Best preamp under $1000 used

[powpowmeow]

Im gonna be going eBay to get my first legit preamp.
I want to spend under $1000 for a used preamp.
I am likely recording straight to digital, so any sort of (natural) warmth i can add to the signal would be a plus, of course.
Will be recording vocals with a condenser that requires phantom power, and guitar tracks, either miked speakers or acoustic guitars.
Only need 2 channels.
Thanks!

 

[Massive Master]

You could get a (dual channel) FMR RNP new for that price *and* throw in a GAP73.

 

[powpowmeow]

sweet! pardon my ignorance, but why would i want both? would i?

 

[Massive Master]

Different flavors for different tastes. The RNP outperforms most preamps at twice the price, solid performer, relatively transparent, headroom unseen in most preamps at that price point. The GAP Pre73 is a little more colored -- Not "gooey" but "sweet and warm" is probably a nice adjective.

 

[powpowmeow]

I might be recordign to tape after all, then dumping to digital for editing and mixing. Either one of these tailored especially for that purpose?

Thanks John!

 

[Massive Master]

Nothing is really tailored just for that... But in the long run, you can never really go wrong with a "reasonably transparent" unit and a "reasonably colored" unit, assuming the units are of reasonable quality.