CoolCat
Well-known member
Ok, short note for this gear adventure.
Joe Meek VC3 original was listened to side-by-side with the new 3Q.
A lot of posts read all over the internet gave me some things to look for.
I already liked the VC1, and many like the VC3 series/3Q.
My interest tweaked with the old versus new thing, the Ted Fletcher days versus the Malcom Toft "revamped" version.
In short, both are frkn amazing, imo, (used low priced) channel strips for $150 range. I even toyed with building a preamp and theres no way a novice can build one this great for $150 range or $250, with the cosmetics, and quality and cool green-ness etc..etc.
the new 3Q-
The Joemeek Three Q is the first product to bear the Joemeek name since the company was acquired by the American PMI Group, and the circuitry has undergone a complete redesign. Although the new owners are American, this redevelopment has been overseen in the UK by Malcolm Toft, who was instrumental in the design of the original Trident consoles.
Joemeek Three Q
the original-
Many of you will already be familiar with Joe Meek processors since our reviews of the Stereo Compressor (August issue) and the Voice Channel (September '95 issue). The Joe Meek range is actually the brainchild of Ted Fletcher, who studied the home-built circuits Joe Meek used back in the '60s, then brought them up to date to improve their noise performance, reliability, and stability.
Joe Meek VC3 Pro Channel
One thing in favor of the old/original is its still working without even a scratchy pot, nor a loose jack!
The new one feels very well built too, nice metal boxes, sturdy, smooth pots. (and a few extra options like -10db or +4db, on/off for comp & eq)
Subjective sound testing, imo, the VC3 already is known to work well, the new one is "cleaner" on the preamp, imo, and the comp can match the VC3 but it is trickier and will pump to clip, where the old one doesnt allow this (so plus for the old in making it idiot proof).
Common to all the Meeks seem to be "analogish" and the fine tuning and tweaking is the key.
The 3q offers the added led's, the blue comp on, the green Eq on, the peak led, and the optical comp rails of led's. Setup is to get 0db on the preamp INA217, then set the comp, then eq. (the comp on this unit gave a led indicator when it clipped/pumped, which was nice and made aware visually to back it off a little until no comp leds were on). The new 3Q allows it to be used as a standalone PreAmp, where the old one requires the Insert to do this. Or have the EQ off and just the Pre and comp etc.. a little more versatile,via the buttons. A really cool vox was found by a lot of time and minute adjustments, ala Joe Meek gear.
Maybe the Green helps the mental British sound, but it works for me, I love it.
The VC3 has the Q/Enhance, versus the eq. it has 2knobs for comp and for my money works in an easier way. It has the British sound and really can add that "dj" tone to a dry mic.
Its easily a top contender for the Budget gang. I think of the DMP3 and RNC which is a great setup for us HR, and the VC3 is really impressive at this level. Used is even more amazing value.
The VC3 has a build quality that only time can tell for the 3Q, but looking under the hood both are clean and are built like little tanks, using metal. The 3Q gloss Green is more attractive and easier to read the numbers imo. The VC3 is like a vintage version, so its pedigree is already known. The VC3 already was reviewed well and sold many, it didnt have to pass any "tests", imo. I like it, my sons band loves it etc..etc..
The gear guru's build this stuff, I dont know how?
I think of Leo Fender who didnt even play guitar and did the amps and guitars, weird? I dont know how much time Malcom Toft spent on this entry level strip, or Ted Fletcher. How does one do Hey Jude and design Trident's and also a 3Q?
END: 5 stars for both.
$150+ used , solid build, PreAmp+Compressor+EQ+ Insert+ LED readouts + Phantom Power+ duplicate out jacks + Line in or XLR. Who can complain?
Which one to buy? My motto is "Get the Ferrari if you can, but if your broke..."
At my cost level, which is like a Gear Head poverty level, I also compared the hardware to my software GearBox, and for me thats where it's at. It came for FREE with my $70 used, Line6ToneUX2, it has numerous virtual classics, and reverbs and delays and compressors and eq's and is in 24bit land, pristine and beautiful. Here is a interface box, and software of GUITAR setups, Bass Setups, and Vocal setups. For HR heads with only $70 bucks in your savings, get the VST stuff.
For the analogish, those wanting to tweak the knobs and not use up memory speed and avoid software crashes, like my sons band, true plug n play, and get really good recording tracking going for cheap, these VC3's/3Q's are great... for the $$$ I can't think of anything better.
this was much more fun than whats next....which is mowing the yard.
Joe Meek VC3 original was listened to side-by-side with the new 3Q.
A lot of posts read all over the internet gave me some things to look for.
I already liked the VC1, and many like the VC3 series/3Q.
My interest tweaked with the old versus new thing, the Ted Fletcher days versus the Malcom Toft "revamped" version.
In short, both are frkn amazing, imo, (used low priced) channel strips for $150 range. I even toyed with building a preamp and theres no way a novice can build one this great for $150 range or $250, with the cosmetics, and quality and cool green-ness etc..etc.
the new 3Q-
The Joemeek Three Q is the first product to bear the Joemeek name since the company was acquired by the American PMI Group, and the circuitry has undergone a complete redesign. Although the new owners are American, this redevelopment has been overseen in the UK by Malcolm Toft, who was instrumental in the design of the original Trident consoles.
Joemeek Three Q
the original-
Many of you will already be familiar with Joe Meek processors since our reviews of the Stereo Compressor (August issue) and the Voice Channel (September '95 issue). The Joe Meek range is actually the brainchild of Ted Fletcher, who studied the home-built circuits Joe Meek used back in the '60s, then brought them up to date to improve their noise performance, reliability, and stability.
Joe Meek VC3 Pro Channel
One thing in favor of the old/original is its still working without even a scratchy pot, nor a loose jack!
The new one feels very well built too, nice metal boxes, sturdy, smooth pots. (and a few extra options like -10db or +4db, on/off for comp & eq)
Subjective sound testing, imo, the VC3 already is known to work well, the new one is "cleaner" on the preamp, imo, and the comp can match the VC3 but it is trickier and will pump to clip, where the old one doesnt allow this (so plus for the old in making it idiot proof).
Common to all the Meeks seem to be "analogish" and the fine tuning and tweaking is the key.
The 3q offers the added led's, the blue comp on, the green Eq on, the peak led, and the optical comp rails of led's. Setup is to get 0db on the preamp INA217, then set the comp, then eq. (the comp on this unit gave a led indicator when it clipped/pumped, which was nice and made aware visually to back it off a little until no comp leds were on). The new 3Q allows it to be used as a standalone PreAmp, where the old one requires the Insert to do this. Or have the EQ off and just the Pre and comp etc.. a little more versatile,via the buttons. A really cool vox was found by a lot of time and minute adjustments, ala Joe Meek gear.
Maybe the Green helps the mental British sound, but it works for me, I love it.
The VC3 has the Q/Enhance, versus the eq. it has 2knobs for comp and for my money works in an easier way. It has the British sound and really can add that "dj" tone to a dry mic.
Its easily a top contender for the Budget gang. I think of the DMP3 and RNC which is a great setup for us HR, and the VC3 is really impressive at this level. Used is even more amazing value.
The VC3 has a build quality that only time can tell for the 3Q, but looking under the hood both are clean and are built like little tanks, using metal. The 3Q gloss Green is more attractive and easier to read the numbers imo. The VC3 is like a vintage version, so its pedigree is already known. The VC3 already was reviewed well and sold many, it didnt have to pass any "tests", imo. I like it, my sons band loves it etc..etc..
The gear guru's build this stuff, I dont know how?
I think of Leo Fender who didnt even play guitar and did the amps and guitars, weird? I dont know how much time Malcom Toft spent on this entry level strip, or Ted Fletcher. How does one do Hey Jude and design Trident's and also a 3Q?
END: 5 stars for both.
$150+ used , solid build, PreAmp+Compressor+EQ+ Insert+ LED readouts + Phantom Power+ duplicate out jacks + Line in or XLR. Who can complain?
Which one to buy? My motto is "Get the Ferrari if you can, but if your broke..."
At my cost level, which is like a Gear Head poverty level, I also compared the hardware to my software GearBox, and for me thats where it's at. It came for FREE with my $70 used, Line6ToneUX2, it has numerous virtual classics, and reverbs and delays and compressors and eq's and is in 24bit land, pristine and beautiful. Here is a interface box, and software of GUITAR setups, Bass Setups, and Vocal setups. For HR heads with only $70 bucks in your savings, get the VST stuff.
For the analogish, those wanting to tweak the knobs and not use up memory speed and avoid software crashes, like my sons band, true plug n play, and get really good recording tracking going for cheap, these VC3's/3Q's are great... for the $$$ I can't think of anything better.
this was much more fun than whats next....which is mowing the yard.
