VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

graemespicer

I bought this preamp recently to complete one project. Done, now it's time to find an appreciative new home for it.

The unit is in pristine shape and sounds awesome. Lots of that vacuum tube vibe that you just don't get from solid state. Includes the power cable and a laser printed copy of the user manual. I don't have the original box. Trust me, it will be very carefully packed for shipment.

The 610 is a famous preamp - a guy named Bill Putnam first made them as part of a recording console back in the 60's, and lots of famous records have been recorded through 610s including Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and many of Sinatra's later albums.

A few pictures of the unit for sale can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/86097250@N05/

$650
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Graeme Spicer
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georgethetech · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:16 pm Post subject:

I can vouch for Graeme that he takes excellent care of his equipment! It will be as good as he says it is.
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Leslie Humble · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject:

I agree with all but perhaps one point here. I am sure Mr. Graeme takes good care of his stuff. I also think the 610 is a great and very well respected Pre. Some fabulous recording are indeed made with it. Someone should probably buy this and make some fine recordings. ......

I must take issue with the statement that tube is inherently better than solid state. Sometimes the past is overly eulogized. We had Tube for some 50 years before Solid State. I understand the main difference, with all else equal is the sound when you run out of headroom and distort. There is no proof my ears tell me or that I read that a Tube is aurally preferably to a Solid State. Nor is it "Warmer" There is also a case to be made that Solid State is better. Room for both and their adherents.
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graemespicer · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject:

I never stated that tubes were inherently better, Leslie. I only said that this preamp had a distinctive sound - a "vibe" - that can't be replicated in a solid state pre. And *that* I stand behind.

Don LaFontaine recorded at home with a Manley Reference Cardoid tube microphone into a Tube-Tech preamp chock full of tubes. He sounded pretty good.

And hey - cut me some slack - I'm just tryin' to sell a decent preamp here Smile

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Leslie Humble · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject:

Dear Graeme,

I think it is better than just "decent'. I think the 610 is one of the special Pres. If you cannot do good work with this Preamp....the problem is not the pre.

The argument between "Tube" and Solid State" has raged for sometime. I do not agree that a special Vibe is conferred. And that is the only place we part. Anyone should be proud to own the 610 Solo and another....the 610 Twin
Finity that lets you dial between the two. Yours is again a very fine pre sir.
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graemespicer · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:59 pm Post subject:

Peace, brother Leslie Smile

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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

As a 610 MK II owner, I can tell you it is a nice pre BUT you have to know how to use it---IME it has a sweet spot that is somewhat narrow and one has to know how to work it to optimal effect.

graemespicer · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:50 pm Post subject:

Man, tough room tonight Smile

I have also owned in the past an LA610 channel strip - a 610 preamp and a (sort of) LA-2A compressor in a single 2U box. It's a very different animal from the Solo 610.

I totally agree, the LA610 (either the Mk. 1 or Mk. 2 version) can sound awesome, but it does take some work to get it to sound it's best. I found the unit fairly easy to overdrive, which didn't sound so great.

My experience with the Solo 610 has been quite different. It's polite (in that it's easy to work with) and being able to play with the amount of gain on both the input and the output stages allows you to dial in the amount of "tubiness" you want (with apologies in advance to Leslie). Unlike my experience with the LA610, I've not had any issues with a lack of headroom in the Solo 610.

George, jump in here and help me out man, this is a rowdy crowd Smile

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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

depends on the mic, too. I have found that mics like the TLM 103 and 416 benefit from the 610, while the U87ai can benefit also, but with the 87 it's a little trickier due to the frequency response of that mic.

Frank F · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:03 pm Post subject:

Just for grins, let's just tube pre's are analog and strip or other solid state pre's are not (though they might be considered analog due to their output not being digital).

That being considered, you now have a simple choice to make: Do you want the classic analog sound or not?

The only completely digital pre that would recommend is from Burl. The top of the line "lunchbox" series are the upcoming Burl or the Maag Audio PreQ4 with Airband - (and yes there is a plugin). There are a million other pre-amps available and each has it's own color, cut, and clarity - Yes! Just like a diamond.

Each microphone has it's flavor of the three C's and should be matched to a pre-amplifier which can bring out the best of the two pieces of equipment. This "matching" takes time and effort and requires the individual voice to understand how to work a microphone and a pre. There are NO Quick Fixes. Not one person can recommend the ideal mic/pre combination which works for YOU and your voice.

The "holy-grail" is not a completely silent or dead noise floor. It is to have a quiet noise floor with the perfect amount of transparent color and body which brings out the uniqueness of a talents voice and is not overshadowed by artifacts which are (for the most part) unheard by anyone but an audiophile.

That said; the UA Solo 610 has a great reputation for being a decent clean pre-amp. It works with many microphones and although not truly transparent; it is clearly a valuable pre-amp if you know how to use it properly. I have used it with a U-87 and an ECM-87, a C-800 and C1, a C12 and an Apex 460 (modified). Does it sound great for all of these microphones? No. But it works.

Nuff said.

Frank F
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graemespicer · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:28 pm Post subject:

Price drop - $625
I'll pay PayPal fees. You pay actual shipping costs.
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Graeme Spicer
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georgethetech · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 12:01 am Post subject:

GearSlutz Part Deux
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If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Go Here
for a recent shoot out I did of the Universal Audio LA 610 MKII vs. the Focusrite ISA One

graemespicer · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:28 am Post subject:

Still available Smile

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Graeme Spicer
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:45 am Post subject:

Be nice. Dude's just trying to sell his gear. Chances are, if you don't know how to use this specialized piece of equipment, you're not in the market for it.
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