The Grace is as clean as it gets but you said
you wanted something besides clean.
I'd look at the Chameleon Labs channel maybe...or 1 channel of SCA?
I'd look around for one-offs from a tech who racked a couple of console channels: ADM, Auditronics, Spectrasonics (these are nice!).
I saw a ebay rack that is a pair of Aengus clone micpres for about 800 bux...
:::anything under 1k (stereo pre with DI).
and its really just time to rock what you got.
....unless you can build it
Just remember tho: Your source material and room treatments are more important than any piece of gear....