Mic pre advice for around a grand?

[tweakeasy]

I've just put a deposit on a BLUE Cactus, due to arrive in about 3 weeks. In that time I'd like to start researching a good pre to pair up with it, and to be honest I know VERY little about what's out there in that price range/ what I should be looking for in a good pre. Looking for advice on how best to spend my money, in a couple more months after I've recovered from the purchase of the Cactus! Ouch.

I've heard very good things about JLM here in Brisbane and would certainly like to support Australian, but don't know whether they'd be in my price-range, nor whether I have the DIY skills for their kits.

Appreciate greatly any help anyone can provide.

Cheers!

Michael

[ChrisW]

Five and a bit hours to go:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/JLM-Audio-BA2-Ba ... 7C294%3A50

[13thbeach]

Hi tweak,
I have a pair of Auditronic channel strips i'm looking to sell. I've advertised in the for sale section. After $800 for the pair but need to sell soon
so would be willing to take offers. good vintage channels that need to be racked. Well worth it.
Cheers.

[tweakeasy]

Five and a bit hours to go:

Yes I saw that, but like I said as I have to pay off my new mic in the next few weeks I can't jump on another purchase straight away. Thanks though!

I was just on the JLM online shop looking at their kits again... They seem amazing for what you get for the money but I don't even own a soldering iron let alone know how to wield one convincingly. Does anyone know if JLM will complete them for an extra fee?

[TimS]

I have a pair of Auditronics 110B mic pres racked by Rob at Proharmonic.
Really nice pre's for the price - admitedly, I have a pair, but for under $2G, you'd be mad buy more expensive units, unless you are going the 'name brand' route only.. ;-)
Then again, I've just added 2 API 512C's to my rig... ;-*
Also check out mixmasters.com.au for other nice gear

[tweakeasy]

Hi tweak,
I have a pair of Auditronic channel strips i'm looking to sell. I've advertised in the for sale section. After $800 for the pair but need to sell soon
so would be willing to take offers. good vintage channels that need to be racked. Well worth it.
Cheers.

Thanks mate, not able to make my purchase "soon" but will do some research into these units to find out what other users say about them and get back to you if I'm interested.

Cheers

[tweakeasy]

I have a pair of Auditronics 110B mic pres racked by Rob at Proharmonic.
Really nice pre's for the price - admitedly, I have a pair, but for under $2G, you'd be mad buy more expensive units, unless you are going the 'name brand' route only.. ;-)
Then again, I've just added 2 API 512C's to my rig... ;-*
Also check out mixmasters.com.au for other nice gear

Certainly not going the 'name brand' route, best quality for price is what I'm after but as you alluded to with the API's - we all get drawn to the name brand gear if it's name brand gear because it's received so much love! :)

Were you mentioning your 110B's in reference to them being for sale or just letting me know what can be had for under 2 grand? Wasn't sure.

Yes I already know of Mixmasters, great site. Cheers mate!

[Kurt]

There's been a bit of buzz about the Golden Age 1073, someone in Australia is importing them now, doesn't seem to be too big a downunder tax either... ('round $500 I think)

[tweakeasy]

There's been a bit of buzz about the Golden Age 1073, someone in Australia is importing them now, doesn't seem to be too big a downunder tax either... ('round $500 I think)

Thanks, just read some user comments on them of Gear Slutz and they seem to rate pretty highly, though sounds like they should be judged on their own merits rather than be compared to the Neve. Found them on Aussie eBay for $505 delivered like you say, but there's a wait til perhaps August (which would suit me fine). Saw that they're also available on US ebay for around $445 AUD delivered, for immediate shipment. Guess the extra $60 could be worth the local product-support, not sure.

The Chameleon Labs 7602 MkII rates very highly about the place also, with the added bonus of EQ and reportedly better sound, though that comes at nearly double the cost. Within my original price range though. Any experience with/ thoughts on this unit?

[Kurt]

I'm a cloth-eared git who is happy with his ART mpa gold and DBX mini-pre... I've never had more expensive toys/tools so I guess I don't know what I'm missing out on ;)

[tweakeasy]

I'm a cloth-eared git who is happy with his ART mpa gold and DBX mini-pre... I've never had more expensive toys/tools so I guess I don't know what I'm missing out on ;)

Fair enough. I figure if I don't spend my money on quality gear, I'm only going to spend it on silly things like food, clothing and shelter...
My girlfriend might even expect me to take her out! :O haha

[headman]

"Does anyone know if JLM will complete them for an extra fee?"
Yes Joe builds all of his mic pres and sells them as a 19 inch single rack unit.
That way you can buy a Baby Animal and a TG (or any other combination) and have them in one case.
It's around about 2500 for the pair so the BA's on Ebay are a great deal

headman

[tweakeasy]

"Does anyone know if JLM will complete them for an extra fee?"
Yes Joe builds all of his mic pres and sells them as a 19 inch single rack unit.
That way you can buy a Baby Animal and a TG (or any other combination) and have them in one case.
It's around about 2500 for the pair so the BA's on Ebay are a great deal

headman

Thanks mate.

[heathen]

The cactus are meant to be fairly robust and thick sounding so maybe leaning on the cleaner side in a pre could be a good choice, like Avalon m5 or similar.

[tweakeasy]

The cactus are meant to be fairly robust and thick sounding so maybe leaning on the cleaner side in a pre could be a good choice, like Avalon m5 or similar.

Thanks, will look into the Avalon M5. Apparentlyly the Avedis MA5 is worth checking out too, as supposedly it's very close to "the Neve sound".

I've also come across the Chameleon Labs 7602 MkII in my travels, which has a Carnhill transformer factory upgrade option. Comes to around a grand and I'm attracted to it as it has eq. Would be nice to have eq other than only the onboard eq of my MOTU 828 Mk3.

[TimS]

The Avedis MA5 is a very nice pre - I A/B'd that and an API 512 at Gold Coast Mix in Feb this year when I was up there.
The MA5 is very nice, but the API was just a little more robust overall.
The 28K switch on the MA5 is a nice addition too.. Sweetens the top end nicely..
I did go API route though.. ;-)
Wouldnt hesitate to get some MA5's later though.

[tweakeasy]

The Avedis MA5 is a very nice pre - I A/B'd that and an API 512 at Gold Coast Mix in Feb this year when I was up there.
The MA5 is very nice, but the API was just a little more robust overall.
The 28K switch on the MA5 is a nice addition too.. Sweetens the top end nicely..
I did go API route though.. ;-)
Wouldnt hesitate to get some MA5's later though.

Looks like the Avalon M5's Heathen mentioned are in a different ballpark too - around $2750, whereas the Avedis MA5 can be had for under a grand. Definitely closer to my ballpark figure.

Though I must say the more I read the more my head is swimming with different mic pre possibilities and information... I'm trying not to let GAS interfere and keep on track with my original budget... Difficult.

From what I've read the API's you got are very popular. "Ballsy" came up a lot in the descriptions, or words to that effect. One thing I am certain of, I would prefer to get a stand-alone unit or something that is already racked, I don't want to have to source a rack and psu after purchase, I just want to get the unit, plug in and play.

[HA_DA_JA]

Ive got a Golden Pre73 coming in next week all up $479including freight with 1 year warranty. Looking forward to hearing how this sounds with my Beesneez James mic.

[tweakeasy]

Ive got a Golden Pre73 coming in next week all up $479including freight with 1 year warranty. Looking forward to hearing how this sounds with my Beesneez James mic.

Was that from tallpoppydistro on eBay with "or best offer" or where? It's a little bit cheaper from jrr_shop on US eBay, but perhaps you don't get the 1yr warranty with that...

[tweakeasy]

I've decided to save my pennies and go for the Manley VOXBOX at this stage. Can be had mint second-hand for around 2700 AUD plus shipping. If anyone has any suggestions for an alternative to this which will also provide me with the same range of features (and that I don't have to build myself) I am, as always, open to advice.

Cheers

Michael

[Chris H]

All you guys have missed the boat completlely........
Hey Michael ...just deposit the grand into my account and the advice will be forthcoming PRONTO. Best advice you could get for a grand, guaranteed!

[tweakeasy]

All you guys have missed the boat completlely........
Hey Michael ...just deposit the grand into my account and the advice will be forthcoming PRONTO. Best advice you could get for a grand, guaranteed!

Yes after first posting I thought that one would be coming stat, I was even beginning to think I'd have to make the joke myself!

Thanks for saving me the trouble! What's your PayPal add and I'll deposit the grand immediately. Don't mind sharing the fees do you?

[Chris H]

All you guys have missed the boat completlely........
Hey Michael ...just deposit the grand into my account and the advice will be forthcoming PRONTO. Best advice you could get for a grand, guaranteed!

Yes after first posting I thought that one would be coming stat, I was even beginning to think I'd have to make the joke myself!

Thanks for saving me the trouble! What's your PayPal add and I'll deposit the grand immediately. Don't mind sharing the fees do you?

PM sent! :)

[tweakeasy]

PM sent! :)

PM replied! :) Nice doing business with you. To anyone else considering doing business with Chris, I highly recommend him. Advice was shipped fast, arrived in as-described condition and sounds great. A+++

[Luke Garfield]

Just to put it out there.

3 pres I think that are great bang for buck for under the 1k region that I have used personally on various projects.

1. The Brick - Groove Tubes. Nothing to fancy and not a bag load of gain but was definitely a piece of gear that I'd grab if I needed something decent that was cheap.
2. Trident S20 Dual Mic Pre - Just a good solid unit that sounds good and it's dual to suit those stereo mic'ing needs.
3. Summit Audio 2BA 221 Mic/Line Pre - This one is a bit of a sleeper and whilst it doesn't have EQ with variable impedance you can really get some different tones out of the mic by fiddling. It is one of the most decent sounding versatile boxes I have heard. You can really dirty up a mic or leave it nice and clean. This would be my "top of the list" if you wanted a great sounding pre that does a bunch of things.