Mercenary Audio

[nexxoussone]

Anyone here an owner of the Mercenary Edition equipment? The only frame of reference (for now) I have is the comparison between the 1960 and the Merc Ed 1969...I'd take the Merc Ed without a second thought...and will.

But I was wondering if any of you have any Merc Ed hardware, and if your preference is available for discussion.

This weekend I'll be going to see a friend with the Merc Ed Great River pre/EQ. I'm somewhat interested in these, just from past exxperience with Great River...

But what I'd really like to hear about is the 737. The thing I didn't like about the original 737, it isn't really a very flexxible piece...great for vocalz, aaaaaaannnnnnd that'd be about it (of course one could use it otherwise, but I wouldn't). However, I have heard that the Merc Ed is much more versatile...any here that can confirm?

I'll soon be adding the Merc Funk Logic 1U FMR retro to my rakkspace, and am itching for my first 'real' Mercenary Edition...atm I think the 1969 will be the first...but I will be searching to find a way to test the 737 beforehand, if what I hear is true...?

Versatility is key, here...if you hadn't guessed.

[Zarathustra]

The Little Labs STD is a Mercenary edition, and very handy piece for isolating bass and guitar amps without killing the joy of great tone. I have three.

Z

[espen askelad]

I've got the Drawmer 1968ME, and it's great. The circuitry itself has a sound; I remember plugging it in the first time and just thinking it sounded fat, even before I got to working with the compression. Add to that the fact that you can do fairly decent amounts of compression with it before it sounds obviously effected - really nice; a unit that's at once with character and also a solid utility performer. Euphonic tonal quality with fairly unobtrusive compression characteristics. It can crunch pretty well too, but that's not (IMO) it's strong suit.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by nexxoussone

But what I'd really like to hear about is the 737. The thing I didn't like about the original 737, it isn't really a very flexxible piece...great for vocalz, aaaaaaannnnnnd that'd be about it (of course one could use it otherwise, but I wouldn't). However, I have heard that the Merc Ed is much more versatile...any here that can confirm?

Well I'm afraid I'm about to bum you out... the ONLY difference between the VT 737sp and the VT 737sm is the color of the face plate and knobs. Everything behind the tre chic black face plate is IDENTICAL to the VT 737sp [the unit's model number on the back actually says VT 737sp].

That is not a true "Mercenary Edition"... it just has a WAY cooler color scheme than the silver one.

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

That is not a true "Mercenary Edition"... it just has a WAY cooler color scheme than the silver one.

then why does it exist? just for the color scheme?

--jon

[George Necola]

then why does it exist? just for the color scheme?

no because it looks cooler if it looks cooler, you feel better about an investment. I would rather own a mercenary-edition gear than a "normal"-one.

where is the "GIMME" button

[Reptil]

I must say, it's a very good business model. I mean the 1968 is what made me aware of the existence of Mercenary audio, and boutique stuff in the first place. (mid nineties europe there wasn't much of a studio marktet for midrange to highend, except for TL Audio and Focusrite, and SPL - and the japanese stuff yamaha roland etc.) But when doing so you have to be able to pull it off. The proof is in the pudding.

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by George Necola

no because it looks cooler if it looks cooler, you feel better about an investment

seriously?

--jon

[synth.ignition]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

then why does it exist? just for the color scheme?

--jon

i think it exists because it sounds the same but costs less.

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by synth.ignition

i think it exists because it sounds the same but costs less.

oh shit... my fault. i had my prices mixed up. point taken, and big mouth silenced

--jon

[nexxoussone]

BWAHAHAAAA!

I was wondering why the description of the 737 didn't go into detail about what was changed...nothing?!

In that case, 1969 for the win!

When I heard that beast, I was well blown away...I mean, I am a vintage junkie, and almost any new piece of equipment will automatically get slated by me. There are, of course, exxceptionz...Drawmer being one of them. But that Merc Ed is unbelievably more versatile, and just better overall IMO.


Thank you for the input.thumbsup

[Koed]

If you get it let me know what you think, been eyeballing one for a while

[nexxoussone]

Currently building up an Exxtreme Edition PC. After that, and the Funk Logic...the 1969 will most likely be soon to follow.thumbsup

I'll be sure to brag...ahem...I mean, I'll let you know.

[Switchcraft]

The stuff is expensive and the people are arrogant. joke. I have bought some stuff from them in the past. its just gear, get the best price you can and find a place that will return whatever you dont like. In respect to allowing returns of gear you do not like, mercenary is good in that respect. You could buy two things with the stipulation that you will return one of them. of course the dollars are on you.

[spitfire8898]

I have also wondered about the Merc Ed's but haven't found much on here....yes I used the search function!

[MasterTrax]

I have a pair of Great River ME1 NV preamps.

I dunno if the little yellow Mercenary Edition banners make them sound better or not,

but they damn sure rock for me.

[jonnyclueless]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

then why does it exist? just for the color scheme?

--jon

What happened is that when the original 737 came out it had some problems. So Mercenary made some modes and made a black face plate. The mods were so good that Avalon implemented them into the 737sp and released that. Thus making the 737sm and the 737sp identical. But the Mercenary version came out first.

Now I know Fletcher says they are identical, but I know for fact that my 737sm sounds much better than the 737sp. I have done shoot outs and it's not even close. It could be a fluke, or maybe just my particular one for some reason sounds different, I don't know. But I even used it on a lead vocal of a song that became a hit and had done a shoot out on that song with other pres like the Never 1081 and the 737 won. Not the 737sp mind you, those are very sterile to me. And maybe all the other 737sm's are too. I have never had access to another 737sm to compare.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by jonnyclueless

I know for fact that my 737sm sounds much better than the 737sp. I have done shoot outs and it's not even close. It could be a fluke, or maybe just my particular one for some reason sounds different, I don't know.

I think it's probably a fluke.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

I think it's probably a fluke.

That explains it. Fluke makes good multimeters, but I'd never use one as a preamp.

[EstateMatt]

pendulum fanboy here.
the quarted II is the nicest pre amp I've ever used. it really is a chameleon.

[Zep Dude]

+1 on the 1968. The description above is right on the money. It's been my favorite bus comp for several years.

Also kudos for their pre and post sales support.

[Fletcher]

If anyone cares... I'm selling my 1969. I never really use the pre-amps in the thing and have a 1968 so in the grand scheme of life I needed the 2 RU more than the '69.

You know how to find me.

Peace.

[joelpatterson]

I care. I don't want to buy one... I just care.

[Duardo]

What a warm, caring community we have here.

[SoundUniverse]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

If anyone cares... I'm selling my 1969. I never really use the pre-amps in the thing and have a 1968 so in the grand scheme of life I needed the 2 RU more than the '69.

You know how to find me.

Peace.

What about the DI? I have a 1969 that I love for the compression (series) but I also really like the DI. It sounds really cool. Don't use the pres at all either.

[MIKEHARRIS]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

then why does it exist? just for the color scheme?

--jon

Just to let you and others know you bought it from the cooolest dealer

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Well I'm afraid I'm about to bum you out... the ONLY difference between the VT 737sp and the VT 737sm is the color of the face plate and knobs. Everything behind the tre chic black face plate is IDENTICAL to the VT 737sp [the unit's model number on the back actually says VT 737sp].

Originally Posted by jonnyclueless

Now I know Fletcher says they are identical, but I know for fact that my 737sm sounds much better than the 737sp. I have done shoot outs and it's not even close. It could be a fluke, or maybe just my particular one for some reason sounds different, I don't know.

Originally Posted by Fletcher

I think it's probably a fluke.

Maybe it has some of that special vintage solder in there?

I appreciate honesty, even more when it happens on the internet.

[ArcCirDude]

Originally Posted by nexxoussone

The thing I didn't like about the original 737, it isn't really a very flexxible piece...great for vocalz, aaaaaaannnnnnd that'd be about it (of course one could use it otherwise, but I wouldn't).

Hmmm.... Oddly enough, I just tracked a Music Man bass direct through my 737pms... (or whatever suffix you care for), and damned if it didn't sound f*cking GREAT on this particular track. Good thing I didn't read your post first or else, jeez, I would have, oh, I dunno, probably ignored it....

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by JonCraig

then why does it exist? just for the color scheme?

--jon

Originally there were two versions... the 737 and the 737sp. The "sp" had a higher headroom input transformer and milled aluminum knobs. The 737 had injection mold plastic knobs.

We couldn't hear the difference in the knobs so we didn't care that they were injection mold vs. milled aluminum... but we could hear the difference in the input transformer.

The original 737sm had plastic knobs and the better input transformer... eventually, the 737 [no suffix] was phased out so only the 737sp survived... and eventually the plastic knobs ran out... so... here we are today where the only difference is the color [which was originally done to make it easier to explain the knobs vs. transformer thing... now it just looks cooler].

Peace.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by jonnyclueless

Now I know Fletcher says they are identical, but I know for fact that my 737sm sounds much better than the 737sp. I have done shoot outs and it's not even close. It could be a fluke,

I have owned both before i realized that Avalon is not worth having period and they both sounded equal crap compared to other high end pres that cost a lot less $$$, you must have had one with old tubes etc, thats bull crap, a fluke indeed.
Get out of the vanilla world and get some real pres plus you be saving some bucks at the same time.