GOOD MIC PRE FOR HEAVY GUITARS?

[aseymer]

I don't know if this question has already been asked, and if it has I would love it if someone could point me in the right direction. For heavy guitars do most people like a really colored pre or a very transparent clear pre? I know people will have their own preferences, but what seems to be the main route people will go. With that being said, What are some good choices in pres around $400-800 for this application?

Thanks

 

[sprack]

I'm not usually an RTFM kind of guy, but this is one of those topics that has hundreds of threads.

Use the search and/or google.
http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=007593470310830667409:4qw46y8lnza

 

[aseymer]

Thanks alot!

 

[Wolfeman]

Get an API or a clone. They work great for many other applications as well.

 

[aramism]

maybe the one channel great river? i have a dual channel mp2nv and it's amazing. it's usually that or api 3124 that ends up getting the job done.

i mentioned the GR because the single channel version is like $1100 i think, its close to your budget and its pretty much good on anything you put it throw. essentially it's a supercharged neve 1073. api is kind of more "creamy" whereas the GR is more "sharp" if that makes sense?

 

[RichMinerva]

neve clones are good too

 

[Trevoire520]

Mic pre's don't make as big a difference in recording guitar amps as you might think. Focusrite Octopre does a very good job for not alot of money. Black Lion Audio have a API copy thats coming out soon and is looking to be very cheap.

 

[jeid]

BLA also have a half rack API clone coming out shortly as well. Looks like it'll be a great bit of kit for not a lot of money

 

[Jaymz]

BLA also have a half rack API clone coming out shortly as well. Looks like it'll be a great bit of kit for not a lot of money

Hell yes

 

[Trevoire520]

BLA also have a half rack API clone coming out shortly as well. Looks like it'll be a great bit of kit for not a lot of money

Ah that's what I meant, getting my names confused. SCA do API stuff but it's BLA that's got the new cheap one coming out.

 

[PhilTheBeard]

API 312 works amazing on guitar's so does my Chameleon labs 7602mkII

 

[jeid]

Ah that's what I meant, getting my names confused. SCA do API stuff but it's BLA that's got the new cheap one coming out.

I wasn't sure if that's who you meant, so I posted about the BLA one just in case. Looks tasty though. Supposed to be a 312 clone... right?

 

[Jaymz]

BLA say that thier 312 clone sounds more like the SCA A12 (?) than the real API :\ So the clone sounds more like a clone than the real thing...

 

[arv_foh]

GAP Pre73

 

[amarshism]

On heavy guitars I'd always prefer a colored pre to a clean, neutral one. Using an Avalon on heavy guitars is very uninspiring.

 

[C-Martin]

One of my favorite pre for guitars, and one that doesn't seem to be very popular for some reason, is the chandler germanium. You can probably score one for 800ish used if you shop around but the suggested neve clone or API will do just as good.

As already mentioned just a good pre itself won't make you have a killer guitar tone. The amp, cab, room, mic position, mic itself will all have a much bigger effect on the sound. I would suggest posting your signal chain and what kind of results your after and people will more easely be able to steer you in the right direction.

 

[aseymer]

It would most likely be passive pickups into a mesa single rectifier with a mesa 4x12 with v30's into a 57.

Thanks for all the help really appreciate it!