UA610 or Hamptone tube pre?

dumbangel · Post by **dumbangel** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:29 pm

I need another tube mic pre to go with my Tab-funkenwerk V78.

I want to get a different colour from the V78 just for the sake of variety, and I've narrowed my search to these 2 preamps.

Which one would you recommend?

m morgan · Post by **m morgan** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:48 pm

I own a Tab V78! Great pre.

I've also used the UA2-610 and Hamptone Silverbox pretty extensively.

When available, the Hamptone is my "go-to" pre for a lot of things. I can't say that about the 610.

hope that helps.

-m

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:02 pm

hamptone.

do a search. you'd struggle to find any negative comments about it. i have it and love it. i've never used the UA thing, but i know the HVTP2 sound great on every single instrument or voice i put through it.

i ajust got a V78M myself. it's on its way back from Oliver @ AMI/TAB now after some repairs. can't wait to use it.

-ryan

dumbangel · Post by **dumbangel** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 6:00 pm

Interesting.

I wonder why the V78 is so rarely talked about or even mentioned on this board.

How would you compare the V78 with the hamptone?

Wainwright · Post by **Wainwright** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 8:46 pm

I love it, great thick tone great mic gain my only issue is the output is alittle low. ( I use lots of API and Neve 1073's & 1095's, at work so I get a bit spoiled )

dumbangel · Post by **dumbangel** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:11 am

what pre are you talking about Lordwainwright, hamptone or v78?

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:23 am

dumbangel wrote:
How would you compare the V78 with the hamptone?

the V78M that i got went in for repairs about a week after i got it (used), so i haven't had enough time with it to offer a fair comparison.

should be in this week though.

-ryan

Cryonicsound · Post by **Cryonicsound** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:54 pm

While I haven't had the privilege to use the Hamptone pre, I am very fond of the 610. It's pretty much my go-to for bass and a favorite for vocals.

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:58 am

The 610 always feels slow and mucky to me as a pre. I liked it at line level more than I liked it is a pre. At line level it is great, and the EQ can be really cool ( on the 2-610 ). I finally gave up on it. I replaced the 12ax7's in mine with some NOS GE tubes that helped a bunch, but it still felt sluggy... I guess that is cool for some things, but I just didnt use it enough. I would rather have an Ampex 601 if I was going for that slow rise time, tooby type of sound...

Wainwright · Post by **Wainwright** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:22 pm

I have used both I think the Hamptone works on more sources but the v78s is super fat but can have low output depending on how its gain-staged.

GCMan · Post by **GCMan** » Fri May 01, 2009 9:33 am

I completely agree about the UA 610 pre's. I've used all the combination from the LA-610, 6176, solo 610 and the 2-610. I've wanted desperately to find something to rave about with these pre's and sadly there isn't anything in my opinion. Describing it as "sluggish" is dead on for me, it just lacks excitement and disappoints me every time I use them.

asmara · Post by **asmara** » Fri May 01, 2009 10:17 am

I just sold my solo 610. I liked it only for recording electric guitars with dynamic mics that required minimal gain. Seemed very well built but just didn't do it for me. I am still dreaming of getting into an API 312. (on the other end of the preamp spectrum).

Ryan Silva · Post by **Ryan Silva** » Fri May 01, 2009 10:26 am

I'll start by saying the UA610 is a great pre, but it is kind of a One Trick Pony, it's one trick; Vocals. Vocals, Vocals.

Slow - Yes
Muddy - Yes
Overpriced - No

It has worked great with my '414 buls', and does an absolutly terific job with My 'RED type A(R7 cap)'

Things I have tried it on and had no luck:

Snare
Kick
OH
Acoustic (maybe as a room mic)
Mandolin
Banjo

Things I have had some sucsess with (other than vocals)

Accourdian
DI Bass
Electric Guitar (in conjuncion with another Mic)
Room Mic

Also, If you load up the Input stage, all that mud becomes very colorfull.

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Fri May 01, 2009 12:05 pm

the 610 has a certain thing that is so distinctive - it's not a versatile pre but i could see using it for certain things that you want more of a vintagey/grainy quality too.

apparently ethan johns loves em on lead vocals with an SM7.

i have had great luck with it on electric guitars paired with a ribbon or dynamic and on acoustic too. also a great bass DI/splitter for deep round tones.

anyone here had any experience with the sebatron stuff?

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Fri May 01, 2009 2:41 pm

I really liked the UA-710 is much more than the UA-610. I've used both on vocals, guitar, bass, piano, and drums and found the 710 to be way more versitile and could go louder and cleaner if needed...but also color a vocal/bass track if needed. The 610 just seemed ok to me and I didn't end up using most of the tracks I used it on. Not bad for the money...but not great either. I'm poor too so spending 700 bucks is a big deal, but after trying out the 710 for a week I decided to keep it. Works great live too.

The other option I'd throw out there is the Summit Audio 2ba-221. I have two and they sound great on almost everything plus tons of signal routing options. Plus they are about 100 bucks or more less used. Seriously check it out! http://www.summitaudio.com/

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UA610 or Hamptone tube pre?

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