17/01/2026
Obessions pay off!!!!
Wow, have been trying these 3 Focusrite preamps out today. Got an insane deal and was a little worried as to how they would sound, given they are all 20 years old. Thought there might at least be issues with crackly k***s and buttons, but all the k***s turn silently and with no static and all of the buttons don't pop when you push them in and out.
Tried them on vocals and can't believe how much more musical the result is, compared to the preamps on my audio interface. A lot deeper and warmer, beautifully clear and much louder, even though the level on my meter is lower than the mic I tested going straight in.
On bass, all I can say is that they make my Fender Jazz sound like I’ve never heard it before and gave me a very expensive studio sound. Had been struggling with my Jazz sounding thin, but am now getting an amazingly fat sound from it. Had been using my Harley Benton Rickenbacker copy to overcome the thinness, but these preamps have given the Jazz a new lease of life!! Where my Harley Benton sounded better for recording, the Fender Jazz is now well in the lead as alpha instrument!!!
With guitars, the difference is the most extreme in a very, very good way. Just plugging my Squier Jazzmaster straight in, I have finally got the sound I bought that instrument for. Recorded it into Logic and then added the Clairvoyant metal guitars plugin and wow, what a badass, crunchy, focused and detailed sound it gives vs plugging into the audio interface.
I’ve been wanting to try preamps like these for a while now and the results have more than exceeded all expectations. Cant wait to hear how the next band I record sound through them and how the Golden Age Pre 73 will sound when THAT arrives as it was more expensive than the Focusrites!!!
Everyone has been telling me I wouldn't look back. I tend to violently agree!!!!
