Reasonable price on tube pre

Jblount · #1 08-05-2003

Any sudgestions? I would like to find one in the $50.00 range.

chessparov · #2 08-05-2003

Yeah, forget about the toob!

Seriously, for around that, get a used M-Audio Audio Buddy.
There's nothing in the $50 price range like a REAL tube pre.

Chris

cominginsecond · #3 08-06-2003

What's the best Martin I can get for under $75?

Teacher · #4 08-06-2003

if u want decent tube gear u need to ante up....

Jblount · #5 08-06-2003

How much, teach?

cominginsecond · #6 08-06-2003

Cheap tube stuff (Presonus, ART, Behringer) can make for a decent DI, but good tube stuff is always several hundred dollars per channel minimum. Check out www.mercenary.com to get an idea.

When it comes to cheap gear, solid-state is always going to get you a better sound than tube.

OnTheBlackRock · #7 08-06-2003

I got a SINGLE channel presonus blue tube mic pre for 38 bucks.... it didn't come with the box thats why and i haven't had any problems with it and it sounds pretty good... i also changed the tube with various ones to get different sounds and i settle for a groove tube and it sounds sweet.

cominginsecond · #8 08-06-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by OnTheBlackRock
I got a SINGLE channel presonus blue tube mic pre for 38 bucks.... it didn't come with the box thats why and i haven't had any problems with it and it sounds pretty good... i also changed the tube with various ones to get different sounds and i settle for a groove tube and it sounds sweet.

My Blue Tube sucked, except as a bass DI.

SonicAlbert · #9 08-06-2003

The cheap tube gear being mentioned is not really what I would call a true tube signal path. It's solid state with a tube circuit that can be blended in. Not the same thing at all.

If you want a real tube sound you need gear where the entire signal runs through the tube. I've never been happy with the "blended" tube sound, but love the sound of true tube gear.

If you must, of the cheap tube units, I like the ART stuff the best. The Presonus Blue Tube is not bad either, for the type of design it is.

$50 is way short money though. If you get your budget up to even $120-150 you have more choices. Plan to spend hundreds and up per channel on quality tube gear.

mixsit · #10 08-06-2003

Oh, another Toob post.
Note that the earlier ones didn't put out a full 48 volt phantom suppy also. (They had a fix for it later)

Jblount · #11 08-06-2003

That was another question I had. I am using a condensor mic, and have phantom power on the Roland1680, but do I need to get a pre with phantom, or will the rolands 48v power the mic though the pre? What about adding a compressor in the chain?

chessparov · #12 08-06-2003

Pre and a compressor are a good idea.
How much is the top limit on your budget?

Chris

junplugged · #13 08-08-2003

Art V3 has a tube, and some dial up settings, phantom, single channel, and about $120. has phase reverse, a +20db switch, and a 9volt jack w/ wall wart adaptor included, and has some limiting called OPL. I like it w/ my v67. and sometimes w/ sm57, but that's usually direct. I'll try to rec. and post something w/ the setup soon.

meriphew · #14 08-09-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Jblount
How much, teach?

A Groove Tubes Vipre (single channel tube pre) will run you about $2300 give or take a couple hundred. Worth every penny too.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

chessparov · #15 08-09-2003

That's supposed to sound awesome!

I think the Peavey VMP2 (around $800+ used?) has been sort of an entry-level benchmark for a true tube based pre for professional use. It's a dual pre, with some EQ, in case anyone isn't familiar with it.

Chris

meriphew · #16 08-09-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by chessparov
That's supposed to sound awesome!
Chris

It does sound awesome. It's so nice to be able to tune in and maximize a mic's potential by using the impedance selector.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

DigitMus · #17 08-09-2003

Chess - $800 was the price of a new VMP-2 (when they were still being made). A used one should run you $600 or less.

ozraves · #18 08-10-2003

This company makes excellent tube mic preamps:

www.adesignsaudio.com

You can buy them online at:

http://www.macmidimusic.com/search.i...uery=a-designs

chessparov · #19 08-10-2003

Thanks guys for the further info.

Going back to the original post though, I strongly believe that in
the "budget ranges", buy the pre that is based on a solid state
design, rather than a starved plate AKA "toob" effect feature.

J., Keep in mind that some pre's like the VTB-1 can be run without
engaging it's "tube blend" dial-thereby staying solid state.

Chris

Jblount · #20 08-10-2003

Thanks for the input, chess. Have you used the VTB?

ozraves · #21 08-11-2003

Quote:

Originally posted by Jblount
Thanks for the input, chess. Have you used the VTB?

I've used the VTB1 with a lot of mics. It's good for the price as budget gear. I don't like the tube blend but it does work in some fashion. Some people appreciate it a lot more than I do. The pre itself is definitely worth the $129 purchase price.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

chessparov · #22 08-11-2003

Yes J., I happily own/use the VTB-1.

Since it's built pretty tough, it'll be handy for the live gigs I'm (eventually) planning to do also.

Chris

tdukex · #23 08-11-2003

The ART Pro MPA is supposed to be a pretty nice unit (at least sonusman likes it), now selling for $309.

chessrock · #24 08-11-2003

The cheapest tube mic pre worth having is the Bellari RP-220.

The cheapest tube mic pre that could actually be considered 'good' would be the Peavey VMP-2.

Note that "good," and "worth having" are not necessarily the same thing. That said, I do think the Bellari is VERY worth having.

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