, 2015 21:30:43 GMT -6
Thinking of building a pair of the revision A's. www.hairballaudio.com/shop/index.php?cPath=43anyone heard these guys yet? i imagine they sound the same as the full kits? are they as good as the originals? just looking for reviews i guess. thanks. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Feb 11, 2015 23:16:07 GMT -6
mike is great at these kits, they are very good, and you could always deck them out any way you see fit, i made a lot of mods on my rack units. Search the diy forum, theres a whole bunch of stuff on the 1176 hairball 8)
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Post by bluenoise on Feb 12, 2015 4:34:25 GMT -6
I've built a 500 rev A. Sounds really nice. I've never heard an original blue stripe though, but i have worked with many different blackfaces (urei, ua, etc).
To me, it sounds and behaves like an 1176. A tad grittier, even brighter in a way. The 2:1 ratio is really handy come tracking time cuz it gets a bit grabby quite easily. I like it a lot on vocals, but im not exactly discovering anything..
If you want to, i could run some files through it...
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Post by Guitar on Feb 12, 2015 10:46:08 GMT -6
Looks really interesting, will be a tough contest between these and Classic API's new FET 500 series compressor for a slightly lower price.
I haven't heard either one but I am planning on starting to fill a small lunchbox with stuff like this.
I haven't really heard a lot of feedback on the 500 series Hairball stuff either, I guess they are all still pretty new besides Lola.
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nick
New Member
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Post by nick on May 10, 2015 10:56:52 GMT -6
I've built a 500 rev A. Sounds really nice. I've never heard an original blue stripe though, but i have worked with many different blackfaces (urei, ua, etc). To me, it sounds and behaves like an 1176. A tad grittier, even brighter in a way. The 2:1 ratio is really handy come tracking time cuz it gets a bit grabby quite easily. I like it a lot on vocals, but im not exactly discovering anything.. If you want to, i could run some files through it... How is it on bass? |
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Post by rob61 on May 10, 2015 11:54:54 GMT -6
I built a pair of the FET/500 rev A and a pair of FET/500 Rev D. I also have an original pair of "F"s and an original "G". I can use the FET/500 right along side the originals and feel very comfortable. It was mnats who worked several years getting the 500 series designed, and now Mike at Hairball Audio has made it happen and brought the kits to market. You can't beat them for price and performance.
As specifically to the Model A "bluestripe" version, I'd have to say it is my favorite for nicely colored compression. The D is more neutral. I've happily used the bluestripes on bass, kick and snare and loved them everytime. You have all the ratios of the original, PLUS a 2:1, and front panel linking between two units for stereo signals. They are the real deal!
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Post by jeromemason on May 10, 2015 12:50:40 GMT -6
Looks really interesting, will be a tough contest between these and Classic API's new FET 500 series compressor for a slightly lower price. I haven't heard either one but I am planning on starting to fill a small lunchbox with stuff like this. I haven't really heard a lot of feedback on the 500 series Hairball stuff either, I guess they are all still pretty new besides Lola. The 526 is listed as a FET compressor but doesn't feel like one. The big differences are the 3 DOA's and the meticulous gain staging in the comp, and the FET's Jeff gets, he designed that comp around those FETs and there's not an ounce of grain in them. They also allow you to really nail them w/o choking like a FET will do. To me, the 526 is more like a VCA or a tube compressor. I would build the 526's..... what's beautiful about them is you can turn the GR off and the opamps and transformer add some beautiful girth to your tracks. I like using the 526 with just a little bit of compression and a slower release on vocals, sounds incredible. I also built the Don U76 and had it for a while, it was the closest I'd ever heard to an original Rev A. Very aggressive and if you had a bass or vocal that needed some grit, like for rock (or bro country) it was great. I'd imagine the Hairballs are similar. |
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Post by Johnkenn on May 10, 2015 17:33:18 GMT -6
I agree with Jerome on the CAPI's sounding almost Vari-mu-like. Of course, some people are looking for that "sound" a dirty 1176's bring. I don't particularly care for it except on snare.
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nick
New Member
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Post by nick on May 10, 2015 19:05:47 GMT -6
I agree with Jerome on the CAPI's sounding almost Vari-mu-like. Of course, some people are looking for that "sound" a dirty 1176's bring. I don't particularly care for it except on snare. Yep. I'm looking for some peach fuzz to add to my vocals. This will be my first compressor so I'm just trying to see if it'd be safer to go with a revision D and just have my mixer throw Decapitator and Distressor on my vocals post rev D. |
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Post by bluenoise on May 11, 2015 18:22:01 GMT -6
I've built a 500 rev A. Sounds really nice. I've never heard an original blue stripe though, but i have worked with many different blackfaces (urei, ua, etc). To me, it sounds and behaves like an 1176. A tad grittier, even brighter in a way. The 2:1 ratio is really handy come tracking time cuz it gets a bit grabby quite easily. I like it a lot on vocals, but im not exactly discovering anything.. If you want to, i could run some files through it... How is it on bass? Hi nick. To be honest, I haven't used it much on bass. For bass duties, I'm more partial to optos and/or distortion if suitable. Since you asked I tried it and I liked it. But, being that my unit is a rev A and that it distorts quite easily (since i left out a specific resistor) it get gritty rather fast. That being said, it's a really nice compressor overall. Really 1176, which may or may not be your thing.. Cheers! |
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Post by deehope on May 11, 2015 18:39:10 GMT -6
Looks really interesting, will be a tough contest between these and Classic API's new FET 500 series compressor for a slightly lower price. I haven't heard either one but I am planning on starting to fill a small lunchbox with stuff like this. I haven't really heard a lot of feedback on the 500 series Hairball stuff either, I guess they are all still pretty new besides Lola. The 526 is listed as a FET compressor but doesn't feel like one. The big differences are the 3 DOA's and the meticulous gain staging in the comp, and the FET's Jeff gets, he designed that comp around those FETs and there's not an ounce of grain in them. They also allow you to really nail them w/o choking like a FET will do. To me, the 526 is more like a VCA or a tube compressor. I would build the 526's..... what's beautiful about them is you can turn the GR off and the opamps and transformer add some beautiful girth to your tracks. I like using the 526 with just a little bit of compression and a slower release on vocals, sounds incredible. I also built the Don U76 and had it for a while, it was the closest I'd ever heard to an original Rev A. Very aggressive and if you had a bass or vocal that needed some grit, like for rock (or bro country) it was great. I'd imagine the Hairballs are similar. This sounds so much like the vc528. Does anyone have both and compared? I'd love if its comparable as the 526's could do double duty. |
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Post by guitfiddler on Aug 2, 2015 21:49:14 GMT -6
Can any of these do the UREI thing, or is there a kit that can do the UREI 1178 thing?
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Post by gouge on Aug 2, 2015 22:09:37 GMT -6
Gustav had his take on an 1178 but I noticed it's been taken off his site. maybe contact him. |
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Post by RicFoxx on Aug 3, 2015 7:09:21 GMT -6
Just to throw another tool out there...Serpent Audio Splice 1176 style compressor, I have one and it is fantastic!
4-In-1 Compression - The Splice™ MKII's unique circuitry mode switching allows the user to configure the audio path circuitry between classic Blackface and Blue Stripe modes, or mix and match the two to create completely new sounds, unique to the Splice™.
-Discrete transistor audio path with w/ Class A transistor output circuitry
-Transformer Balanced Input & Output
-Stereo Linkable w/ front panel switch
-External Send & Return w/ front panel switch
-"All Buttons In" / Slam Mode front panel switch
-True Bypass (Relay Controlled) w/ front panel switch
-Integrated Mix/Blend Control w/ switchable bypassing for in-the-box parallel processing
-Integrated Active Sidechain Filters
-Switchable 600R Output loading allows the user to easily optimize the Splice™ for use with both vintage and modern equipment
-45dB of Gain (with no limiting)
-Attack Time - 20 to 800 Microseconds
-Release Time - 50 Milliseconds to 1.1 Seconds
-Compression Ratios - 2:1, 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1 & Soft Bypass (BP)
-True VU meter w/ meter buffer circuitry
-Integrated Linear Power Supply
-115V/230V compatible (User selectable on rear panel)
-Backed by a 2 Year Warranty
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Post by Gustav on Sept 7, 2015 11:39:15 GMT -6
Gustav had his take on an 1178 but I noticed it's been taken off his site. maybe contact him. Sorry for replying so late. I just noticed the dashboard and saw my name tagged  1178 has been discontinued and will be replaced by this thing. Gustav |
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Post by jdc on Sept 7, 2015 12:30:18 GMT -6
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Post by bluenoise on Sept 7, 2015 19:15:39 GMT -6
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