Looking for new preamps

[::XeS::]

Ok, the guy who are mixing my last recording said me that I did a great job but the guitars lack some punch and depth cause I didn't use a great preamp.
In this case I used the m-audio 2626 preamps (he reamped all the guitars so it's not a big problem). I also have a focusrite Octopre LE but the preamps don't sound different at all from the m-audio's.
So...I'm looking for a new preamp to use for guitars and maybe kick and snare, but mainly for guitars...it means that I need a 2 or 4 channels preamp.
Do you have any advice? Actually I don't wanna spend 2000€ for a single preamp but way less.
What about the RME QuadMic? Probably it will make no difference from my actual preamps....it's too cheap to be a great unit.
I read good things about the GoldenAge Project Pre73.
Any good advice?
Thanks

 

[paladin shredder]

I recently got a Pre-73 with the full zen pro mod. It really is a great sounding preamp, and I plan on getting another one. It definitely makes what ever you put through it cut through the mix, and adds a little saturation to it, something you won't get from the typical firewire 8 mic pre units.

I'm working on doing a mic pre shoot out on with this one and a few other pres I have.

 

[Emdprodukt]

API 3124+ or A2D and you have some very good preamps.

 

[laszlozsolt82]

+1 for the Golden age pre 73, it`s a neve clone , i saw this unit in Tue madsen`s rack, the stock one sound good, the modded ones sound wery wery close to the reals, for a fraction of the price.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Ok, the guy who are mixing my last recording said me that I did a great job but the guitars lack some punch and depth cause I didn't use a great preamp.

While a great preamp does affect the sound, I can almost guarantee the lack of punch and depth isn't because you used the ProFire's preamps. There are a hundred factors that contribute to that more than the mic preamp used, as long as it's a decent one and not utterly crappy.

 

[::XeS::]

I will ask him to send me the reamped guitars he did (5150 + mesa os + sutera preamps) so I can judge if it's there is a big difference. I recorded the tracks with 6505+ and H&K cab.
It was a raw riff (don't remember if it was already cleaned): http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1436721/Light Guitars.mp3

 

[gabriel g.]

audient mico 600€ for 2 high class preamps with spdif ad.
great for oh, guitar, bass vox .... everything

 

[AboutBlank]

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISA428mk2

I LOVE my ISAone!

 

[::XeS::]

What about this one? http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/docs/products/A1.shtml

 

[arv_foh]

2 GAP Pre-73s + 57/421 = win

I love my Pre-73s on guitars

 

[::XeS::]

Yeah...I'm very intrigued by these Pre-73's

 

[JeffTD]

I'd go for an API if at all possible. My SCA Neve clone was awesome and all, but the API was way more 'in-your-face' and ballsy, found the Neve a bit stuffy.

 

[::XeS::]

Yeah I know...but when you're not sure if it will affect the sound in a big way...I mean...in a 2000€ way...it's not that easy to invest in a 1000€/preamp channel unit

 

[::XeS::]

Anyway, do you think that these Golden Age pre73 or JoeMeek can give me a better sound that my actual m-audio/Focusrite preamps?
I mean, do they worth the money they cost? It's close to 300€, not too much, but if they change nothing to the sound...I think it's a useless expense

 

[lolzgreg]

A preamp is not going to make a bad guitar tone good, or a good guitar tone great. I would suggest once you really hit a brick wall with your tones, that's when you say "okay, I NEED a new preamp."

 

[ahjteam]

A preamp is not going to make a bad guitar tone good, or a good guitar tone great. I would suggest once you really hit a brick wall with your tones, that's when you say "okay, I NEED a new preamp."

Agreed, I could almost claim that changing the player/guitar/pickups/using a di-box will make bigger impact than the mic preamp

 

[::XeS::]

Of course..but when you work with clients you need the best chain possible...and you can't change players..you have to deal with who comes to you.
My goal is not trasform a bad tone in a good tone, but improve a good tone.

 

[tempe]

I kind of agree with anyone else, sort out EVERYTHING else in your chain first. My tones definitely improved as soon as I got a high quality DI / Reamp box, maybe try some different mics? If your happy with everything else you have start upgrading pre's. I would just get a really nice one or two channel unit something like an API 3124+ or equivalent quality.

 

[::XeS::]

I'm happy with all my gear...main amp is 6505+, cab is a marshall 1960 or the band's cabs...I have several mics, 2 sm57 and 1 Adk that sounds awesome...my DI-Reamp box is a LittleLabs RedEye. I'm really happy with my gear.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

If you're absolutely positive you want a better preamp then, I'd heartfully recommend the 3124 if you want a punchy, in-ypur-face sound. But the fact is, the Profire preamps are decent to say the least.