Joe Meek VC1 or VC6Q?

[Sean Sullivan]

I've been wanting a Joe Meek channel strip for awhile, and my hands are tried up trying to decide between the VC1 and VC6Q. They both seem to get good reviews and run about the same price. Whichever one has the best quality preamp would probably take my vote, followed by the usefulness of the compressor.

[Crash]

We have a JoeMeek VC1QCS Studio Channel that holds it's own with vocals, bass, gtr...about anything. It is currently being used for bass guitar on our latest recording and it definitely can go toe to toe with comparable units costing quite a bit more. I have not used the VC6Q, so I can offer nothing in terms of an opinion there...sorry.

[ramona]

I have not used the VC1, but have a VC6Q, and it gets used often. The preamp is not clean, exactly, but there's plenty of gain before hiss. It colors the sound quite a bit. It's thick, lots of low end information.
It sounds very good with vocalists who have a lot of "chest" in their voices. (I hate trying to describe sound in words, so excuse the lameness of my adjectives.)
Most of the reviews I have read say it sounds good on male rock vocals, but I've used it frequently on female singers. It de-emphasizes nasal vocal qualities.
It pairs very well with brighter mics, so if you have some cheap Chinese mics, it's a good match.
It's too dark a combination with my Oktava 012s.
It has been a workhorse, I bought it many years ago and haven't had a single issue with it.
I really like it. It's not pristine at all. It's "warm" "thick" "colored". When you push the input gain, it distorts in a pleasing way.
My favorite sources to use it on are female vocalists with "thin" or "reedy" voices, very low "chesty" male vocals (think Leonard Cohen) tambourines and other assorted percussion, my own voice (think Stevie Nicks with less vibrato), and background vocals of any sort, really.

[theom]

I like the old "brick" VC1 table top unit best of all the meek units.

Weird character, but really cool sometimes.

I have read the circuit and tranny are not the same as the later 2 U rack vc1.

They pop up on ebay cheap from time to time.

Not a huge fan of the newer stuff at all.

[gregl]

I have a VC1 (the version in the 2U rack right after the brick was discontinued) and would have to concur that it works very well on nasally male voices (mine included). I think these are somewhat under rated, albeit a little different sounding (which can be a good thing). Certainly not a cheap sounding box. I have some very nice mic pres and this one stays nonetheless. Loves RODE NTK's and other bright mics but if they sound tinny or cheap you're gonna hear it. Joe Meek made a lot of different versions of this box and they all sound a little different from one another.

[Janesaid2me]

I own the VC1Q...works great on vocals...has a very ummm unique sound...I also like it on floor tom alot too...idk why just do. Ive only heard the 6q once...a friend owns it...it sounded good...but i cant honestly compare the two.