B
Bodhisan
Hillbilly
I've spent many, many hours reading reviews, posts, listening to sound clips, and really listening to my own stuff and just putting on the headphones to hear what's coming through...
Not only that, I've been literally stalking websites and ebay ready to make a purchase of a high-brow preamp, with a blessing from my wife to spend $1,500 or so, more than twice my original budget.
But, gee, guys and gals, for what I'm doing -- acoustic folk with steel guitar, fiddle, dobro, mandolin, accordian, bass guitar and simple snare/kick, which does require good, clean gain, the VTB-1 is incredible, really. No distortion and basically just room noise when I've got it cranked all the way up to 60 db. Yeah, it's not as impressive as a bigger, full-rack pre that's more expensive-looking and maybe some more knobs, but it does what I want from it. You have no idea how I wanted to come to the conclusion that it wasn't good enough, that I should get something "better" (more expensive).
To my ears, it doesn't color and is incredibly clean at 60 db gain, so why would I want to spend more money for the same thing? Most pres only go up to 60 db, with some going up to 65/68. I think it was the Avalon I looked at last night that tops at 60 db -- and how much cleaner can you get than what seems cleanest?
I bought my VTB-1 when they first came out based on Harvey's review of one. He sold me on it, and upon reflection, nothing's changed since then -- just some extra money burning a hole in my pocket. It's a hard concept that maybe I don't need more equipment...just get down to making good music. Now I've got nothing to blame, except my own bad recording! That's scary...maybe I'll reconsider that Grace...
I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade who has a Grace, Sytek, Great River, Focusrite, Avalon, or any really nice pre that's built with A-list parts. There's gotta be Porches and there's gotta be Plymouths. My Plymouth is a nice ride and it gets me where I'm going (and actually with better gas mileage than the Porshce).
The only thing I need to do now is buy another VTB-1, thus getting my dual-pre. (I've got a VC3Q for color, if needed).
Not only that, I've been literally stalking websites and ebay ready to make a purchase of a high-brow preamp, with a blessing from my wife to spend $1,500 or so, more than twice my original budget.
But, gee, guys and gals, for what I'm doing -- acoustic folk with steel guitar, fiddle, dobro, mandolin, accordian, bass guitar and simple snare/kick, which does require good, clean gain, the VTB-1 is incredible, really. No distortion and basically just room noise when I've got it cranked all the way up to 60 db. Yeah, it's not as impressive as a bigger, full-rack pre that's more expensive-looking and maybe some more knobs, but it does what I want from it. You have no idea how I wanted to come to the conclusion that it wasn't good enough, that I should get something "better" (more expensive).
To my ears, it doesn't color and is incredibly clean at 60 db gain, so why would I want to spend more money for the same thing? Most pres only go up to 60 db, with some going up to 65/68. I think it was the Avalon I looked at last night that tops at 60 db -- and how much cleaner can you get than what seems cleanest?
I bought my VTB-1 when they first came out based on Harvey's review of one. He sold me on it, and upon reflection, nothing's changed since then -- just some extra money burning a hole in my pocket. It's a hard concept that maybe I don't need more equipment...just get down to making good music. Now I've got nothing to blame, except my own bad recording! That's scary...maybe I'll reconsider that Grace...
I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade who has a Grace, Sytek, Great River, Focusrite, Avalon, or any really nice pre that's built with A-list parts. There's gotta be Porches and there's gotta be Plymouths. My Plymouth is a nice ride and it gets me where I'm going (and actually with better gas mileage than the Porshce).
The only thing I need to do now is buy another VTB-1, thus getting my dual-pre. (I've got a VC3Q for color, if needed).
You can run, but you can't hide, from GAS. It'll get ya one way or another.