Favorite mic pre amps for recording guitars under $2kUS

[ampegfreak]

Hey there,

I am a muscian and am collecting enough gear so i can record my bands bass, & guitar tracks for our debut album next year.

Think owning the cool shit, renting a house on the ocean and tracking bass & guitars in our time will be a great experience, an awesome vibe and can make a record in our time... and not someone elses... and save our wallets..

I have 1 mic pre.. a UNIVERSAL AUDIO 6176 and want to buy one more so i can double mike one amp, or run 2 amps simultaneously with a mike on each..

I want a mic pre that will just sizzles for recording guitars..

Want something that can capture big tone..

will be using a SM7, 421 AND sm57 as mics..

If anyone could make any suggestions that would be really appreciated.

cheers

[octatonic]

Groove Tubes Vipre is my favourite by miles.
Awesome guitar preamp.

If it is being used for something else I'll go for an API 512c, which isn't excactly shabby either.

[chrispick]

I'm not an ME. Just a composer with some studio gear, but --

I use an A-Designs Pacifica in conjunction with a 6176. I think they complement each other nicely.

The Pacifica is two channel. Costs approx. $2000 new.

I mostly use it to mic acoustic and electric guitars, and to line-in stereo synths. I think it sounds great on those applications.

A-Designs Audio Pacifica link

[warhead]

Pacifica. It tends to provide a very nice defined sound on anything you record, and excels at el gtr work.

War

[Larry Crane]

RTZ 9762 is a real solid-state gem with a decent price. Great River MP2-NV is also perfect. Pacifica is good, brings out highs in a diff way. I prefer solid-state preamps on electric guitar amps. I also like ribbon mics and LD condensors too.

[BLueROom]

API.

API.

and then there is also API.

[Drumsound]

---I'm in a smartass mood, please don't read too much into what I'm gonna say--

Originally Posted by ampegfreak

Favorite mic pre amps for recording guitars under $2kUS

This question asks what preamp is the favorite for guitars that cost less than $2k. I asume you mean what preamp that cost less than $2k is a favorite for recording guitars.

An answer for that question is the Great River MP2h, which is the older one they don't make anymore. I hate SM57, but with this pre I like them on guitar. Ing eneral its a great pre and it really shines on guitars for some reason.

I've seen them and the Mp4h (4 channel) used every once in a while for really good prices.

[FossilTooth]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

---I'm in a smartass mood, please don't read too much into what I'm gonna say--

This question asks what preamp is the favorite for guitars that cost less than $2k. I asume you mean what preamp that cost less than $2k is a favorite for recording guitars.

Dude you should talk? Your reply has more typos and grammatical errors than the original post!


Anyway, this question can be answered in much the same way as almost any other "preamp under $2k" question. Although there are a million useful flavors out ther, the answer is:

Get a

1) Api.

2) Good Neve clone.

Pick between the two depending on taste.

Can we stop talking about preamps now?

Fine, fine, once you have those, if you really need to, you can get something uncolored like a sytek or millenia, and something that drips delicious goo like a Tube Tech, UA610 or Telefunken.

Bam.

You're done.

Now can we talk about something else?

[chrispick]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

Fine, fine, once you have those, if you really need to, you can get something uncolored like a sytek or millenia, and something that drips delicious goo like a Tube Tech, UA610 or Telefunken.

He already has the 610. In his 6176.

[ampegfreak]

yeh i got a 6176.. never owned anything else but i think it rules...

Cruising ebay and came by a Chandler Germanium mic pre...
what is the vibe on this pre for tracking guitars with?

Chandler Germanium Mic Pre w/ power supply preamp - (eBay item 180153618001 end time Sep-03-07 18:49:31 PDT)

[FossilTooth]

Originally Posted by chrispick

He already has the 610. In his 6176.

Yeah, I read that.

But, in case you didn't notice, I'm giving advice to the world baby, the world.

Additionally, only novices who are moved by marketing buy the 610 as their first nice pre. I should know, I bought a 2-610 when it first came out around March 2001.

It's absolutely great.... But, it shouldn't be anyone's first nice pre if they want flexibility though. Just trying to share some knowledge. Thanks for being a downer, dude.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

But, it shouldn't be anyone's first nice pre if they want flexibility though. Just trying to share some knowledge. Thanks for being a downer, dude.

I can see that. My True Systems was much more versatile but the sources the 610 did better on, did MUCH better on. The True was ok on electric guitars and bass di, the 610 is fanfreakintastic on electric guitars and bass di, hell, bass cabs too. However I don't really dig it on drums at all, and it's hit or miss on vocals.

[ampegfreak]

haha..

It just got what Phil Mckellar (One of australia's finest rock producers) recommended i get. Why waist money on half assed shit when i can get somthing half decent.

rules?

no need for em.

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

Yeah, I read that.

But, in case you didn't notice, I'm giving advice to the world baby, the world.

Additionally, only novices who are moved by marketing buy the 610 as their first nice pre. I should know, I bought a 2-610 when it first came out around March 2001.

It's absolutely great.... But, it shouldn't be anyone's first nice pre if they want flexibility though. Just trying to share some knowledge. Thanks for being a downer, dude.

[jimmyjimjim]

The 610 in any variation 2-610, solo 610 blah, blah would be a bad idea.

why?

Because they have NO headroom, using an SM57 on a moderatly gained guitar makes the input of the 610 distort.

End of question.


If youre dying for the sound of that spesific pre, use an inline pad before the pre.

If not.


Any kind of API, Neve or simmilar would make you happy. If a flie farts in the vicinity of the 17. fret on the 2. string it'll make a bigger difference than WHICH great pre you use to record guitar.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by jimmyjimjim

The 610 in any variation 2-610, solo 610 blah, blah would be a bad idea.

why?

Because they have NO headroom, using an SM57 on a moderatly gained guitar makes the input of the 610 distort.

Well I work with one every single day and record shit loads of electric guitars with no problems at all. I'd really have to question whether you even know what you're talking about here, I mean I hate putting it that way but it just isn't true. At least in my personal experience it isn't and I record guitars really f'ing loud.

[chrispick]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

Yeah, I read that.

But, in case you didn't notice, I'm giving advice to the world baby, the world.

Additionally, only novices who are moved by marketing buy the 610 as their first nice pre. I should know, I bought a 2-610 when it first came out around March 2001.

It's absolutely great.... But, it shouldn't be anyone's first nice pre if they want flexibility though. Just trying to share some knowledge. Thanks for being a downer, dude.

Um. I just thought you missed it in his post. People accidentally read passed stuff all the time.

[FossilTooth]

Originally Posted by chrispick

Um. I just thought you missed it in his post. People accidentally read passed stuff all the time.

No worries Chris. I was just messing with you.

Didn't you notice the winking, pipe smoking smiley face?

[GYang]

Guitars= Germanium or Great River (both excellent, different vibe though)

[chrispick]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

No worries Chris. I was just messing with you.

Didn't you notice the winking, pipe smoking smiley face?

I did, but I find the emoticons on GS odd to interpret.

Anyway, all good.

And yeah, Neve or API are great to grab, for sure.

[rcm]

Personal fave is the A Designs Pacifica. Great River and API would also be fantastic choices.

[lamar]

When you want to have a big tone, i would first change the mic! Cause when youre mic dont captures the the big tone, even the best preamp cant amplify it.
In your case i would buy a AEA Ribbon Pre and a Ribbon mic (2000$). Anyway even you dont use a ribbon mic and you dont need Phantom power the AEA TRP is the best pre that you can get in that price range. It has no special features, no special sound its a nice, accurate, simple and best sounding preamp that i know.

And for all that money that you musicians spent for gear, to get an acceptable demo, you could buy a lot of studio hours, with the best gear in the world, and even more important, with the best sounding rooms!

Thats just my opinion.

[gsqd]

Pacifica.

GM

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

---I'm in a smartass mood, please don't read too much into what I'm gonna say--



This question asks what preamp is the favorite for guitars that cost less than $2k. I asume you mean what preamp that cost less than $2k is a favorite for recording guitars.

An answer for that question is the Great River MP2h, which is the older one they don't make anymore. I hate SM57, but with this pre I like them on guitar. In general its a great pre and it really shines on guitars for some reason.

I've seen them and the Mp4h (4 channel) used every once in a while for really good prices.

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

Dude you should talk? Your reply has more typos and grammatical errors than the original post!

HAHAHA! Smart ass mode has no time to proofread!

Again I'm keeping it light

Note to self--stop posting late at night without spell-check!

[ampegfreak]

ANYONE USED AN MCI 600 PRE ON GUITARS?