Universal Audio 2-1176 opinions

[Seti808]

I was wondering if anyone likes these things?

Do they sound as good as the originals?

[James Lugo]

It was a choice between the 2-1176 and a pair of Distressors, I went with the Distressors which I love but the 2-1176 was a killer piece. I had one for a while and it just made everything sound good. I'm thinking of getting one this year.

[Finstad]

Hi
I got two 2-1176 boxes. I love them! usually, I use one of them for the drumbus and the second one to lead vox and guitar stuff.
If you trie, for example, five original 1176, no one of them will sound sonic equal. This is the fact with the 2-1176 compared with the originals to!! There is no differentces between the the "new" single 1176 and the 2-1176.
I also love the Aphex expressors to. I cant do a mix without a Expressor on my snare. My next compressors will be a La-2a and a distressor.

Finstad

[Fletcher]

Which version of the originals? There were like 10 or so versions of the originals. Their current 1176LN doesn't sound like an "original"... at least it's not as close as a Purple Audio MC-77 is to an original "E" revision 1176LN with the NYC/Record Plant power supply mods that removed a bunch of the bullshit and ripple from the power rails...

[Finstad]

Maybe Flethcer dont like UA stuff cause of buisness?? Whatever, together with some "golden ears" engineers, we had a A-B-C "blindtest" between a old Urei 1176 blackface, mod E, a New UA 1176 and 2-1176. we tried a lot of settings.No one of us could hear the differences between the three modules. So I think the psyco factor is high..
We also tried the new Focusrite box, the one who fake diff. pres / comps. About equal in sound comparing the originals as a POD sounds like a true Matchless/Mesa amp....

[Kestral]

wow, Fletcher sure gets ornery when it comes to 1176's (whether they're UA or Urei, silverface blue stripe or blackface), etc... :D :D :D

But seriously, don't the new UA 2-1176 lack the all-important transformer that makes the old 1176's so highly valued?

[syra]

So what if it lacks the transformer?...everyone talks about the transformer this the transformer that...who cares whats inside...use your ears...if its sounds good its all you need to know

[Finstad]

I also mean; if you listen to a couple of the old 1176(same model), they will not sound equal either. Caps who are drying etc.

[Seti808]

So the old ones sound better?


What is a better alternative to the 2-1176?

[waltrubus]

great piece. sounds identical to my single 1176.

[Kestral]

Originally posted by waltrubus
great piece. sounds identical to my single 1176.

Do you know what rev your single 1176 is? If it's a Rev F or later, it's probably because those don't have the transformer either.

[verystrange]

Why does everyone jump on Fletcher for giving his opinion? Yes he owns the most succesful gear store I can think of. But that is because people trust his ears and his opinion and his knowledge of gear old and new. I have three 1176's all blackface... don't know what revision... but they all sound different. Fletcher has probably used hundreds... who do I trust more when talking about gear and 1176s... well... my ears... but I take his opinion and everyone else's opinion into consideration.

We don't know what each of us has done... and how good each of us is... so we need to treat ourselves as equals.

I have seen fletcher disapear off this board and everone complains that he isn't on... he is just asking and giving his opinion.

Take it... I am sure if you are like me you can use all the help you can get.

If you are Clearmountain or Wallace or Joe Hardy... then you don't need our help. But I do and appreciate Fletcher's opinion.

Ben

[mersisblue]

I also value fletcher opinion

but in the case of UA which isnt listed in merc , people some times wonder of his motives .

I havent used either but Im thinking of buying 2 purples when I can

But I also could go for to UA reissues

[GPl]

I don't even know fletcher, but he's really just stating the facts. I don't hear him "jumping all over UA" in this statement.

I beleive this is why it's good to demo something and decide for yourself. "Is this the sound I'm after?"

[dog haus]

all very confusing all these different versions
i was just about to buy 1 from ebay
now i am not so sure
so what is the best revision of the old black face
and the new version ?

[natpub]

Originally posted by dog haus
all very confusing all these different versions
i was just about to buy 1 from ebay
now i am not so sure
so what is the best revision of the old black face
and the new version ?

There isn't going to be a "best," only what sounds you prefer. Also, in case of buying any older used box off ebay or wherever, there is always the chance that it is in poor repair, and sounds terrible.

I stay away from "vintage" used boxes unless I can personally compare them to a known and reliable box of the same kind. These days it seems one may be safer just going for any one of the many amazing new boxes and new sounds.

Why tear your hair out dealing with overpriced "vintage" units that may be broken or soon to break, when you can have original sounds with fantastic units like those from Crane Song, GML, Pendulum, Chandler, etc.?

That said, if someone is specifically looking for the original "blackface" sound, I can see shopping very carefully and maybe going with someone like Vintage King, so you have someplace to turn if you have a problem. Otherwise, I hear from trusted friends who would know, that the Purple is most likely to get you to that old sound if you want a new unit.

[Seti808]

Seems like purple audio is the way to go.

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by mersisblue
I also value fletcher opinion

but in the case of UA which isnt listed in merc , people some times wonder of his motives .

As more than a few have pointed out... using your own ears is really the only way to pick anything. UA isn't on our roster for a couple of reasons, some political [they tried to fukk our company... we didn't take too kindly to that], some analytical [as an engineer I've used some of their stuff and haven't been impressed... obviously, YMMV].

In the previous post I don't think I was slamming UA, I'm pretty much over the attempted financial sodomy thing, but pointing out that A) Purple Audio exists; B) they are once again making the MC-77 which was temporarily out of production until they could source the proper input attenuator; and C) that IMNTLBFHO, I have found it to be a superior unit to the UA, and far closer to the legendary 1176LN's of old.

The great thing about these boards is that you can entirely reject anything and everything anyone has to say... you can question the motives, you can question the author's level of experience and perspective. I don't have a problem with being questioned, FWIW, I encourage it. No statements, especially by pimps, should be taken as any kind of 'gospel truth'.

It was mentioned how I quit coming here for a while, that was due to a viscious ad hominem attack... and should that occur again, I will indeed quit coming here again. Take whatever it is with a grain of salt, but I think I generally write things about technique far more than things about tools... or at least that's what I try to do... sometimes tools are part of the technique in which case there is no option but to talk about them.

Peace.

[Steffmo]

I've never bought anything from Fletcher....though I've certainly seen both him and his company around for years.

Mercenary Audio is probably the only company I've ever seen whose merch roster is totally subjective. What he likes he sells, assuming he can make money on it, and even then perhaps when he can't.

And if he believes in a line that he doesn't sell, he still promotes it as quality. (See Elclair).

Its a totally wak business model, but then again we are in a totally wak business. ("I HAVE to have one with BLUE caps!!!!").

Anyway, none of this makes Fletcher or anyone else's opinion God....but I would not question his opinion of gear based on economic issues. His objectivity has been proven over time.

For hat its worth, I think the 2-1176 is a very good piece, whether it sounds exactly like an 1176 or not. If it fits into your sound, its worth considering.

[mersisblue]

fletcher


is the purple a high maintience piece like the older ones were ?

[Aearth]

Originally posted by Steffmo
I've never bought anything from Fletcher....though I've certainly seen both him and his company around for years.

Mercenary Audio is probably the only company I've ever seen whose merch roster is totally subjective. What he likes he sells, assuming he can make money on it, and even then perhaps when he can't.

And if he believes in a line that he doesn't sell, he still promotes it as quality. (See Elclair).

Its a totally wak business model, but then again we are in a totally wak business. ("I HAVE to have one with BLUE caps!!!!").

Anyway, none of this makes Fletcher or anyone else's opinion God....but I would not question his opinion of gear based on economic issues. His objectivity has been proven over time.

For hat its worth, I think the 2-1176 is a very good piece, whether it sounds exactly like an 1176 or not. If it fits into your sound, its worth considering.

As far as the new UA 1176 are concerned I have to agree, even if they don't sound like the orginal 1176 they still sound good to me and they do the job very well. I use 2 x UA 6176, mostly the comp portion of the unit and they work fine.......better than any plugin.

I'm a big fan of Fletcher and others that are in the audio selling business, as they have more opportunity to try and judge gear than most here can.


Nick

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by mersisblue
is the purple a high maintience piece like the older ones were ?

Nah, the build on the MC-76 wasn't that good... but the build on the MC-77 is great. I have some friends that have them on tours!! They're holding up quite well to the riggors of the road.