Cheap Ol' Gear

[mattasbob]

I am always interested in cheap gear people find that have a cool tone. Esp. pres and eqs. and guitar pedals I have a bunch of valley devices which I love (not super cheap but relatively) Any other stuff out there I should check out?

[Jay Kahrs]

Well if we talk about the cheap cool stuff it'll cease to be cheap right?

Ok, bargin stuff that is well made and is cheap on the used market...Rane, Symetrix, Aphex, Ashley and Valley all come to find. It's rarely amazing but always solid & dependable. Most of it was intended for the broadcast & install markets which means that most MI stores have no idea what it is, very little brand recognition there outside of Rane and Aphex. Somtimes you can find mono compressors or EQ's for $150 or less. Probably not the most colored stuff in the world so it won't impart much character but it gets the job done.

[covert]

Well if we talk about the cheap cool stuff it'll cease to be cheap right?


Too true.

The number of things that have jumped in price on ebay, after discussion on forums is legion. I'm almost hesitant to discuss stuff, unless I have as many as I want already.

[Beezoboy]

He has a good point. I would hate to be gidding a "sleeper" item for a steal only to find out that I just got sniped by a guy who I told about the gear in the first place.

Do a search here and type in dirty compressors, character compressors, FX compressors, and also I think there is a HUGE thread called what is your favorite sleeper gear or something like that with over 100 posts.

Thats what I have done and now I am recording Britney Spears next week. j/k

Beez

[Jay Kahrs]

Yeah man, just look at the Shure Level Loc. It's a cheap ass podium compressor/mic pre that you can build for about $50. They used to sell for $15-50 until people started talking about them and now I see them for $500-600. Sick. They aren't worth anywhere NEAR that IMHO. I mean, they're cool but not $500 worth of cool.

[mattasbob]

I guess I meant what is good, with character that is of fair value (i.e. if you wanted 8 channels of pres or comps) As to get something interesting with character without killing the budget. I feel that way about the allison stuff, it's got a cool tone of it's own and very fairly priced in the used market.