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Who was asking about the Chandler Germanium pre??? [message #64083]

Wed, 01 February 2006 18:19

Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006

Senior Member

I sent them an e-mail about this, and my question & their
response is posted below:

<begin copy & paste:>
Question on this new unit you guys have...

I notice that in the product description it says that it�s a
smooth-sounding preamp, yet I guess I tend to associate
germanium with somewhat �dirty� or �scratchy� sounding
electronics... or is that perhaps because some of the early
solid state germanium stuff simply wasn�t up to snuff design-
wise yet?
I have one your TG2 Abbey Road Spcl Edition units (which I
love, by the way � what a great mic pre!); so for the sake of
comparison, how would you describe the difference in sound
between your germanium pre and the TG2?

<response follows>
I think the "dirty" thing comes from the fact that they were
used in many distortion or booster type guitar pedals. Our
design is very different from those. It uses large high power
transistors instead of the small low powered types. I think
modern construction techniques used for making them helps
eliminate many of the problems associated with germanium
transistors.
Sound wise I would compare it to the Neve 1057 type modules.
The earliest "prototype" Neve that used germaniums. The big
differences being much higher voltage and headroom with better
frequency response and noise. The key to the sound on the
germanium is the controls. Especially feedback and thick. you
can actually vary the feedback of the amplifier and change how
it functions and sound while doing so. In this months Tape Op
there is a review where he says the feedback one direction
sounds more open and "faster" like and API and the other more
gooey and thick like a Neve. Combine that with the thick, pad,
and input gain and you have a good selection of tones...Check
out the review if you can...
Hope this helps
Wade
<End copy & paste>

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Re: Who was asking about the Chandler Germanium pre??? [message #64092 is a reply to message #64083]

Wed, 01 February 2006 23:47

Deej [1]

Messages: 2149
Registered: January 2006

Senior Member

being much higher voltage and headroom with better
frequency response and noise.

Well.......as long as the noise is better, I guess that's OK. I just wonder,
better than what?

;o)

"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote in message news:43e15e09$1@linux...
>
> I sent them an e-mail about this, and my question & their
> response is posted below:
>
> <begin copy & paste:>
> Question on this new unit you guys have...
>
> I notice that in the product description it says that it's a
> smooth-sounding preamp, yet I guess I tend to associate
> germanium with somewhat "dirty" or "scratchy" sounding
> electronics... or is that perhaps because some of the early
> solid state germanium stuff simply wasn't up to snuff design-
> wise yet?
> I have one your TG2 Abbey Road Spcl Edition units (which I
> love, by the way - what a great mic pre!); so for the sake of
> comparison, how would you describe the difference in sound
> between your germanium pre and the TG2?
>
> <response follows>
> I think the "dirty" thing comes from the fact that they were
> used in many distortion or booster type guitar pedals. Our
> design is very different from those. It uses large high power
> transistors instead of the small low powered types. I think
> modern construction techniques used for making them helps
> eliminate many of the problems associated with germanium
> transistors.
> Sound wise I would compare it to the Neve 1057 type modules.
> The earliest "prototype" Neve that used germaniums. The big
> differences being much higher voltage and headroom with better
> frequency response and noise. The key to the sound on the
> germanium is the controls. Especially feedback and thick. you
> can actually vary the feedback of the amplifier and change how
> it functions and sound while doing so. In this months Tape Op
> there is a review where he says the feedback one direction
> sounds more open and "faster" like and API and the other more
> gooey and thick like a Neve. Combine that with the thick, pad,
> and input gain and you have a good selection of tones...Check
> out the review if you can...
> Hope this helps
> Wade
> <End copy & paste>
>

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Re: Who was asking about the Chandler Germanium pre??? [message #64095 is a reply to message #64092]

Thu, 02 February 2006 06:31

cujo
Messages: 285
Registered: July 2005

Senior Member

There were some Mic Pre clips over at GS that incuded a Germanium.
It was definitely my fave on guitar. It seemed to have a musical zip the
others didn't. I'n a way I could sort of here the Abbey Road thing

"DJ" <animix_spam-this-ahole_@animas.net> wrote:
>being much higher voltage and headroom with better
>frequency response and noise.
>
>Well.......as long as the noise is better, I guess that's OK. I just wonder,
>better than what?
>
>;o)
>
>"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote in message news:43e15e09$1@linux...
>>
>> I sent them an e-mail about this, and my question & their
>> response is posted below:
>>
>> <begin copy & paste:>
>> Question on this new unit you guys have...
>>
>> I notice that in the product description it says that it's a
>> smooth-sounding preamp, yet I guess I tend to associate
>> germanium with somewhat "dirty" or "scratchy" sounding
>> electronics... or is that perhaps because some of the early
>> solid state germanium stuff simply wasn't up to snuff design-
>> wise yet?
>> I have one your TG2 Abbey Road Spcl Edition units (which I
>> love, by the way - what a great mic pre!); so for the sake of
>> comparison, how would you describe the difference in sound
>> between your germanium pre and the TG2?
>>
>> <response follows>
>> I think the "dirty" thing comes from the fact that they were
>> used in many distortion or booster type guitar pedals. Our
>> design is very different from those. It uses large high power
>> transistors instead of the small low powered types. I think
>> modern construction techniques used for making them helps
>> eliminate many of the problems associated with germanium
>> transistors.
>> Sound wise I would compare it to the Neve 1057 type modules.
>> The earliest "prototype" Neve that used germaniums. The big
>> differences being much higher voltage and headroom with better
>> frequency response and noise. The key to the sound on the
>> germanium is the controls. Especially feedback and thick. you
>> can actually vary the feedback of the amplifier and change how
>> it functions and sound while doing so. In this months Tape Op
>> there is a review where he says the feedback one direction
>> sounds more open and "faster" like and API and the other more
>> gooey and thick like a Neve. Combine that with the thick, pad,
>> and input gain and you have a good selection of tones...Check
>> out the review if you can...
>> Hope this helps
>> Wade
>> <End copy & paste>
>>
>
>

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Re: Who was asking about the Chandler Germanium pre??? [message #64138 is a reply to message #64083]

Fri, 03 February 2006 10:46

Tony Benson

Messages: 453
Registered: June 2006

Senior Member

I really have to check with these guys and see if they ever let people come
in for tours. They're only about an hour from my house and the only
"serious" pro audio company I know of in Iowa. Maybe if I tell them I'm
bringing cash and want to A/B some of their stuff? ;>) Hey, it's worth a
try.

Tony

"Neil" <OIUOIU@OIU.com> wrote in message news:43e15e09$1@linux...
>
> I sent them an e-mail about this, and my question & their
> response is posted below:
>
> <begin copy & paste:>
> Question on this new unit you guys have...
>
> I notice that in the product description it says that it's a
> smooth-sounding preamp, yet I guess I tend to associate
> germanium with somewhat "dirty" or "scratchy" sounding
> electronics... or is that perhaps because some of the early
> solid state germanium stuff simply wasn't up to snuff design-
> wise yet?
> I have one your TG2 Abbey Road Spcl Edition units (which I
> love, by the way - what a great mic pre!); so for the sake of
> comparison, how would you describe the difference in sound
> between your germanium pre and the TG2?
>
> <response follows>
> I think the "dirty" thing comes from the fact that they were
> used in many distortion or booster type guitar pedals. Our
> design is very different from those. It uses large high power
> transistors instead of the small low powered types. I think
> modern construction techniques used for making them helps
> eliminate many of the problems associated with germanium
> transistors.
> Sound wise I would compare it to the Neve 1057 type modules.
> The earliest "prototype" Neve that used germaniums. The big
> differences being much higher voltage and headroom with better
> frequency response and noise. The key to the sound on the
> germanium is the controls. Especially feedback and thick. you
> can actually vary the feedback of the amplifier and change how
> it functions and sound while doing so. In this months Tape Op
> there is a review where he says the feedback one direction
> sounds more open and "faster" like and API and the other more
> gooey and thick like a Neve. Combine that with the thick, pad,
> and input gain and you have a good selection of tones...Check
> out the review if you can...
> Hope this helps
> Wade
> <End copy & paste>
>

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