Telefunken Tube Pre's-which ones to get?

[ziegenh5]

Hello, I recently got a 10 space rack for Telefunken preamp modules with one V72a already fitted. I love the sound of the V72a and would like to know how the other varieties compare. I'm mostly interested in the tube modules. V72, V72s, V76, V76m, etc. Which are the ones to go for? Which would you want a stereo pair of? Which could you live without?
Please help me fill up my rack.
Thanks,
Sean

[BobbyPeru]

V76/80's and V72's all the way. I have 2 V76/80's, 5 V72's, and 1 V72a. I love them all.


Here's a link to V-tube series history:

http://www.tab-funkenwerk.com/#V72history


Bobby Peru
Milwaukee, WI

[echorec]

I have two V77 - I love them and use them everyday!

[gsharp]

We just got a pair of 78's. AWESOME!!!

g

[BobbyPeru]

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2554938602

Bobby Peru
Milwaukee, WI

[hollywood_steve]

Although the V76 is the "king of the hill" I can think of at least one reason to buy one of the other models. The V78 can usually be found for about half the cost of a V76 and it's huge amounts of gain (70dB) can come in very handy. My newest favorite combo is a Coles 4038 and the V78, quite a great pair, as the 4038 can use all the gain you have available, when used at a distance.

[Michael]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm interested:

What about the V276?
I believe this is a solid state version of the V76.
Any thoughts on those?

[GigaBoy]

I don't think this one will fit into your rack, but, I really enjoy my Telefunken V-101. It's a combo mic pre (80 db gain) and a line amp. Each has a gain adjustment and the mic and line inputs are summed at the output. It appears considerably older than the V76. HUGE transformers. Sounds GREAT with my RCA ribbons.

GigaBoy
www.GigaBoyAV.com

[Fletcher]

....uhhh... collect them all?

[airmate]

although they wouldn't fit into your v72-rack: did you consider buying the discrete versions like v276, v376 or v676?

i got a pair of siemens v276's and v270's. they're also sounding very, very nice, and theses modules are way cheaper.

thinking about the tube versions, i'd prefer v76/80 and v72.

[airmate]

Originally posted by Michael
I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm interested:

What about the V276?
I believe this is a solid state version of the V76.
Any thoughts on those?

the v276 hasn't the same vibrant tube tone as the v76 has.
nevertheless it's a great preamp, and much more affordeable.

i got a pair of them, due to their bright and clear response, they are nice for vocals (i usually use them in combination with a brauner microphone), guitar, fender rhodes etc.

with an additional d.i.-box, i even like the v276's for fender bass.

i'd say, they're a bargain - for instance, i like them way better than the focusrite red range preamps, which are way more expensive.

[Crandall1]

If you're thinking of one of the solid-state pres, the 676a is the bomb-diggity, IMHO. The normal 676 is 34-76 db gain, while the 676a is 0-80.

For the most mighty TFK sound of all, get a 676a pre and a W395a EQ and put 'em in a rack together; you'll have a really good vocal channel for under a grand.

-Chris Randall

[faeflora]

I just got a funkenwerk v72s in the mail yesterday! I'm gonna plug it in tomorrow! I'll report.

[airmate]

Originally posted by Crandall1
If you're thinking of one of the solid-state pres, the 676a is the bomb-diggity, IMHO. The normal 676 is 34-76 db gain, while the 676a is 0-80.

For the most mighty TFK sound of all, get a 676a pre and a W395a EQ and put 'em in a rack together; you'll have a really good vocal channel for under a grand.

-Chris Randall

recently i use the v276 in combination with a w491b eq - quiet good as well.

[Magnus]

just got a funkenwerk v72s in the mail yesterday! I'm gonna plug it in tomorrow! I'll report

How are those micpre's working for you?

Regards,
Magnus

[faeflora]

Originally posted by Magnus
How are those micpre's working for you?

Regards,
Magnus

Most amazing pre I've ever heard. I've only tried it on vocal. Most fantabulous harmonics in any piece of gear I've used. It sounds so special. I wouldn't buy 8 channels of it (funkenwerk 72s) but I'd use it for those few lead tracks that deserve an extra breath of life. If the DI is as good as the pre, then this is definetly one of the most important buys I've made for my studio. From my brief tests, I think it will be amazing for vocals (male and female), great for aucustic guitars and other acustic instruments, great for lead guitar, and room mics. Really though, if I could reccomend one vocal pre right now, I'd reccomend this over all others.

[Rick Sutton]

Faeflora,
Great to hear your pleased with the Tab-Funkenwerk pre's. I've had mine for a couple of years and use them on vocals and acoustic instruments to great effect. Recently had a long phone conversation with one of my favorite clients who records a lot of swing and "vintage" music (I do the mix). He was on the search for better pre amps (under 2k for 2 channels) and my advice was API's from Averill, or if he was willing to stretch his budget (and probably have to waits months for delivery) to go for the V72's from T-F. He was leaning somewhat toward the UA 2-610 from other peoples advice, but I just heard he found a T-F unit on a trip to LA and grabbed it. I'm anxious to hear how it works out for him...sure he'll cut some great tracks with it. Anyway, congrats and enjoy!
rick

[faeflora]

Ya know, I used to have a UA 2-610. It is a total waste of money compared to the V72. It's a muddy useless piece of junk and a waste of money in comparison. I hope that these V72s become more well known as good music deserves to be recorded by them!

[Mike Tholen]

Originally posted by faeflora
I hope that these V72s become more well known as good music deserves to be recorded by them!

I've been trying to turn people on to these as much as I can with out looking like I'm selling this shit.
these are simply the best tube pre that can be owned.

[mr.gefell]

impressive build.is it class A?

http://www.hestudiotechnik.de/image/...v72s_gross.jpg

[ddanyboy]

hello guys. think you can help me out. need your advice about siemens telefunken preamps..

please! check this out:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/showt...highlight=372d

thank you.

[GYang]

In any case don't forget to check which tubes are fitted in. Good pair of Telefunkens ECC803S will ease you on 800 $, but it is worth every penny. I can't afford them to all my tube gears, but bigger part of my compressors and tube EQs use Tele ECC803S with fantastic and unrivaled results.

GYang

[ddanyboy]

i must have misunderstood something.. the preamp i have mentioned? they are solid state right? No tubes. or?

would all of you choose V276 a?

[Renaud Charlier]

Check http://www.mercenary.com/readguidtovi.html for more info

[ddanyboy]

its a good guide but it doesnt say anything bout the preamps above. thanx

[Tetness]

Speaking of Marquette... You should listen to the MERCURY M72s. They're incredible! I'm waiting with anticipation for his M76 to come out. They're not cheap, but worth every penny.

[hollywood_steve]

As long as these new preamps sound good for their owner's intended use, I guess it really doesn't matter; but I'm curious if anyone has done any comparison of these new 72, 76 & 78 preamps versus the originals? Have any reviews of the modern models included a comparison versus an original? I'm not sure how many new models are out there; I'm just familiar with the Tab-Funkenwerk and Marquette models - has anyone compared any of them to an old V7x unit?

Over the last two years I've sold off much of my "vintage" gear while trying to optimize my rig for location use. But one unit that will never be sold is my Siemens V78 preamp; it is in a class of its own. I've often thought about searching for a second one, having them both tweaked into a matched pair and then mounted in a road-ready enclosure. But I'd just as soon purchase a new 2 channel unit if it can deliver similar performance. (and a new 2 ch unit would be no more expensive and a lot easier than getting a 2ch "vintage" unit ready for location work.)

[C/G]

Most logical choice would be Oliver at Tab-Funkenwerk, since he used to work for Telefunken, has all of the blueprints, and the original transformer winding machines as used by Telefunken (although he now uses a computer controlled machine capable of better winding). Hard choice since Marquette is "the man" in his own right with the Mercury gear. Tough call. I have bought a few things from Marquette and am always impressed by his cool attitude and great service. I have traded an e-mail or two with Oliver and he is always willing to give info. HIs V-78's rock. So ,do you buy from an awesome gear builder who is a super nice guy, or do you buy from a super nice guy that builds awesome gear?

[Tetness]

I LOVE the Telefunken pres; but I still prefere the Mercury for these reasons: The Telefunkens are not built quite as well. With Mercury, you have control over the gain. And beyond all this, the sound quality is every bit as good, if not better because they're QUIETER. Also, you get a D.I. input, which is the best I've ever heard. GREAT for guitar or bass. I was a Neve 1073 junky. After I bought my Mercury M72s, it's all I use.

[BobbyPeru]

Originally posted by Colin Gaucher
Hard choice since Marquette is "the man" in his own right with the Mercury gear. Tough call. I have bought a few things from Marquette and am always impressed by his cool attitude and great service.

This is surely a different David Marquette than the one who:

A> Racked up and "serviced" 2 Telefunken 676's one of them was wired so that it would only work with an out of phase mic cable. When I asked him about it he said "I must've drank too much coffee that day"

B> Was suppose to rack a pair of V76's one of which needed service. It still did not function after 3, yes, 3 times of sending the unit back to him.

BTW: Oliver got this job done first try. After I got sick of paying shipping to CA.

C> Was supposed to rack and service a pair of Neumann PEV EQ's. He had to send it to his "tech" to actually service it, because he couldn't find the problem. His tech made it work with a diference of about 3-5 db between the 2 modules. Sweet!

D> I sent him a pair of Dan Alexander racked V-72's with scratchy pots to clean. When they arrived at Marquette's the rack was destroyed, so, I'd have to buy a rack from him, and oh, he also convinced me to not make a claim to Fed Ex.

At the end of this sickening experience here's what I had done:

-Servicing 1 PEV module, 3-5db gain difference between this and the other working module I sent.

-Racking 2 PEV Modules

-Servicing 1 V76, never worked correctly until Oliver serviced it.

-Racking 2 V76's

-Checking scratchy pots on 2 v72's which ended up needing a rack as well.

-Bought one v676a

-Racked 2 v676a with one not functioning without a rev phase cable(yes the one I purchased from him BTW).

4 racks, 2 modules serviced, 1 module purchased.

Total Charge: $4100. Not counting shipping. Not counting countless hours trouble shooting his work after getting it back.

Your mileage hopefully varies.

Bobby Peru
Milwaukee, WI