Guitar going direct into Avalon U5

[frankieballsss]

I'm considering purchasing a u5. I just wanted to know if anybody has had experience recording with the u5 with a guitar just going directly into it, and how much tonal improvement will be seen by this method only.

 

[nkjanssen]

I'm considering purchasing a u5. I just wanted to know if anybody has had experience recording with the u5 with a guitar just going directly into it, and how much tonal improvement will be seen by this method only.

Tonal improvement over what?

No matter what, it's going to sound like a gutiar through a DI. A very good DI, but still a DI. That might be Ok for some stuff (maybe some funk stabs), but usually a guitar will sound better through an amp.

 

[frankieballsss]

Tonal improvement over what?

No matter what, it's going to sound like a gutiar through a DI. A very good DI, but still a DI. That might be Ok for some stuff (maybe some funk stabs), but usually a guitar will sound better through an amp.

Tonal improvement over just a direct guitar with no DI. You are also missing the fact that the U5 is also a preamp, not just a di.

 

[nkjanssen]

Tonal improvement over just a direct guitar with no DI. You are also missing the fact that the U5 is also a preamp, not just a di.

No, I'm not missing that fact. I own a U5. I wouldn't really call it a preamp. It's capable of providing a small amount of gain. It's best really to think of it as a DI though. It sounds as good or better than most DI's. It achieves the same function (impedence matching). It will sound like a guitar plugged direct in through a good DI, because that's what it is. Miking an amp will sound better in 99.9% of cases. Using a U5 will, however, clearly be a tonal improvement over plugging a guitar direct into a line input.

 

[frankieballsss]

are there any Fender amps in the 400-500 dollar range that have a record out that i could send to the speaker in of the avalon if I decide to get an amp?

 

[easychair]

No, I'm not missing that fact. I own a U5. I wouldn't really call it a preamp. It's capable of providing a small amount of gain.

30db of gain ain't bad, I wouldn't call it a "small" amount of gain. And since it provides gain, it's pretty much a preamp. I agree with you on the other ponts, though.

 

[nkjanssen]

30db of gain ain't bad, I wouldn't call it a "small" amount of gain. And since it provides gain, it's pretty much a preamp. I agree with you on the other ponts, though.

I've never been happy with the "line out" on the U5. I wasn't sure of the amount of gain it provided, but it has always seemed inadequate to me (at least when using passive pickups). It sounds much better using the "mic level out" and plugging into a full-on mic pre.

 

[nkjanssen]

are there any fender amps in the 400-500 dollar range that have a record out that i could send to the speaker in of the avalon if I decide to get an amp?

A Blues Jr. or Pro Jr. are nice. With a dummy load, you can plug the speaker outputs into the U5. Neither have "recording outs", but I'm not sure that's actually what you're looking for. Maybe you'd be happier with one of the Vox Valvetronix models and forgetting about the U5 altogether?

 

[frankieballsss]

Thanks for the help so far janseen,

Basically, I'm just looking for good clean sounds, and also being able to get nice distortion tones a la Foo fighters.

I checked out the valvetronix demos, it sounds pretty impressive. Since its a simulator, would i get higher quality tone from using a Fender amp going into an avalon u5, or not really?

 

[reshp1]

I'm considering purchasing a u5. I just wanted to know if anybody has had experience recording with the u5 with a guitar just going directly into it, and how much tonal improvement will be seen by this method only.

Why? That's a pretty effing expensive way to go about it and probably not get good results. A tube amp and a SM57 into a run of the mill pre will probably sound way better.

 

[frankieballsss]

Also, would I able to get clean sounds a la John Frusciante from the valvetronix? I play a Fender strat, so the guitar part is covered.


OOps. just realized that valvetronix also has a non simulator line of ampss

 

[mikey@thecave]

Frankie;if your lookin for clean thats just what you'll get .The U5 has about 5 preset eq settings .It a bigger more forward sound than having none at all

 

[nkjanssen]

Frankie;if your lookin for clean thats just what you'll get .The U5 has about 5 preset eq settings .It a bigger more forward sound than having none at all

...and for getting "Foo Fighters" distortion tones?

Don't encourage the guy to buy something expensive that clearly isn't what he's looking for.

 

[easychair]

"thank you for not adding a damn thing to the post"

To the person who left me this anonymous negative rep, lots of people don't know there is a difference between a DI and a preamp, sorry if I didn't make it clear I was trying to make that distinction. The U5 is both in one box. Nor do some realize that there are different kinds of preamps. Like nkjanssen pointed out, the U5 doesn't have the stuff someone looking for a guitar pre with lots of different amp sounds like distortions might want. It's not like a Mesa guitar pre, for instance.

Oh, and try to be a man and sign your reps, positive or negative.

 

[Seeker of Rock]

Why? That's a pretty effing expensive way to go about it and probably not get good results. A tube amp and a SM57 into a run of the mill pre will probably sound way better.

Exactly. In recording, don't reverse engineer. Start with the source...your playing, your guitar, your amp, your mic, your pre, etc. Pre will not forgive any shortcomings of the real quality from that which it is being fed.

 

[frankieballsss]

I see, thanks for the advice.

 

[cactuseskimo]

this thread seems quite pointless. If you don't want to mic an amp, then use a GUITAR preamp. If you want Fender tones, then use a Fender preamp (or preamp out from the amp), if you want Marshall tones, use a Marshall preamp, etc.

However, this is my advice. If you want to go direct, Use either a modeller (vox tonelab, POD) or software (Guitar Rig). I guarantee the "fender" or "Marshall" settings will sound much better and more authentic than the preamp outs on the actual Fender or Marshall amp. Remember, the modellers model not just the preamp, but the power amp as well (which is where half your tone comes from). If you just use an actual guitar preamp, you'll probably need a speaker emulator, etc.

Bottom line. Use a modeller/software, or mic an amp. Don't use a DI. Don't use the preamp out of an actual guitar amp.

 

[kozmik]

I personally use a mic'd amp for all my final tracks, but when throwing down a scratch track to write off of, i often go into a U5 and then directly into Pro Tools. Throw amp farm on it and you get yourself a decent sounding track.

When i do my final tracking i always run a direct signal through the U5 onto it's own track, in addition to my two or three mic'd tracks. I almost never use it, but i have brought it into the mix before to where it definitely colored the overall guitar sound to what i was looking for.

The U5 is more productive with a bass as you most likely will record more direct in bass tracks than guitar. If you have another grand to spend, I'd invest the $500 towards an Avalon 737. That's a full tube channel that sounds great on alot of things.