[MadGuitrst]

I think Ivo has a valid point in that I would not buy a rack and fill it with every variation of 500 pre on earth - it's just not worth it. It's a point that I share in general anyway. Mic makes more of a difference and position can (and often does) make all of the difference in the world to. But then, I'm not an engineer, just a musician who plays the engineer part at the home studio.

Anyway.....some thoughts.....

Male Vocals:
I liked the Shadow Hills nickel mode best overall because it was a bit lively but never essy, which I found the steel mode to be overly so.

Interestingly enough, when the singer started belting it out on the lines, "Is it me, is it me?", I like the way the MintJulep handled it best.

In general, the 512 sounds like the 512 - mid forward. To me, it doesn't sound natural at all, but that doesn't mean bad, just like it's EQ'd already.

Female Vocals:
The LaChappel 583s stood out on the female - big and round. The 583v was much too essy for me.

Many of the pres were similar on her in that they weren't big at all and the esses were too present for my tastes. The OSAs weren't too essy, but they were a bit like plain yogurt.

Acoustic Guitar
Most were very similar. Mic placement would make MUCH greater difference than MOST of the preamps on this track. Still a few stood out, for better or for worse.

The MA5 stood out the most by far, but it was odd - it had a metallic ring to it.
The P1 was nicely balanced. I'd probably pick this as my AC 500 pre based on those sample.
The OSA MP1L had a big bottom while having a bit more highs, which you could still hear. Again, it was maybe a bit metallic (phasey? - as someone mentioned).
I thought the Gama steel would stand out but it didn't - and the nickel was too round IMO. The 583v had a little more up top (just slightly) but the LaChappels didn't stand out as much as I thought they might have.

Electric Guitar
The 583s and 583v both sounded like they blew the grill off of my speakers! Wow! Open, punchy, lots of depth, They were right there.
The SH was good. The nickel was balanced and lively. The steel, which I thought might sound the way the P1 did, reviewed a lot of grit - if that's what you like....too much for me - but lacked a tad in the mids relative to the rest of it's sonic spectrum.
The P1 was very good all around - very balanced once again and nicely open.
In all the LaChapelles were the decisive victors.
The 512 was the 512, the SM57 of rock guitar preamps. Sounded good......but that LaChapelle.....I'm still feeling it.......

And The Winners Are:
LaChappelle - a rock guitarist sonic orgasm.
P1 - always good, sometimes great, always balanced.
Shadow Hills - I liked it best for vocals, which can be important - don't ya think?
It is a also a good choice because of the different modes. It went from (relative to itself) most neutral (discreet), bigger and/or more present (nickel), and excited (steel) - too much so on the the singers IMO. It can sound large, open, and lively, neutral and balanced, or excited. It's the 500 form factor chameleon.