my UA 6176 on the gig last weekend

[johnk_10]

lately i'd been using my Avalon VT737SP into a crown xti2000 (bridged mono for 2K watts) into my version of a 12126 cab (highly modified vox 2x12). i was using the Avalon, not only because it think it sounds fantastic, big and punchy, but it also has a very flexible and great sounding eq section for different room & acoustics situations. well, to switch things up, i decided to take my UA 6176 to my last gig in place of the Avalon. at first, i thought, am i going to miss having a four band parametric on hand? well, i gotta say, it gave me possibly the best tone and punch of any amp i own or have ever owned, or played thru, and the funny thing is, i didn't use ANY of its eq (which it has a great selectable 2 band eq BTW).

anyway, just thought that i'd share the experience i had with it. sometimes, when the an amp's input amp stage sounds so good it's not necessary to touch a thing, and just let it flow. i did use the 1176 comp in it, but as a limiter to tame 2db off of the loudest peaks. and the 1176 part of it sounds great even if you have it set at 1:1, by adding just a tiny bit of 'color' and for lack of a better word, 'hair' just running thru its circuit.

[SactoBass]

Very cool, John. Are there any clips available anywhere on the net where someone could get a good idea of the bass tone that comes from the UA 6176?

[JimmyM]

there are, but john will have to link you. i heard them and there was a definitely jump with the ua 6176 as compared to his other ones imho. i liked his avalon but not as much as that ua. that's a sharp unit.

believe it or not, though, i thought his svp-cl hung right in there with it. maybe i'd feel different on a gig as opposed to hearing it on a wav file, but it rocked on tape for sure.

i'll never buy any of this stuff, but it is fun to live vicariously through those who have

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Very cool, John. Are there any clips available anywhere on the net where someone could get a good idea of the bass tone that comes from the UA 6176?

i'm not sure, but i could record a few clips with different basses if you want me to.

but i do know that zepplin used lots of UA preamps and 1176's all over their recordings, so if it was good enough for JPJ, it's definitely good enough for me.

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i do know that zepplin used lots of UA preamps and 1176's all over their recordings, so if it was good enough for JPJ, it's definitely good enough for me.

Good point!

[Jim C]

I had thought that the UA was your #1 rig from some posts awhile back; the tone of the old clips were fantastic
+1 to what Jimmy said in that the SVP-CL clips sounded decent on the cheap

Agreed about flat EQ with some gear; I use an SVT-CL / Berg as my reference rig; it never ceases to amaze me how good the SVT sounds flat or with slight tweaks and how the amp under comparrison often times needs much more EQ just to sound not as good

[johnk_10]

i thought that the SVP-CL pre was good too (on the recorded clips), but when you're playing live and in front of the amp, IMO, the 6176 is in a whole other league. the UA is just bigger, fuller, more transparent & responsive, and fatter (and ALOT quieter noise-wise), but i agree that the SVP-CL is no slouch.

[fokof]

Do you use the comp section ?
You prefer the 1176 over the LA2A of the LA610 ?

I used my LA610 once in a live setting, and really dig the sound.
That 610 preamp is one hell of a pre !

The best comp I've tried on my bass is their LA3A.
Bought lots of stuff last year so I have to wait , but it is high on my GAS list.

[johnk_10]

yeah, i agree that the LA610 is and awesome preamp. having owned both the LA 610MKII (with the LA-2 comp) and the 6176 at the same time, i slightly prefer the 1176 comp over the LA-2, so i sold my LA610 MKII since i didn't need to own both of them. (but IMO, either one makes a GREAT bass preamp.) personally, i think that they are as good as it gets.

i took some pics of the circuits in both of them. you can see that the 1176 uses an FET (SS) compressor:



and the LA 610 MKII's LA-2 is a tune compressor:




BTW, IMO, the Yamaha PB-1 and the Ashly BP41 pre's that i have for sale in the TB classifieds, actually compare pretty well to the UA's for a fraction of the price. unfortunately, getting that last 10% costs a small fortune.

[Blues Cat]

I have to echo what Johnk said, so far the best sound I've had live is through a UA6176, direct, no amp with IEM. Pure vintage heaven.

[Jeff Scott]

I have an LA-610 Mk II so I can vouch for it's awesomeness.

[mattwear]

I have serious gas for this or similar rig. I'm building a fEARful 1212/6, got a UA6176, and have an xti2002 on it's way.
Question for Johnk: just wonder how you send a line to FOH from the UA6176 / Xti 2000 rig? I notice there's only one line out from the 6176 and that needs to go to the power amp. Can the power amp's 'link/out connector' be used as a throughput to FOH or does is there processing going on that has an effect on the sound? Thanks

[rpsands]

I recorded through a UA6176 recently and am a huge fan of the sound

The 2000 should have a pass through link out, and there should be no DSP on that IIRC.

[johnk_10]

Originally Posted by mattwear

I have serious gas for this or similar rig. I'm building a fEARful 1212/6, got a UA6176, and have an xti2002 on it's way.
Question for Johnk: just wonder how you send a line to FOH from the UA6176 / Xti 2000 rig? I notice there's only one line out from the 6176 and that needs to go to the power amp. Can the power amp's 'link/out connector' be used as a throughput to FOH or does is there processing going on that has an effect on the sound? Thanks

you're gonna love that rig!
yes, just go into the crown's input as normal, then feed the link out (the male XLR right next to it) to the PA.

[mattwear]

Awesome! Thanks. I'll let you know how the setup goes.