Mercury 66 = Fairchild 660?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2002 6:44 am

Haven't talked to anyone who's actually tried one of these $5000 beasts. Saw them at AES and it looked interesting. Anyone comments?

Here's the site:

http://www.mercury-rec.com/about.html

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2002 2:01 pm

What's up Zep Dude? Here's another Fairchild-like machine that looks pretty cool...anybody checked one of these out ?

www.chandlerlimited.com/emitg12413.asp

A Beatle compessor and a Beatle pre? Hmm.

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2002 10:13 pm

I'll have the pre's next month (backorder...). :p

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2002 10:52 pm

Hey wow! Where did these things come from!!!!
Mike, if you re-check this post it's Stedel....it's OK I've done a lot of work on my alter-self since we last talked.....honest.

Are you talking about the Chandler stuff? I just checked out their site.
Did you get a chance to audition these things?
You must like them to order some. Any impressions?
I've been doing a lot of listening to Beatles recordings in the last few months, particularly
Rubber Soul, Revolver & Sgt Peppers. Love to hear a Mike T rave on them.....

Although, after checking out the Mercury site, I'm more inclined to think these are the mic pre's you're talking about. Telefunken huh?

I'd love to be able to audition both teh Mercury and the Chandler stuff, they sound right up my abbey..er sorry, alley.

Something occured to me the other night, and if you read this Mike, you're going to find this pretty scary, but you and I probably go for the same sort of sound. Surprised

kind regards

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2002 4:01 pm

I like the look of the Chandler stuff. "Real" repackaged Neve parts for well under Averill prices? Cool... but, how do they sound?

Mike, have you actually auditioned those or are you buying 'em "blind"?

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2002 3:00 am

Hey folks. I've been checking out the websites of Chandler and Mercury.

These are some seriously cool looking pieces of gear.

The Mercury 66 Limiting Amplifier - great specs, great response rate.Very tasty. And VU meters.
I love VU meters.Definately like to test drive.

The M72 - now I would love to hear this.
The M76 - don't know enough about the history of Telfunken's 76 stuff.....yet.

And Chandler

The EMI Compressor & an EMI "Beatles mic pre"?

Are you kidding?

I want all of these things!!!!!Telefunken, EMI & Neve. Sod RO. I'm taking donations NOW!!!!!!!!!

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2002 8:57 am

I haven't heard or bought the Chandler EMI pre yet, I will get it ealy next month...If it can deal with hanging with my current pres (V72s,V76s,EAB,WSW,PYE,Helios,Neve) then it stays.
The Mercury stuff looks nice...I have a shitload of those originals and they've been rebuilt by an old Telefunken Engineer so I'll be checking into the EMI instead. Wink

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2002 2:18 pm

I've also been reading about the Fariman stuff -$8000 stereo Fairchild type limiter and tube EQ's as well. The reviews all seem to agree that it doesn't exactly duplicate the 670 but that it's a great sounding unit. They also have a cheaper unit -I think around $2700 for stereo.

I know someone who seriously looked into replicating the Fairchild 670 and figured he'd have to sell it for around $15,000 just to cover his costs and make a little money. The tubes and other partss are out of production so many things would have to be custom designed.

Mike, what do you think of the Helios pres?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2002 9:30 am

I often use them instead of my Neves.
they are a bit more 'forward' sounding in the midrange.
I like them for drums,electric gtrs,vocals,bass,strings,harmonica,shaker,hi hat,keyboards,horns,banjo,woodwinds,jawharp,kazoo,acoustic gtr...
Rolling Eyes

do you think I like them?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2002 4:36 pm

Nice, I'll have to dig some up. Are these the solid state?

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2002 3:57 am

Yes, (I have 4 pre/eq's)

Smile

Hey Mike! - mine have a low output, I find I have to boost em with, say . a compressors output level..

do you find the same? The inputs are also quick to distort. But I have gotten used to these issues and work-around them.

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2002 11:17 am

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Julian Standen:
Yes, (I have 4 pre/eq's)

Smile

Hey Mike! - mine have a low output, I find I have to boost em with, say . a compressors output level..

do you find the same? The inputs are also quick to distort. But I have gotten used to these issues and work-around them.[/
QUOTE]
I have a 16x4 console with 'Olymypic' style Pre/EQ's.
I had my tech put 48v switches on each channel, phase reverse, directouts, and a 'solo in place' function to bypass a 'solo buss'.
I have a shitload of gain with these channels and find I have alot of headroom.
I too can get it to crunch like yours but it seems to take quite a bit more than what your describing.
my channels are still in the main frame and using it's own 4-buss.
yours are racked, right? hmm...
:confused:

Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:49 am

Quote:

Originally posted by Julian Standen:

Hey Mike! - mine have a low output, I find I have to boost em with, say . a compressors output level..

do you find the same? The inputs are also quick to distort. But I have gotten used to these issues and work-around them.

Odd, I don't remember that from the Helios stuff I've used in the past. For output, how hot are you running the outputs? Are you trying to hit 0dBfs with guitars and stuff? Maybe it's a power supply issue...

Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2002 10:22 am

Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2002 4:30 pm

Cool, what is the skinnyest knob 2nd down from the top on yours? I dont have that on my input section.. appart from that they are the same - but my 4 modules are black...

Smile

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