Golden Age Project Pre73

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by API

Try to have a listen on a real pair of speakers and try to listen to the whole frequency spectrum and see what happens between the samples.
Also pay attention to transients and (natural) compression.

API

i will as soon as get home. couldn't help listening at work though, i was really looking forward to these!

[kidvybes]

Originally Posted by Blu Exile

Where could I buy one of these if I live in the U.S? Doing Rap Vocals with an SM7, seems like a good fit, right? Thanks

...that's my weapon of choice (SM7)...call Anthony at Alto Music (845) 692-6922...great guy...excellent service...

[Hotstuff]

Hi,
Check out this sample of a song I am producing with the band Killing Electronica from Portugal.
This song is a preproduction demo where the GAP pre was used extensively.
I only have 2 and they sound great.


GAP Pre was used on:
Snare Top Sm57
Inside Kick Beta 52
Vocals Rode K2
Guitars Sm 57

The rest was through M-Audio Octane
Sub Kick Out
Toms Sm57
Hat M-Audio Pulsar
Ride M-Audio Pulsar

Overheads 2 Paced Pair Oktava Mk012 through Focusrite Twin Track Pro with Air engaged.

Bass through Radial J48 into Octane A/D out Lightpipe to Digi 003R

Recorded and mixed in Protools with Digi 003R while it was being recorded!

Enjoy
gyg

[jaz49]

Originally Posted by Hotstuff

Hi,
Check out this sample of a song I am producing with the band Killing Electronica from Portugal.
This song is a preproduction demo where the GAP pre was used extensively.
I only have 2 and they sound great.

Enjoy
gyg

Sounds good on aggressive rock vocals and electric guitar. I would like to hear how it performs with a pop or ballad singer. Maybe not the best application for the GAP pre, though.

[synthetik42]

Thanks for the audio examples API! I can't wait to hear what they are.

I think that number 4 is the 1073. It has a really nice low end, and is very well balanced and has a nice depth to it.

I think number 1 is the unmodified GAP. There was some harshness in the upper mids, and I feel it lacked a little depth.

Number 2 and three are kind of a toss up. What stood out to me in numbers 1-3 was that they all seemed to have a low mid boost somewhere, though in different places. I think the boost in 2 sounds a bit lower than 3, and closer to the low boost I heard in number 4. So I will guess 2 is the mod with both the in and out transformers, and 3 is the output transformer only. I think I remember also hearing a bit of the upper mid boost on 3 in the guitars, which makes me think that as well.

Again, my guess is:

1 GAP
2 GAP mod with in and out
3 GAP mod with out only
4 1073

Thanks again, the answers will really help me decide if and how to mod my unit!

[mistaD]

I'll play too! This has got me interested.

1. Gap with one mod
2. 1073
3. Gap with both mods
4. Gap

Regardless it sounds good but I really like number 2!!!

[API]

This is great fun!
And as always opinions are very diverse.
Keep em coming, want to hear from a few more before I spill my guts on which is which.
I can say that much that one of you is alot closer than anyone else.

Try to listen to what happens in the bass.
Also listen to transients and compression.

The drum samples are kind of tell apart now when I listen back to them again.
They were recorded with the mic from a distance and I could not crank the pre to much.
I found out that the more gain you apply the more color the pre applies and you can hear the differences between the pres more.
Where I think you can hear the differences the best is in the second half of the guitar sample

API

[studiogear]

Results pls API

[mando1]

my favourite number 2

[API]

Anyone else before I disclose the right order?

API

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by API

Anyone else before I disclose the right order?

API

i still haven't been able to listen in a proper environment, but nr. 4 still stands out for me...could be cause it's a bit louder. with that said, you probably matched the levels (right?), so "a bit louder" has to become "more present", i suppose.

[Matti]

I noticed the same but I´ll comment more when in a more re****ll situation,
cannot concentrate now. Or tell the solution now, please, to let me analyce later in
a more peaceful situation after setting the levels...

Matti

Originally Posted by retractablezing

i still haven't been able to listen in a proper environment, but nr. 4 still stands out for me...could be cause it's a bit louder. with that said, you probably matched the levels (right?), so "a bit louder" has to become "more present", i suppose.

[API]

Ok, here we go then.

1. Modded with output transformer only
2. Modded with both output and input transformers
3. Unmodded
4. Neve 1073

Comments??

API

[synthetik42]

interesting.. i agree with what you said earlier about the guitar clips really highlighting the difference more (though i only listed to the first section of the clips), and felt the 1073 clearly had the edge with these.

for drums it was definitely closer. the 1073 was my favorite, but number 2 was very close, almost being toss up. i was listening with someone else who preferred the mod over the 1073 (this is before we knew what they were)..

i guess what i get out of this, is that if one decides to mod it, its worth going all the way and replacing both the in and out transformers.

API, can you tell us if any other components were replaced in #2? (i know you might not want to say exactly what you did as you may be selling this).. also, do you remember what you had the gain set to on these examples?

congrats on the mod, it really sounds great

[mistaD]

Originally Posted by API

Ok, here we go then.

1. Modded with output transformer only
2. Modded with both output and input transformers
3. Unmodded
4. Neve 1073

Comments??

API

The mod sounds amazing.... i dont know it sounds very open 3dish... the only real difference i noticed was the 1073 had an extremely heavy low end.... almost dark, the modded pre 73 bass is there just not as extreme. Its almost like you wouldn't have to eq out as much mud with the gap!

[API]

Hi and thanks for the kind words.

What I have noticed and what I thin have fooled many people is that the unmodded PRE73 sounds "ready".
It is quite compressed and has a bass roll off, is a little scooped in the mids and quite nice in the highs so I can understand that it is something that is first quite pleasant to the ear.
But it does not sound anything at all like to original source and is a little artificial to my ears.
When you start compare it to a real 1073 (or the modded one) everything gets a little more flat and is not so compressed by the transformers, and transients go through alot better.
Also already with the output mod the bass gets alot firmer and the rolled off wobbly bass of the original is gone, but I must admit that the highs suffer a little from the output only mod.

API

[Hotstuff]

Hi API,

Thanks for the samples and the time for doing the tests especially since you have the original to compare to and it is fantastic to know that there is room for improvement because it proves that GAP-73 does not have a flawed design, only inferior key components that are easily upgraded.

I still think however that this pre stock is a great value and great recording will be made with them stock.
I myself was one of the first to buy this pre and have been very pleased with them and they have helped me in making some great recordings.

I think that there is a lot of time wasted on not knowing how to use gear instead of learning how to capture sound!
If you can capture sound you are capturing a moment.

I now have 2 and as soon as they are in stock again I am looking into getting 2 more, then I will be really happy.

Thanks Golden Age Music


For upgrading don´t forget the Sowter transformers (its what the great river preamps have!)

[API]

Hi.

I totally agree that the stock pre is great value, I am surprised how good and "finished" it sounds.
But for more proffesional recording I could use the extra low end and more flat response that I can tweak myself, and I am afraid that if I were to record a whole band/session with only this pre I do not think it adds up nicely.
Just my thoughts though and I can not prove it and do not want to try to.
I do know that for very little money it can go from good to fantastic and something I would not be afraid to use on anything that I would like a Neve pre on.

API

[O'Ryan]

^^^^ Great results.......any chance of you letting the schematic and parts go......

[Markus Stock]

Thanks to API for posting those samples! It's no suprise the stock one holds up pretty well with them all. I am curently tracking a Metal Album and have used the Pre73 quite alot on it and it sounds great, especially on heavy guitars with a 421. Very agressive and in your face but sits well on the drums. The four rythm tracks we tracked sound really glued together in a very finished sort of way. Yeah, it sounds a little compressed that's right but I am loving it, really!
As for the samples. The full modded one sounds incredible, API! As someone mentioned - very three dimensional, wide and just absolutely right to my ears. There are less differences between the other three, though the Neve sounding a little better, more bottom and a little more open on this samples. But the stock unit holds up perfectly well I think and it's one of the best deals in audio right now if you ask me. Though if you decide starting a business modding this pres I'll be one of the first to send one to you for a full mode. It sounds so lovely!

[API]

Thanks for the nice words.
Yes, it is quite pleasing to hear that I could make such a (great) difference to the already nice pre.
I have modded four of them locally and will be doing another four soon.
I have ordered parts for 10 more so if anyone wants me to do the mod for them please PM me.

API

[lestat26]

4 seems to be a few decibels louder than the others, at least from my monitors. Other than that, I think they all sound pretty good. I wouldn't say I can tell which one is the 1073 because I never used one before. I like 1 & 4 the most. 1 in the mix, and 4 solo.

[API]

Yes, the samples are a little off in volume.
Happy to hear that you like no 1, I think you are first!

API

[Matti]

Got one of the last ones left in europe (before april) yesterday and like it.
Will mod it later but it is good as is for the price

Matti

[Hotstuff]

Hi API

How about some inside pics of a modded GAP Pre-73!

I was the first person to post some inside pics of the pre stock, you could be the first to show it modded!

[Hotstuff]

I have just ordered 2 Carnhill Output transformers, narrow board version CA-18-VTB1148, and as soon as they are installed I will post pics and clips.

[slowjett]

I bought some Motorola output transistors. I had to buy like 4 for some reason to get one. Anyway I'd love to order an output transformer as well, but I have no access to an oscilloscope! So i cant install either until then :(

[API]

I will get some pics together for you.

API

[Hotstuff]

Thats great API, looking forward to seeing those pics!

Audio Maintenance has been great so far, i expect to have the parts next week.

[Hotstuff]

Hi API,

Any luck on those pictures yet?

Colin from Audio Maintenance has sent me the 2 Carnhill output transformers I ordered and they should arrive this week.

I will fit them as soon as they arrive and post a pic.

Concerning the input transformer:
I have been wondering how you connected the input xformer and where you put it the preamp, the pins on the stock one don´t look like they will lineup with the carnhill input tranny.