If you are lucky enough to find these, you'll notice the build quality right off the bat. It's is STRONG! Built like a truck, and I'm sure you could build a tank out of it. The price tag on these puppies are around the $5000 mark, though I have seem them go for much more.
One of the things I noticed after opening it up is that is has two mother boards, though this one has IDC connections. If I remember correctly, I have spotted the original 33609 without these connections. Another obvious thing was the power supply, no doubt it's different than the 33609(non C version). Perhaps an LM317 voltage regulator. There also seems to be a toroidal transformer in this one. Now, I'm a huge fan of gear which is implimented right, and having a toroidal tranny just makes sense in a unit to make is more quiet. Even the sound quality compared to the non C version, in particular has can only be decribed as more 'fun'(yes I said fun) than any other Neve compressors.
I've used this on drums, guitars, and even on the 2 bus. Not my favorite for the 2 bus, but my oh my, does it ever excell on guitars and drums.
If I could have 8 channels of this compressor, I would never have to buy another compressor again.
Nice! Infact I would like to say that you are right on with the LM317 power supply, infact they changed/upgraded the 33609 to this power supply. Neve use to use whatever stuff for laying around, thats why in the first run of the units they used the 1777 supply.
ReplyDelete