Neumann U-67, API 525C, Weiss ADC-1 and SC-1 Mic Preamp

I have a Shadow Hills Mono Gama, Avedis MA5, Five Fish SC-1mk500, and Chandler Germanium. While I love the other pres for other things, the Five Fish is my favorite on my voice with the SM7b. It seems a tad more open and it sits in the mix better for some reason. - post by PlayRadioPlay! on Gearslutz.com

At tax time, i wanted to add some nice flavor to my studio. I bought an A-Designs 500-HR rack and (2) 500 series units: a name-brand preamp   and the Five Fish Studios X-12. I used both for various purposes over the next 2 months: upright piano, drums (kick, snare, OH,) guitar, bass guitar...And in the end, I got rid of the name-brand preamp and picked up another X-12, no contest. I found the X-12 to be crisper and clearer, easier to use, easy to dial in the perfect gain structure. That's just my personal take on it. I think the name-brand preamp is great but for my money, it will always be the X-12, no contest. - post on Gearslutz.com

The PEQ-503 arrived safely and I gave them a test. They're excellent! Using them is like "changing the sound of the mic itself" and less "like using an EQ", that's how natural/unobtrusive they sound and work. Also when I compare the sound of the signal chain with and without the EQ (hard bypass with the XLR cables), I notice it sounds subtly different in a nice way with the EQ in the path (even with the "bypass" switch engaged). The default frequency selections are a good choice although for electric guitar I may shift the lows up a notch with the jumpers; it's nice to have that option. - James Peters, www.petersamplification.com, Canada