EHX Pre - Samples!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Halion
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My pre amp arrived today, after ordering it late thursday(PST). It was boxed in a huge carboard box, and had the wooden case well padded with foam chips, and the pre itself was wrapped in bubble wrap. No way this one could have been busted up.

I plugged it in about 30 minutes ago and recorded a vocal/harp sample with it against my ART TPS preamp. I only spent about 2 minutes messing with the input and output controls on the EH. All I concerned myself with was keeping it from going to the orange overload range. The vocals distorted some when it hit the orange. I had to get real hard on the mic, with the input level really high, to get it to distort. I am excited to mess with it more, but wanted to share the first attempt. I heard no hum at all. I also did a real quick check with it on my 1938 kalamazoo guitar. I put a 414 B ULS on the sweet spot for the ART pre, but it turned out boomy with the EH. I will be messing with mic placement later tonight.

Gear

EH preamp
ART TPS Preamp

AKG 414 TLII - delta 66 soundcard - samplitude master version software - I added a bit of reverb only, with samplitude, then- mastered it through T-Racks, vintage masterII setting, with the high cut turned off.

I heard no hum, other than my computer. I have it inside a big drawer in my desk(it is an old school teachers desk, that has a side door for a IBM selectric typewriter), and it does bleed through a bit, but no more than with my ART TPS. There was some kind of high pitched sound outside, like a machine of some sort, and my dogs moving around the room, their collars ratteling, and chewing on a bone or 2. What do you all think? Walter

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm
 
Walter,

are u really doing the one man band? i gotta say i admire that to no end..you really need some serious talent to pull it off..very cool to see that pic! is that a es-335? gibson?

mean blues u play man..
i want no trouble either ;)

i find the harp very clear and detailed, and the vocals have a very cool warmth, very bassy, i like it. im sure the good mic helps too..

no humm....ben's screwed then :D
dang ben, its your house man.. :rolleyes:

i wish i could afford mine right now..dang.
 
Hi diogo: thanks for giving me your feedback. I played the blues for over 25 years, all over the world, with my band, and backed alot of the old blues men(most have since passed). I am looking forward to digging into this pre amp this evening. Yes, I am a real 1 man band. I learned this from Wilbert Harrision, who had the hit Kansas City, in the 50's. He used a bass drum and high hat. I added the snare to the mix, with a double kick pedal. Everything is in the same room, and I do no overdubing. The latest songs on my site are mostly without the drum kit, because 1 of my ART TPS pre amps died, and I was limited to only 2 tracks. Normally I record 4 tracks- vocal/harp mic, guitar, snare/high hat, bass drum. I like the songs Would YOu Fly IN My Spaceship and Surfs Up for 1 man band, and Stealing Cadillac Cars, with my bassist and drummer(I play guitar and harp and sing). I also make all my music up as I go along, thus the name Spontobeat, and recorded approx. 340 full lenght cds, in the last year. I don't spend much time on mixing, because I like to play more. I am going to hook up 2 mics on my 1938 kalamazoo, and one on my vocals/harp, and see what I get. I will use the EH for the vocal mic. I will post them tonight or tomorrow. Walter

PS: the mp3's are at 128 rate, and sound pretty bad, compared to the original wave files.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm
 
Listening to those two sample's I think the EHX pre definitely sounded more smooth and natural, a little warmer too, I think I might have to get me one of those...
 
Walter Tore said:
My pre amp arrived today, after ordering it late thursday(PST). It was boxed in a huge carboard box, and had the wooden case well padded with foam chips, and the pre itself was wrapped in bubble wrap. No way this one could have been busted up.

I plugged it in about 30 minutes ago and recorded a vocal/harp sample with it against my ART TPS preamp. I only spent about 2 minutes messing with the input and output controls on the EH. All I concerned myself with was keeping it from going to the orange overload range. The vocals distorted some when it hit the orange. I had to get real hard on the mic, with the input level really high, to get it to distort. I am excited to mess with it more, but wanted to share the first attempt. I heard no hum at all. I also did a real quick check with it on my 1938 kalamazoo guitar. I put a 414 B ULS on the sweet spot for the ART pre, but it turned out boomy with the EH. I will be messing with mic placement later tonight.

Gear

EH preamp
ART TPS Preamp

AKG 414 TLII - delta 66 soundcard - samplitude master version software - I added a bit of reverb only, with samplitude, then- mastered it through T-Racks, vintage masterII setting, with the high cut turned off.

I heard no hum, other than my computer. I have it inside a big drawer in my desk(it is an old school teachers desk, that has a side door for a IBM selectric typewriter), and it does bleed through a bit, but no more than with my ART TPS. There was some kind of high pitched sound outside, like a machine of some sort, and my dogs moving around the room, their collars ratteling, and chewing on a bone or 2. What do you all think? Walter

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm
Click to expand...

Walter! Thanks for the wonderful music! I really enjoyed your performance. I admit I forgot about preamps and mic placement and all that junk altogther while listening, and just got into the experience of your music. Great stuff! You've got heart.

I'm excited that your preamp doesn't hum (and I appreciate the "shout out" in your preamp test: "this one doesn't seem to hum, like Ben Logan's" - that cracked me up). Your recording sound great. That harp of yours sounded downright "juicy" through the EHX pre (forgive the gross adjective, but it's accurate!). Your voice sounded warm and upfront. The ART almost sounded more "accurate," but was less flattering and organic sounding (not that it sounded bad).

My house was wired in the 1940's. I just spent an hour online with a sales rep from Sweetwater getting an education about power conditioners. I went ahead and spent my whole next month's buget on a Furman unit. If it doesn't reduce that EHX preamp hum, I'll send it back with Sweetwater's blessing. Hope I can get mine to sound like yours Walter. That goes for my musicianship too! You've got soul, my friend, and not just because you're playing blues music.

Looking forward to seeing what kind of sounds you can get out of your unit with electric guitar. My signal keeps clipping. I don't understand it! Wondering if you'll get better results...

Keep those EH Preamp sample posts coming...

Ben
 
thanks Ben. Those clips were forced. I was more into the preamp sounds than the music. This all came about when my ART TPSII died a few weeks ago. It is still in the ART repair shop. I am glad it all happened this way. Next week I am supposed to be renting the seventh circle line of preamps- $125/week and refundable if I purchase some. It will be fun to put the EH and ART up against the Seventh circle line.

I recorded another quick one, I'm Sinking In The Deep Water, with my 1928 kalamazoo acoustic. I place a C414 at the 12th fret, about 5 inches away, and a RODE NT 1A a bit below the bridge and the same distance. THese went through my remaining ART TPS preamp. THe vocals/harp went through a C414 and the EH. I added about 1.5 of compression to it all, and took a bit off at 100hz on the 2 guitar mics. I have never been one to spend alot of time testing before publishing. I will use these samples as a benchmark, to see if my skills are getting better or worse over time. I have only been at this home recording thing for a couple of years,and am still a beginner. The good news is, I spent alot of time in great studios, as a player, but never paid attention to the enginering end. I guess I learned more than I thought, via my ears. I still don't know how things work. I just turn dials until they sound good. I did notice the EH got fatter as I turned up the input. My samples are just a taste of what I am sure this preamp could do in more skilled hands.

My house was built in the mid 30's, and has the original wiring. I did add ground plugs to the house, but the garage is not grounded properly. My studio is in a back room of the garage. I have no hum problems. Why don't you go by somebodys house/music store, with your pre amp and try it there?

I will do some recording with my tokai and deluxe reverb and post them.

Diogo: THat guitar is a korean Tokai copy of a 335. I took it to the music store and put it up against a new 335. They went through my deluxe reverb, and the tokai blew the gibson away IMO. THe gibson was 2 grand and the tokai $400. I have a 1963 jazzmaster, which originally belonged to Lonnie Mack, who gave it SRV when they did their record together. Stevie gave it John Reed, who gave it to me. I also have an old national steel, and other vintage guitars. I am telling you to check out the MIK Tokai because I haven't touched any of my classic electric guitars, since I got this one in December.

Walter

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm



Walter
 
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I now remember something about non-grounded signals, that I learned about a year ago. I know this guy in the other far side of my country, who makes synths and effects pedals. He made an envelope filter for me, using an 18v power supply that was grounded. It worked wonders if plugged into a grounded outlet, but it started clipping like mad at very low levels AND humming if not grounded! Not every piece of gear I have does that though, pretty much only this thing (maybe because it uses something higher than 9v?). I was pretty stunned at how the thing changed when plugged into a grounded outlet. Try it and see!
 
hey Walter,

all over the world.. :) you're a lucky man ;)

ive been into john hurt and ealry dylan since i can remember...but not much else..when i was young i liked ben harper ha! what a joke lol but he sure can play, ill give him that now.

you know, i actually had looked into tokai a while ago, when about to go with an Epi Sheraton II..i really like epiphone, no matter how ppl badmouth them, you just gotta know your way around the models. i have a DR-500ME that im very happy with, but a guild D-50 is on its way in the next months..i really need a rosewood dreadnought.

but the tokais are going for ridiculous prices Walter, have u seen it? i dunno if u have the 60 or 100 ES 335, but the 60 goes for something like 500 quid or something, thats more or less 600 bucks..a lot of money for me to put into an electric :/ but im happy you're happy with yours!

hey, i have a jazzmaster too ;) not from 63 though..its a fender, but made in mexico or japan or whatever....i really really really really like it...what colour is yours? impressive story about your jazzmaster..having a guitar thats been played by SRV...better keep it in a closet with a lock when you're sleeping :D

i played a national before, with a glass slide, on this studio here once, its an absolute joy...but something tells me i should've used a metal slide... ;)
 
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diogo said:
hey Walter,

all over the world.. :) you're a lucky man ;)

ive been into john hurt and ealry dylan since i can remember...but not much else..when i was young i liked ben harper ha! what a joke lol but he sure can play, ill give him that now.

you know, i actually had looked into tokai a while ago, when about to go with an Epi Sheraton II..i really like epiphone, no matter how ppl badmouth them, you just gotta know your way around the models. i have a DR-500ME that im very happy with, but a guild D-50 is on its way in the next months..i really need a rosewood dreadnought.

but the tokais are going for ridiculous prices Walter, have u seen it? i dunno if u have the 60 or 100 ES 335, but the 60 goes for something like 500 quid or something, thats more or less 600 bucks..a lot of money for me to put into an electric :/ but im happy you're happy with yours!

hey, i have a jazzmaster too ;) not from 63 though..its a fender, but made in mexico or japan or whatever....i really really really really like it...what colour is yours? impressive story about your jazzmaster..having a guitar thats been played by SRV...better keep it in a closet with a lock when you're sleeping :D

i played a national before, with a glass slide, on this studio here once, its an absolute joy...but something tells me i should've used a metal slide... ;)
Click to expand...

Diogo: Check out John4y on my soundclick site. He is a good friend of mine, and Miss John Hurts nephew. He spent all his summers with him. Skip James married his aunt as well, so he also got to live and learn from him. John4y was at all the newport festivals with skip and john. The recordings I have on my site, were recorded on a cheap cassette recorder back in the 70's. You have to scroll down quite a way, but there a bunch by him.


My jazzmaster was originally red, but got repainted yellow at some point. Lonnie used it to record a bunch of hits in the early 60's, and Stevie played it around Austin for awhile, before giving it to John. It has been played by just about everyone in Austin, at one time or another. I was honored to get it. Austin was a great music scene during my years there. I haven't touched it since getting the tokai.

I use a glass slide with my national. Diamond slides makes them for me. Ian is a great guy, and the glass they use is unbelivably good. He is out of England.

I am going to hook up my electric tokai today and see what happens.

Walter
 
Halion said:
I now remember something about non-grounded signals, that I learned about a year ago. I know this guy in the other far side of my country, who makes synths and effects pedals. He made an envelope filter for me, using an 18v power supply that was grounded. It worked wonders if plugged into a grounded outlet, but it started clipping like mad at very low levels AND humming if not grounded! Not every piece of gear I have does that though, pretty much only this thing (maybe because it uses something higher than 9v?). I was pretty stunned at how the thing changed when plugged into a grounded outlet. Try it and see!
Click to expand...

Halion - this is my problem in a nutshell. I've got to get my outlets grounded asap. Thanks for the tip. I've been debating whether or not hassling my brother (who's an amatuer electrician - a scary concept) to help me. Based on your experience, I'm sold.
 
I recorded a session this morning. I used the 1 man band set up, with my tokai copy of a 335 through a deluxe reverb with a thd hotplate turned all the way down to keep it at acoustic guitar level, and my new Eltro-Hamonix 12AY7 mic preamp on the vocal/harp mic. I am liking it! I used another mic on the snare/bass drum/high hat, and a third on the guitar amp. These 2 went through my ART TPS preamp. Everything is in the same room, within 3 feet of each other, so there is some bleeding. I have loaded 2 of the 4 songs.
Run Free Jenna
Let em Die With Dignity

loading as I type- My aching knee and on deck, Between Heaven and Earth.
 
Walter Tore said:
Diogo: Check out John4y on my soundclick site. He is a good friend of mine, and Miss John Hurts nephew. He spent all his summers with him. Skip James married his aunt as well, so he also got to live and learn from him. John4y was at all the newport festivals with skip and john. The recordings I have on my site, were recorded on a cheap cassette recorder back in the 70's. You have to scroll down quite a way, but there a bunch by him.
Click to expand...


Walter,

i will most certainly check out those files :)
i got into john hurt after watching a documentary many years ago...but its hard enough to find his stuff over here...and import costs money :/

u use a THD...i was thinking of that for a while..for the life of me i cant tame my hotrod deluxe :/ those attenuators sound like the right thing for it, but they cost a lot too here in europe, about 400 bucks...

with that said, im impressed with what u take out of the ART TPS in terms of acoustic guitar...very impressed :) detailed and just right..i always heard u cant take enough detail out of micing a dreadnought with two LCD's...but u can.

if i could ask you something Walter..if u ever find the time, could u please try out micing your amp and gettin it through the Electro Harmonix pre? I know Ben is not getting good results, but i would love to know if its usable on electric...

im gonna listen to those files now..

tanx!


diogo


ps. where are u based? i have a friend on columbus that would love to write a piece about an act like yours Walter..
 
Hi Diogo: My friend turned me on to the thd hotplate about a year ago. I play real quiet, and my deluxe reverb was to loud. I have never owned thing for my guitar and amps, but a cord to connect them, so I was very skeptical. I figured I would be shipping it back the day I got it. Wrong! I love this thing. If you listen the session with the songs Stealing Cadillac Cars, and Albert and Roy on My Mind(they are a ways down on my site), you will hear it really working. We played a party in our living room to about 20 people, and I used no amplification on my vocals or harp. My drummer is great. She is almost 60, and can swing a beat, with sticks, and be no louder than an acoustic guitar! THe amp was no louder than an acoustic for this session. THe hotplate gets the tone, without pushing all that air, which takes some getting used to, but man it records nice.

Thanks for the acoustic guitar compliment!

I will mic the guitar amp through the EH today. I don't see why it shouldn't work just fine. I sing pretty loud. I am not going to crank the amp too loud though. I value my hearing too much. Those days are way behind me. I live in Santa Rosa, California. It is about 1- 1/2 hours north of San Francisco, in the heart of the Sonoma County wine country. It is about the most beautiful spot on earth. We have the ocean, redwoods, hills, cool nights and mild days, and ocean fog to cool us off all summer. Walter
 
Here is a comparision with a ART TPS preamp. The first part is the EH with the input gain real low. It put off enough to get it up in the good zone. Then I pushed the input level up some, still keeping it below the digital cliping level, but the it farted out bad. The next one is the ART TPS.

I used a tokai copy of a 335, on the neck pu, tone and volume wide open, through a deluxe reverb, with the volume at 2, treble a 9, bass at 4, reverb at 3-4. The mic was a C414 B- ULS.

The farting out that Ben got, happened to me too. Still I could use it on the electric guitar amp, because it was giving a good level while still clean. It started breaking up right below the digital clipping level. I never run that close to that level, because I am making everything up as I go along, and often get way hard on singing and instruments, and like to have a bit of a cushion, so I don't clip. What do you all think?


Walter

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm
 
hey Walter,

the THD..thats really something i have to consider, instead of getting another amp and end up with two taking up space, cause i cant give up mine cause i gig with it..unfortunatly, Hot plates units are very expensive here (400 bucks), and the 8ohms one is almost always out of stock...

but ill have one...one day!

many tanx for taking the time to record the samples Walter ;) thats really helpful..now i know i cant just go and get two channels of the EH pre, and sell my DMP3...itll have a use...many many tanx!

ps..if you were based in ohio my friend would love to do a story about you and would probably get you a gig or two :rolleyes: you live one too many states away Walter :/ dang..im sorry.
 
I liked the EHX best on the vocals. The EHX and B3 sounds very good on your voice.
 
Thanks SonicAlbert, but what is the B3?

Diogo: I used to live in Ohio-Athens, many years ago. I was a bouncer in a bar, and played with a few local bands. Thanks for that kind offer! Have you tried ebay for a used hotplate?

Walter
 
Maybe there are a couple different audio samples in this thread and I got confused between them. I'm talking about the very first one, where the vocal chain is EHX to Studio Projects B3. Now that I look again at the thread, I think that example is from Ben Logan. Is that right?

Now I'm trying to connect to your audio files, the Spontobeat stuff. For some reason the connection is not working. I'll write back once I have a chance to listen to it.
 
SonicAlbert said:
Maybe there are a couple different audio samples in this thread and I got confused between them. I'm talking about the very first one, where the vocal chain is EHX to Studio Projects B3. Now that I look again at the thread, I think that example is from Ben Logan. Is that right?

Now I'm trying to connect to your audio files, the Spontobeat stuff. For some reason the connection is not working. I'll write back once I have a chance to listen to it.
Click to expand...

HA! Thanks Albert. I've made my peace with my voice over the years, but I wish I could sing like Walter. He kicks arse! Yeah, I like that SP B3 mic. Cheap and versatile.
 
I just can't get Walter's songs to download, I've tried a few times now. Is anyone else able to listen to them?
 
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