Do I Really Need a Neve Pre?...

[kidvybes]

...I just recently purchased a Royer "Tube Modded" MXL 2001 on Ebay from a guy in Texas...I already had a Mojave built MA200 by David Royer, but this new mic went so cheap I couldn't pass it up (besides the Mojave was built on an ADK A51 using the Vienna 5 micron capsule, so the sound will be a bit different from the 2001 6 micron capsule)...the guy didn't use the Mojave PCB, but he followed the circuit design exactly and used the best quality caps and the Jensen tranny that was recommended...he also built a very compact version of the power supply...bottom line is, the mic sounds great...very full bodied with nice proximity...but here's the interesting thing...besides building these Royer modded mics, the guy has been building (or rebuilding/cloning) Neve pres using many original parts...

...so now that I've seen his handywork and established a dialog with him, he tells me about some of the preamps he's built and others he currently working on...long story short, he offers me the opportunity to purchase direct (instead of bidding on Ebay) and he will build to order at very reasonable pricing...

...now, I record vocal tracks at home in an untreated room (I do have a makeshift booth that gives me pretty good results)...would a competantly built Neve "type" 1073 pre really add something to my setup?...the best pres I have now are the GT Brick and an Amek 9098 (kinda sterile sounding)...I have had experience with the Brent Averill 1073s which I used in a pro studio many times...I'm just wondering if this guy's "Neve" (assuming it's as good as he says) would be a better investment then let's say a DAV BG1 or a Chameleon Labs or a Peavey VMP2 (all which go for around similar $s)...

...keeping in mind that this pre will be used exclusively for vocal tracking, any input from those familiar with these "Neve" rebuild/clones would be appreciated...

...here's a link to one of his pres that just sold on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Neve-1272-type-...yZ119022QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Flatpicker]

For the last winning bid of $610, I'd go for it. Plus, I know of rascalseven - he's pretty active at The Lab. Looks like he did a great job on this one.

You can hear the Brent Averill Neve 33122A compaired to other pres here at The Listening Sessions - Session 3 so, you be the judge!

 

[kidvybes]

For the last winning bid of $610, I'd go for it. Plus, I know of rascalseven - he's pretty active at The Lab. Looks like he did a great job on this one.

...actually, he did a real nice job on the Royer mod as well...real clean work...I'm glad to hear that you are familiar with him...that gives me a bit more confidence in his credibility...Thanks for your input Tim...

 

[kid klash]

Meh... I think you WANT a Neve preamp as much (or more) than you NEED it...

 

[kidvybes]

Meh... I think you WANT a Neve preamp as much (or more) than you NEED it...

...damn!...is it THAT obvious?...

 

[mikey@thecave]

have you ever daisy chain the Brick behind the amek to warm it up

 

[LeeRosario]

you know what man? You would benefit as far as the stigma attached to the name would let you.


For example, I had a fellow engineer tip me off to this guy that makes Neve spin offs at his home shop. The guy claims to use the same circuts and op amps as in the orginal Neves, plus or minus a few alterations.

The word on the street is that they are far from the Neve sound, but will compare to certain high end units like the API 3124.


And *thats* a bold statement. The API 3124 isn't no walk in the park, so if he can get something that close, for 500 bucks a pre (300 as a kit, for 200 he assembles it for you), then maybe there are some units that are worth *trying* out.

Again, the only thing that constitutes the perfect preamp are the ears that review it.


So I guess what I'm trying to say is, Neve is neve, so don't expect a spin off to be anyting other than it's own thing. Just like the Vintech 73i pre.


Great sound, spin off of the 1073, but dosn't compare. In my experience working the Neve against the vintech, it's just two different ball parks man.

 

[kidvybes]

have you ever daisy chain the Brick behind the amek to warm it up

...is that safe to do?...

For the last winning bid of $610, I'd go for it. Plus, I know of rascalseven - he's pretty active at The Lab. Looks like he did a great job on this one.

Tim...here he's listed 2 of his 1290 (1073 preamp without EQ) pres...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Neve-1290-type-...ryZ23792QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Neve-1290-type-...ryZ23792QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...watcha think?...

 

[kidvybes]

For example, I had a fellow engineer tip me off to this guy that makes Neve spin offs at his home shop. The guy claims to use the same circuts and op amps as in the orginal Neves, plus or minus a few alterations.
The word on the street is that they are far from the Neve sound, but will compare to certain high end units like the API 3124.
And *thats* a bold statement. The API 3124 isn't no walk in the park, so if he can get something that close, for 500 bucks a pre (300 as a kit, for 200 he assembles it for you), then maybe there are some units that are worth *trying* out.
Again, the only thing that constitutes the perfect preamp are the ears that review it.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, Neve is neve, so don't expect a spin off to be anyting other than it's own thing. Just like the Vintech 73i pre.
Great sound, spin off of the 1073, but dosn't compare. In my experience working the Neve against the vintech, it's just two different ball parks man.

...thanks for your viewpoint...points well taken...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Neve-1290-type-...ryZ23792QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Neve-1290-type-...ryZ23792QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

...I've gone ahead and ordered my 1290 Neve clone from this builder after doing some serious research as to the quality of his work...seems he's outfitted a number of pro studios in Texas with variations of these preamps and the studios proudly list them on their websites (including the builder's name since he's built a very qualified rep in that region)...

...the 2 "legit 3-stage" 1290's he's got up on Ebay right now (not the more common "hot-rodded" 1272 pres that many of the other builders offer) are going very cheap...anybody interested in getting "neve" sound for budget pricing might want to check these out...

 

[Flatpicker]

Tim...here he's listed 2 of his 1290 (1073 preamp without EQ) pres...watcha think?...

Sorry, I just saw this. As I indicated before, I certainly trust the builder and from the pics in the previous auction and looks like he's using the same "Neve" parts, but dang, one of them went for $850! Looks like I need to get some Neve stuff and fire up the soldering iron!

For the record, the 1290 and 1272 are identical up to a total gain of around 50dB. Above that is where they get different - the 1290 retains more or less the same sound while the 1272 begins adding a different color to the sound. Some even like the way the 1272 colors the sound, depends on who you talk to. (Remember, Neves are colored to begin with - the higher gain settings of the 1272 sort of colors the color.) For normal up-close condenser use, you'll never use the extra gain of the 1290.

Edit:
BTW, by 1272, I mean the "hot-rodded" version some are selling - not the original 1272. It was a line level amp.