Opinions on cheap stereo pres?

[AstroSounds]

Me: small budgeted recording enthusiast seeking lovely stereo mic pre

You: helpful matchmaker with opinions and wisdom on such things.

Bachelorettes:
#1 - FMR Audio Pre - Everyone says they like her but does anyone actually sleep with her regularly? (meaning find it consistently useful)

#2 - Joe Meek TwinQ - Lots of flash but any substance?

#3 - Two GAP 73s - simple and elegant but what about versatility?

#4 - ????

My current lovers include a GT Brick, a EH 12AY7 and my Focusrite Pro 40 pres.
I'm moving across the nation in 6 months and I have little idea what clients I might find out there but currently I mostly do singer/songwriter and horn section work but am trying to expand into choir/classical work.

I'd appreciate any input.

[calaverasgrandes]

I'm diggin the ART digital MPA II

[LazarusLong]

The Joe Meek is very flashy indeed. I think of it as a character box. Or maybe even a cartoon. Good to make bold statements with.

GAP73s, to my ears, are hype.

Absolutely second the MPA. Especially if you're willing to crack 'er open and put some nice tubes in her instead of the mega cheap ones that come stock. Not crazy about the A/D on the digital version ,but the pres themselves are actually pretty nice. The power supply isn't very robust, so definitely factor in using that power conditioner you probably already have. That will really help cut the noise floor.

[calaverasgrandes]

Absolutely second the MPA. Especially if you're willing to crack 'er open and put some nice tubes in her instead of the mega cheap ones that come stock. Not crazy about the A/D on the digital version ,but the pres themselves are actually pretty nice. The power supply isn't very robust, so definitely factor in using that power conditioner you probably already have. That will really help cut the noise floor.

For what these things cost brand new, the AD isnt shabby. I paid $320 for mine thru AMS. It is highly finicky though. If the clocking is kinda weird it will sometimes continue to function and output digital audio but it will be grainy and noisy. Took me a minute to figure that out myself.
I really like how the high pass also works on the DI. Briliant on DI elec guitar! Also great on Synth. I havent yet popped any of my vintage tubes in mine because I dont have two 12ax7a that are the same and of the ones tha do match none that ARENT cheap chinese ones, likely whats in tehre already. Bet it sounds stellar with an RCA or Phillips in there.

[AstroSounds]

Oh I'm definitely willing to replace the tubes!!

I've got a unused supply of Amperex, RCA, Mullard and GE tubes from the 60's and 70s that I found in some psychology testing gear being tossed out. I sold enough of them to fund a custom amp project but still got several left.

Thanks for the input so far.

[calaverasgrandes]

I've got a unused supply of Amperex, RCA, Mullard and GE tubes from the 60's and 70s that I found in some psychology testing gear being tossed out.

I hate you in the most personal and venal way possible.
Don't open any ticking packages.

[AstroSounds]

Total typo there.
The tubes were USED. At least I suspect they all were since they were in the gear.

Still though, it was the find of a lifetime. I cringe now when I think about the fact that I dropped two Mullard red tips as I was grabbing them all thinking "I wonder if these are worth anything more than some change?"

[calaverasgrandes]

I found some old Valco in a smashed AM radio earlier this year. They were all oddball pentode-preaamp or single triode kinda things that I had no use for in my 12ax7a/6L6/6550 plain vanilla world.
Gave them to my amp tech.

[changeng]

haven't heard it myself, but THIS is intriguing -

http://www.audioproz.com/AP.php?Article=94&Tab=Services

someone on these boards has one of these - do a search for TPS

I have Vince at audioproz modding an ART Pro Channel for me right now - should be fun-fun-fun.

[wren]

A used Presonus MP20 would be worth looking into, especially if you're looking for versatile but clean (and I'd imagine you want somewhat clean for classical): change its IC chips (and they're socketed, so no soldering required!) to Linear Tech LT1357's and you're all set. Mine has been passable to excellent-sounding on every acoustic instrument I've tried it on, but I've never tried to mic an amp with it.

[jgimbel]

A used Presonus MP20 would be worth looking into, especially if you're looking for versatile but clean (and I'd imagine you want somewhat clean for classical): change its IC chips (and they're socketed, so no soldering required!) to Linear Tech LT1357's and you're all set. Mine has been passable to excellent-sounding on every acoustic instrument I've tried it on, but I've never tried to mic an amp with it.

User ipressrecord on here did the same thing, and seems to have the same feelings about those preamps - nice, affordable, but really solid preamps. I have a pair of Studio Projects VTB-1s that I really like too. Don't let the starved plate junk sway you, if you dial that down they're nice full-bodied preamps. The "tube drive" can even be useful for distorted vocals, fuzzy bass, or just taking a bit of pristine out of a source. One of the pair was my first external preamp, and I bought the second after getting some more expensive ones, and buying and then selling some others.

[mertmo]

Love my original blackface ART MPA. A lot.
Actually been using it to master program material, followed by it's matching original
PRO VLA. The two in series just rule on program material, it was a nice surprise to
discover that...
And always delivers as a mic pre. Great simple ergonomics and metering.
Can't imagine the newer incarnations are much of a stretch, and they have more
features.

Also just picked up the TwinQ recently. I really like it, the preamp can be nice
and clean or more colored with the "iron" switch in. EQ is colored but smooth.
Preamp can overdrive in a useful way, at least on drums so far. Compressor is a
bit touchy, not for everything, but it's nice to have it.
I'm glad I purchased it...

Can't really go wrong with either the TwinQ or the MPA in my opinion.
TwinQ has more going on, therefore more spots to either screw up your gain
structure or nail it. MPA is a bit faster and simpler to dial in...
MPA is probably a better "distortion generator", if that's something that's handy to
you. Great as a parallel distortion-y box alongside a cleaner signal. Or as a post
effect.

[studiodog]

+1 one for the MPA - bought one and found it so useful I bought a second

[chris harris]

I still love my RNP. I use it regularly.

Some surprisingly AWESOME preamps, that can be found dirt cheap, live inside the Hill Multimix mixers. They can usually be found used for around $300 in pretty good shape. The preamps and the simple, fixed 3 band EQ, are both outrageously nice for how cheap these little mixers are. And, you get 16 channels!!!

[Ryan Silva]

Focusrite TwinTrack

Very underrated I thought, they sound nothing like real Focusrite's, but I think they do pretty well on acoustic, vocals, overheads.

Saw one for $220 on CL the other day.