need opinion on mixer

[HogansHiro]

hey gang, once again I'm looking at a mixer but being stuck on this rock I can't try one out as nobody has one on the Island.
I'm interested in the Allen/Heath GS3000 (32 channel/8buss). http://www.allen-heath.com/products/gs3k.html
I especially like the two built in tube preamps. Is this a novelty or are they pretty good? It also has seperate faders on each channel for tape returns from my recorder. Novelty or useful as well?
If anyone has an opinion on this or on british boards in general please let me know.
Thanx...you guys are swell

 

[Recording Engineer]

I too wondered if those two tube pres in that board were really all that great. Just out of curiosity and fun; I'm not looking for a board.

Also, as far as faders for tape returns on each channel, this is an awesome thing. I've worked on an Otari board before (don't remember which model) which had dual faders on each channel. Extremely nice!

 

[Cave Dweller]

Allen & Heath boards are great! I have a 14:4:2 Mix Wizzard and I have used it with great results. It also doubles as a good live board and has reverse features that allow individual busses to be swapped with the auxes, so the monitors can be controlled with the group faders. My board and some of the larger A&H boards also have link features that combine two boards as one. Overall, they build solid equipment and they have good costomer service

 

[Cave Dweller]

Allen & Heath boards are great! I have a 14:4:2 Mix Wizzard and I have used it with great results. It also doubles as a good live board and has reverse features that allow individual busses to be swapped with the auxes, so the monitors can be controlled with the group faders. My board and some of the larger A&H boards also have link features that combine two boards as one. Overall, they build solid equipment and they have good costomer service