Tube replacements for The Brick?

[santiu]

Not sure if this post should go in the DIY section or here, so sorry if it's posted in the wrong forum.

I just picked up a used Groove Tube's The Brick, and I gotta say I'm less than impressed with it's performance. I tried using it yesterday with a Rode NT2a, and the vocals were very tinny and "flat" sounding (that's tinny, not tiny). I also tried an acoustic guitar a few days back, and found the sound to be very "flat". In both cases I found the built in pre-amps on my MOTU 828mkII to be superior. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised given the reviews that this pre-amp generally gets. At $400/channel it's not *that* expensive, but at the same time the MOTU cost less per channel, and it happens comes with a recording interface and digital mixer But i guess everybody has different preferences on what they like.

To its credit, The Brick did do a good job as a DI for Bass and an electric-acoustic ukulele.

Anyhow, i'm wondering if maybe replacing the tubes would help with the tinny-ness and help this pre-amp perform better. Maybe the tubes are just worn out as it is indeed a used unit. Consequently, does anybody have experience with this? What tubes should i look at? Thanks

 

[Dogbreath]

What's in it now?

I don't know anything about the Brick but if it's got a 12AX7 in the pre, you could plug a 12AY7. Mullards or GE 5 star 6072 come to mind. And the only reason those do is cuz I got about a dozen different tubes to try on my mic and guitar head and preamps.

There's a dude goes by Bowie over at Gearslutz that's very knowledgeable about tubes and could probably hook you up.

Hope it helps man............Kel

 

[JTC111]

To its credit, The Brick did do a good job as a DI for Bass...

That's the only thing for which I've ever heard anyone praise that box.

 

[Rust E-Z]

I have read alot of mixed reviews about the Brick, someone in last couple of days on gearsluts said he liked it better than his solo 610.(go figure) I have one and I liked it better than my burr brown IC equipped pre's. Then I built some SCA pre's and now the brick is mainly a di box. I suspect that there might be problem with your brick if it can't compare with your motu pre's, but it's not the best pre out there for sure.

 

[MOFO Pro]

I picked up a Brick when they were selling for about $250... I like it, but if I could only own one preamp... it wouldn't be this one...

But I agree with Rust E-Z, listening is very subjective, but you're decribing the Brick's sonic character in a manner diametrically opposed to what I would expect... I find the brick to be anything but than tinny. I think there's a problem

I'd try some new tubes... for $20 and change it's worth the money... even if it turns out that it's just the "brick" that you don't like, you can always emphasize that it's been re-tubed when you're selling it.