Slutty Pre for Vox, Acoustic GTR, GTR Cab, Bass DI?

[Liam]

I'd like a single channel pre that does well with acoustic guitar, bass DI, Vox and mic'ed up guitar cabs. I have an SM57, Studio Projects C-1 and can borrow a TLM103 for the time being. Here are some things I'm considering:

*Price range: ABOUT $2000

*Versatility: I'd like it to be considered a "first choice pre" for the above sources, not just an "I'd choose it, but only for vox" type thing. Is that too much to hope for in a single pre?

*Sound: Up front yet smooth, not edgy. I'd like one that can smooth out my DAW recordings. A real sense of warmth and character would be nice. One of my pet peeves is that upper-mids frequency range where there's a lot of cut and bite in guitar and vocals. It always sounds really smooth on well recorded, comercial CDs. I listen to my own guitar and vox tracks which may cut throught the mix equally well but have added harshness. I hear this a lot in hobbyist/not quite pro recordings. I've used an Avalon 737 and liked it quite a bit...but I'm not 100% sold on it's sound nor on having a combo unit. Coloration is good as long as it sounds good on all my sources.

*Quality: I'm past the "this has so many bells and whistles and only costs $200" stage. I now buy gear that does one thing and does it well. Maybe that's why I'm leaning away from a combo unit (not to say that there aren't some great ones out there). I'm looking for a pre that I will never want to sell and, if for some reason I have to, one that I can get a decent re-sale price for.

Any suggestions? Thanks for your time!

(BTW, some music I've recorded is located at D A V I D. All electric guitar through the Boss GT-3's amp modeling. All vox and acoustic guitar through an SM-57. Everything into the Presonus Firebox--Bass DI included--and then into Acid. Used all the free-bee plug-ins that came with Acid in mixing. Maybe this would give you an idea of my style and how a pre could improve the quality. Huge thanks!)

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by Liam

I'd like a single channel pre that does well with acoustic guitar, bass DI, Vox and mic'ed up guitar cabs. I have an SM57, Studio Projects C-1 and can borrow a TLM103 for the time being. Here are some things I'm considering:

*Price range: ABOUT $2000

*Versatility: I'd like it to be considered a "first choice pre" for the above sources, not just an "I'd choose it, but only for vox" type thing. Is that too much to hope for in a single pre?

*Sound: Up front yet smooth, not edgy. I'd like one that can smooth out my DAW recordings. A real sense of warmth and character would be nice. One of my pet peeves is that upper-mids frequency range where there's a lot of cut and bite in guitar and vocals. It always sounds really smooth on well recorded, comercial CDs. I listen to my own guitar and vox tracks which may cut throught the mix equally well but have added harshness. I hear this a lot in hobbyist/not quite pro recordings. I've used an Avalon 737 and liked it quite a bit...but I'm not 100% sold on it's sound nor on having a combo unit. Coloration is good as long as it sounds good on all my sources.

*Quality: I'm past the "this has so many bells and whistles and only costs $200" stage. I now buy gear that does one thing and does it well. Maybe that's why I'm leaning away from a combo unit (not to say that there aren't some great ones out there). I'm looking for a pre that I will never want to sell and, if for some reason I have to, one that I can get a decent re-sale price for.

Any suggestions?

Great River NV, $1075/channel.
i don't think you will be able to find a more versatile and exceptional preamp at any price.
btw i have an Avalon 737 and a Great River NV... the GR gets used over the Avalon 95% of the time, irregardless of source material/genre.

best of luck w/your search!
~j.d. justice

[lpkyer]

A Designs Pacifica...espacially with what you described... !!

[zeljkom]

Originally Posted by lpkyer

A Designs Pacifica...espacially with what you described... !!

I have A Designs P-1 and it rocks.

[justinhart]

chandler germanium,ive used mine for just about everything.makes a great di for bass to.

[RBowlin]

UA M610. Single channel of pure butter.

-Rich

[mfender]

Originally Posted by justinhart

chandler germanium,ive used mine for just about everything.makes a great di for bass to.

+1 for the Germ thumbsup

and for $2k, you can have a pair!

[mrfantastical]

LA 610


Comp + Pre its a cool tool.

Its a standered piece

byebye
mrfantastical

[Brad McGowan]

Pacifica would be my vote. If you want something a little thicker sounding then go with the Great River.

Brad

[Rogervandeberg]

Originally Posted by lpkyer

A Designs Pacifica...espacially with what you described... !!

Indeed!

The pacifica is a real desert island pre. The pad switch changes the color so you actually have a clean/vintage and a balsy sound in one box

[Liam]

The vipre seems to get a lot of positive posts for vox and bass DI. I've also seen people selling it used for around $1800. That's within my budget and I very rarely record in stereo. I'm wondering if it would be an option?

I'd be especially interested to hear opinions on how well it does guitar cabs (my two favorites are the Road King and AC30). I use an SM-57 but may consider buying a Royer sometime down the road.

Why is the re-sale price so low on these Vipres? It seems strange because I've read a lot of great reviews.

Finally (and I may be WAY off here), I was drawn to the Vipre because I really love my Road King head. I love the tones and the incredible tweakability is half the fun. The Vipre sounds like it might be a second cousin living in the mic pre world...?

Thanks for all of the great info you given me so far!

[outofphase]

I'm gonna get killed for this but... I would recomend you an Avalon 737, it shines on vocals, acoustic guitars and even bass (Instruments input).

[bluegrasser]

Originally Posted by Liam

The vipre seems to get a lot of positive posts for vox and bass DI. I've also seen people selling it used for around $1800. That's within my budget and I very rarely record in stereo. I'm wondering if it would be an option?

I'd be especially interested to hear opinions on how well it does guitar cabs (my two favorites are the Road King and AC30). I use an SM-57 but may consider buying a Royer sometime down the road.

Why is the re-sale price so low on these Vipres? It seems strange because I've read a lot of great reviews.

Finally (and I may be WAY off here), I was drawn to the Vipre because I really love my Road King head. I love the tones and the incredible tweakability is half the fun. The Vipre sounds like it might be a second cousin living in the mic pre world...?

Thanks for all of the great info you given me so far!

Don't get me wrong. I'd love a vipre. But I've read elsewhere here that it is kind of a "maintenance pig." Maybe that's what put it into the low re-sale price.

I think the UA SOLO 610 would suit your needs nicely. Or the Blue Robbie (which admittedly is kind of wierd looking, but gets very nice reviews). I Don't have either. Have Presonus ADL 600, and AEA TRP. Both very nice, but both two channel. I have a Groove Tubes suPRE on order. You might want to consider that....two channels and it's under 2K. A few reviews have come in, and it's supposed to be nice.

[Liam]

I just spent quite a while listening to the Pacifica and its competition on some blind shoutouts posted here and elsewhere. I prefferred it more often than the others and never disliked it on anything...thought it killed a 737 on guitar. Thanks for the tips! Now I want one!