High end tube pre question.

[James Lugo]

I've never used tube pres much, mainly 1073, API, TG, Pacifica guy. Scott LaChapelle (sp?) left a killer 2 channel tube pre at my studio for a week or so and I got a chance to use and it really was nice. It had a certain massiveness and warmth that my other pres didn't. I guess my question is a few; What do you guys use these pres for? Do they work well with rock vocals?

A thing I noticed was the beautiful marriage that was created when I plugged in my TeleUSA 251. It made the top end warmer and more full then the FET pres.

[picksail]

Personally, I can't imagine you needing anything else. You have a ton of great stuff brutha.

On that note, give Montessi a call. You might like the MP2A.

Conversely, I can imagine that the Tele through either the LTD or the Pacifica would be heavenly.

I'm gonna have to rob you of that Tele soon. Please, please, please!!!! I'm working with an incredible artist who is quite worthy of that microphone. (The BT fans would appeciate it.)

[James Lugo]

Stewart, thanks for the concern but I really want to know what people think about tube pres and how they use them.

[Stisse]

Originally Posted by picksail

Personally, I can't imagine you needing anything else. You have a ton of great stuff brutha.

Heresy! tutt

There's nothing quite as a addictive as overdriving one of them V76 and padding the output. Good for most everything.


Get at least one!


Take care,
Stefan

[James Lugo]

Like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Telefunken-V76-i...QQcmdZViewItem

How's the Tab Funkenwerks V78? Different beast?

[picksail]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

Stewart, thanks for the concern but I really want to know what people think about tube pres and how they use them.

Alrighty then...

Sorry to impose.

[James Lugo]

You didn't impose man. You just got my back. That's cool.

Let me know when you need the 251.

[picksail]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

You didn't impose man. You just got my back. That's cool.

Let me know when you need the 251.

You rock!!!!

Just remember who's Pedro!!!

[Stisse]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

Like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Telefunken-V76-i...QQcmdZViewItem

How's the Tab Funkenwerks V78? Different beast?

I'm certain Marquette does a fine job racking them up. With one of his racks you get a V76 up to spec (I assume), DI, phase, 48v etc which is not an option if you buy a raw module. But the fine thing with the V76 is that you really don't need any of those (unless of course you're willing to spill another $k), especially if used to amplify a 251 or other tube mics.

I haven't used any of Olivers products but since he got the original blueprints I'm sure they're great. Just keep in mind that the V78 and V76 are two completely different preamps.

Stefan

[GYang]

LaChappel is great pre indeed, high on my wish list for next year.
Telefunkens are pure magic and indispensable first choice tube pre.
You can try TAB Funkenwerk V72S, it's great pre, similar, but step up over their V78.
I've found that more and more I prefer tube pres over other designs and several current offerings as DW Fearn, Pendulum Audio, Thermionic Earlybird, GT Vipre or EAR are indeed the best examples of that, although with very different characters.
Specially vocals, guitars, ac. piano, rooms tracked via tube pres sound very nice in the mix.

[Haolemon]

The DT Fearn sounds great on vocals, in my experience.

[ryguydrum@netsc]

I dig Requisite Tube Pre's. . . .very nice stuff.

A designs are nice too.

[indie]

In my experience, my neve preamps are more exciting and brash on vocals. I use my A-Designs MP2A for lush, warm...slightly bigger sound. I really love that pre.
For a really cool vocal sound...at least something different -- try this: SM58>>MP2A>>TG1. big warm lush!

you can hear that on our myspace site "how long lonely" that track isn't rock, but you can get an idea.thumbsup

[RoundBadge]

V76M's gone through and racked by Oliver at Tab .


End of story.Done .Period.Over.

Great on everything.thumbsup

[cap217]

Tubes give me a big, warm, and full sound. I really like the UA610 for rock vox and bass. The tube tech is kind of silky to me and the avalon is clean. But the 610 has a color and sound that I love. And for the price they are a great deal. I use them to tame the hi-end of bright female vox and for kick drums. Actually, they are great for overheads as well.

I have used the manley stuff and wasnt impressed but the UA is the nices tube pre I have used. Not great for everything as expected but great when it needs to be!

[vernier]

What do you guys use these pres for? Do they work well with rock vocals?

Rock was invented with tubes ..and every stick of gear was tube when Little Richard invented screaming. Go listen, he's still the best.

[James Lugo]

I'm curious how it transmits nowadays. I've been hooked on K-Earth lately and while I love a lot of the tunes a lot of the sounds, to me, are irrelevent to todays sounds. For better or for worse. What's been cracking me up lately is how many songs that the drums are panned left and the vocals and instruments are panned right. Sound really strange in my car. It must have been the a lot of good weed and stereo for the first time...

[AB3]

I remember using a Demeter Tube Pre on overheads with a pair of Neumann KM184s. Those mics can be a little harsh on cymbals, but the Demeter pre with upgraded tubes made those mics just right on the top. So sometimes a tube pre can provide balance.

I find that the MP-2A is great for vocals and a great DI for warming up digital synths. But it all depends what sound you are after.


I had a Forssel Fetcode tube pre and everything was great throught that pre.

From what I have read "from the experts" it is not just just a matter of being tube or solid state, it is a matter of design and components.

Solid state or tube can be both great or awful.

Regards,
AB

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

Stewart, thanks for the concern but I really want to know what people think about tube pres and how they use them.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by AB3

From what I have read "from the experts" it is not just just a matter of being tube or solid state, it is a matter of design and components.

Solid state or tube can be both great or awful.

Regards,
AB

Well I am not an "expert" at least in the design side of things for sure but in my experience this is exactly true. There are plenty of squeaky clean tube units and plenty of color SS units.

I would get something good and skip the "I need tubes for warmth dance." Honestly most of it is marketing hype.

[alnico]

The Requisite Audio PAL+ (tube preamp/limiter) is an awesome unit. Anyone who has one here will agree. It's super-smooth and a great bass DI too!

[AB3]

Agreed. Don't buy it because it has tubes. BUT at the same time, don't disregard great tube gear as well. I love my pacifica pres. (I think I will put some tube pictures on it.)

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Well I am not an "expert" at least in the design side of things for sure but in my experience this is exactly true. There are plenty of squeaky clean tube units and plenty of color SS units.

I would get something good and skip the "I need tubes for warmth dance." Honestly most of it is marketing hype.

[u b k]

Originally Posted by GYang

You can try TAB Funkenwerk V72S, it's great pre, similar, but step up over their V78.

wait, does TAB actually make a v72s? i've never seen it anywhere. i've been laboring under the impression that their v78 is their recreation/improvement of the original 72.

i am currently deliberating whether to get a tab v78, a bae 312, or use my existing pre's and get a stereo mytek a/d. there's a lot of shooting out in my near future.

how would people characterize the 76 compared to the 78? i don't know the 76 at all...


gregoire
del
ubk
.

[TRW]

Any thoughts on the Thermionic EarlyBird 2.2? I like the fact it has a line input, simple passive EQ and an output attenuator so you can run stuff thru it at mix time too for some distortion. On paper it looks great and I want one but haven't used it yet....

How are the mercury telefunken esque pres?

Lists to check out:

Pendulum MDP-1
EarlyBird 2.2
Mercury v7series
D.W Fearn
GrooveTubes SuPRE
Gyraf G9

Sorry I can't help more but I'm looking too!
Good luck James

-Tom

[James Lugo]

I think I need a tube pre that's a bit dark to use with my 251. I noticed that the 251 with the Pacifica is like two pieces doing the same thing. Both are very open sounding and when used together seemed to bright for my taste. I just heard some clips on another thread of the 610 pre from an La-610 and it really sounded great but I've owned a 610 and a 6176 and dumped them both because the 610 pre clipped to much.

Does anyone know what's up with the 610 pre? What would be a good pre to tame the top end on the 251 on female vocals?

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

I think I need a tube pre that's a bit dark to use with my 251. I noticed that the 251 with the Pacifica is like two pieces doing the same thing. Both are very open sounding and when used together seemed to bright for my taste. I just heard some clips on another thread of the 610 pre from an La-610 and it really sounded great but I've owned a 610 and a 6176 and dumped them both because the 610 pre clipped to much.

Does anyone know what's up with the 610 pre? What would be a good pre to tame the top end on the 251 on female vocals?

I use my GT Vipre with my Soundelux Elux 251 on vox. The rise time control works great for tweaking the top end. MW seems to like using the Vipre/251 combo as well.

[pigpen]

Originally Posted by James 'LA' Lugo

I think I need a tube pre that's a bit dark to use with my 251. I noticed that the 251 with the Pacifica is like two pieces doing the same thing. Both are very open sounding and when used together seemed to bright for my taste. I just heard some clips on another thread of the 610 pre from an La-610 and it really sounded great but I've owned a 610 and a 6176 and dumped them both because the 610 pre clipped to much.

Does anyone know what's up with the 610 pre? What would be a good pre to tame the top end on the 251 on female vocals?

Hello again James....
I have had the 610, Fearn, and Pendulum here at the Pen. To knock down the brightness of the 251, I'd go for the Fearn. It is kind of a one trick pony kind of thing so you might want to try it first, but when it works....look out. Fantastic on the right singer and unbeatable on bass.
610...never liked it on anything personally.
Pendulum- Super clean for a tube pre. Sounds good on almost anything. I miss it.

Good luck man

[jamroom]

I've used v72's for years and a voxbox,summit tpa 200 and an ADL 600.The LaChapell pre that I had on loan for a while was the most flexible and usefull of the lot.Everytime I work with tracks done with that pre they stand out.I've gotta get one of those things one day.I don't have a 251 so I can't say how it would match up.As far as what I use them for moslly bass overheads,acoustic guitar,keyboard direct and vocals that need a little extra hugeness.

[James Lugo]

Thanks man.

[sound delux]

A Tele V76 otherwise if not then a V72, or another very nice option is the Ampex 350 with the tube PSU, very warm to say the least.

[Zeljko]

I received a LaChapell 992 EG with premium TF tubes and tried it on female
vocal with U67, on overheads with ribbons and as a DI on bass.
It was great on all of them. A pleasure to work with it.