Sleeper gear

[Richard Monroe]

I've been enjoying the "short list of gear not to buy". How about a list of gear that almost nobody mentions, but is cheap and works? Everybody's got some favorites. Now I'm not talking about, say Shure SM57, which almost everybody knows is cheap and works.
Here are a few of mine:
AKG C2000B- versatile workhorse, good as an overhead, on guitar, hand drums, toms, and some vox.

Shure SM82- discontinued line level condenser mic. Intended for remote broadcast work, it rocks on acoustic guitar and many other instruments. Requires a line level input *and* phantom power.

AKG D690- The discontinued predecessor to D770, an excellent dynamic instrument mic good on some vocalists, cabs, snare. Rocks on harmonica.

On Stage SB-96+- Heavy duty boom stand, $80 at 8th street. The only cheap boom I've used that's any good.

Korg PXR4 Pandora- Now $300 at GC, a shockingly effective palm sized digital 4-tracker with a rather good built in mic, USB out, drum machine, metronome, tuner, amp modeling, 'verbs, etc.
The perfect notebook and travel companion.

There's some of mine- 5 pieces of gear that get no respect, but exceed expectations every day. What are some of yours?-Richie

 

[The Green Hornet]

Peavey Can Amp: good quality for 4 pair of cans and less than 75 pezzutos.

Green Hornet

 

[Track Rat]

Folks in broadcasting might recognise the Radio Design Labs line of modular components called "stick ons". I have three of their compressors that were gien to me tha I mounted in a 1U rack case. I love these on vocals. They have a real soft knee and when driven hard sound very cool.

 

[Middleman]

The DBX 160X compressor has a killer sound for drums and bass, occasionally voice, and can be found in most pro studios. Used these are going for $200 a pop and are an excellent buy for a home recorder.

Mini Mag Flashlights - $10 - Every studio needs one for crawling in those dark spaces trying to run down a wiring problem.

 

[A Reel Person]

Dude, I have a long list of 'sleeper' gear!

Tascam:
M30
M-312B
MX-80
PE-40
MH-40
M-1B
564
488mkII
238
234
32
34
38
388
246
244
134
22-4
22-2
TSR-8
MSR-16
MSR-24

Fostex:
R8
FD-8
FD-4
A8LR
Model 80
Model 20
3180
3070
3050

Shure SM57

Had enough?

Say UNCLE!

 

[AlChuck]

Gibson L6-S guitar.

 

[13th_Omen]

Behringer everything! Muhahahah!

 

[Richard Monroe]

Omen, I said "sleeper". not "comatose".-Richie

 

[longsoughtfor]

Electrovoice ND257 awesome sounding dynamic cardiod mic. I got mine off Ebay for $25

 

[SubA]

25ft headphone extension lines. Best damned thing I've ever bought for under $10 in my life.

yamaha rev500 reverb - very nice, and practically being given away used now. No delay, but the verbs are terrific.

suba

 

[Outlaws]

I have to second those headphone extension lines! Cheers on that one

Also...

Adaptors [1/4" -> 1/8", RCA -> 1/4", XLR -> balanced 1/4", all types of dual female connectors for cables to double their lenth] Not really gear like a good cheap compressor, but one day you will need something there and not having to run to Radio Shack or GC in the middle a creative moment is worth the price of EVERYTHING piece there.