BEST 2 Channels of Pre's for Electric Guitars?

[LightningBefore]

Id like to know what 2 channels of pres (matched preferrably?) to get the best possible electric guitar tones in a mix. Like "the cab is next to your ear, it sounds so clear, big", kind of sound. I had been using Focusrite ISA428 which I loved, but sold it to go towards my Trident Dream Console. The pre's on that are good but not my favorite choice on guitars. I'd mostly be doing pop/rock/punk and the guitars,heads,cabs, mics are fine...just lookin to up the pre's flavor!

Now, I had been looking at the Pacifica 2 channel, as I can't go over the $2k limit. I hear rave things about this pre in general, but not that much about them for loud guits.

What do you guys think? API? Portico? Chand? And why?
Id prefer new and not something Id have to scrape up on ebay...

Thanks in advance!

Jeff

[NathanEldred]

Great River NV - beefy low end, clear punchy midrange, sort of like an API with more balls

Chandler TG Channel - softish and aggressive very colored midrange.

I run the Great River and TG Channel in series (mic input on GR, line input from GR into Chandler). I haven't heard anything better than this combo to date for guitars....they are to each other.

[LightningBefore]

thank you sir...why those in particular?

and I'll be pickin up a Charter Oak SA538B from you soon!

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by LightningBefore

thank you sir...why those in particular?

It's all about the mix, not much has to be done with processing when using these preamps IME. You can get a good sound with any preamp of course, but these are my personal holy grail in this app. Just my 2 cents.

and I'll be pickin up a Charter Oak SA538B from you soon!

Thanks!

[LightningBefore]

Also, it looks like I could only get one of either at those prices...$2k is my total limit right now for 2 channels. Any other recommendations?

[retropete]

Brent Averill 1272 would be a good choice -- and it's under 2K. Really ballsy.

A couple APIs in a lunchbox or a couple OSA-1Cs would be nice and chunky -- vintage vibe.

If you could go a little more you could get two Germaniums ...

Lotta choices.

[elambo]

Among my options of Neve 1272, Germanium, John Hardy, Focusrite ISA 115, and UA 610 the Germanium is a hands-down best for electric guitar. Followed by the 1272.

[ALL*MYTEE]

Hi Lightning,

I don't know if you ever get down to Chicago, but if you do you're welcome to check out my 1272s. I've been very happy with them.

Good luck.

[mwagener]

Chandler TG-2 my absolute fav. It really brings out the harmonics in the electric guitar tone. My advice: wait until you can get the extra $150 for the TG-2

[raal]

Originally Posted by elambo

Germanium is a hands-down best for electric guitar. Followed by the 1272.

would have to agree, but if on strict budget neve 1272s will not disappoint. haven't heard the BA versions, but people on GS seem to like them alot. haven't heard pacificas or tg-2 either.

if you can manage, my advise is to try them all out.

[Thumper]

Another vote for the John Hardy m-1s.

[Dirty Halo]

It sounds like it was MADE or guitar! Guts & glory!

I love it and highly recommend it. For context, I choose that over 1073, B.A. 312, Manley, SSL, BA-6A, among others at my disposal...all of which are amazing in their own right! But Germanium on guitars..., just delivers the goods.

-a

DIRTY HALO

[GYang]

Germaniums.
I added two only for that task. Couldn't be happier

[TonyBelmont]

It seems like the Germanium would be a good choice. You'll have to get a couple more bucks together to get two, but it's pretty close to $2k.

[Brad McGowan]

Pacifica is my preamp of choice for both clean and distorted electric. It's like API, but smoother and with more presence.

Brad

[Improv]

germaniums. at least for me, compared to the others I use: UA, API, Fearn, Avalon, Chandler (LTD-1)

[LightningBefore]

Ahh you guys I love you all...thank you so much. Yeah I can spare the extra $$$ to go over 2K if necessary, its just the twinge on the heart and pocketbook is brutal past that magic number right now. Germaniums...TG2...1272s...Pacifica are serious contenders. It seems like such a close shot between the Germs and TG2, but now the groan portion, Germs are best on guits but will the TG2 stretch beyond just that task if necessary?

Any more suggestions, opinions, reccomendations...I was born with big ears and eyes for a reason...
Thanks!

[Peter Montessi]

Yes,

Bingo!

It took YOU to notice the full picture.
You have to ask yourself what pre would be good for all round duties AFTER you use it on Electric G (loud).

ALL the pres here are great and not one or the other is "Better than the next one". That is something YOU have to decide for yourself.
I always tell people to demo (if possible) for yourself and pick the right one for you and your applications.

If you haven't contacted one of my dealers to have them offer to ship you a unit to demo than please contact me direct and I can make arrangements for that to happen so you can hear for yourself and make the right choice for YOU!

Peter Montessi
A Designs Audio
www.adesignsaudio.com

[meteor]

Originally Posted by LightningBefore

...It seems like such a close shot between the Germs and TG2, but now the groan portion, Germs are best on guits but will the TG2 stretch beyond just that task if necessary?...

Absolutely... on all kinds of things.

Never used the Germ, so I can't say much about it... except that it's the only Chandler pre I haven't used extensively, and all the other Chandler pieces are just fantastic...

cheers,

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by LightningBefore

Ahh you guys I love you all...thank you so much. Yeah I can spare the extra $$$ to go over 2K if necessary, its just the twinge on the heart and pocketbook is brutal past that magic number right now. Germaniums...TG2...1272s...Pacifica are serious contenders. It seems like such a close shot between the Germs and TG2, but now the groan portion, Germs are best on guits but will the TG2 stretch beyond just that task if necessary?

Any more suggestions, opinions, reccomendations...I was born with big ears and eyes for a reason...
Thanks!

Well, taking all of this into account (including the fact that you want something that will sound great on more than just guitars)... maybe you should try the Pacifica and see how it works for you... It's in your budget and is great on a lot of different things.

[AdamJay]

i use the P1 and EM-Silver (i know kinda wierd) on Electric Guitars constantly.
so i would think the Pacifica would be a great choice. Just make sure to add an ATTY so you can rock the gain.

When i sized down my 500 series collection, the API got sold almost entirely on the basis of the A-Designs pre's kicking so much ass on guitars.
I also use the Shadow Hills Mono Gama on guitar occasionally, but it seems to take alot more tweaking to get what i want tonally out of the Mono Gama. The P1/EM-Silver on the other hand get locked in almost instantly to the tone i'm searching for.


Beyer M160 (behind pop filter) on a 1977 Fender Vibro Champ ---> A-Designs P1 ---> ATTY ---> Distressor ----> Lynx Auora =


and yes, there is something to be said about versatility. the P1's are also my go-to for drum overheads, piano, and horns.

[Musiclab]

either Daking 52270's or ADl 600 or API 512

[Jim vanBergen]

+1 Germanium, hands down. Great purchase, no regrets!!!

I also like the A Designs stuff, thought not as much for E guitar- many places else, though! Have you looked at Pacifica only, or considered the lunchbox formula?

[Solunaris]

Looks like Germaniums it is. Couldn't agree more. My TG Channels get the task from time to time as well.

[not_so_new]

TG2 here but I tend to do more aggressive guitars mort often than not. Never tried a Germanium or a Pacifica so they may be better but the real question is... what does "better" mean?

Better for me in my room with the rest of my gear recording my projects may not mean a damn thing to you in your room with the rest of your gear recording your projects.

I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the suggestions on this thread..

[DeathMonkey]

I did a session recently where I ran an SM57 through a SOLO 610 and an Avlex condenser through a SOLO 110 (in front of a Diezel Einstein, a VHT UL100 and a Framus Cobra) and it was T1TS.

I haven't heard many of the other pres mentioned here, but this duo of SOLOs is pretty veratile, IMHO.

[six_wax]

The Chandler stuff kicks mucho ass on EGs, especially for dynamic mics... feels like it adds some weight to the mic diaphragm, more heft down the wire.

For ribbons, I tend to drive 'em with APIs if available. The foward upper mids complement the HF rolloff the Royers & m160s exhibit, imo.

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by LightningBefore

Germaniums...TG2...1272s...Pacifica are serious contenders. It seems like such a close shot between the Germs and TG2, but now the groan portion, Germs are best on guits but will the TG2 stretch beyond just that task if necessary?

1272 is a been there done that, heard it 1000x box... the Germ is a whole new beast... the 1272 has 1 knob... the Germ has a color (fb) knob, pad, & thick switch, so you can get more sounds out of a germ... yeah everyone will tell you about the neve bass response but pop in that thick switch on the germ and your bass will go down to ****ing china... so no worries there... only "gripe" with the germ is that it can be "too colored"... but that's not a gripe IMO. it is what it is. and i can make records with germs as my only preamps...

pacifica is a good choice too... but i'd forget about 1272s. been there. done that. YAWN.

[hurricaneE]

I haven't tried the Pacifica or Germanum, but I think APIs and TG-2s are GREAT for electric guitars. I love the Hardy M-1, too and, of those three, think it's the most versatile; although I prefer the API and TG-2 on guitars, it's because they have an extra oomph that doesn't necessarily flatter, to my ear, in other applications. -E

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by hurricaneE

I haven't tried the Pacifica or Germanum, but I think APIs and TG-2s are GREAT for electric guitars. I love the Hardy M-1, too and, of those three, think it's the most versatile; although I prefer the API and TG-2 on guitars, it's because they have an extra oomph that doesn't necessarily flatter, to my ear, in other applications. -E

maybe i'm crazy and think i can base the "sound" of a record on one or 2 mic preamps... anything else is minestrone, right? but this is my modus operandi... and the germ fits the bill for me as a base sound... OK...

who can say what will work for you tho, right?

API modules are cool too.. punchy mids.. and a million records have been made with API stuff.. which is a 2 edged sword... proven, but everyone's heard it before...

so i'd tend to go with the weird stuff... chandler, pacifica.. etc... wait a sec, is there an etc?

about the only thing i dont care for recording thru the germ is sounds which have to be PRISTINE in the top end... like vocals... but "the growler" works on everything else.

prolly the opposite of the "germ" sound is a vt737.. the white hot razor... who knows, i'd be curious to hear them together.. the 737 might be overkill tho.. i kinda hate that 737.. but contrast is what makes mixes interesting, right?