Looking for COLOR!!!

[turnitdown]

I'm looking to add something to my gearlist that will add some "color" to vocals, acoustic guitar, etc...

I currently have a rather "clean" signal path, a number of "non-tube" mics, condensers and dynamics, Symetrix sx-202 preamp to an RNC compressor into my Delta 44 and computer....

I like the sound, but was considering an ART PRO VLA or inexpensive tube preamp, just to add some coloration for some tracks. I was even thinking about the Behringer T19** series stuff, as a colorization effect sort of thing....

What would people here suggest in the under $300 (used is fine) price range???

Thanks...

 

[lumbago]

Lexicon MPX-110 or (older) MPX-100, the MPX-200 or MPX-550 or the older MPX-500 are all good options.

You can do delay, reverb, chorus, flange, and primitive EQ with these, but they will flesh out a dry sound quite nicely and provide some depth and dimension to your sound.

There are other units in this price range - my own experience with the MPX-500 has been really good.

You may be looking second-hand at most of these to meet your price constraint.

 

[deepwater]

Joemeek 3Q

 

[turnitdown]

Great suggestions...
I'm covered for time delays, verbs etc... (Between plugins and a Roland SRV-3030...) I'm really looking for something that will give me a "Toooob' sense of airiness, open-ness, dirt and/or harmonic flatulation... All for $300 or less...

But, the Joe Meek looks kind of interesting... about $199... price looks good, I'll have to start looking for more comments/opinions on them...

I wish I had a friend who could lend me one... I have a friend who will dump the ART PRO VLA on me for a good price, maybe I should look at that.

Or is it a good unit for a totally different application?
Any opinions/experiences??

 

[Fletcher]

You ain't kiddin' when you say "toooob" when referring to stuff with firebottles for under $300-. Just walk in knowing that you're buying at best, a temporary solution, and at worst you're pouring your money down the drain.

Of the two mentioned, I've found the ART the least objectionable of the two... but not by much.

Best of luck with it.

 

[turnitdown]

Thanks Fletcher...
I may end up just saving my money and using the Vintage Warmer or Mic modeler plugins for "something a little different"... I already have them, and with some tweaking, would likely give comparable results to an inexpensive piece of hardware...

PS_ I won't say the mic modeler gives me the actual sound of the "modeled" mic, but it is capable of some pretty nice sounds nonetheless....

 

[chessrock]

There are some very good, non-traditional color devices out there if you hunt around.

Off the top of my head . . . there's the Sansamp GT-2 pedal. Try running something through that and see what happens. The MXR Limiter is a really cool distortion device that is marketed as a limiter. Works really well for distorting drums and/or vocals.

Those are definitely more on the extreme side of things. The ART Pro VLA actually isn't too bad. Bellari also makes some pretty decent, interesting tube compressors and mic pres that shouldn't be dismissed -- stick with their rackmount versions, though. Those can actually be pretty cool in the right application. You can also find the older DBX 117 through 119 model compressors on ebay for seriously cheap. Those are pretty colored, but not necessarily in a low-fi way -- you might be surprized by how nice they can sound.

Some of the older Altec tube comps and mic pres can be very cool. You have to beware of those, though, as they are likely going to be in various states of condition -- some may not even be usable. And some may not even be that good to start with -- do some research on the various models.

 

[Gidge]

my favorite color is green so......

JOE MEEK