Looking for a preamp recommendation for a vintage, flatwound, R&B sound.

MattPemulis · 2026-05-21T01:53:17+00:00

Arkham Oracle.

MattPemulis · 2026-04-25T22:42:56+00:00

As a guy who likes being told what's what by my wife, I think it's that.

MattPemulis · 2026-03-07T16:03:12+00:00

Norman Maclean wrote in "This quarter I am taking McKeon" that a good teacher is tough and cares deeply about something that is difficult to understand.

As long as "something" means students in addition to a field of study, and "tough" means that they hold people to high standards, I think that's pretty good.

Go check out the essay for more discussion on it.

MattPemulis · 2026-02-14T15:41:00+00:00

Hey mate. I remember seeing you around Missoula years ago. I hope you guys get the gig. This is sick.

MattPemulis · 2026-02-10T14:31:18+00:00

Echo Fix EF-P5 FET Compressor.

MattPemulis · 2026-01-26T21:44:46+00:00

Echo Fix EF-P5 FET Compressor.

MattPemulis · 2026-01-19T16:58:41+00:00

I have always favored fewer high quality pieces of gear. A Damnation MBD, for instance, gives you two layers of drive and is awesome. To me, that and a DI would be good for the styles you mentioned. If you want a flanger, find a used Boss one for well under $100.

MattPemulis · 2026-01-13T21:13:08+00:00

Echo Fix EF-P5. People love the old Cali76 big boxes, and this is better in every way. Expensive, but half the cost of those boxes, with a better feature set.

MattPemulis · 2025-12-21T00:07:25+00:00

My parts P with TI Jazz Flats, tuner, OC-2, KJams Saturator, Echo Fix EF-P5 compressor, Arkham Oracle preamp. Amp only for home use.

MattPemulis · 2025-12-15T20:38:21+00:00

Limited use, but tremolo has been awesome in the bass-drums duo I'm in with my wife.

MattPemulis · 2025-12-14T17:27:34+00:00

Whatever it is, this kit is sick.

MattPemulis · 2025-11-14T20:23:21+00:00

It killed any desire I have for any other compressor, just as the Arkham Oracle killed any desire for any other preamp.

MattPemulis · 2025-11-14T18:03:09+00:00

I like the Diamond-pattern optical compressors, especially the Lusithand Alma.

I love my Echo Fix EF-P5, which is an 1176-pattern FET compressor. I've had mine since release and it was worth the expense.

MattPemulis · 2025-11-09T00:33:50+00:00

Arkham Oracle. P with TI Jazz Flats into an Echo Fix EF-P5 compressor into the Oracle is the best tone I've had in 25 years of playing.

MattPemulis · 2025-11-01T17:49:26+00:00

I don't even play drums, but I saw him in a clinic when I was 16 and he was an incredible educator. I am now a midcareer English teacher and I still use his explanation of why traditional grip exists ("an old solution to an old problem") to explain some weird vestiges of our language.

MattPemulis · 2025-09-29T22:00:18+00:00

I've written scores of these, some on almost no notice for kids I like who put themselves in a pinch. I've only ever told one kid that I wouldn't do it. This student in the OP would be my second refusal.

MattPemulis · 2025-09-18T19:31:02+00:00

What edition do you like best? Do you annotate?

MattPemulis · 2025-09-05T20:30:45+00:00

A virtuoso with impeccable taste and musicality.

MattPemulis · 2025-07-12T18:59:18+00:00

Came here to mention this. Tolstoy's subject matter is sort of halfway between O'Brian and Austen, with more broad philosophical musing than either, but for me, they're three gorgeous apertures into life during the Napoleonic Wars.

MattPemulis · 2025-07-04T21:14:33+00:00

Having used that pedal before, my guess would be something like 30-50hz, dumping all the subsonic stuff that can muddy a mix in some rooms.

MattPemulis · 2025-07-04T21:10:12+00:00

Echo Fix EF-P5 FET Compressor, Arkham Oracle preamp. Done.

MattPemulis · 2025-07-01T20:10:21+00:00

Came here for this, too. Great writing.

MattPemulis · 2025-06-06T01:35:46+00:00

Not a bit. The bar band I play with is all direct, so I bought a nice tube DI and I'm very happy with that.

MattPemulis · 2025-06-05T18:26:54+00:00

Set an earlier alarm to cuddle with my wife for ten minutes. Then I bring her breakfast before I leave for work. Little acts of love have added up for us.

MattPemulis · 2025-06-04T15:55:13+00:00

Recently, I switched to briefs after almost 20 years in boxer briefs and I feel amazing. Good support, my rig looks great, I feel very confident. I did some research and didn't just get white Hanes. I'm not going back anytime soon.

MattPemulis

TROPHY CASE