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A quick comment on the ART Tube MP Studio
Mic preamp and it's starved plate tube usage:
I opened up one of these puppies, and had an
assistant (with very reliable ears) pop in about 40 different 12AX7s, 12AT7s,
12AY7's, etc. and write comments on the differing tonal qualities. These were
everything from brand new Chinese tubes to old used Phillips, RCA, Radio Shack,
whatever. The results were wide ranging (from very bright, hot, full, to okay,
flat, to warm, dull, noisy, etc.) and had nothing to do with the brand of tube.
So the tube WAS making a signifigant contribution to the tone, even if it is
running in a starved plate configuration.
When I can afford to buy another tube pre
that runs at full, hot voltage, I will make the same test and see what the
difference is. In the meantime, I say "use your ears." The ART Tube MP Studio
Mic preamp, at $30 from Musicians Friend, is a bargain of a preamp that also
compresses/limits well, provides 48 volt phantom power and adds a very
discernable coloration BASED ON THE QUALITY OF THE TUBE.
Just be really careful in your tube swapping
- the multi-wire ribbons that connect the tube board to the main circuit board
broke as I began phase 2 of my test. But at $30 a pop, I may not even repair it.
I'll just buy another.
"The volume knob on your telepathy is your
morality."
- Stephen Gaskin,
The Farm
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