Used EQ's...for Mastering. Need opinions...

[MASSIVE Master]

Need another EQ for my mastering setup... Around 2K would be nice... Obviously, "USED" would likely be the routine.

Amek Medici ???

Sontec MEP 250A ???

Avalon 2055 ???

Unless someone has an IBIS lying around... Still might consider going that route anyway...

[MIKEHARRIS]

the Amek is a beautiful EQ...i would be wary of the Sontec...it may be unrepairable...as they used custom op amps...and may be out of business. anyone know where Burgess Macneil is??

[TonyBelmont]

Good luck finding a used Sontec anyway.... If anyone has one for sale, let me know. What do you have for EQ's now?

[TonyBelmont]

Nevermind, I checked out your site.... I think there is really only one way for you to go....

Manley MASSIVE Passive....

[MASSIVE Master]

The one I'm relying on is the Orban black-faced 642B. I love it to death, but it's time for something different, and dare I say something with a little more "marquee" value. The 642B is the only Orban that I'd even dream of using for mastering, but it still says "Orban" on it (that tends to spook some people who are used to the usual e-bay fare Orban units). Not that I'd be getting rid of it - I'm looking to add - not neccessarily replace.

[MASSIVE Master]

Originally posted by TonyBelmont
Nevermind, I checked out your site.... I think there is really only one way for you to go....

Manley MASSIVE Passive....

You know it! However, I've found the Massive Passive even a bit too colorful for me. I'm a Manley fan to be sure, but something about the MassPass just didn't feel righ (maybe I'm just going through too many tubes over here ). Not that "character" bugs me, as I know the Medici can provide fairly well, but I understand that it can be very transparent also.

[duaneadam]

Heard great things about the Great River. Haven't tried one though.

Duaneadam

[SMA]

Originally posted by MASSIVE Master
I've found the Massive Passive even a bit too colorful for me. I'm a Manley fan to be sure, but something about the MassPass just didn't feel righ (maybe I'm just going through too many tubes over here ). Not that "character" bugs me, as I know the Medici can provide fairly well, but I understand that it can be very transparent also.

I felt the same way for quite a while. Turned out I just needed to get used to working with the MP. Now it's my favorite EQ hands down.

[vnt001]

I sold my Sontec 250 EX years back and it was a great box. I can honestly say it is missed. The character it had with bass has implanted an opamp in my brain. At the time I purchased it (1996ish)...I took it head to head with

GML 8200
Focusrite Red 2
Drawmer Tube Eq
TL Audio (Tube Eq)
Amek 9098 EQ

It won out for sound, (however the 8200 wins for audio surgery)...can't believe I sold it to go all digital!

Have always wanted to go back to get another but never got around to it. I think Burgess is still around somewhere....a buddy of mine managed to find him about a year ago he was still selling Eq's as usual.

[TonyBelmont]

If you are not a fan of the Massive Passive for your application, then you probably should buy the GML 8200.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by MASSIVE Master
Need another EQ for my mastering setup... Around 2K would be nice... Obviously, "USED" would likely be the routine.

Amek Medici ???

Sontec MEP 250A ???

Avalon 2055 ???

Unless someone has an IBIS lying around... Still might consider going that route anyway...

I personally would go with the Mil Media NSEQ-2 with different tubes and stepped controls.

I think you can get used a unit if you hunt around for between $1500-$1750. With the options the price goes up, but its a nifty unit.

I've owned all the above except for Ibis and can honestly say that while being great sounding they are a bitch to get repaired(except fothe 2055 which is too soft sounding in my opinion for the buss anyway. I have though seen how Scott Hull uses his mastering version and he uses it conjuction with other units).

Also not having repeatable controls when mastering can get to be a drag(except for the Medici which when it goes bad you are basically dead).

By the way i got rid of them all over the years.

And if you do go Sontec(go with the C version of the 250) i think Chris Muth maybe repairing some of their products(so the grape vine says).

[Dot]

I agree and would definitely put the Millennia Media NSEQ-2 on your list for serious consideration.

[jazzius II]

Non stepped controls also has its advantages......finer control......sweeping of controls to hit just the right spot (Q or freq). If you use it in an MS config you've got no L/R problems.

I like using the MP on the midrange.....it doesn't excell in the lows or highs, but can be useful in the low end 'cause of the controllable shelf. Most of the stuff i work on doesn't mind a bit of color, though when you have a lot of color pieces you need to be selective.

We've got an Orban 642B here......i really like the vernier knob on it.....makes it very precise......sound is ok.......great for eq'ing a kick drum!

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jazzius II
Non stepped controls also has its advantages......finer control......sweeping of controls to hit just the right spot (Q or freq). If you use it in an MS config you've got no L/R problems.

Problem is though when you have to recall your settings lets say after you've done a couple of tracks and you may want to adjust the first track to make the record seem like a whiole.

You can eyeball it pretty good, but its easier when you can have the settings written down and documented and recalled exactly.

Also its easy to move knobs when they have sweeping controls.

I know on my GML its always an issue when i am trying to get both of the channels the same.

[jazzius II]

Recalling an unstepped MP is easy, whereas the Ibis is a pain. Every gear designer needs to have a Distressor in front of them when they design the front panel.

[jazzius II]

Another advantage of unstepped is that you can do live EQ changes during a track. Very useful for overcompressed tracks that collapse in the chorus.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally posted by jazzius II
Another advantage of unstepped is that you can do live EQ changes during a track. Very useful for overcompressed tracks that collapse in the chorus.

You could easily do this with stepped also.

I've done it and i've seen the guys over at Sterling and the Hit Factory mastering do it also.

I love stepped pots personally on the outboard gear.

I can get to the right part of sounds much faster than with a sweepable control for some reason.

Also it makes doing a recall less of a pain.

But we are talking very discrete steps, not big ones.

[drumover]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Good luck finding a used Sontec anyway.... If anyone has one for sale, let me know. What do you have for EQ's now?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5908&rd=1&rd=1


Serviced by inward connnections.

B

[msrecprod]

I love Sontec EQ's, BUT, mine has been out for repair for over a YEAR. I bought it in great condition, and it was delivered from Inwards Connections directly to me. Well it lasted about 2 months, and has been out for service ever sence. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever see it agian????

[stellar]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Problem is though when you have to recall your settings lets say after you've done a couple of tracks and you may want to adjust the first track to make the record seem like a whiole.

You can eyeball it pretty good, but its easier when you can have the settings written down and documented and recalled exactly.

couldn't you only put the knobs on the line markings? when I write down settings I make up numbers to represent those lines...2,4,6,8, whatever. a 5 might be right between the two lines. easy to write down and recall. no big deal.
?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by drumover

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5908&rd=1&rd=1


Serviced by inward connnections.

B

Wow, over two years later....

[GearHunter]

The ghost of another thread comes back to haunt us. Had I been watching this at that time I'd have suggested a used Prism Masselec EQ, or possibly a GML. Even for used, $2k might have been too low, though.

Personally, I use my pair of API 550B!

[thejook]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

I love Sontec EQ's, BUT, mine has been out for repair for over a YEAR. I bought it in great condition, and it was delivered from Inwards Connections directly to me. Well it lasted about 2 months, and has been out for service ever sence. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever see it agian????

Eek. (Knocking on wood that my ITI doesn't ever go south...)

Yeah, from what I understand Burgess MacNeil has dropped off the face of the audio-earth. Sontec's opamps (and their ITI precursors) are indeed proprietary and nobody makes them. Chris Muth is a GREAT guy and IIRC he does his own opamp thing for Sontecs. Won't be the same, but that's not to say it will be worse. Just won't be the same.

What was wrong with your Sontec? If it's not an opamp issue, it shouldn't take a year!

[Silvertone]

I asked Chris (Muth) a couple months back what EQ's excited him these days and he told me the Great River (this was before their mastering version). We talked about them all the different EQ's out there both old and new and he said he just liked the character of that EQ. That and the early ITI EQ's which the great river reminded him of. I though that was quite an endorsement.

I do miss my GML9500 at times. Wouldn't trade my Pultec's or Sphere EQ's in for the anything, talk about charater (only when needed that is).

[lucey]

Originally Posted by msrecprod

I love Sontec EQ's, BUT, mine has been out for repair for over a YEAR. I bought it in great condition, and it was delivered from Inwards Connections directly to me. Well it lasted about 2 months, and has been out for service ever sence. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever see it agian????

Let us know how that 250EX turns out

[MASSIVE Master]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Wow, over two years later....

I was a bit shocked myself...
As long as we're here, I feel bad for not updating! Got a GML 8200 around the time this thread fell off the face of the planet. Liked it pretty much.

Then I tried an Ibis... Good mornin'... Sold the 8200. Shortly thereafter, sold the 642B. I actually wish I would've held onto that thing...

Still happy with the Ibis (oh, geez... 18 months or so later?) and accepting the reality that I'll probably never find a Sontec, which is probably somewhat of a blessing from what I hear about trying to get it serviced...

[msrecprod]

Lucy, I missed mine so bad, that I had to grab the one on ebay. I'm not sure what's wrong with the one in service. One day I went to use it, and only one side passed audio.

[castle]

Originally Posted by jazzius II

. Every gear designer needs to have a Distressor in front of them when they design the front panel.

And a TLA-100A. Why, in this day and age, do people STILL design equipment that can't easily be recalled???