Preamp suggestions for an AKG-C414 mic

It's really going to depend on the vocalist, as well as the song.

The 414, in all of it's versions, is a really good, all round condenser that 's great for vocals, overhead drum mic'ing, acoustic guitar, and countless other applications. It's one of my main "go to's".

Grace, Avalon, Manley, and even Aphex all make decent pre's (as well as many other manfacturers I'm sure I have left out
(I didn't feel the need to add API's, Neve's or other similarly priced "boutique" models to this list... unless of course, you want to take out a second mortgage...LOL) that will give you warmth and presence, but they might not fit every single vocal application.

Personally, I think there is an audible difference between something inexpensive like the Aphex and something pricier like an Avalon, but that being said, sometimes it's not necessarily a fidelity difference as much as it's just a certain "texture" or "coloration". I recall engineering overdubs at a studio once where I had access to an Avalon pre, as well as a cheaper ART MP1, and on this particular occasion, with that particular singer, the ART sounded better... go figure.

And, the higher end pre's also generally have added features of EQ in regard to shelving, bandpass, etc. where the lower priced models sometimes only have a gain function. This isn't always a bad thing, though... the more variable controls you have, especially if you are new to recording, the tougher it can be to get a nice, simple sound. While these features are needed and wanted by some experienced cats, they can act as a hindrance to others who aren't versed in EQ principles and simply want a quick, no-frills tone.

And, there are times where I haven't used a standalone pre at all. The 414 is a mic with nice presence, and sometimes, I've been able to capture what I wanted without a stand alone preamp simply using the pre's on a mixer.

But, you should have one for those times when it's needed. I would look at a Grace. I don't have one, but I know friends who do, and I have used them myself on occasion, and they always sounded really good. I believe the one I have used is the 101 (??)

Others may disagree with me on this, but in the "most bang for the buck" category, I think it's up there.

FWIW