Golden Age Pre73

interesting!  and more expensive!

yeah, I've been wanting one of the new compressors for a while, but a new computer was needed instead...

:-(
 
 
I do have one of the original PRE73's tho.

I have the original and love it!

C2

Dave King

I have the original and love it!

 
Which makes me wonder if I should try and locate an original one instead of the new one based on the theory "if ain't broke, don't fix it."
 
Was the original version noisy?

Dave King:  The original has a great deal of head room.  I use it with condenser mics and as a DI preamp for an acoustic guitar; there is not a lot of noise.  However, I have not really needed to push both the output gain and the input level; so it has a quiet signal.  When I have experimented and turned it all the way up there is some noise but not much and this is not really an issue unless you are pushing a dynamic mic through it.  If it were to get a little noise, I would just put a Gate (like a Sonnitus gate) right after it as the first vst plugin in the Sonar Effects on that track and adjust it to remove any minimal noise.

The nature of the GAP73 is coloration.  That is the preamp provides some color/warmth/sparkle etc to the signal.  While it can also do a clean/transparent signal, that is not its intent. 

So, what is your intent?  If it is coloration, you will not be disappointed at this price point.  If it is transparency, then I would go with a different preamp like the True Systems P-Solo or P-Solo ribbon.

Here is another thread that you might want to read:  http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=2229380

Hope this helps you make an informed decision; I am very happy with my decision to get it.

C2

that's exactly my experience as well.  I have pushed the input and output, however, but it wasn't noise that was the problem, it was transofrmer saturation that caused me problems trying to push them both.

but it's already low noise - I haven't had any problems with noise.

Dave,

I would keep an ear out for any changes.  I heard beagle's Gap and it sounded good, tho turning up the input and output gave a really driven sound - too driven for most purposes.

But Gap was having problems keeping them in stock.  They might have changed something in the design.  I doubt if they would "cheapen" it, since the price has gone up.  But no doubt if the internals have changed more than insert points (and even if they have) gearslutz and other forums will claim the "vintage" GapPres are the bomb and the new ones are ...  well, not so bomby.

But I would try to check it out before plopping down my money.  If not Gap, at least one of the better dealers - Warren at ZenPro mods them (as well as selling the stock version).  He seems like a good guy to ask.

@

@

Interesting that they reversed the Mic/Line numbers on the new model.

AT


Dave,

I would keep an ear out for any changes.  I heard beagle's Gap and it sounded good, tho turning up the input and output gave a really driven sound - too driven for most purposes.

But Gap was having problems keeping them in stock.  They might have changed something in the design.  I doubt if they would "cheapen" it, since the price has gone up.  But no doubt if the internals have changed more than insert points (and even if they have) gearslutz and other forums will claim the "vintage" GapPres are the bomb and the new ones are ...  well, not so bomby.

But I would try to check it out before plopping down my money.  If not Gap, at least one of the better dealers - Warren at ZenPro mods them (as well as selling the stock version).  He seems like a good guy to ask.

@

@

Lol nothing is considered "vintage" until it is at least 25 years old. But you are correct, people will swear  up and down the originals are better sounding. lol

Ya its kinda ridiculous sometimes I worry more about the song. Well I try to but sometimes the gas takes over lol