Legendary gear that disappointed you?

[Lunatique]

Anyone here had experiences where you heard so much about so-and-so legendary gear that everyone raved about, and then one day you finally tried/bought one, and it was a total let down?

[lowfreq33]

I don't know about "legendary", but the UA 610 pre's were pretty well hyped when they were first reissued, and they're really nothing special. Not bad per se, just not great. It still gets used on certain things, but it's never my first choice.

And anything by the "new" focusrite. Yes, even the blue range. Boring.

[yareck]

Total let down would be too much said, either the "legendary" word doesn't fit here but Chandler Curve Bender was a kind of disappointment for me.

[vernier]

SSL, Neve, API, Focusrite, Dbx, and a dozen others ..used it, wasn't thrilled ...love great tube sound and am thrilled with it.

[84K]

I was not impressed with the Helios reissues. They were OK, but no mojo.

The Chandler Germanium micpre did not blow me away either, but the eq more than made up for my lack of love for the pre. The EQ in the germanium line is amazing. Mic pre is a little too boxy for me.

There is plenty of gear that got more hype than I thought it deserved and equally as much gear that I am blown away by that a lot of people don't talk about much, or never took off.

[patrox247]

Originally Posted by 84K

They were OK, but no mojo.

I've got some spare mojo laying around that I could probably part with for the right price and I'm pretty sure it's all original (possibly NOS).

[vernier]

84k's original avatar ..remember it? ..HEE!

[Jack P]

Neve JD... EAR 660

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by 84K

The Chandler Germanium micpre did not blow me away either.

how dare you!!!!!!!


I agree. Nothing like the sliced bread I told it was

[tobymusic]

Neumann U87, U87ai

Ridiculous pricing, too!

[84K]

Originally Posted by vernier

84k's original avatar ..remember it? ..HEE!

Yes, that's right! you are responsible for my avatar!

[Dirty Halo]

Had ALL the toys, bells and whistles... in the end, didn't like the way the album sounded.

Then mixed the SAME album again at another studio, far less prestigeous, still good gear (but not talking full SSL and all) and LOVED the results!

Differences between the two:

1. Different ears and hands behind the board/project.
2. More time to experiment and really dial in what we wanted at the second place.
3. X-factor- Maybe more or better gear isn't always better (collective G.S. gasp!)

BEST lesson I've learned yet.

-andrews

[bewarethanatos]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

Had ALL the toys, bells and whistles... in the end, didn't like the way the album sounded.

Then mixed the SAME album again at another studio, far less prestigeous, still good gear (but not talking full SSL and all) and LOVED the results!

Differences between the two:

1. Different ears and hands behind the board/project.
2. More time to experiment and really dial in what we wanted at the second place.
3. X-factor- Maybe more or better gear isn't always better (collective G.S. gasp!)

BEST lesson I've learned yet.

-andrews

I'm confused by what you're actually saying here. Was it, in fact, the SSL "sound" that you didn't like, or was it the mix engineer/lack of time to experiment? If those factors had been the same in both studios, would you have liked using the SSL?

[PrinsJan]

All Amek stuff !

i was disappointed with the AKG C414B/ULS. I didn't like the sound that much. especially when compared to a old U87. It had a cool sound. The U67 kills it though. IMHO.

i almost forgot to mention. I don't like API mic pres. There I said it!

dfegadAPI 312

that's probably a cardinal sin on this forum. tutt
i prefer other "flavours" for lack of a better word. it's very subjective.

[Bob Ross]

I'm not sure I ever completely drank the Kool-Aid about any piece of studio kit such that I was subsequently disappointed; if it didn't do what I was hoping I either chalked it up to Wrong Tool For The Job, or my own shortcomings as an engineer.

However, on the other side of the glass, there's a lot of so-called "legendary" gear that never did anything for me. Blackface Fender Deluxe amps? I've played at least twice as many that were "blah" as those that had any "magic". Rickenbacker 4001 basses? I've only ever played one (out of the dozens I've played in my life) that was even marginally good sounding. And what's the deal with Alembic basses?!?!? Gorgeous to look at, but every single one I've played sounded like a Tiger Emenee with dead strings.

[NOCCA]

C12a.

Don't get me wrong, they sounded great, but very marginal difference compared to the RE-20 once in the mix.

Wouldn't spend the money on C12s.

Now a good condition C12...

[synthdogg]

U47>1073>LA2A

I had heard forever how great this signal chain was.

I sang into it.

I still sounded like crap!!!!!!!!!

[patrox247]

Originally Posted by synthdogg

U47>1073>LA2A

I had heard forever how great this signal chain was.

I sang into it.

I still sounded like crap!!!!!!!!!

That one took me a second. I was thinking "Man that guy is really clueless....oh wait he's really funny!"

[bewarethanatos]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

I'm not sure I ever completely drank the Kool-Aid about any piece of studio kit such that I was subsequently disappointed; if it didn't do what I was hoping I either chalked it up to Wrong Tool For The Job, or my own shortcomings as an engineer.

However, on the other side of the glass, there's a lot of so-called "legendary" gear that never did anything for me. Blackface Fender Deluxe amps? I've played at least twice as many that were "blah" as those that had any "magic". Rickenbacker 4001 basses? I've only ever played one (out of the dozens I've played in my life) that was even marginally good sounding. And what's the deal with Alembic basses?!?!? Gorgeous to look at, but every single one I've played sounded like a Tiger Emenee with dead strings.

I've never really been impressed with any Rickenbacker bass or guitar I've played. I always hated their fretboards. They just seemed so uncomfortable to play, and the tone was nothing spectacular in my opinion. Maybe it's because I wasn't playing vintage ones. I dig different tones than most people too, I suppose.

[eqverb]

+ 1 Amek really dissappointment .
Pretty much why is still have pulled the trigger on any
of the Neve Portico series.

[tiny333]

1176? bore my pants off...... sorry just mvho

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by bewarethanatos

I've never really been impressed with any Rickenbacker bass or guitar I've played. I always hated their fretboards. They just seemed so uncomfortable to play, and the tone was nothing spectacular in my opinion. Maybe it's because I wasn't playing vintage ones. I dig different tones than most people too, I suppose.

I love the 4001 sound. the gtrs are eh......... mediocre. But the beatles played
them!!!!!!!!!! THE MUST BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! just like chandler

[robot gigante]

I've yet to be disappointed by any legendary piece of gear... but my expectations are never that high. I mean, there's stuff I prefer not to use when I have a choice, of course, but there's nothing that is 'legendary' that I think is unuseable.

The one Amek piece of gear that I really like is the Medici EQ. Not like the old Neve stuff, but it really delivers.

[666666]

Originally Posted by eqverb

+1 Amek really dissappointment.

Actually, the 9098 eqs were probably one of the biggest surprises for me... those things can work wonders if used properly... superb units. You gotta know how to use `em though. On electric guitars, oh boy.... kick up a bit of the "right" frequency with the "sheen" button on and you've got some classic Rupertesque magic at your fingertips. Took me while to figure this out though.

The pres in those units are good too.... not my favorite, but indeed good.... have gotten some great results with them in the past. They're fairly "clean", but do have a slight "earthiness" to them. It's a good clean pre when you don't want TOO clean.

All other legendary gear I've ever used, I love. All API stuff, incredible... 1176 and LA-3A reissues, etc... superb... the 1073DPA pres... beautiful... all this stuff really kicks a$$.

I have heard some newer lesser known stuff though that I was not too thrilled with... not mentioning names though.

And, if you consider GML "legendary", that's another big favorite... man, I love that stuff... no disappointments anywhere with any level of "legendary" stuff.

Everyone is going to have an opinion though, and opinoins are like... well, you know...

[Lasermonkey]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Rickenbacker 4001 basses? I've only ever played one (out of the dozens I've played in my life) that was even marginally good sounding.

I absolutely adore my wife's '73 4001, I've never heard a better-sounding bass and we still get e mails from random people wanting to buy it!!

As for Rickenbacker guitars, they do that chime thing better than anything else on the planet, but versatile they are not. I like chime. Chime is good.
Stratocasters, on the other hand. I despise them! Occasionally, someone gets a good tone out of one, but more often than not, when I hear one it makes my skin crawl. I'm guessing I'm in the minority here!

[vernier]

I'd have to add 1176 to the list as I never got excited by one. Dbx 160 too, but for different reason ...1176 sounds good but I don't like how it limits, and other way around with 160 ..function is cool but fidelity doesn't cut it imo. As for legendary mics ..I LOVE ALL OF THEM! ..and never tried an old mic I didn't fall in love with ..especially Neumann. And I dig old dynamics, AKG, EV, etc ...and old ribbons! ...they're all great.

[paterno]

Originally Posted by yareck

Total let down would be too much said, either the "legendary" word doesn't fit here but Chandler Curve Bender was a kind of disappointment for me.

I love mine. Just goes to show you how different we all hear things...

JP

[nickynicknick]

1176...very average