looking for preamp/compressor with really vintage colored sound

miqer · 9th October 2007

Hi,

I'm looking for a very colored vintage sound, give me 60ies, Beatles, old Blues, fonky Stax, Motown, Ray Charles, Tony Joe White sound... (a lot of there sound has to do with tape, I know.) I would like to be able to have some nice hot tube warmth, a bit of harmonic distortion.

I have actually only 2100 euro to spend, so for some of my options I will have safe up, but I wonder if I should:

1. Candler Channel MKII (pre/eq)+ Geranium Mono Compressor for 3000 euro (this is a treat, no? But expensive!)

2. Tubetech - MEC 1A = 2757 euro

and the once I can afford now:

3. solo610 (or the mono GR) + Geranium mono compressor = 1914 euro

4. la-610 = 1200 euro

I am planning to record track over track with this setup, guitar, bass, vox, drums (mono!)... My question is if you guys think I should safe up for the first or second option (1000 more)!

I have a toft atb, so I have plenty of uncolored pre's.

thanks,

miqer

numrologst · 9th October 2007

you don't need a tube preamp to get what you are looking for... I'm not saying you shouldn't get a tube preamp... But there are other good options for vintage sounds.

The options are endless.

As far as tube preamps go, the ua 610 is cool... But I really like the fearn and mercury tube preamps.

Solid state: Pacifica, TG, Germanium, Wunder are among my favorites

miqer · 9th October 2007

Would you safe up and get a MKII instead of a UA610?

Benjy King · 9th October 2007

Altec 436b or c compressor or Altec 438a or Altec 1612a limiting amplifier.

Benjy

vincentvangogo · 10th October 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjy King

Altec 436b or c compressor or Altec 438a or Altec 1612a limiting amplifier.

Benjy

I second that, my Altec 436b seems makes to make a big (and very nice) tonal difference even if it isn't really compressing. If you can afford a Telefunken V72 with that, you've pretty much got the Abbey Road signal path and almost any mic through it will give you a warm '60s sound in my opinion (its what I use.) Then you can start looking for better mics as and when you can afford it, but a 57 through that will still sound very nice. Assuming it suits the song, a bit of reel to reel tape echo is a cheap way to add more authentic 50/60s charm. The more you can avoid digital the more it will sound authentic in my opinion.

miqer · 10th October 2007

Ha! I've asked about tube pre amps before and Altec comes up! But I never come across Altec stuff here in Holland!!!

M.

chrispick · 10th October 2007

How about a UA 6176?

miqer · 10th October 2007

Oh, I've just ordered a LA-610 5 minutes ago!

I can send it back in 30 days... so I'll have some time to check it out.

The only difference is the compressor has more settings, am I right?

EDIT: I understand that the reason why the LA-610 is cheaper than the 6176 is largely because the LA-2A style comp in the LA-610 is not independant of the 610 preamp - unlike in the 6176 where the 1176 is independant of the 610. This saves some 610-output circuitry and some LA-2A-type input circuitry, including two impedance-matching transformers which are quite expensive.

thanks,
m.

vernier · 10th October 2007

Quote:

I'm looking for a very colored vintage sound, give me 60ies, Beatles, old Blues, fonky Stax, Motown, Ray Charles, Tony Joe White sound... (a lot of there sound has to do with tape, I know.) I would like to be able to have some nice hot tube warmth, a bit of harmonic distortion.

Those records aren't colored ..its just good sound, and normal. Today's sound is hyped and plastic. Anyway, you'll need all the pieces of the vintage puzzel ...analog recorder, vintage Neumann tube mics, tube pre's, tube limiter, tube desk, and analog mixdown recorder.

Not a bad idea to start collecting the pieces.

miqer · 10th October 2007

I know: it's endless!!

Don't forget: a great room.

And above all: I need Tony Joe White!!!! I spoke to him last year, and his voice sounds like it's been recorded through a u47!

blackwatch5805 · 25th November 2007

the chandler TG2 is fun and can sound warm and vintage. i would consider that with an ashly SC-50 compressor. it's cheap but honestly really cool and diverse.

therodstu · 25th November 2007

The LA 610 was my first High End Pre, now with (Api 512, Summit Audio 2ba 221, Chandler Tg2, Shadow Hills Gamma) I still find myself using the La 610 nearly every session. My fave for Vocals and Bass. I am a huge beatles/beach boys fan and I like the mids the unit produces.

herecomesyourman · 25th November 2007

Hrmn...

Well...I have to say that my Germanium Compressor with a Great River MP-2NV has that kind of classic feel with a good tube LCD like my E-49. I also really dig the Manley ELOP and the Teletronix LA2A...and honestly a Distressor with Brit Mod can be set up for a classic tone too.

I really want to try a Pendulum Audio ES-8...that's got to have a Fairchild classic design meets modern control parrameters...

Acoustic Cloud · 25th November 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by miqer

Oh, I've just ordered a LA-610 5 minutes ago!

I can send it back in 30 days... so I'll have some time to check it out.

The only difference is the compressor has more settings, am I right?

EDIT: I understand that the reason why the LA-610 is cheaper than the 6176 is largely because the LA-2A style comp in the LA-610 is not independant of the 610 preamp - unlike in the 6176 where the 1176 is independant of the 610. This saves some 610-output circuitry and some LA-2A-type input circuitry, including two impedance-matching transformers which are quite expensive.

thanks,
m.

You would probably want to use both together anyway, so good score!

melonmachine · 27th November 2007

think about an Altec 1567a. They're 5 into 1 mixers, but use them for one channel and you've got 2 valve stages and the heaviest sound you'll ever get.
They're easy enough to find on US ebay
They're also easily modded into 5 in, 5 out (I'll put you in touch with the tech who did mine and can tell you how)
Maybe they don't have the clearest high end but the bass and mid are are as thick and heavy as you'll hear.
If you get it modded you can even chain a few stages i.e into input 1, out of that into input 2, then to output gain stage. The only time I've thought "maybe that sounds too big"
I'm ranting 'cos love mine so much!

miqer · 27th November 2007

Been searching for altec's...

can't find any of them here in europe... did just order a tm-1 pearlman u47 type mic....

Very happy with the la-610 so far. That is an old sound, very nice on acc guitar's and vox also, makes it smokey from way back... love that!

Thanks for the input everyone, makes things clear.

9th October 2007	#1
miqer Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Amsterdam Holland Posts: 684 Thread Starter	looking for preamp/compressor with really vintage colored sound Hi, I'm looking for a very colored vintage sound, give me 60ies, Beatles, old Blues, fonky Stax, Motown, Ray Charles, Tony Joe White sound... (a lot of there sound has to do with tape, I know.) I would like to be able to have some nice hot tube warmth, a bit of harmonic distortion. I have actually only 2100 euro to spend, so for some of my options I will have safe up, but I wonder if I should: 1. Candler Channel MKII (pre/eq)+ Geranium Mono Compressor for 3000 euro (this is a treat, no? But expensive!) 2. Tubetech - MEC 1A = 2757 euro and the once I can afford now: 3. solo610 (or the mono GR) + Geranium mono compressor = 1914 euro 4. la-610 = 1200 euro I am planning to record track over track with this setup, guitar, bass, vox, drums (mono!)... My question is if you guys think I should safe up for the first or second option (1000 more)! I have a toft atb, so I have plenty of uncolored pre's. thanks, miqer

9th October 2007	#4
Benjy King Gear addict Joined: Jun 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 368	Altec Altec 436b or c compressor or Altec 438a or Altec 1612a limiting amplifier. Benjy

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9th October 2007	#2
numrologst Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,955	you don't need a tube preamp to get what you are looking for... I'm not saying you shouldn't get a tube preamp... But there are other good options for vintage sounds. The options are endless. As far as tube preamps go, the ua 610 is cool... But I really like the fearn and mercury tube preamps. Solid state: Pacifica, TG, Germanium, Wunder are among my favorites

10th October 2007	#6
miqer Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Amsterdam Holland Posts: 684 Thread Starter	Ha! I've asked about tube pre amps before and Altec comes up! But I never come across Altec stuff here in Holland!!! M.

10th October 2007	#7
chrispick Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 1,023	How about a UA 6176?

10th October 2007	#10
miqer Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Amsterdam Holland Posts: 684 Thread Starter	I know: it's endless!! Don't forget: a great room. And above all: I need Tony Joe White!!!! I spoke to him last year, and his voice sounds like it's been recorded through a u47!

25th November 2007	#11
blackwatch5805 Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Norman Posts: 257	the chandler TG2 is fun and can sound warm and vintage. i would consider that with an ashly SC-50 compressor. it's cheap but honestly really cool and diverse.

25th November 2007	#12
therodstu Gear nut Joined: May 2007 Posts: 148	The LA 610 was my first High End Pre, now with (Api 512, Summit Audio 2ba 221, Chandler Tg2, Shadow Hills Gamma) I still find myself using the La 610 nearly every session. My fave for Vocals and Bass. I am a huge beatles/beach boys fan and I like the mids the unit produces.

25th November 2007	#13
herecomesyourman Lives for gear Joined: May 2007 Location: Phoenix AZ. Posts: 716	Hrmn... Well...I have to say that my Germanium Compressor with a Great River MP-2NV has that kind of classic feel with a good tube LCD like my E-49. I also really dig the Manley ELOP and the Teletronix LA2A...and honestly a Distressor with Brit Mod can be set up for a classic tone too. I really want to try a Pendulum Audio ES-8...that's got to have a Fairchild classic design meets modern control parrameters...

27th November 2007	#15
melonmachine Gear Head Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 70	think about an Altec 1567a. They're 5 into 1 mixers, but use them for one channel and you've got 2 valve stages and the heaviest sound you'll ever get. They're easy enough to find on US ebay They're also easily modded into 5 in, 5 out (I'll put you in touch with the tech who did mine and can tell you how) Maybe they don't have the clearest high end but the bass and mid are are as thick and heavy as you'll hear. If you get it modded you can even chain a few stages i.e into input 1, out of that into input 2, then to output gain stage. The only time I've thought "maybe that sounds too big" I'm ranting 'cos love mine so much!

27th November 2007	#16
miqer Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Amsterdam Holland Posts: 684 Thread Starter	Been searching for altec's... can't find any of them here in europe... did just order a tm-1 pearlman u47 type mic.... Very happy with the la-610 so far. That is an old sound, very nice on acc guitar's and vox also, makes it smokey from way back... love that! Thanks for the input everyone, makes things clear.