The difference between the Neve 33609 and Shep SNC6?

[Ianneve]

Is there one? Talk to me...

[XHipHop]

good question! i'd like to know this too.

[Ianneve]

I read on a site that they were the same but I have no idea. I'm going to email Shep. If that's possible.

[Ianneve]

Just emailed them and I've got a few other emails out to guys who know. Lets see what comes back.

[Ianneve]

THis is what I got back from Shep:


Yes it is identical, with the exception that we still use the original Neve
Discrete 440 Op Amp, whereas Neve now use the 640 op amp which has the I/C.


The transformers are made by the original company. We are very particular to
keep the circuitry identical rather than to try and make improvements.


The only other additional feature we have added is the Limit Attack switches
on the rear panel. These were added as Broadcasters wanted a very fast
attack times for live transmissions, for example the units are used in the
programme chain of the UK Big Brother live TV series


Regards


Derek

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by Ianneve
THis is what I got back from Shep:


Yes it is identical, with the exception that we still use the original Neve
Discrete 440 Op Amp, whereas Neve now use the 640 op amp which has the I/C.


The transformers are made by the original company. We are very particular to
keep the circuitry identical rather than to try and make improvements.


The only other additional feature we have added is the Limit Attack switches
on the rear panel. These were added as Broadcasters wanted a very fast
attack times for live transmissions, for example the units are used in the
programme chain of the UK Big Brother live TV series


Regards


Derek

Identical according to whom?

I bet you that they don't sound the same. Maybe similar, but like a lot of the clones its just one sound that's similar, but when you hit them in a different way they don't change or adapt in the same way(Vintech X73 or eg.

The best person to ask the original designer of the 33609...Geoff Tanner.

[Ianneve]

According to Derek G. stoddart. That's who. He's the guy who wrote back to me from Shep. Keep in mind that I'm asking and reporting. No opinions are given by me. I'm just the lucky guy who owns the Shep is all. :>) It LOVES rock guitars. They sound much better through the shep. And they sounded amazing to begin with. This is all I know.

[Geoff_T]

Originally posted by thethrillfactor
Identical according to whom?

The best person to ask the original designer of the 33609...Geoff Tanner.

Hi

I really can't comment as I have no idea (nor want to know) what's inside the other box. 33609's I do know a bit about and I see that we keep coming up with the repeating story about what company built what transformer.

Marinair made the flat LO1173 transformer used in the 2264 and 33609 and the later TO129 with the additional tertiary feedback winding added to the same basic transformer.

St Ives/Carnhill certainly make them now, but I dispute they made them back then. The transformers I have here have the yellow Marinair, Harlow, Essex labels on them.

But folk are always trying to rewrite history...

[Ianneve]

LOL. That's great. So you don't know the guy building the Sheps I guess? And I thought Neve designed the Neves? And the guy building Sheps worked with Neve? I figiured you were a tight small group and would all know everything about what was happeing with each other. Shows how little I know. But you know what? I already know too much. :>) Shep said the are identicle. That's all I need to know. I just want to make great music is all. I just wanted to know if they were the same design. Shep says they are as do a few others and so I guess if they are lying they can't be lying that much. Can they? LOL :>) Whatever... Thanks

[Geoff_T]

Hi

In case you didn't notice, I merely stated that I didn't want to know what was inside the box because it's of no importance to me.

I worked for Neve and I also know, very well, other folk who worked for Neve.

I was merely declining to comment.

[Ianneve]

Got it. I see. I understand and I appreciate you saying anything. But somhow I am now even more suspect. Oh well,,,, I guess somday I'll get to A/B them and then I'll know all I need to know. Till then I'll keep listening to my ears. :>)

[Fletcher]

The new 33609j does indeed employ the BA440 op-amp. When AMS/Neve started building the 1081 module again they had to build BA440 op-amps... so they started using them in the 33609j [which I heard recently next to an original "metal knob" 33609 and it sounded fabulous].

The reason Mr. Tanner doesn't care to comment upon Mr. Stoddart or is work is that neither the man, nor his work is held in any kind of high regard within the industry. Mr. Tanner is a bit too much of a gentleman to point this out... I, on the otherhand, have no problems pointing this out in the slightest.

For the most part I have always found that Derek Stoddart and John Oram are people to avoid at all costs... as always, YMMV.

[Ianneve]

Nice.

[Ianneve]

For the last 15 years I've been useing mostly a Tube Tech Cl 1b for tracking and I will say that the Shep is every bit as good as that and very different of course. And For some things much better. It sounds like a Neve to me. I have also tracked vocals with the 33609 and as I recall it sounded the same as the Shep. So for those of you who have not heard the Shep which I'm gathering is all of you so far. I don't think it's right for you to slag it off. Think about it. I don't know what your motives are for doing such a thing but if you haven't heard it. Shut it. :>) And I mean that in the nicest possible way. LOL. I have some VERY talented engineer friends who love it and they make great sounding mixes/music using it and there you have it. At least part of it. :>)

[toledo3]

I have never used a real 33609, but I thought the Shep was really cool- I have no idea about the guy's business practives, it was just in a studio rack so I tried it out. It definitley is useable.

[Ianneve]

Joe west who is a very talented engineer and worked with some huge acts says he A/B'd them with 3 different 33609's and the Shep sounded better to him. He thought cause it was new and the neves obviously were not. He also said the other 3 engineers in the room could not hear a difference. So this Derek guy might not be liked but it sounds like he's making a nice sounding box. Mine sounds good. And believe me I have no attachment to it just cause I bought it. I buy and sell gear like crazy. I could care less if it sounded good or not. Fact is it does.

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by Ianneve
So for those of you who have not heard the Shep which I'm gathering is all of you so far. I don't think it's right for you to slag it off. Think about it. I don't know what your motives are for doing such a thing but if you haven't heard it. Shut it.

I have heard it. Heard the input modules in Studio A at the studio formerly known as the Power Station... used them right next to the modules in the 8088... they did not compare. Now I am talking about the input modules and not the compressors... but it was new Shep product sitting right next to a recently refurbished Neve 8088.

I heard some other compressors that Shep made a few years later... they were certainly useable, but I didn't have a real Neve piece sitting next to it to compare it... the long and the short of it is, yes, I have actual experience with the product, and fortunately less experience with the man behind the hardware than some of my less fortunate friends have had.

[toledo3]

I called up the guys that had the Shep that I was talking about, and according to them at least, the Shep stuff isn't really 100% accurate by any stretch. They will substitute 1073 type parts in their comp circuits... I can't quite remember all the details, but it is very "mix and match", in that they take parts of the circuits and kind of swap them around.

[Ianneve]

LOL. Fletcher always makes me laugh. I mean that in a good way. He's funny. Oh well, live and learn and so it goes.. :>)

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

Well i have a lot of expereienc with Shep stuff especially their SN8 modules as i have a few of them myself. Derek like a lot of tech orineted people takes AGES to get his shit together, like i waited 6 months after paying for these modulesgrudge. But they are great and as much as it hurts to say i prefer them to the king daddy class A 1073 .

They have all the eq points of the 1081 but with the class A front end of the 1073 and original marrinaire transformers. The eq is a god send cos like the 1081 there is a bit of overlap in the freqeuncies which is the only sore point IMHO on the 1073 cos all the juicy points are on the mid band and you only have one choice!

I would like to try the compressor again, but an important consideration to keep in mind is that whilst the Neve re-issue stuff is the REAL deal in every sense of the word and yes i have tried them(the re-issues and beelive them to be better than the originals) they is a vast price difference between SHEP and NEVE so its all relative IMHO. So go with whatever gives u a an 'erection to win the election' or whatever your wife or GF can cope with

Cheers
Wiggy

[Ianneve]

Bahzactly.