500$ Pre

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:39 am

Alright i just orderd me a Vipre =). and now im looking for a cheap pre i got 500 to spend. what would you guys buy? i was thinking the brick considering ive heard so much about it but is there anything better ? for that price range

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:03 am

What do you want to use it for? The Brick is good for coloration and attitude, but I think the Vipre would handle that as well. A Grace 101 would give you a very clean, transparent pre when you need that, especially for acoustic instruments.

Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:12 pm

Why would you want to get a groove tubes pre's after buying a groove tubes pre? Doesn't make much sense to buy the best a company has to offer and then buy the cheapest pre they have to offer. Listen to the guy above, go for a grace 101 its nice and clean, should compliment your Vipre well.

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:36 am

I agree with the other guys. If you are getting a Vipre, no reason to get a Brick.

I just got a Grace 101, and it is a welcome addition to the signal chain, since I switch between it and my Brick. Now I get delicious tube warmth from one, and flat-response solid state on the other. I believe that I have probably purchased the last piece of gear for awhile.

Brad Venable

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 7:56 am

Eleganceofadream wrote:

Alright i just orderd me a Vipre. im looking for a cheap pre i got 500 to spend. what would you guys buy? i was thinking the brick

The brick is a piece of the Vipre. Kind of like Adam giving his rib to make Eve. Rolling Eyes

It is a faction of what the Vipre is, but still has the same first stage or two of gain, and tubes that the Vipre has. So the Brick is not gonna give you but so much of a different sound, when compared with a Vipre.
I would recommend another preamp, but I don't know about the $500 range. Maybe the $700 range and up, but that's just me.

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:33 am

For $500? Nothing. Save your money until you can afford another great preamp.

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:29 pm

How are your soldering skills? This one comes in at just a bit over $500:

http://www.hamptone.com/HJFP2.htm

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