HERE IT IS! The 500 Series Shootout Files!

[James Lugo]

There was a gain structure issue with the Pants during the heavy guitars. We were getting a clipping sound, I think it may have been an issue with that specific unit.

[Ken Paul]

Thank you James for all your work. I joined the 500 club just before the shootout (API 6 slot & Mono GAMA) and really appreciate this resource!!!

Ken Paul
Kengineering
KENGINEERING.COM

[ProducerBoy]

Thanks James & Co.! This was obviously a lot of work. So, many, many thanks!
(man, those S. Hills pres on e gtr... wow!)

[zvenx]

thanks James. Isn't it 7 am your time!!!! :-)
I really can't spot the big differences so far in the males I have listened to. I am sure (I hope :-)) that in a solo'ed track situation with 24bit etc I can, but after two listens none really jump out at me...They all sound like like they do the job well, and the poor singer sounds like "What, you mean sing it AGAIN....If I ever have to hear this song again in my life I will jump off a bridge". hopefully my ears are just tired from last night's session.
But thanks again.
rsp

[AllAboutTone]

After listening to more and more files, again the MA5 is the winner of depth, the GAMA steel is sweet with lots of Grrrowl....the pants shows promise and i had never heard the biz, it was nice as well. Even tho the 512 will always be a great preamp it just shows that they are many strong contenders pulling up beside it and some are passing, just depends on what flavor you like and character.
I guess what really matters is how these pres stack and work together.

[Kronos147]

Thanks a lot James, great work!

Eric

[zvenx]

Apparently it is the males that I can't really hear a big difference.

For acoustic guitars my favourites are the 583s and v and the Buzz elixir. (James I think it is an I not an e, Tim created a whole thread about it I think :-))
For female vocals the 583s and v and the mono's...

and for electric guitars the 583's again and the Gama mono stuff are my favourites..

still can't decide about the male..... I see a trend here :-), seems like 583 has a space reserved in my purple audio sweet ten.

p.s. and I own the MA5 and I am very happy with it in my studio with my microphone etc, but I will admit I was a bit 'offended' when someone who attended the listening test said it didn't shine or something to that effect. I now understand his comments.... still would buy it again though, and I think in some clips it seems a lil lower in volume but from these mp3's it isn't my favourite in these specific tests.
rsp

[voiceaddict]

Is there one big .ZIP file?

[Bradahman]

Thank you James...

[runamuck]

Whoa!

Every pre-amp here is blowing every other pre-amp out of the water.

[PheelTheMusic]

Obviously nothing is blowing anything else out of the water here and these are ALL some kick ass pres, but to me the LaChapells and Shadow Hills performed particularly nicely...


THANKS AGAIN JAMES!

[Clayphish]

Originally Posted by PheelTheMusic

Obviously nothing is blowing anything else out of the water here and these are ALL some kick ass pres, but to me the LaChapells and Shadow Hills performed particularly nicely...


THANKS AGAIN JAMES!

I agree.. I'm really enjoying the 583s here. I also like how the 512 and 312 are very balanced along the board.. probably the most out of all of them.

The one I wished was better was the Ma5 though. To me it sounds like it wouldn't work all the time, but flourish with the right source.

Thanks for all the hard work James!

[AllAboutTone]

ZVENX, I would not rule out the MA5 having a shine because I have found that it can shine in front of a great compressor, as other pres do the same, hey it can be a combo thing that makes it excel.

[zvenx]

like I said, I have an MA5 and love it and would buy it again. :-), so you are preaching to the choir, however I just dont' think it stands out in these tests.
rsp

[TQP]

James you rock, thanks a ton for all the work...

[Max headroom]

Thanks a lot .... great work !!!!!

Just missing that GR .... :(



Cheers

Max

[laurentius]

Thank You very much much for Your great work- this is highly appreciated.

I am new over here and also a complete greenhorn in this 500 series´thing-
now i can listen, and order later on

best
laurentius

[megl]

Big thanks to you James for making all this available - and to everybody helping to make it happen.

A quick question: How was the 57 placed on the guitar cab?

/megl

[bobwarren]

Hey James, the pics above have names crediting who was doing what, but the male vocalist is un-named! Hope all is well!

[moma]

Thanks James...great work. I`m gonna join the 500Club when my wife takes her next vacation

I know there is a slut of the week award...but is there a slut of the month award too ? If yes I would like to propose you as a nomine for all your effort AND for sharing it with us.

cheers moma

[bobwarren]

I listened to all the files and the aparent stand-outs to me are the LaChappelle 583S (Jensen?), SH Mono Gama (nickel, although the discrete was cool too), EM Red (surprised me!) and the MA5. On the M/F vocals and AC gtr, all of the amps sounded pretty good but the 583S and SH Mono Gama (nickel) mopped up. On elec gtr's the 583S, Mono Gama, EM Red, and MA5 rocked. James, a pig squeal or two in that riff would have been icing!

I can find a place for any one of the mic amps in the shoot-out and I'd like to applaude the manufacturers for doing great work supplying us with wonderful options in boutique gear. My hat's off to you and keep up the fantastic work!

James, this was much appreciated and you get my slut-of-the-month vote as well. Cheers!

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

I'm a dips**t I originally labelled the LaChapell Audio pres 538s & v instead of 583s & v. I fixed the f'up, so now the LaChapell 583s & 583v are labelled correctly and at the bottom of each of the audio posts. Sorry Scott. I feel bad Scott's my boy and I screwed him over! You always hurt the ones you love...

lol, thanks for doing that cause i thought i had went zing zing here, i downloaded the files to itunes and all of them say 538 instead of 583, i downloaded before the correction.
I think the 583 sounds amazing on acoustic, i have not recorded with the MA5 on acoustic but on here the bottom end is lose as heck, could be a small phase issue if it and the vocals were recorded at the same time, anyways these samples are helpful to the entire family of GS.

[anguswoodhead]

Awesome work people.
The only thing missing is a full range program reproduction.
ie. Set a mic up in front of your full range monitors and run it thru each pre (volume matched) and record that.
It is a great way to hear the tonal differences between pres.
The secret is to use the same 60 seconds of music each time.
Is it to late???
I am keen to get the data cd to hear full quality 24 bit in Monkey Tools etc.

[Ironklad Audio]

Originally Posted by NandoOg7

I need to change my pants after looking at those pictures!

yea, i'm with you on that one...

[rackdude]

Now I want the P1

[mikymike]

Thanks to James and all involved in the shootout, but, for the life of me, I can not understand why there are other instruments in the samples other than the test pre??? Can someone explain this to me? It is very difficult to focus on the the pre when there is so much going on.

[lpkyer]

Thank you so much James!!
Very nice that you put tracks in a mix context. Helps alot.

My picks...

Acoustic Guitar:
1- Lachappelle 583s
2- Shadow hills discrete
3- api 512
4- pacifica
5- ad gold


Electric
1- pacifica
2- api 512
3- shadows hill nickel
4- shadows hill steel
5- red

Female
1- Lachappelle 583s
2- ad gold
3- shadows hills discrete
4- Lachapelle 583v
5- buzz elixir

Male
1- Lachappelle 583s
2- Lachappelle 583v
3 - Shadows Hills Discrete
4- Avedis MA5
5- Buzz Elixir



Overall very impressed with the Lachapelles but most certainly by Shadow Hills which on my list now

[zvenx]

I am sure it is because ulimately after we record we are going to put it in a mix, and we would want a track that will fit in the mix. I am with you on this however, but I can understand the argument for how it is.
rsp

[Surfkat]

James & Co, thanks for all of the effort you put into this. It's a good way to get a quick idea of some of the differences and similarities of these pres. When you do the CD I suggest putting the Acoustic guitar files on without the drums. It would be easier to hear the subtleties then. Just a thought.

I own a few of the pres, P1, OSA & 512, and I think that made the comparisons easier for me since there were a few sounds I was familiar with. Of those I was not familiar with I must say the Gama and the 838 are jumping out of the bunch to my ears. But I can also say I wouldn't have any trouble recording a good track with ANY of these pres.

Thanks again for the work. Nicely done. Next month somebody can do a shootout with a grand piano, B3 & Leslie and a Strat thru a Blackface Deluxe. Anybody?

[Arturo Bandini]

Man these are impressive! I've just finished running through the electric batch a few times and i just HAD to post about the 583s! The guitars sound 10-Feet tall and they're kicking me in the nuts at the same time! Christ that sounds good! A pair of those along side my 512c's and i'll be in heaven!