quad eight from early 70s vs- 1272?? advice needed:)

[noamusic]

Hi all!

I'm on the process of buying my first high end preamp,EQ,COMP
My budget is about 3200$
I know that in this budget I probably should try to start wit pre and eq and then when I will have enough $$ so my wife wont notice I will get a good comp..


I usually record acoustic guitars,vocals, via 414ULS (mid 80's) or AT4050 connected directly to RME UFX.
Mixing in the box.

I have few options that I came up with after searching for a while:


1) 1272 never all original converted to preamp.
(from what I know and it's very little the 1073 and the 1272 have the same parts and even though the 1272 wasn't meant to be a preamp it can be converted to one)
this for 1300$

and with the rest of the$$ , EQ or COMP. (feel free to recomand)

2) a channel of quad eight from an early 70's console ,preamp and 2 band passive EQ.
This for 2600$

3) CHANDLER LTD-1 for 3700$

its a little hard to decide.

Thanks

[jonathan jetter]

well. i only have my own anecdotal experience.

but i've never been a 1272 fan.

everything i've used from Quad Eight/Sphere/Electrodyne has sounded wonderful.

i've only used Chandler gear in a few pretty terrible-sounding rooms. and im not gonna blame the poor results on what could very well be excellent gear.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by jonathan jetter

well. i only have my own anecdotal experience.

but i've never been a 1272 fan.

everything i've used from Quad Eight/Sphere/Electrodyne has sounded wonderful.

i've only used Chandler gear in a few pretty terrible-sounding rooms. and im not gonna blame the poor results on what could very well be excellent gear.

Just had to ask why, both are great. I agree it takes more than a 1272 on vocals to sound great, throw a 550a and a 525 on the tail and you might change your mind, also love the 1272 on guitars with a touch of eq.

[Tubthumper]

All great choices, but maybe consider the Retro Powerstrip also. Killer box.

[MrMegaEli]

Maybe an Altec 1566 (should be around 300-400), and a Pultec style EQ. I'm actually considering selling a point to point Pultec clone, PM for details.


Rhodes & Wurlitzer repair in Brooklyn

-Currently looking for Ampex 440 1" 8 track

[Ward Pike]

Have you considered a Neve 8801 channel? I hear very very good things! It's on my short list atm.

[tree]

this might fit the bill . hear great things about it ....
Rupert Neve Designs – Portico II – Channel

[axisdreamer]

Get yoursellf and old Electrodyne micpre/eq console module and rack it up or pay someone to do it. The 712L is a really nice pre/with nine band eq,also the 711L sounds nice with two band eq.I use both and think they are the most balanced sounding pre's that I've ever used and I have original API 312's and a rack of 500 API style pres that I built and the Electrodyne pres sound thicker but still balanced to me and the eq's are inductor and sound wonderful..It sounds like a record with these pres..

then get yoursef a Distressor and your done!!!

I use this signal chain all of the time and it really works on anything you run through it!!!

just my 2 thoughts.....

You could do it and stay in your budget too!!

[Dean Roddey]

Yeh, just get a nice channel strip and you've covered the bases. There are quite a few in that price range. Some pretty obvious ones (it would seem to me):

Mercenary Audio - Pendulum Audio Quartet
Retro Powerstrip Tube Recording Channel
High Profile Audio | Aurora Audio GTQC Channel Strip | 401-316-6423
Buzz Audio ARC Channel Strip | VintageKing.com

Don't get carried away with the pre-amp fetishism that goes on around here and blow all of it on that. If you can't make killer music with any of the above, then it's not the equipment that's the problem, I don't think.

[robot gigante]

I also like everything Quad Eight/Electrodyne/Sphere.

There are a couple/few companies that make new versions of some of it.

I've used original 1073's but unfortunately not 1272's. 1073's work on everything. I think there are a few older threads that talk about the differences.

[teleharmonium]

2600 is very high for one QE channel. You should be able to get two channels of that same vintage professionally racked for a little less than that.

[andreaeffe]

Originally Posted by Dean Roddey

Yeh, just get a nice channel strip and you've covered the bases. There are quite a few in that price range. Some pretty obvious ones (it would seem to me):

Mercenary Audio - Pendulum Audio Quartet
Retro Powerstrip Tube Recording Channel
High Profile Audio | Aurora Audio GTQC Channel Strip | 401-316-6423
Buzz Audio ARC Channel Strip | VintageKing.com

Don't get carried away with the pre-amp fetishism that goes on around here and blow all of it on that. If you can't make killer music with any of the above, then it's not the equipment that's the problem, I don't think.

Exactly & I agree 100%.

To the OP:
leave the preamp fetish/vintage mixer channel converting & modding madness as a fun experiment & exotic hobby for further on when U'll have some spare time & cash while sitting in your own fully equipped, functional and financially successful studio - what U need now is something functional and reliable.
And what Dean here just suggested is exactly that.

There's NOTHING one couldn't do/record/get done with these tools.

So U'd be buying yourself a work enabler & quality result and workflow enhancer, so to speak - not an gearslut one trick pony or... a potential headache.


A
F

[tree]

Agreed here too about your QE price quote.
i picked up 4 QE M61 about 2 years ago, paid about 350. ea. for them ... mind you, by the time i replaced some bad op amps, recapped, racked and powered them they came in closer to 1k ea.
Though they're cool, they were quite a headache to get properly going and in the end i wouldn't quite describe them as all-rounders.
Agreed also on 1073 suggestion, have 1079s ... (same pre section dif eq points as 73) a bit more multi purpose.
QE's actually preferred a bit more often here for voc over 79 though ... a little softer.

s

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by noamusic

3) CHANDLER LTD-1 for 3700$

My vote go for number 3... Have it, love it, use it. It kills all the cannibalized Quad Eight and Neve wannabes out there. I've seen more units claiming to be the real deal (in regard to the Q8 at least) than they were ever produced. The mock up units I had tested in the past were all done wrong - wrong PSU, wrong grounding, wrong wiring = wrong sound. The 1272 is not on my list for vox nor for guitars. Listen to a Pacifica or P1 for a Q8 done right from the ground up.

[ChuckG]

$3,200.00 is a good chunk of cash. I would say get your self started on a 500 series setup. You can probably look for stuff used and get a Preamp, EQ, Compressor, and Lunchbox for that price if you look wisely. At least everything but the compressor if it comes down to it. That way you have option in the future for switching and you can pick a different preamp and EQ to get a more specific sound. Just a thought.

[toneguru]

$3,200 budget...

Avedis MA5 $650
Avedis EQ27 $750
500 series rack and PS $300

The Avedis chain is near perfection. Truly great sound from a great guy.

or

Daking pre/EQ (used its a great value)

plus used Distressor or used UA 1176 for comp. Used TLA100A not a bad way to go for vocals.

- Cheers