Recording direct/preamp

nick · Post by **nick** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 8:19 am

Had a great sonic experience last night- I was in the studio to record a last-minute bass part(with my 4003) for a record I'm working on, and to my dismay, the Fender Bassman Ten that I had had so much luck with a few weeks ago was starting to **** out and have some difficulty-It was the only amp around, so we decided (since we'd been having so much luck with nice clean Rickenbacker tones anyway)to run straight into the board through a tube preamp- so the studio owner/engineer runs me into a Manley Dual Mono Microphone Preamp.
Let me just say one thing: If you EVER see one of these things in a studio, run your Rickenbacker through it- you have never heard such clear low end-I ended up with this tone somewhere between a stand-up bass and Abbey Road-ish McCartney-and again, the low end was incredible.
I have only used direct signals for coloring my amp tones on record before, so you can imagine my surprise. I sensed (when I got my new 4003 in Sept) due to reading newsgroups, etc. that there was some sort of general dislike of the new (new-ish)stock 4003 pickups, but I've gotta say that they're the most versatile pickups I've ever had the pleasure of recording with, and it seems like I've been lucky enough to be surprised every time I get something to sound exactly how I had imagined it (with such ease!!!)
Anyway, be on the lookout for these Manley preamps.

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gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:10 am

Yep Manley pre's are great!!! But be shure before you buy one, that you also try a Avalon 737SP pre. The nice part about these pre's is that you can run them as complete pre-amp, EQ and dynamicprocessor in one into a nice poweramp.

Both manley, as Avalon are not cheap (really not cheap!!!!) but nice. It's a good thing for bassplayers anyway to look at nice channelstrips as they can give goods results in studio's, as well as on stage.

I mostly record as clean as possible, and if needed re-amp/mic up the signal again, but be shure to stay away for phasing-demons.

As anyone knows: Chrismas is on it's way, and maybe everone of us gets his/her Manley or Avalon LOL.

nick · Post by **nick** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:56 am

There was an Avalon in another studio in town, but I just started liking to record this way, I'm gonna have to go record there to try it out!

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:04 pm

I used to have an Avalon U5 until I got a Furman PQ3. I replaced the stock opamps with LM833 opamps and this thing is as nice or better than the U5. I also added a top of the line Jensen line output transformer with a ground lift switch. This thing is so nice to record with and it is inexpensive.

bassplyr98 · Post by **bassplyr98** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 6:30 pm

Folks, I have been using an art sgx2000 for the last number of years, with the x15 controller. as primary effects and pre amp unit. Though
primarily designed for guitar I think, this is an amazingly flexible, great sounding (though a challenge to set up if you have'nt used art stuff)\
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gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 7:40 am

As everything during recording, mood of the player can play a role in what gear you want to use on the recording. I remember a few years back, I could not find the sound and feel. Most of the times, I bring a lot of toys to the sessions. This goes from stompboxes to preamps, di's and instruments.

That day I only could get the sound for that day from my (very)old Yamaha FX 500B pre-amp. And guess what: I'm using it again in my three days old Ric-O-Sound setup next to my Eden WT-300.....

But one day, I buy myself an Avalon - I'm really in love with these things!!!

The only problem overhere in The Netherlands/Europe is that you won't find them second hand, or at least they are very hard to find. So buying them new overhere will set you back at least $2800,= Kind of a small detail ain't it? LOL But I will have it one day.

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 7:42 am

As everything during recording, mood of the player can play a role in what gear you want to use on the recording. I remember a few years back, I could not find the sound and feel. Most of the times, I bring a lot of toys to the sessions. This goes from stompboxes to preamps, di's and instruments.

That day I only could get the sound for that day from my (very)old Yamaha FX 500B pre-amp. And guess what: I'm using it again in my three days old Ric-O-Sound setup next to my Eden WT-300.....

But one day, I buy myself an Avalon - I'm really in love with these things!!!

The only problem overhere in The Netherlands/Europe is that you won't find them second hand, or at least they are very hard to find. So buying them new overhere will set you back at least $2800,= Kind of a small detail ain't it? LOL But I will have it one day.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 8:16 am

I won't play anywhere without my line 6 bass pod

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 12:58 pm

Robin, are you sure about the price of the Avalon U5 ? 599 EUR here, NEW :

http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/englisch/shop/produktinfo.asp?info=REC0001587-000

And 92 EUR extra for the RM-1 rack mounting kit.

Hope this helps,
JL

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 1:07 pm

> I won't play anywhere without my line 6 bass pod

I sold mine. After spending hours and hours of tweakin', I finally figured out the bass amp emulations in my J-Station were far better than those in the Bass Pod. But it's up to anyone's personal taste, eh.

Cheers,
JL

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:56 pm

Until very recently, I owned an Avalon U5... when you plug your bass through it and into a high quality PA system, your bass will immediately grow an extra pair of "cojones"!

I gigged for quite awhile with just my bass and the U5... very, very satisfying!

I know I'll get another Avalon unit one fine day!

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 9:47 pm

No, I'm not talking about the U5, but about the 737 SP pre-amp. This box would make more sense for me, as I do run a homestudio also.

But maybe I should shrink the wishlist, and settle for a U5......

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 9:50 pm

Or I could save some money, by buying a U5 instead of a 737SP, and order a complete black/blackhardware - but with the sharkfin inlayed neck-4003....LOL

gothbin · Post by **gothbin** » Fri Dec 05, 2003 10:07 pm

Althoug I used some interesting stuff for recording, I knowadays use the Reverend-Drivetrain -> Eden WT-300 -> speakerout to H&K Redbox (speaker emulation ON) -> Desk/recorder.

One great thing about the older WT-300's (Designed by "the" Jim Demeter) is that they are very quiet, and if used with care the dynamics section in both the pre- and poweramp can give a nice ooomph witout boomyness or extreme peaks.

I'm still not happy with the Redbox part of the story, but as others stated: a Basspod ain't satisfying either for me. I own a Basspod and a Pod v2, but I think they lack clarity, dynamics and pureness. Just don't know, maybe the XT versions are better, but I'm also not very interested in "old amp" emulations, other than having a the real old amp. I'm not really a vintage guy, some aspects are nice in old sounds, but for me it's almost 2004.

What would be nice to have though is an old B-15 (here you go Bob) and/or some old Marshall kind of amp. These would be mainly used for recording purposes. On stage I rely on the following chain: Rickenbacker 4003 / Catalyst Tigris (a Dutch handbuild composite/ceramic) -> Drivetrain -> Eden WT-300 -> Peavey KV 1.3 ( 2 x 1000watt slave) -> Mesa Powerhouse 2x10" and a Peavey 4x10"
- a moderest weighted rig, but man what a power!!! And the fun part of this rig is, that if I don't need so much power, I can leaf some parts at home. Saves your back......LOL All in all the complete rig is about 350LBS/160 KG (-which is more than enough).

nick · Post by **nick** » Sat Dec 06, 2003 3:58 pm

Recorded direct again today into a Joe Meek VC1- another great preamp.