Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Pre Amp Module

Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Pre Amp Module

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CHANDLER-GERMANIUM-500-MKII
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Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Preamp - 500-Series Preamp

500-series preamp uses classic germanium transistors in an all class-A, transformer-balanced circuit

The Germ 500 MKII is an updated version of the Chandler Limited Germ 500. With an improved faceplate layout and nicer look, the Germ 500 MKII uses classic germanium transistors in all Class-A, transformer-balanced circuits. The Germ 500 MKII is Chandler's well-known Germanium Preamp adapted for 500 series racks, using the same transformers and amp blocks to ensure the sound is consistent between the two. The Germ 500 MKII is great for any sound source, but thanks to the Thick control, it can add extra low-end oomph to kick drum, bass, and floor tom, or adding thickness to any thin-sounding instrument. Chandler Limited also updated the power handling on the Germ 500 MKII so there are no power-up issues with known power 500-series racks and lunchboxes.

Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Preamp unique features:

  • Classic germanium transistors open up a whole new sound palate
  • Same transformers and amp block as the rackmount Germanium preamp
  • Thick switch adds low frequency rise for warmth and roundness

Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Preamp key features:

  • Class-A, transformer-balanced circuits
  • No power-up issues with current lunchboxes and rack systems

Don’t forget to check out RSPE’s Rack Revolution, a virtual 500-series rack builder that lets you custom-configure the perfect 500-series lunchbox for your studio, DAW, or mobile recording rig. RSPE carries every 500-series module imaginable, including mic preamps, compressor-limiters, equalizers, and 500 power racks.


Inside The Box - Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Preamp

The use of germanium components opens up a whole new sound palate not found in any other pro audio equipment. These incredibly smooth-sounding transistors were the basis of the earliest transistor designs by Neve (1053, 1055, 1057), EMI (TG12345 MKI), Telefunken, and Fairchild. Those familiar with these units can attest to the special sound of the germanium transistor. The sound is warm and smooth as with many vintage style circuits, but you'll find new world of smooth here, as well as a sound that settles in perfectly to your tracks without fighting the mix. The Germ 500 MKII uses Chandler's new custom-wound transformers, which combine the best parts of Chandler's favorite St Ives and Gardners input and output transformers.

Outside The Box - Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII Preamp

Sporting the same distinctive blue face, yellow chicken knobs, and white block-style buttons as the rackmount Chandler Germanium preamps, the Chandler Limited Germ 500 MKII preamp front panel hosts the following controls:
  • Gain/Germanium Drive: The Gain rotary switch is stepped in 3dB increments. The Gain control interacts with the Feedback control to offer a variety of tones. Driving the gain tends to accent low frequencies providing a thicker tone.
  • Feedback: The Feedback control is essential to the sound and function of the Germ 500 MKII pre amp. It affects the sound and function of the amplifier in many ways. THD, frequency response, and gain change considerably with varying feedback. Using the Feedback control in combination with the Gain control creates a wide range of tones-thick, bright, or lots of color.
  • DI/Unbalanced In: This is an unbalanced input for guitar, bass, samples, etc. Simply throw the toggle switch and you're off. Jack directly into the Class A circuit to provide a tone different than a standard direct box.
  • Pad: Use Pad to run Gain and Feedback controls near full or increased low end and harmonic distortion.
  • Thick: The thick adds a gentle (well maybe not so gentle) low-frequency rise for warmth and roundness. The effect varies slightly with the load on the pre amp and has a bit of life of its own.
  • 48-Volt Switching: 48-volt switches phantom power.
  • Phase:Reverses the polarity of the pre amp's output.

Chandler Limited 500-Series Compatibility

All Chandler 500 series units have now been tested and proven to have no power issues in the following racks: API 500V 10-slot with L200 PSU; API 500-6B Lunchbox; API 500-6B HC “new version” Lunchbox; BAE 11-slot with power one supply; BAE 6-slot portable with power one supply; BAE 6-slot with Avedis designed supply; A-Designs 2-slot; Purple Sweet 10; and Empirical Labs 2-slot.

Little Devil EQs and Little Devil Compressors have been upgraded to eliminate the power conflict experienced with some 3rd party racks and lunchboxes. The upgrade has been tested in the racks listed above. Any Little Devil EQ or Little Devil Compressor with compatibility issues can be returned to Chandler Limited for a free upgrade (parts and labor), however, Chandler Limited will not cover shipping costs.

Who's using Chandler Limited:

Abbey Road Studios
Curve Bender, Zener Limiter, TG1, TG2, Channel, Germ Pre

Bill Stevenson
(Black Flag, Descendants, Rise Against, The Lemonheads, Only Crime ) - TG Channel, TG2, Germ Pre, Ltd-1

Billy Bush
Producer, Engineer, Mixer (Garbage, Tegan & Sara, Muse) - TG2 Pre Amp/Di, TG1 Limiter, Germanium Pre Amp/Di, Germanium Tone Control

Blackbird Studios

Michael Wagener
(Mötley Crüe, Overkill, Accept, Great White, Poison, Alice Cooper, Extreme, Megadeth, Janet Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Dokken, Metallica, White Lion, Skid Row)

Blues Saraceno
(Melissa Etheridge, Ziggy Marley)

Brad Fernquist
(Goo Goo Dolls)

Chase Park Transduction
(REM, Drive By Truckers, Queens Of The Stone Age)

Chris Testa
(Jimmy Eat World, Dixie Chicks, Switchfoot, Backstreet Boys, Hoobastank, Barenaked Ladies, Pink, Matchbox 20, Edie Brickell, Audioslave)

Claudius Mittendorfer
(Interpol, Glasvegas, Ash)

Counting Crows

Critter
(Guns N' Roses, Angels And Airwaves)

Dave Wood
(Jesse Mccartney, Marie' Digby, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Gladys Knight, Music Director For Hilary Duff )

David Kahne
( Paul Mccartney, Stevie Nicks, Sublime, Mtv Unplugged: Tony Bennett, Sugar Ray, The Bangles )

Dennis Sands
( Erin Brockovich, American Beauty, Pleasantville, Good Will Hunting )

Emanuel Kiriakou
(Celine Dion, Jordin Sparks, David Archuleta, Nick Lachey, Backstreet Boys, Jesse Mccartney)

Erykah Badu
(Grammy Award Winner)

Ethan Mates
(Linkin Park, Korn, Black Eyed Peas, Tupac, Slipknot, Lionel Richie, Jennifer Lopez, Tom Petty, Motley Crue, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Haze, Good Charlotte, Sting)

Evan Taubenfeld
(Avril Lavigne, Tyga, Mtv, Warner Bros Records, Emi Music)

Goo Goo Dolls

Greg Wells
(Deftones, Mika, Pink, Rufus Wainwright)

Jimmy Eat World

Jimmy Messer
(Kelly Clarkson)

Joe Barresi
(Hole, Weezer, Queens Of The Stone Age, Tool)

John Feldmann
(Goldfinger, Story Of The Year, Good Charlotte, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Atreyu)

John Mcbride

John Paterno
(Joan Osborne, Los Lobos, Faith Hill, Phil Vassar, Bonnie Raitt, Tim Mcgraw, The Black Molly's)

Matt Bayles
(Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Mastodon)

Matthew Sweet

Michael Beinhorn
(Korn, Marilyn Manson, Soundgarden, Soul Asylum, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Verve Pipe, Ozzy Osbourne, Social Distortion, Black Label Society)

Michael James
(Jawbreaker, New Radicals, Janes Addiction, Chicago, Hole)

Peter Katis
(Interpol, Guster, Longwave, Ours, Robbers On High Street)

Ralph Patlan
(Megadeth, Jamie Foxx, Rick Derringer, Michael Schenker, Brian “Head” Welch, Chris Poland/Ohm)

Rammstein

Ross Hogarth
(John Fogerty, Ziggy Marley, Edgar Winter, Jimmy Eat World, Lifehouse, Clay Aiken, John Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge, Coal Chamber, Roger Waters, Jewel, Black Crowes, Mötley Crüe)

Ross Robinson
(Vanilla Ice, Slipknot, At The Drive-In)

Ryan Hewitt
(Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers, Blink-182, Tom Petty)

Shawn Dealey
Engineer, Counting Crows

Slipknot

Steve Evetts
(Dillinger Escape Plan, The Cure, He Is Legend, Sepultura, Story Of The Year, Every Time I Die, Earth Crisis And Our Last Night)

About Chandler Limited

Based in a small Iowa town in the middle of nowhere, Chandler Limited signal-processing equipment is highly regarded for its ability to add the warmth of analog to today's digital recording process. Chandler Limited works directly with EMI and Abbey Road studios to reintroduce some of the exact equipment used at Abbey Road Studios to record such bands as The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Priding itself on hand-wiring all their products, Chandler products have been featured prominently in albums, movies, television, and even video games. And now, Chandler Limited enters the 500 race with its new line of 500-series modules for your favorite lunch box. Using all-discrete circuits that combine Chandler's best designs with the hottest designs from the past; transformer balanced everything; and the American handmade quality you expect, the Chandler Limited 500-series modules will take your lunchbox or rack system to a new level.

If you've been looking for the mojo of a Chandler Germanium preamp in a 500-series format, put a Germ 500 MKII preamp module in your 500 rack/PSU. For more information, call or chat with an RSPE representative today.

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ManufacturerChandler
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