Thanks for the advice! But I don't have any small tube amp, and the bigger ones we got, we use them live. I have a small 15 watt vox that is 30 years old though, I think I'll experiment a bit with it. But if you consider the tube amp solution and the cheap preamp one, why not get into the tube preamp? I think that I'll end up buying the ehx one, it can't be bad and has a gain control, I can even change the tubes for better ones If I'm not satisfied (http://www.thevintagesound.com/store/electroharmonix-12ay7-tube-mic-preamp-p-157.html).
I wonder though, can you just simply use a xlr->jack transformer? I heard that I was a bad solution and that it was necessary to use a DI box or a preamp to transform to high impedance. I've already plugged my mike into an amp using that "bad" method and nothing bursted but.. I'm sceptic ^^
Oh and if anyone wonders, the sound I get live with my band, using the digitech vx400 in a cheap console in the basement of a bar, is like that: http://www.myspace.com/thewhackattacks (the recording is really crappy, yeah, I know, even in the room it sounded bad anyway because of the huge amount of natural reverb you get when you play in a cave-like place..)
The Vonz said:
Hey Teddy
I too am always looking for new vocal sounds (especially ther garage variety), I use an old layfayette mic from the 60s on a lot of stuff (it is super low fi but not real warm, similar to some of the harp mics discussed here), I also add distortion , reverb and other effects when recording, which work real well. A few options, run a mic through a little tube amp and you can tweak the gain, reverb etc, or try a cheap mic pr like the one ART sells (30 bucks) see it here> ART Tube Pre . I just bought one and will be experimenting with it this week, I will let you know what I come up with (if you care ;-) ).
Peace,
Chaz