Avalon U5

[Keith Moore]

Any lovers/haters? I have one and I think I might be over it. I use it for scratch bass tracks but when I set up to really do the bass I find a much better tone with a countryman DI and a good pre. I know it seems like I answered my own question, just wondering what anyone else thinks.

[s.d.finley]

Do you use the U5 with a good pre also? I use a U5 with an A-Designs EM Silver and love it on bass.

[KungFuLio]

Have one... usually end up going to a Radial, Reddi, Manley sort of in that order. I do like it for squeeky clean guitar but not always. It's an option not a religion.

[BLUElightCory]

I owned one for a couple years, and after comparing it to the instrument inputs on my API 3124, UA 2108, Focusrite ISA428 and a Little Labs DI, I realized it was really nothing special sonically. I sold it and haven't missed it at all.

[dambro2]

Used it several times in other studios and never liked it. I prefer my Redeye through the Great River.

[Kronos147]

For some players, it is really cool. Jimmy Earl sounds great with it, for instance.

However, I find the Countryman to be a weak link a lot of the time, and in your situation, maybe you could go into an input of a pre (if it has one) to see if that is your case as well.

[analogjeff]

i think the U5 is great for some things and not others... great for electric violin where you're taking both a clean and an affected signal... also great on cleaner bass, straight in, when you're also taking a grittier thumpier signal micing the amp... and great, too, on rhodes when you want a warm but clean, bell-like tone, as opposed to an amped sound, etc. ...really don't like the countryman for bass at all, as it doesn't seem nearly as full...

[Gibson]

Originally Posted by BLUElightCory

I owned one for a couple years, and after comparing it to the instrument inputs on my API 3124, UA 2108, Focusrite ISA428 and a Little Labs DI, I realized it was really nothing special sonically. I sold it and haven't missed it at all.

Maybe your U5 was faulty. i aslo have API 512Cs, focustite ISA 430, Avalon 737s M5s, Millennia HV3D, Avidis MA5, BA 1073s.

U5 DI is bigger on Bass than all of the above.

[edvdr76]

It's my go-to for bass gtr at my studio. Sounds very clean to me which gives me the option of dirtying up the track with a nice vintage compressor, or fattening it up a bit with a Tube compressor.... Depends on the project and/or sound we're going for.
I also have a Groove Tubes' "Brick" but I find that most of the time I'll have to add some eq to make it sound good. I've had my U5 for about 3 years now and lately my bass chain goes from the U5 to either a DBX 160VU or a Distressor. Both of those units give me very good results

[narcoman]

like it here....

Have used Redeye and preferred that - but I dont have one of those - so the U5 or Radial....

[Friedemann]

I use it very much at one particular studio. The results come out very good but it never felt like something special. Maybe I was expecting too much.

Greetz

[msquared]

Originally Posted by Keith Moore

I find a much better tone with a countryman DI and a good pre

What happens when you use the U5 and a good pre?

If you're getting better sounds with the Countryman, something's wrong with your U5.

[Wilburguy]

The U5 is excellent. I always use it for bass Di. If your Countryman sounds better then your U5 is broken for sure.

[Bodoc]

Use it with a good bass and good player and WOW. Then again, use it with a bad bass and bad player...ugh.

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by s.d.finley

Do you use the U5 with a good pre also? I use a U5 with an A-Designs EM Silver and love it on bass.

Yes! Use the mic out & run it to a preamp. That's what works for me. thumbsup
I regularly track a guy with a 5 string furniture bass & he sounds great through u5 -> ma5, maybe a little 160 vu.

[Konketsu]

U5 user here too. Bought it on a whim and it turns out that it's great on bass (passive jazz/flats) and nice on keys and some synths.