So who has experience with LA-2A, LA-3A, and 2-LA-2 ?

[Lee Cardan]

I tried this on gearslutz but didn't get the answer I was looking for, so I'll try here

I love what my LA-2A does to guitars, both clean and dirty
I'd love this style in the form of a bus compressor for guitar bus, and for whatever reason I'm only looking at the following options:

1- buying another LA-2A and using them as guitar bus, but that would leave my bass lonely in the mix (although I do have a CL1B and STA, but I love the CL1B on tracking bass and LA-2A moreso in mixing, and the STA I just can't take off vocals!)

2- buying a 2-LA-2. will this really give me what I'm looking for? I hear a lot of people say (and I should stop speaking right there) it's good but hasn't got the same magic of the LA-2A. but then again, I'm sure it's good, and at around the $3K they go for surely they're not a bad option?

3- but then again, at $3K a nice racked pair of LA-3As can be found, which I've heard (gaa) nothing but great things about, especially for guitars


so, what would you do?

[mylesgm]

I'm in a similar thought pattern so I'm interested too...

[rick]

I have no faith in the latest run of reissued la 2a or any new ua stuff
less faith in getting two real old ones that sound the same
no love for la 3a or 4a in working pairs

but when my recording mix room is done i will be stocking up on a couple of manley elops
and i will be finding an eighties reissue la 2a

I dont know if that helps or hinders your quest

[Chinagraf]

Hey Rick, I have one of those 79 reissues , rev 3 I think? Sounds great but has A-10 on the input. Never has worried me though.



"sorry andy i mucked up you post by mistake - feel free to redit it "
-rick

[Alistair]

Maybe off topic, maybe not, but in my list for the rest of the year is this-
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=32677

Has a lot of positive reviews on Group DIY, but that's the problem with DIY- how do you really know before it's built.

[Lee Cardan]

thanks for all the replies people

Alistair, thanks for the link but I'm not really looking at DIY options at the moment (i'm just too lazy these days)

Chinagraf, sounds awesome that's pretty much what I was hoping to hear. I might just take you up on that. on the other hand, what would it take you to get it over to ebs? I'm all for hearing stuff, but unless it's in my environment I don't really know what I'm listening to if you know what I mean!

thanks Angus

Rick, definitely hinder, but I appreciate your experience


I have one LA-2A reissue and no experience with a 'real' one. and I still love it, so I'm not too fussed about reissue or not. I'd love the old ones though, but then again I'm really sick of dealing with vintage gear breaking down so new is a nice option to have

[Chinagraf]

QUOTE -
"sorry andy i mucked up you post by mistake - feel free to redit it "
-rick

Was it that thing I said about you and the goats in Greece?

Short version was LA3A's rule on guitars.

Lee, maybe could bring one over next week. I'll check the schedule on Monday and give you a hoy.

[Barney Loveland]

I think the Buzz SOC is great, opto comp and linkable. Gets used on lots, tracking, mixing. Acc guits, drum buss, horns.

http://www.buzzaudio.com/products/soc1.1.htm

I can't find it now but i thought there was an updated version the had MS capabilty and other features.

edit- http://www.vintageking.com/Buzz-Audio-S ... tegory=501

[Lee Cardan]

QUOTE -
"sorry andy i mucked up you post by mistake - feel free to redit it "
-rick

Was it that thing I said about you and the goats in Greece?

Short version was LA3A's rule on guitars.

Lee, maybe could bring one over next week. I'll check the schedule on Monday and give you a hoy.

ok but you've got to think of somethign I can do for you
I'm sick of all the people doing me favours and wanting nothing in return! you know who you are, making me feel all guilty

[DarkSky]

Hey Lee,
At the risk of exacerbating your misplaced feelings of guilt...

If Andy's bringing an LA-3A over next week, let me know the day and I'll see if I can swing it to pull the 2-LA-2 from the rack here and bring it down at the same time. That way you can put all three contenders up at once and see what's what.

And maybe then we'll make you buy us a pizza or something.