quick advice please on vintage dbx 160 compressors

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mig27

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hi everyone,

someone just offered me a pair of vintage dbx 160 VU blackface compressors rackmounted at a mere 520 euros (US $ 450 approx.). So these are those famous first VCA compressors to be released, right? Could someone please confirm that this price is an absolute bargain? I even promise to post some sound-examples.

thanks very much in advance...


michael
 
A single 160VU usually goes for about $800 U.S. A pair for $450 U.S. is a great deal.

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"Jazz, pfffft...They just make it up as they go along."
-Homer Simpson-
 
god - I AM EXCITED

tom,

you must know what you're talking about.
thanks for the quick reply.

looks like I'm bound for a big bargain.
the guy selling the 160ies seems to be liquidating an entire recording studio - I might have to have a talk with my bank-accountant...

I'll let you know...

cheers,


michael
 
MADE IT !!!

what shall I say - the deal is made and I'm in compressor-heaven. I actually got this pair of racked blackface 160 VU's at $ 450,-. They even have consecutive serial-numbers and are in mint condition.

As far as the sound is concerned: these babies are definitely in the league of "magical boxes" - inserted on a program bus, they literally glue things together; it's hard to believe if you haven't heard it for yourself.

lucky me...

regards,


michael
 
You suck. I am very jealous.:D

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"Jazz, pfffft...They just make it up as they go along."
-Homer Simpson-
 
I don't get it Tom....don't they give you a discount for working there?!?!?.......and doesnt some gear new or old come your way for a bargain.....pppfffffftttttt.......why else work there? :)


The dbx 160 is what I call a yanker.......it can yank down on a signal really hard were other compressors 3 times the price fail.
 
Oh I Wish!

I get a discount on current product, that is the main reason I work here. I occassionally get discounts on older stuff, like my 165a's. But I have never seen 160 VU's come through here. We can't get parts for 'em, so we can't repair 'em. They have to be repaired by third party repair companies that have either bought up all the old dbx parts stock, or have raped old units for parts.

I wish there were some "just lying around," but that is, well...just not gonna happen.:)
 
jumping leagues...

alright, so you guys are jealous...

shall I tell you what compressor used to be the only one in my rack?
a gorgeous alesis 3630 (quote: .....pppfffffftttttt.......).
no, seriously - the alesis was rarely used, of course. I mostly relied on the waves-plugs and "PSP vintage warmer" in my DAW.

looks like I just jumped leagues ;))

just a week ago, I got 8 vintage siemens EQ modules (W295b), and let me tell you something: you can crank up the highs (@ 16 kHz) all the way up to +12 dB without any harshness. just sheeeen. I paid $ 250.00 - for eight of them.

these seem to be the advantages of living in berlin - close to the source.

my god, I'm one happy camper.

all the best,


michael
 
compression tech-talk

since we now seem to have all the compression wiz's around - anyone heard of Tonographie/TAB U373a modules? this is vintage german stuff again, 60ies solid state technology.
at eBay.de (germany), there's an auction going on at the very moment. A guy must have stripped down an old broadcasting-console. Anyway, there going for $370.00 a pair.

what do you guys think?
any experiences?
another bargain?

cheers,


michael
 
Mike Tholen is the man for this question. He usually hangs out at George Massenburg's bbs.

Tom Cram
dbx Senior Technical Support
(801) 568-7530
tcram@dbxpro.com

"Jazz, pfffft...They just make it up as they go along."
-Homer Simpson-
 
Re: compression tech-talk

mig27 said:
since we now seem to have all the compression wiz's around - anyone heard of Tonographie/TAB U373a modules? this is vintage german stuff again, 60ies solid state technology.
at eBay.de (germany), there's an auction going on at the very moment. A guy must have stripped down an old broadcasting-console. Anyway, there going for $370.00 a pair.

what do you guys think?
any experiences?
another bargain?

cheers,


michael
Click to expand...

I'll tell you what I know but get another opinion......
From what I know the 373 is a very good compressor but !
it's a bit hard to work with. The attack time is a bit slow but the results when set well are warm and solid !.
From what I know, the on going price is around $500 for the compressors so $370 sounds OK.

A short story from experience......A studio I'm working in got off Ebay a API compressor were the owner swore was in working condition....when it arrived in the studio it wasnt working and from what the tec who fixed it told me it couldnt have been working before considering the state it was in. The added expense to fix it made the whole deal not worth the trouble.
Keep your eyes open !.
 
shailat - you're absolutely right as far as the eBay-risks are concerned. so far, I was lucky. one the other hand, I wouldn't dare to bid for something fragile AND expensive like a vintage tube mic.

nevertheless, those U373a's are solid state and what the heck, I got myself a pair for $350. I will mount them into a rack along with two W295b EQs.

tom, thanks for your hint on asking mike tholen - I'll post something on george massenburgs forum.

all the best and thanks again.


michael
 
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