Pultec back In The Day

[soupking]

When did Pultec become known in the music industry as a production use?

I'm trying to figure out what early rock and reggae artists might've stumbled into a place with a Pultec.

Artists mostly in the Desmond Dekker, Link Wray variety.

Thanks everybody, you guys kick some serious ass.

[Bob Olhsson]

Pultec was probably the very first equalizer available that had a built in make-up gain amplifier. They came out in the early 1950s and were intended for disk mastering.

I bought a pair of API 550s in 1972 for the same amount I could have bought a pair of used EQP1as for. I went for the APIs because I couldn't even imagine a studio that didn't have Pultecs.

[soupking]

Sounds like they weren't too expensive back then.

[dbbubba]

Not only were they not tremendously expensive "back then" but I could have bought a pair that even hads the original owners manuals (they came in colored folders like you put school reports in!) for approx. $450.00 in 1988. A fellow that I know quired some and he was aound during their original days, so he didn't think of them as extremely desirable pieces.

Then again... what seems "inexpensive" now was still a considerable chunk of change back then.

They were built by Pulse Electronics.
Pultec is a contraction of that name.

Danny Brown

[PRobb]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

They were built by Pulse Electronics.
Pultec is a contraction of that name.

Danny Brown

That would have made them Pulelecs. Actually, It was PULse TEChniques.

[soupking]

Rats I guess if I want to mimic old school production, I'm going to have to get a Pultec.

Sounds like they were pretty abundant from the 50's on.

[RoundBadge]

I see beat up EQH-2's going for 2500 plus.clean ones for over 3K

tried the Mercury..not a bad eq..not exactly a pultec though.

I dunno,Fletcher seems to really like these:
might be worth a demo. $2250.00..


http://www.mercenary.com/ampemoeq.html

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by soupking

Rats I guess if I want to mimic old school production, I'm going to have to get a Pultec.

Says who?

[soupking]

Well, nobody in particular. What I'm trying to do is an impressionistic project. Meaning that I'm trying to emulate an age of sound to the best of my ability.

It's quite the learning experience because I have to research like crazy, and even then there are holes in discovery.

I'm trying to comb what I can in a given area (right now, it's early 60's) and then if i don't need/want it, I'll drop it from the path.

[Steffmo]

I have a pair of Lang PEQ2s.....discreet transitor Pultecs basically......sometimes I like them better than Pultecs.

Bought them for 900.00(pair) in 87.

[dbbubba]

Originally Posted by PRobb

That would have made them Pulelecs. Actually, It was PULse TEChniques.

Yes, yes, yes....
I was typing fast because we were trying to leave the office for lunch.
I thought of the wrong name after I left.

Danny Brown

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by Steffmo

I have a pair of Lang PEQ2s.....discreet transitor Pultecs basically......sometimes I like them better than Pultecs.

for Langs!
-J

[PRobb]

Originally Posted by soupking

Well, nobody in particular. What I'm trying to do is an impressionistic project. Meaning that I'm trying to emulate an age of sound to the best of my ability.

It's quite the learning experience because I have to research like crazy, and even then there are holes in discovery.

I'm trying to comb what I can in a given area (right now, it's early 60's) and then if i don't need/want it, I'll drop it from the path.

I know I could get evicted from Gearslutz for this, but it's not the arrows, it's the Indians. Start with a good song. Then write a good arrangement. Then get a group of real good players together in a nice sounding room. Use as few mics as possible. Track the whole rythm section live. Don't worry about bleed, use it.

Sure period gear will make it better. As many tubes as possible will make it better. Ditto tape.

But that approach with a Mackie console into PT will sound more "period" than overdub by overdub with all the Pultecs in the world.

But Pultecs sure do sound great, don't they?(After all, this is Gearslutz )

Power Station used to have a rack of 24 that could be patched between the console and the machine for tracking or machine and console for mixing. Heaven!

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by PRobb

Power Station used to have a rack of 24 that could be patched between the console and the machine for tracking or machine and console for mixing. Heaven!

i was watching a johnny cash special the other night and the shots of him in the studio featured a great many pultecs. my guess is it was around '69... no idea which studio, though...
-J

[soupking]

I know I could get evicted from Gearslutz for this, but it's not the arrows, it's the Indians.

Totally man, I hear ya'. I'm a musician and a converted luddite.

I've had the song for years, now I'm just bringing it to justice the best that I can. For this occasion it's not enough that it sounds good but that it sounds authentic, or faux-authentic I guess is my angle. It's pretty steep angle too, but the tape doesn't lie.

You guys rock, I love this site.

Peace,
-soupking

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Steffmo

I have a pair of Lang PEQ2s.....discreet transitor Pultecs basically......sometimes I like them better than Pultecs.

Bought them for 900.00(pair) in 87.

Ha Ha..not no more

I regretfully sold a pair 6 years ago for $2500.00 in the midst of the stupid psuedo PT/ plug in uprising/ studio downsize[bought for 400 apiece in the early 90's]
they're going for even more now

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by PRobb

I know I could get evicted from Gearslutz for this, but it's not the arrows, it's the Indians. Start with a good song. Then write a good arrangement. Then get a group of real good players together in a nice sounding room. Use as few mics as possible. Track the whole rythm section live. Don't worry about bleed, use it.

Sure period gear will make it better. As many tubes as possible will make it better. Ditto tape.

[vernier]

You need period correct equipment to dupe the sound authentically. That means recorder, mics, limiters, eq, period correct instruments, and using the right tecniques. Every piece of the puzzle is crucial.

[Jeff Goodman]

I regretfully sold a pair 6 years ago for $2500.00 in the midst of the stupid psuedo PT/ plug in uprising/ studio downsize[bought for 400 apiece in the early 90's]
they're going for even more now

Oh man, I can relate. I had a pair of consecutive serial # Langs that I bought for $300 a piece in '88. Got broke for a time in the early '90s and sold 'em for $2500.

Regretted it ever since.

[Tamra]

I've got one of those Power Station 24~ Complete with the Ed Evans/Clearmountain mod. That thing sounds so sweet! Just love it.

Originally Posted by PRobb

I know I could get evicted from Gearslutz for this, but it's not the arrows, it's the Indians. Start with a good song. Then write a good arrangement. Then get a group of real good players together in a nice sounding room. Use as few mics as possible. Track the whole rythm section live. Don't worry about bleed, use it.

Sure period gear will make it better. As many tubes as possible will make it better. Ditto tape.

But that approach with a Mackie console into PT will sound more "period" than overdub by overdub with all the Pultecs in the world.

But Pultecs sure do sound great, don't they?(After all, this is Gearslutz )

Power Station used to have a rack of 24 that could be patched between the console and the machine for tracking or machine and console for mixing. Heaven!

[Bob Olhsson]

Originally Posted by soupking

Sounds like they were pretty abundant from the 50's on.

Yes and no. Everybody had a few but they were often as not just used on the plate and the lead vocal when there was a sibilance problem.

They were pretty expensive, maybe equivalent to $2000+ each but musicians who could really play were lots more expensive so all gear was small change in the overall scheme of things.

As for atmosphere, it was one of utter terror about screwing up. If you failed to point out your mistakes to the producer, you wouldn't get called again but if you made too many causing everybody to have to take it again, you also wouldn't get called again.