The problem with the Bellari 110 and 220 is that it starts clipping the output opamp before you're able to get a serious amount of tube fuzz out of it (hence the grainy, clipping stuff -- you're basically clipping the output) If there were some way of padding the signal before it reaches the output stage, you'd be in business.theistheman wrote:When you turn the gain knob and get to about 3 o'clock, it goes into all-out fuzz mode. It's a dramatic change, like at 2:45, it's just a slightly overdriven tube sound, and then at 3, it's super clipped-out distortion.
I'm not one who's very good with electronics and DIY stuff, but I would assume this wouldn't be too difficult of a procedure for someone in the know? ? ?
Other than that, it's not a bad little mic pre. Like others have mentioned, a very nice alternative to the cheap starved plate junk out there when not driven too hard. And a great science project if you're the sort who likes to tweak things. I would start with the input transformer -- replacing it with a nice Jensen (JK115 I believe) can really clean up and open the sound . . . which might not be why someone would use the Bellari in the first place, I'll admit.
And the output still clips just a tad too easily. 
