Best Preamp For Bluegrass

[bluegrasser]

Is there a modern standard/consensus? Am I in the ball park with my AEA mics and AEA TRP and Presonus ADL 600, or is there other gear I should be looking at. Feel free to suggest mics but I'm particularly interested in preamp recommendations.

Thanks.

[vernier]

To sound right, a tube pre and ribbon mic ...both vintage, of course.

[rwhitney]

I really like the Pendulum ES-8 compressor for plucked instruments, and I would guess that their preamp has a similar quality. Very clear, preserves transients. That sort of addresses your question. I should point out that I'm not a professional engineer.

[MichaelPatrick]

I record university acoustic ensembles in concert, and some choral groups in our area. My main stereo mic is often an AEA R88 ribbon -- in Blumlein.

Last Thursday I got a DACS Clarity Micamp (stereo) and used it the next day to record a choir concert. Wow!

This thing opened up the R88's topside like crazy. I got air out of it that I thought only a large cap condenser could grab! The resolution from top to bottom is just wonderful. I ordered a second unit and I'm putting them both to work this weekend.

http://www.dacs-audio.com/Distributi...icamp_main.htm

Highly recommended.

[MichaelPatrick]

P.S. I don't work for DACS or get any consideration for pimping their stuff. It's just a great piece.

[bluegrasser]

Originally Posted by MichaelPatrick

I record university acoustic ensembles in concert, and some choral groups in our area. My main stereo mic is often an AEA R88 ribbon -- in Blumlein.

Last Thursday I got a DACS Clarity Micamp (stereo) and used it the next day to record a choir concert. Wow!

This thing opened up the R88's topside like crazy. I got air out of it that I thought only a large cap condenser could grab! The resolution from top to bottom is just wonderful. I ordered a second unit and I'm putting them both to work this weekend.

http://www.dacs-audio.com/Distributi...icamp_main.htm

Highly recommended.

Yeah, I've been interested in the DACS for some time but am spooked by the fact that it's transformerless. (I used to own a pair of Grace 101's and at the end of the day I didn't love the clinical sound I was getting).

What about:

Groove Tubes suPRE or Viper
Pacifica or MP2A
Hardy
Fearn
Manley

I want a beautiful, dark ribbon mic sound......I'm real close with my AEA TRP, but I was thinking the right tube preamp would get me there. Right now I have the Presonus ADL 600 (and I prefer the sound I'm getting with my AEA TRP). I can get by with 60db of gain, but to be safe, I'd really prefer a unit with 70db or more..............Thanks....................

[MichaelPatrick]

The DACS doesn't sound clinical to my ears. It even has punch. The sweet and endless top end was most unexpected. It's definitely a sound I can work with in post.

I hope to try a LaChapell very soon -- the extended gain version (for ribbons). Scott said he'd mod one to take line inputs so it can also sit in the mastering chain. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this thing?

http://www.lachapellaudio.com/page1.html

[Improv]

Don't discount solid state. I've been using a germanium for a while, and though I don't do bluegrass, the sound I've been getting is what I would call "classic"

[bluegrasser]

Originally Posted by Improv

Don't discount solid state. I've been using a germanium for a while, and though I don't do bluegrass, the sound I've been getting is what I would call "classic"

I hear you. But I think I'm covered with solid state with my AEA TRP. I guess at the end of the day I'm looking for a tube compliment (sp?) to it.

I dunno:

Fearn, Lachappelle, A-Designs MP2A, Pendulum, Viper, Fossel Fetcode.

[mrbowes]

Tube Tech MP-1A has 70db of gain and is very nice sounding tube amp.

[Fred]

A lot of the choice of mic/pre combo is determined by how you are recording a bluegrass/acoustic music enemble.

The new Chris Thile "How to Grow a Woman from the Ground" was recorded live in the studio to two track via two ELAM 251 mics through one of our FetCode transformerless tube preamps.

I've use DPA 4011 and TLM170 mics through my JMP-6 mic preamp to individually mic and record the Mike Marshall and Chris Thile duo performances. Mike Marshall uses the FetCode with a pair on KM-84 mics as his mandolin recording set-up, Ron Stewart uses the FetCode with various mics for his fiddle and banjo recording, Ricky Wasson uses the JMP-6, as does Kenny Smith, and Randy Kohrs, but Jim Nunnally uses the FetCode, as does Laurie Lewis, Todd Philips, and a bunch of others. Tube vs Solid-state for modern bluegrass recordings? No easy answer there.

As I said, a lot depends on how you are setting up your recording (individual mics, or single/stereo mics) and what type of sound you are looking for. In my opinion, most of the "modern" bluegrass recordings are too bright/hyped and the vocals are pushed out too far in front of the mix (like country music) for my liking. While I do like the clearer more distinct sound of modern recordings in the 300 Hz and down freq range, too many people are going for the 8-12k hyped sound, imo. So again, it depends on what you are trying to do.

There is no right or wrong nor even a consensus, imo. Just do what sounds right to you. What is more important, imo, is good musicians playing good instruments, recorded in a good room. Once you have that, you can try different mic/pre combos and see what effect that has on the sonic presentation. But remember not all tube nor all solid-state preamps are created equally, nor is anything else in the chain. Just find the combination that works for you and stick to it.

[pan60]

i am very very happy with the A-Designs MP-2A on acoustic guitar!

[GYang]

I assume you would prefer a pre that is quite natural sounding, nice, clean and with soul, so definitely consider Thermionic Earlybird. BTW it's great on all sources and absolutely superb on most of acoustic instruments.

[uncle duncan]

I used a modded Oktava 319 on slide acoustic guitar the other day. I also had a AEA R92 on it, and the combination was perfect. The R 92 was a little too thick by itself. The Oktava brought out some presence without all that scratchiness you get with a condensor. There's a dip in the upper mid response of the Oktava, but then it recovers so you still get some air. But you gotta get the modded one from oktavamod.com. The stock 319 kinda sucks.

[analogjeff]

pendulum tube pre -- big, open, clear AND a little warm, without ever being thick, slow, etc... great for acoustic music...

[NoEgo]

Another vote for the DACS here. I also use the ADL, AEA Ribbon and the Grace unit.
For a D18 Martin, all of these work. Lots of warm in that unit.

[beats workin']

i did a film score with tons of bluegrass cues last year. mostly used ribbons and 1940s crystal mics along with an e47 and u67. pres were usually 1066s or daking, and i ran a lot of tracks thru a tg1 which gave a great vibe to banjo mandolin and pedal steel.
i agree that the hyped top-end is an awful sound in general.
david