rankus wrote on Wed, 03 May 2006 15:12 |
Great sound. Very versatile... you will need at least two. They are addictive! |
Gilliland wrote on Fri, 05 May 2006 19:13 |
They didn't offer anything better than my SP828s, which are quite a bit less money per channel... |
compasspnt wrote on Sat, 06 May 2006 05:03 | ||
Very strange Jim. The GT is a much better pre. |
compasspnt wrote on Sat, 06 May 2006 05:29 |
Certain differences are often not apparent to some on individual sources. It is the summing of several, or even many things together where the real differences can start showing. Many pre's will sound "fine" or "really about the same" on just one thing at a time. |
compasspnt wrote on Sat, 06 May 2006 13:29 |
Certain differences are often not apparent to some on individual sources. It is the summing of several, or even many things together where the real differences can start showing. |
grizzly joe wrote on Sat, 06 May 2006 21:03 |
just a heads up: $700 & $800 is NOT in the same price range as the Brick... the Brick runs from $350 to $400. you just doubled the price and said it's the same range haha. |
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But there are a lot of other very good pres on the market in the same price range (2 channels for $700 to $800). |
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As long as you don't need more gain than it can offer, it will likely meet your needs. |
Gilliland wrote on Sat, 06 May 2006 20:13 | ||
It's a convenient answer, and there's certainly some truth to it, but I note that you sidestepped my question about your experience with the other mic pre. |
runamuck wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 07:00 |
Of course, it's never a good idea to bow down to authority. But me thinks it's an even better idea - at least in this case - to know who you're arguing with. |
Vertigo wrote on Sun, 07 May 2006 21:27 |
A lack of gain on the Brick has never really been an issue for me, even with ribbons. I guess if you're working with really low output mic's and trying to run hot to tape it might be an issue, but I've never thought of it as a low output pre. |
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If you're using a ribbon mic as an area mic, it could be troublesome |
dcook wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 18:45 |
... the brick is very clear and uncolored. |
Gilliland wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 07:04 | ||
True, I suppose, and that goes both ways. The internet does tend to be something of an equalizer among its participants. In any event, my only goal here was to report my own direct experiences with this pre - isn't that what the original poster asked for? It's a good pre - I just think that its reputation has overreached its actual capabilities to some degree. Others are free to form and hold their own opinions. As I said before, YMMV. I liked the Brick. It's extremely well built and will probably last damn near forever. The tubes are run conservatively enough that you can probably run it for 10 years without worrying about replacing them. It sounds fine, nothing magic about it, nothing wrong with it either. It's not a "boutique" mic pre. And while it does have tubes and transformers at each end, they don't create a huge "stamp" on its sound. At its price point, I don't think it's a bad buy. But there are a lot of other tube pres out there in the same price (per channel) range. I also like my SP828s. On the sources that I tested, I didn't find significant difference between them and the Bricks. So perhaps that's what you should take away from this - that the SP828s are really quite a nice bargain, very good sound for very little money. They're probably not as rugged as the Bricks, though I've certainly had no trouble at all with mine (and I've got three of them). Also, they won't serve as a DI. They are really quite dissimilar from the Brick, which is why the comparison is interesting. What I take from it is that the tubes and transformers aren't a big part of the Brick's sound. So someone who is looking for that sound may be better served with a different pre. I'd like to post some sample mixes for comparisons sake, but I'm out of town this week (and sadly, I probably won't have much time even when I do get home). So that will have to wait. |
Jim Gilliland wrote on Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:18 am |
I used the 828 on a recording last night. I haven't started work on the actual mix yet, so I can't really give it a fair review, but based on the safety mix that I captured last night, it's going to turn out to be a keeper. It seems to be quite a good sounding preamp for so little money, and the limited mix capability worked well for me yesterday. Don't expect any "magic", just a good clean signal. Preliminary listening suggests that it's cleaner than the pres on my Spirit mixer (which I like quite well, btw), but I don't have any really high end stuff to compare it with. And of course, there's nothing blind about my listening experiments, so you shouldn't put too much stock in them. |
blueboy wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 19:28 |
Damn, I wish I had drawn on your vast experience with preamps before I bought the Brick. I should have never listened to Terry, or believed all those positive reviews. I guess I overpaid about $325 per channel for all those inconsequential tubes and transformers. Oh well...live and learn. |
Gilliland wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 11:53 |
You needn't take me seriously if you don't choose to. But I've got plenty of experience with equipment in this category (we are in the "Budget" section of the board, no?). And if you overpaid when you bought your Brick(s), that's unfortunate. If so, though, that's your own conclusion - it's certainly not one of the points that I've made here. |
blueboy wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 20:30 |
When people post their opinions on this forum I like to qualify their statements by checking out their background first. I generally tend to place greater weight on those statements made by recognized professionals with years of experience. The REP forums have a very high ratio of knowledgeable posters. I am here to learn, and these people are willing to teach. The fact that people with that level of experience are willing to share their opinions (especially on budget gear) is what makes this forum so great. You are of course entitled to your opinion, but please do not push away the "valued contributors" by annoying them. |
blueboy wrote on Mon, 08 May 2006 23:15 |
Number one...please review your posts on this topic if you are confused about the reaction. |
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Number two...I am defending a "static free" forum, not any individual. I didn't accuse you of attacking anyone, I accused you of being annoying. |
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Number three...Let's move on, and in the future, preface our comments with our level of experience on a particular topic in order to give other readers a sense of perspective on our posts. |
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It sounds fine, nothing magic about it, nothing wrong with it either. It's not a "boutique" mic pre. And while it does have tubes and transformers at each end, they don't create a huge "stamp" on its sound. |
Vertigo wrote on Tue, 09 May 2006 01:32 |
Have you tried really pushing it hard? I've found a bit of extra magic this way and gotten some really great sounds. And I think they clip nicely on certain sources. I'm a guitarist, so I'm of the mindset that all tube equipment must be pushed to its limit to sound good. Why else would they stick a tube in there?? |
maxim wrote on Tue, 09 May 2006 01:48 |
... that's a little bit of 'attitude' towards a respected moderator from a forum newbie... |
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Tubes are not just for clipping. |
maxim wrote on Thu, 11 May 2006 07:42 |
terry wrote: "I bought all eight of my Bricks directly from ..." so do you have eight of everything? like noah's ark on steroids |
compasspnt wrote on Thu, 11 May 2006 14:41 |
Actually, the only Fairchilds I ever cared much for are software ones. |
rankus wrote on Fri, 12 May 2006 13:50 |
Hey Terry, While you had yours opened up did you consider any mods such as pad switches or polarity switching? I am curious if there is enough room, and if it is feasible at all. If so, any drawings / pics / comments / suggestions? Peace. |
compasspnt wrote on Thu, 11 May 2006 09:41 |
Actually, the only Fairchilds I ever cared much for are software ones. |
compasspnt wrote on Sat, 20 May 2006 22:21 |
EDIT: I should have tried this last Sunday on Modder's Day. |
compasspnt wrote on Wed, 30 August 2006 21:59 |
However, remember that is just one opinion. Jim Gilliland, for instance, preferred his 828 in many instances. And you do get more pre-per-buck that SP way. |
Bill Urick wrote on Sun, 13 August 2006 21:06 |
I'm in Atlanta-they had to drop ship mine from Alabama. But I got a GREAT DEAL. Cheaper than I can buy them direct as a GT tube dealer. Check your local Guitar Mart before they're all gone! |
Gilliland wrote on Sat, 02 September 2006 17:43 |
The one I bought last week was $199. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I need two at that price. |
compasspnt wrote on Sun, 03 September 2006 00:22 |
Where please? Any more available at that price? |