- Jun 24, 2006
- 2,560
- 90
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
Really bad pic from a small digicam:
After lusting over the API strip after trying one briefly in L&M back when I was auditioning pre's for the IP system, I finally had the chance to AB it with my Summit rig that I've had for nearly a year, at home and in a room that I'm familiar with. It turns out that my choice of the Summit stuff was right - it is significantly better in this application, IMHO.
The API is not nearly as tubey and warm as I thought in direct comparison to the Summit; it does have a really nice vintage quality, and I must say I LOVE the eq section and the compressor in that unit still, but it really doesn't have the 'character' of the little TLA 50/2BA combo. As one famous producer/engineer says on the new Summit site: 'I just add about 1dB of it to my tracks and everything sounds better'... that's pretty much how I feel about the Summit comp. It thickens up the bass, adds fatness and warmth (and a bit of noise as well), and just seems to fit the personality of the bass well. The API is clinical and accurate and very, very transparent in the 'Old' mode, and works perhaps technically a little better than the Summit.
The preamp section is no comparison, IMHO - the little Summit is substantially better in every regard than the famous API - warmer, crisper, brighter, punchier, more 3D, 'hotter', and just tubey and fabulous. The API pre with everything else bypassed is kind of dry and flat in comparison, and seemed to have a little compression of it's own - the dynamic range of the Summit is fabulous.
The tone controls on the API are amazing, and I would someday like to upgrade that part of my rig, but the tc electronic unit that I picked up for a song is vastly more powerful and flexible, just not quite as natural or musical sounding - vague descriptions, I know, but this is all very high end stuff, and NONE of it could be even remotely considered bad gear. API does make a dual EQ unit called a 5500 for frightening amounts of money... maybe when I'm rich and famous.
So my marks for the two units are as follows:
Preamp:
Summit - 9.5/10
API - 8/10
Summit was richer, warmer, faster, more natural, lively, 3D, sweeter, just had a little more of everything.
Comp:
Summit TLA 50 - 9/10
API (in the 7600) - 9/10
reason for tie - totally different design parameters. Summit = warm, sweet, slow, rich, tubey. API = clean, silent, transparent, musical, natural.
EQ:
tc electronic 8.5/10
API 225A 9.5/10
The API was SO natural and musical sounding, yet with an accuracy that just cut like a knife. With the tc, the EQ sounds like an effect being added to the sound; with the API, it becomes a part OF the sound, if that makes any sense. Guess that's why Mega-gearhead/bass God Anthony Jackson uses them in his über-rig.
This Summit stuff is the best buy in high-end gear that I have found - it is outperforming gear several magnitudes more expensive that it is.
And BTW:
Summit 2BA and TLA 50 - about $1400.00
API 7600 - about $2900.00
You could buy some really fine EQ for that price difference. And with the clean, powerful, and clinical Berg IP rig, this Summit stuff REALLY sweetens and warms it up without ever loosing clarity or accuracy in the signal path.
Now I just need another IP rig so I can run stereo again...
Cheers,
Cameron
After lusting over the API strip after trying one briefly in L&M back when I was auditioning pre's for the IP system, I finally had the chance to AB it with my Summit rig that I've had for nearly a year, at home and in a room that I'm familiar with. It turns out that my choice of the Summit stuff was right - it is significantly better in this application, IMHO.
The API is not nearly as tubey and warm as I thought in direct comparison to the Summit; it does have a really nice vintage quality, and I must say I LOVE the eq section and the compressor in that unit still, but it really doesn't have the 'character' of the little TLA 50/2BA combo. As one famous producer/engineer says on the new Summit site: 'I just add about 1dB of it to my tracks and everything sounds better'... that's pretty much how I feel about the Summit comp. It thickens up the bass, adds fatness and warmth (and a bit of noise as well), and just seems to fit the personality of the bass well. The API is clinical and accurate and very, very transparent in the 'Old' mode, and works perhaps technically a little better than the Summit.
The preamp section is no comparison, IMHO - the little Summit is substantially better in every regard than the famous API - warmer, crisper, brighter, punchier, more 3D, 'hotter', and just tubey and fabulous. The API pre with everything else bypassed is kind of dry and flat in comparison, and seemed to have a little compression of it's own - the dynamic range of the Summit is fabulous.
The tone controls on the API are amazing, and I would someday like to upgrade that part of my rig, but the tc electronic unit that I picked up for a song is vastly more powerful and flexible, just not quite as natural or musical sounding - vague descriptions, I know, but this is all very high end stuff, and NONE of it could be even remotely considered bad gear. API does make a dual EQ unit called a 5500 for frightening amounts of money... maybe when I'm rich and famous.
So my marks for the two units are as follows:
Preamp:
Summit - 9.5/10
API - 8/10
Summit was richer, warmer, faster, more natural, lively, 3D, sweeter, just had a little more of everything.
Comp:
Summit TLA 50 - 9/10
API (in the 7600) - 9/10
reason for tie - totally different design parameters. Summit = warm, sweet, slow, rich, tubey. API = clean, silent, transparent, musical, natural.
EQ:
tc electronic 8.5/10
API 225A 9.5/10
The API was SO natural and musical sounding, yet with an accuracy that just cut like a knife. With the tc, the EQ sounds like an effect being added to the sound; with the API, it becomes a part OF the sound, if that makes any sense. Guess that's why Mega-gearhead/bass God Anthony Jackson uses them in his über-rig.
This Summit stuff is the best buy in high-end gear that I have found - it is outperforming gear several magnitudes more expensive that it is.
And BTW:
Summit 2BA and TLA 50 - about $1400.00
API 7600 - about $2900.00
You could buy some really fine EQ for that price difference. And with the clean, powerful, and clinical Berg IP rig, this Summit stuff REALLY sweetens and warms it up without ever loosing clarity or accuracy in the signal path.
Now I just need another IP rig so I can run stereo again...
Cheers,
Cameron
