Console preamp style drive pedals that aren't the Colour Box

[popvulture]

It's not really original, it's one of the few they are proud it's a copy. It's a Neve 1073 in a pedal. It's a pain in the ass to build it that small, so props to the designer. The 1073 circuit is easily findable, but good luck getting it in a similar package.

popvulture, deli had the api pedal at the stompbox show in NY, they might have it in Austin. It sounds great, could do excessive amounts of gain and volume, just a few questionable choices for me. And price. And size. But it roared, made DBA sound quiet.

Yeah, makes perfect sense that the 1073 is hard to cram down into pedal size, so I guess nobody else wants to put that effort into something that's already covered by another big maker. Of course I was super psyched about that API, but I really just can't get over the size. I think it might even be bigger than one of the old Cali76s... what's bigger? Snazzy? Anyway, might as well just stick with a rack unit if they're gonna make something nobody wants to put on a pedalboard.

EDIT: but of COURSE I wanna play it today if they have it

[PeterBregman]

Is this something people actually use/want? I've toyed with the idea of making a console-style preamp for years (especially since I got my start in pro audio and console maintenance), but it always seemed like it would be too boring and expensive.

Is there an appetite for a real-deal console-style instrument preamp? Even if it used real transformers and cost ~$500?

[popvulture]

Well, I can't speak for everybody, but I know that sound interests me a great deal. I've always loved that characteristic gain, but has always been really a studio-only thing. Taking cost and demand into consideration though, I don't know if it'd be worth the risk. What transformers would you use? The JHS uses Lundahl and comes in at $399, but I remember hearing early on in a video that they weren't making a ton of money on them due to the cost of materials (namely said transformer).

Just dawned on me that the Condor could have that kind of capability, but doesn't use a transformer as far as I know. Wonder how gainy it can get...

[popvulture]

But in short, I'd buy the hell out of a 1073 or other cool console-ish pre if you made one. Maybe another limited run like the HEQ would make it a little less scary? Maybe a lower production run would keep costs high, though...

[DRodriguez]

I would love that, but api style channel strip is way cooler for this than neve. The api built one is just too limited for me with set frequencies for the bass and guitar eqs and only 5 preset compression settings.

[PeterBregman]

I would love that, but api style channel strip is way cooler for this than neve. The api built one is just too limited for me with set frequencies for the bass and guitar eqs and only 5 preset compression settings.

Well, a channel strip is a whole other thing. Trying to make a good preamp, EQ, AND compressor all fit in one pedal is basically impossible. I mean, it can be done, but it's never going to be as flexible or robust as the real thing. Plus, it would be expensive as hell. The CBA Condor is probably the closest anyone will get, other than the API deal (which is expensive, limited, and not very similar to the real deal).

I think a serious console-style preamp is doable though. Could do a Neve-ish 1290-type deal, or a real, discrete, API 312-type deal, or (maybe more interesting) something more vintage, like an RCA BA-31a kinda vibe. It could maybe have some basic tone controls, but at the end of the day, it would be mostly about coloration, gain, and volume. Not sure if that would appeal to folks or not though.

[popvulture]

Yeah, I just love that DI style gain—it's really kind of weird and shitty from a "good tone" perspective, but I think it sounds fantastic. Of course putting it in front of a guitar amp adds more of the so-called good tone into the mix, which is maybe something we don't want, but kind of inevitable in a live situation unless you're going straight into the PA.

[popvulture]

Welp, just played the Condor for a few minutes at the SXSW Stopmbox Exhibit, and that thing is very cool. Crazy wide sweep, and a lot of flexibility with the Q switches. Best thing was that the left footswitch toggles between clean and dirty, and from what I could tell you can get some pretty great console-y sounds with the dirty gain up. Granted I was playing through a headphone amp, which could've maximized that DI feel, but I dunno... my GAS levels for it have raised even more.

[actual]

I wonder how difficult it would be to take one of the CAPI's and build it into a pedal enclosure. I mean, a VP25 kit is 252 with op-amp.

[ritz]

Been hyping myself on the broadcast. Now this thread has me wanting a JHS pedal. Didn't see that coming.

[Chankgeez]

ILFCaper2018: we break into JHS and steal a case of Colour Boxes?

[lordgalvar]

Ring mod has transformers.

Ring mod signal against itself is a good distortion sound.

[Kacey Y]

We need an ilovecapers.org sub-forum.

[dubkitty]

after listening to demos i'm a little dismayed by how much i like the Colourbox. i could use the fuck out of that thing to warm up my computer recordings. i don't care much for the distortion sounds, but as a preamp it sounds golden.

[Psyre]

Yeah, I found the colourbox pretty appealing but all the bs and price made it easy to pass up. The only JHS pedal to interest me at all really.