Golden Age Project

[swervinbob]

Just for the heck of it, I just picked up a GAP Pre 73 Jr Premier and a Comp 3A Jr. I know there’s nothing like the real thing, but I’m having fun using these going in for vocals and acoustic guitar. I’ve been playing around all weekend with them and find them very useful.

 

[klasaine]

Congrats!
I use a GA sdc (SC4) mic for recording acoustic guitar. I think it's great and price is stupid cheap.

 

[swervinbob]

One thing I like about the outboard compressor as opposed to a plug-in, even the UAD Unison plugins, is you can almost feel the attack and release. It’s hard to explain. The plugins do the job and do it well, but there is definitely a different vibe with the analog compressor.

 

[swervinbob]

Also, micing my Taylor GS Mini with my KSM32, I have way less EQing to do. The GS Mini is so small it almost has its own HPF.

 

[Ben Harmless]

This is cool info. Once in awhile I think about the GAP stuff, but I tend to pull back at the last minute. I'm a fan of acoustic recordings with very colored signal chains. There's something kind of fun about a straightforward instrument like an acoustic guitar being made to occupy sonic space that it doesn't normally fill. I especially like the feel of single-mic, guitar-and-vocal recordings done this way. They can be lofi and intimate, while also big and ear-filling.

Also, micing my Taylor GS Mini with my KSM32, I have way less EQing to do. The GS Mini is so small it almost has its own HPF.

Smaller guitars record very well for exactly this reason. There's much discussion of mic placement on acoustics to avoid boominess, but my feeling is that this can also be accomplished by a guitar that doesn't overwhelm that way to begin with. When I was just starting to record in nice places again recently, I booked a few hours in a studio and recorded a friend with her little Simon & Patrick small-scale acoustic. I used the dual-figure-8 technique to get guitar and vocals at the same time, and that little guitar allowed me a lot of latitude for mic positioning to eliminate vocal bleed. It's actually become one of my favorite acoustic recordings.

 

[klasaine]

Smaller guitars record very well for exactly this reason. There's much discussion of mic placement on acoustics to avoid boominess, but my feeling is that this can also be accomplished by a guitar that doesn't overwhelm that way to begin with.

For the last year I've been using a small body steel string for exactly that reason.
It's a Recording King 'Dirty 37'.

 

[loudboy]

I especially like the feel of single-mic, guitar-and-vocal recordings done this way. They can be lofi and intimate, while also big and ear-filling.

Have you looked at Ear Trumpet Labs mics? I got a Myrtle last year, and absolutely love it. Very affordable also, for what you get. Their Youtube channel has tons of examples, all of which are shockingly good.

 

[Geoff738]

Ive heard good things about their LA3 clone but have never laid eyes on one in the flesh. But since it is a compressor type I don’t have, I naturally want one, or two actually.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Chud]

I have a pair of the red box GAP 73’s that I run into an original Neve 33609 comp. It took me a while to get used to the GAP as it’s really easy to overdo the input, but once dialed in the results are pretty fricking fantastic. I’ve heard good things about the premier versions, enjoy!

 

[klasaine]

I have a pair of the red box GAP 73’s that I run into an original Neve 33609 comp. It took me a while to get used to the GAP as it’s really easy to overdo the input, but once dialed in the results are pretty fricking fantastic. I’ve heard good things about the premier versions, enjoy!

View attachment 1105387

Very jealous of that 33609!

 

[Chud]

Very jealous of that 33609!

It’s an amazing machine. I use it on the front end on single tracks, and on the back end in stereo as the shimmer and glue that pulls everything together as only it can do.

 

[Ben Harmless]

Have you looked at Ear Trumpet Labs mics?

I've long looked at their products, and while I really don't need any more mics, they're kind of on my short- to-medium list because I just really respect what they do. They have a strong philosophy that seems to be focused on building mics that are useful as workhorse mics, don't sacrifice anything, and are still inspiring to use. I wish I'd had one during my public radio days, when a lot of the work was with folk and old-time music artists.

Yeah. I think I'll have one eventually. The only issue being that I almost always buy used, and in this case, I'd want Ear Trumpet to get my money.

 

[bluesfordan]

I've looked at those GAP pre and comps many times. I'd like two of each but find it hard to justify when I have such a lousy recording environment and don't have the vast amount of money it would take to quiet it down enough. I'm third house in from a main road, and my road gets used as a race way to the back end of the neighborhood where seemingly everybody owns harleys and hemis.

 

[BigJayRillah]

Just for the heck of it, I just picked up a GAP Pre 73 Jr Premier and a Comp 3A Jr. I know there’s nothing like the real thing, but I’m having fun using these going in for vocals and acoustic guitar. I’ve been playing around all weekend with them and find them very useful.


View attachment 1104526

I know the comp 3a is used by professionals who know their stuff. I heard the preamp is nice as well, and is definitely a big improvement over any stock sound card pre’s

 

[matman14]

Congrats!

I have and use a couple of Pre 73 Premiers. They have that 1073 sound. I have found it is a little too easy to saturate the output so I have to keep a close eye on levels.

The full size Comp3A sits next to a UA version in my studio and there is very little to separate them in terms of the sound that comes out of them. The UA is maybe a tiny bit more mid forward, but the compression characteristics are extremely similar.

 

[klasaine]

Have you looked at Ear Trumpet Labs mics? I got a Myrtle last year, and absolutely love it. Very affordable also, for what you get. Their Youtube channel has tons of examples, all of which are shockingly good.

I've been eyeing an Edwina.
I really don't need yet another mic .

 

[Chud]

Congrats!

I have and use a couple of Pre 73 Premiers. They have that 1073 sound. I have found it is a little too easy to saturate the output so I have to keep a close eye on levels.

The full size Comp3A sits next to a UA version in my studio and there is very little to separate them in terms of the sound that comes out of them. The UA is maybe a tiny bit more mid forward, but the compression characteristics are extremely similar.

Yep, the red box MKIII’s are the same way. It took me a while to figure them out on different mics and sources.