UA 2-610 and other colored pres - opinions?

[Shellacattack]

I'm looking into getting a Universal Audio 2-610S. Anyone here have any experience with these? I can't seem to find many opinions regarding these.. perhaps that's a bad thing.. I dunno.

As an alternative, if you have a favorite pre that can add moderate to extreme levels of color to drums, e guitars, bass, and vox, please chime in.

$1500 or less if it's just the pres, or $2000 if it gets me EQ in addition to the pres.

Thanks!
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"Took my money, I couldn't buy nothin. I'm sick of this brave new world."

[oldguitars]

i love mine. Colored for sure. My go to bass di/pre. excellent on all guitars... e and a...

Drum rooms (or oh's if that's what i'm after)


mine are the 1st gen with no pad... i wish they had a pad...
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[Ryan Silva]

The UA m610 was my first serious mic pre, and although I have a few more choices now then I did then, its still a go-to unit on some things.

Yep the DI is my favorite part. On passive electric bass (Pbass) it growls when driven. I prefer it over my BAE 1023 and API DIs on most things. Good for pedal delay returns in the mix.

As a mic pre my m610 has some good relationships with a few specific microphones.

-AKG 414buls when paired with the 610 has this magical thing going on between 6-8k on vocals. Great for tenors belting out choruses at the top of their range.
-EV RE-20 into the pre (500ohm) you get this soft pillowy kick drum thump from about 6 inches from the head. Works well for floor tom but don't expect to get much 'whack!' if thats what you're going for.
-Chameleon Labs TS-1 (tube sdc) Wonderful on strummed acoustic guitar but the pre gets in the way if your recording picked guitar. It just seems a little slow to react to fast transients.

I will always have mine.....i think
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MoreSpaceEcho

[Ryan Silva]

Also found this:

http://www.vintageking.com/Universal-Audio-2-610-630-used?sc=14&category=185
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"Writing good songs is hard. recording is easy. "

MoreSpaceEcho

[The Scum]

Chandler Germanium?
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[digitaldrummer]

I had a 2-610 and sold it and bought an LA-610 instead (cause I wanted the compressor but I really liked the 2-610). I totally agree with the "magic" of the 610 (or LA610) and the AKG 414b-ULS. also very nice on some bass guitars.

not sure it would be my first choice on drums. I find it darker and slower (blurry?). I use a pair of the A-designs P1's (like the Pacifica) for drum overheads and can't say enough good things about them (paired with the 414s).

the Avedis MA5 is mighty versatile too but you need the 500 chassis.

Mike
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[fossiltooth]

I like the 610 a lot on some things. Great on some vocals, DI bass for a more vintage sound. I'd say it gets used there more than anywhere else. Sometimes keys and room mics too. I'm glad it's not the only decent pre in my racks, but when it sounds good it can sound really good.
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[Shellacattack]

Awesome. Thank you for the replies everyone!

Ryan, thank you for posting the Vintage King link!
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"Took my money, I couldn't buy nothin. I'm sick of this brave new world."

[losthighway]

[Bro Shark]

The correct term is "pres of color."

[Ryan Silva]

[The Scum]

So it's off color to use the term "pregro?"


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"What fer?"
"Cat fur, to make kitten britches."

[joninc]

this pre gets dissed a lot. i have no idea why. people are always saying it's too easy to clip. those people are stupid. (turn it down idiot)

i LOVE it.

brilliant with ribbons - M160 on electric or acoustic YUMMY

mines been living a lot with a Mono COles overhead setup.
or also with my Lawson L47 as a mono overhead or room mic.

also bass di and through (i have the solo 610) to the amp.

also love it on electric guitars.

not my first choice on vocals. now sure why...

gotta try it with the 414 - i don't know that i have done that yet.

got mine used at L and M for like $550. can't beat that.

i have other Great River and Chandler stuff that i love and this gets everybit as much use...
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the new rules : there are no rules

[red cross]

I have Chandler TG2s, Helios Type69s, AEA TRPs and some others, but the 2-610 is still my favourite preamp. I use the line amps on almost every mix too...

[mobtownstudios]