Groove Tubes Brick

Ease of use is a double edged sword. On one hand it's incredibly simple because it's litterally in, out, and a gain knob. Pretty simple. I don't even remember if it came with a manual, because I didn't need one. The only thing you need is the signal flow, which is printed on the bottom of the unit.

But I'm giving it a low score because there's no meter or even a clip light. Because the Brick is a low-headroom pre, it's incredibly easy to clip the thing. And with no clip indicator, you really have to pay much more attention to what you are doing than with any solid-state pre to avoid distortion. The lack of a pad makes things even more complicated as you have to get an inline pad when using mics that don't have built-in pads. Padding is necessary for most vocals with a high-output modern condencer mic to avoid clipping.

As for sound quality, the thing is killer. But bear in mind that this is a very colored mic so it really has to be what you are looking for.

With mics, the sound is very up front and in-your-face and incredibly intimate. For most of what I do, this is exactly what I need. Bear in mind that there is a 'useable' range of gain. The pre goes up to 55dB of gain, but the end of that range gets insanely colored. Once you go past say 2 or 3 o'clock the sound starts to get wooly, you lose high and low end, and the noise floor comes up significantly (all of this can be good, depending on what you are going after). But below that, the sound is very open and very clean.

I use the DI for several things. For tracking keyboards it's great, but I won't use it for electronic kicks because you do lose a little transient response. I use it after a V-Amp2 for direct guitar and it definitely improves the signal and gives you some tonal options by increasing gain. On bass this thing is an absolute monster!

I've had no problems with the unit and it seems to be built like a tank. That said, the XLR input is non-latching (lame!) so you have to be careful pulling out your cable as it relies mainly on a lot of friction - don't want to damage the jack of course.

I haven't had to use customer support.

For bass and for guitars that use PODs and the like the Brick is an absolute no brainer. As a mic pre, it definitely depends on what you want. It's the cheapest true tube (non-toob) and tranny design that is actually a serious tool. But it comes at the cost of absolutely no features whatsoever - no pad, no phase, no HPF, etc. If you want a pre that can give you an up close and personal sound, this will definitely do it. If you want clean, technical vocals that are pushed back in the mix, then this pre is definitely NOT for you.

It goes in...you turn the big knob...it goes out!

Its beautifully characteristic. When you A/B a signal, you might think the brick is a little dark, thick and gloopy, but at mixedown, it all adds up to sounding like a classic recording. I've even run entire mixes through it (one channel at a time) and liked the results a lot. The last quarter of the knob really cranks out everything that is great about hot tubes. The only snag, (if you are using it to treat line level signals) is that to achieve the "fat" tube sound, you end up with a HUGE ouptut signal that will probably clip the channel input on any desk.

Build is seriously industrial with hand wired electronics on the inside. The input sockets feel a little odd, they grip the plugs so tightly that you can feel the metal plate flex when removing or inserting.

Good, I bought mine in the US on vacation, but be warned if you need to adjust the power setting. The 110v/240v option is described in the press release as a jumper that can be switched, but there is no jumper. You must clip four wires from the transformer and reconnect them inversely, not a huge job but it certainly ain't a jumper. Anyway, GT sent me a lovely close up jpeg of the wires before and after.

I use it for treating line level signals more that DI use and it compliments and organic sound beautifully. Worth the $ in anyone's rig. Make sure you know what three hot tubes actually sound like before buying one though...

It's a tube preamp.

The Brick colors too much to make it usefull as a recording preamp for vocals and other sources where you want to keep the original tone. You get deeper bass and higher top end. While the deeper bass isn't a problem I find the higher top end was just too high and had to EQ it down on recordings. A really good tube preamp doesn't add any
extra tone or fatness to the sound but instead it smooths things out. This isn't it.
But this coloration works well when used live for bass guitar if you don't have a tube bass amp. If driven over2/3 volume it produces a lot of hiss and this isn't that good if you wana use it as a gfuitar booster.
It still have it's good uses but I find the Brick to be more of an effect than anything else.

They make the box solid but sockets are crap. Stepped on lead and the plastic input socket broke off. While changing the socket I've noticed the power transformer was about to fall off as it was all loose from it's mounting screws, so was the shielding PCB.
They could have at least put a drop of paint on the screws knowing the unit will be often sitting on vibrating surfaces like an amp.
I'm glad the socket broke of otherwise what ever was loose would probably make the Brick stop working while in uses perhaps at the gig.

Not the most transparent tube preamp, too expensive. Still usefull for various things.

Very simple to use, basicaly you have a "Tune-O-Fat" knob that works great. I wish it had a line output as well (

I mainly use it as a DI for guitars. The results are beyond all my expectations. Everything just "sounds right" at any settings, no more playing around with knobs all day long to get something usefull, this thing just makes everything sound great.

No problems so far and I hope I won't have any anytime soon.

Again I mainly use it as a guitar DI and it shines at that, I would give it an 11 if I could.

This is a very simple devise. Just plug into the mic or instrument input, turn on the phantom power if you need it and adjust the level.

This unit sounds great. I finally understand what the big deal with real tube mic preamps is about. I've owned several fake (starved plate type) preamps and they just don't compare. This unit also has input and output transformers which is also part of the magic. Everything that I've put through it comes out bigger and better. It's flattering on my weak voice.

The first unit I bought failed within 3 days. I bought it at a Guitar Center, but called Groove Tubes first to see what to do. They recommend I send it back to them and they would send me a new one. See next box>

The sales guy I talked to promised that they would take a quick look at the failed unit and then quickly ship me a new one. After two weeks I called up to see what the status was and found out that they had not even looked at it. I was promised that they would look at it that day and send out the new one. Basically it took a month for me to get the new unit back. I felt used. The good news is that the new on works fine. I have had no issues with it.

Again this is a great sounding preamp (tube or otherwise). For $400.00 retail there doesn't seem to be anything else out there that can touch it. I was very disappointed with the factory service, but am glad to own a this unit.

Pretty straight forward preamp/di box. only thing that threw me is that it only has an xlr balanced output and my RNC (compressor) only has 1/4" unbalanced inputs. I stupidly tried using an xlr to 1/4" TRS and it sounded horrible. I thought it was broken but then i happened to think that there might be a pin configuration problem with the cable so i tried an xlr to regular unbalanced 1/4" cable and it sounded beautifull!!! they should really mention that in the literature for dumb people like myself....

This is a kick ass preamp! it combined with my new RNC compressor blows everying i've owned out of the water! i'm hearing things i never knew i was even missing! so warm, even toned and rich. this thing beats the crap out of a lot of $1000+ preamps out there (like Blue's Robbie). It definetly is a HUGE improvement over my VTB-1 preamp i had. I guess its because the Brick is a Class A True Tube preamp whereas everything else below $500 generally is a starved plate design. I plan on buying another one to use for stereo overheads!

This thins is built , dare i say, like a brick :) I'll be suprised if it breaks.

I have dealt with groove tubes before about asking for a replacment part to a GT-55 condeser mic i have of theirs. they replies fairly quickly and where very helpfull. i'll have to give them an 8 just cause i have't gone through with a support issue yet.

if this got stolen or lost i would by another one immediately. i wouldnt' even think of saving up for a better tube preamp as i can't imagine it getting better than this. and for the price??!?!?! forget about it.... This is good enough to keep me from having to pay a studio to do vocals, seriously. i can't wait to try this as a DI box!!!