The Value Of Online And The Great Oracle

I did it, I bought a new pre-amp.  It took hours of painstaking research and shopping and comparing.

All from the comfort of home with my “lounge wear” on.

Here’s how it started, I do voice over work and I was on an online forum discussing microphones.  Just wanted to make sure that my old faithful RE-20 was the best choice for the work.  I had just sold off some gear and was feeling flush with cash. 

“Don’t worry about that microphone, worry about a good pre-amp” was the reply.  I’ve been simply using the pre’s in the Mackie mixer.  They were clean and sounded ok, but something wasn’t giving the nice warm tones I was after.  I thought it was the mic, but the pre-amp could be the cause.

Ok, so from the forums to searching out a good mic preamp.  I wanted a tube pre-amp, something of quality but not thousands and thousands of dollars.  I’ll get one of those when someone else is buying.  I heard a few good things about the ART MPA Gold.  Change out the stock tubes with something decent and you have pre-amp that rivals the giants.  So off I go and read reviews.  Harmony central reviews, musician friend reviews, Sweetwater reviews.  Any review I can find.  All say, “Great preamp, just change the tubes”

Great, now lets go shopping.  Everyone seemed to have it listed for $299.00 except Zzounds, they were $279.00.   Never have delt with Zzounds but have a great relationship with Sweetwater, so I email my sales rep at Sweetwater, they will match that price and double the warentee!  But. Not in stock.  BAH! Where’s my instant internet gratification!  I waited two weeks, and they still didn’t have an ETA on their arrival.  Ok, back to shopping, Musicians Friend has it in stock, plus some good tubes, and while I was at it I couldn’t resist a deal on a MXL 990 microphone.  I mean come on, a condenser mic for $50.00?  Reviews on that were pretty good too, and if anything, it’s another weapon in the mic closet.

So here’s the summary, I was able to get peoples input, magazine reviews, customer reviews, price comparisons, free shipping and I hope a great new pre-amp in the studio.  Could I have shopped locally?  Unfortunately the mom and pop stores around here don’t carry pro gear.  Guitar Center owns Musician Friend, Harmony Central and a couple other places.  And I’m not sure they would want to see a 40+ year old wandering around the gear section of the store with a cup of coffee and jammies.

Oh, I ordered it Wednesday, should arrive today (Friday), I’ll let you know what I think of it.  Coffee’s ready.

Monk.