best tube pre for under 800?

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tyler657recpro

tyler657recpro

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I think the title pretty much explains the question. I am looking for a tube pre, for around 800 bucks. I'm looking at the Peavey VMP-2 whcih runs about 600, although very difficult to find. The other one I'm seriously looking at is the DBX 586 which i would be paying 720 for. I know the peavey has a great rep, and assume the DBX does too. Am I correct? Would it be good to have both of these eventually? Or should I look at something totally different?
 
Becuase its the ONLY real tube pre for under $800, and it sounds better than the rest, to boot? There is why. Order now, operators are standing by...
 
You know what I'm going to say, don't you?

The Bellari tube pres are real, as well, but they are made mostly with cheapo parts. If you're good with a soldering iron or know someone who is, you can mod them in to a pretty good-sounding tube pre, supposedly.

We shall see. Hopefully NW Soundman will be receiving the one I sent him shortly. Still looking for some decent tubes, though. If anyone has any spare tubes lying around, PM me and I'll make an offer. I'm looking for newer model svetlanas or some NOS Tung-Sol 12ax7's, although I understand these are rare.

Also, if anyone has a spare Jensen transformer they'd be willing to sell cheaper than the cost of a new one?
 
Yeah, I was thinking about trying that just for the hell of it after you did, but it wouldn't be my main tube pre. Let's assume I buy the Peavey, what would be good tubes to put in the bellari so I can get a different sound than the peavey?

Oh yeah, I'm gonna do it with the 520 instead of the 220, assuming they're the same thing just one has VU meters. Correct?
 
If you have $800 to spend on a tube pre or any pre for that matter,

Don't be stupid and buy a Bellari !!!

Maybe you could turn it into something usable but it would be wiser to start looking at quality preamps. Peavey, Vintech 1272, UA M160, Langevin, Great River, etc. I've never used any one of those and I don't really know which one is right for you, but don't buy a Toyota Corolla and fix it up if you can afford a BMW......if you catch my drift.
 
I have owned the 586, the 386, the Beh%^&* t1953, and several other sub$800 pre's. I now own ther Peavey and I am very stoked with it. Please buy one and don't consider the others. You will be very happy with it. I use it primarily for acoustic guitar and vocals.
 
Don't forget to look at the new Aphex 207 dual-channel tube preamp. I think it's about $650. It's brand new but I read a very favorable review in either Mix or EQ magazine this month. Read that review if you get a chance.
 
I just got back from the NAMM show in Nashville, and got some sad news from Peavey. They will no longer be manufacturing the VMP-2 or the VCL-2. When the couple dozen of each they have left have been sold, that's it! Finito! End of story! Apparently sales have been slow, and the public can't seem to tell the difference between a true all-tube design and the Frankensteinian things with a little starved-plate glow bottle showing through a window.
So, if you want one, order it now - before I decide to cough up $15,000 and corner the market!

Scott
 
One thing I love about the Peavey VMP-2 is that there are ways to totally alter the sound, to where you might think its not even the same preamp.

Switching the eq on while leaving eq flat gives a more midrangey and tight sound that works perfectly for some sources or mics.

Leaving eq off gives less detail in the mids and this works for mics that are too midrangey.

Using the transformer balanced output yeilds a slightly edgy, more agressive sound, while the unbalanced output has a super smooth, mellower sound.

Engaging the pad and driving the preamplification yields in some sonic difference from having no pad in the path and using less gain.
 
Wide Awake said:
If you have $800 to spend on a tube pre or any pre for that matter, Don't be stupid and buy a Bellari !!!
Click to expand...

I agree. If you have $800, then get something that's already decent.

But if you've got only $300, at least the Bellari is a REAL tube pre. Not a starved-plate like an ART or dbx. And not some freakish hybrid like the aphex. And replacing a few noisy parts ain't rocket science, either. :)
 
Nope... It's not rocketscience... But when I see the result of what some electronics engineers here have been soldering on, I'm starting to believe that some people are better of with the noisy parts in. :rolleyes: Sometimes I feel like there's just 2 guys in this whole building that should be allowed to swing the mighty iron!

And finding out which parts are noisy, and what to replace them with might not be all that easy either...

So, I'm with Downside here. Why hasn't HHB/TLaudio been mentionned yet? One of our demo's was recorded with that on voice and it sounded awesome.... To bad it was a liverecording, with the drummer singing, so we had to overdub the vocals at home because of the crosstalk... Damn... I want a 5021... Don't have cash to spend. :( Got spare?
 
Just FYI:
I got an HHB Classic 80 for 790.00 on Digibid a few months back. It's 2 channels, all tube (3 tube gain stages for each channel, 1 pentode and 2 triodes), 250 volt rail, EQ, phantom, etc. It was brand new, factory sealed shipped straight from the manufacturer. They show up there every month or two.

Here's a link to HHB if you want it.

It can be as clean as you want or you can set it for lots of real tube drive. I run everything through it now; vocals, bass, guitar, synths. It gives me the sweetest singing sounds on my Guild archtop.
 
The Peavey VMP-2 is it. Another option are the old Altec 1567A tube mixers. If you educate yourself and shop around, then you can find one in excellent condition with the XLR ins and outs w/i your price range.

A better choice for a warm sounding pre that is better is the Brent Averill API for $899. It is very much the classic analog sound for rock vocals.

Steve
http://www.piemusic.com
 
preamps under $800

very interesting.its good that we can learn this stuff w/o plunking down cash first.I use ADMs but they are not tube.real nice though.I also use tube pres i built.copies of old ampex tape recorde pres.Lots of tubes ha ha and they sound fantasti!!
Im curious since someone mentioned aphex.....is the older "tube essence" dual pre any good.I can trade a sm 57 and get one ,but i havent heard it yet.It had good reviews i remember......
 
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