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Chandler Limited TG2-500 Series Microphone Preamp

500 Series Mic/Line Preamp with Discrete Transformer-balanced Amplifiers and Summing - Based on the EMI TG12428
$995.00

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Chandler Limited TG2-500 Series Microphone Preamp
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Classic Abbey Road Preamp - in a 500 Series Module!

The Chandler Limited TG2-500 500 Series mic/line preamp module is a spot-on re-creation of the rare EMI TG12428, found in the recording and mastering consoles of EMI (and later Abbey Road) studios in the late '60s and early '70s. The TG2-500 is built using the original TG12428 schematics. Put the sound of the preamp used in such iconic recordings as The Beatles' Abbey Road and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon in your 500 Series rack. Order your TG2-500 from Sweetwater today!

Chandler Limited TG2-500 500 Series Mic/Line Preamp at a Glance:
  • There's history behind this amazing-sounding pre
  • You get warmth and punch - plus an open, airy high end
  • Put this in your rack and brace yourself for some serious tone
There's history behind this amazing-sounding pre

The Chandler Limited TG2-500 500 Series module is a re-creation of the rare EMI TG12428 preamp fitted in EMI/Abbey Road recording and mastering consoles of the late '60s and early '70s. This instantly identifiable sound was used on many legendary Abbey Road recordings, including The Beatles Abbey Road and Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon.

You get warmth and punch - plus an open, airy high end

The Chandler Limited TG2-500 500 Series preamp module incorporates the same discrete transformer-balanced amplifiers as the TG Series limiter, giving you a creamy, smooth tone with an open, airy high end. The sound, as described by many users, is imbued with vintage warmth and punch - but with a more open top end. The unit does indeed have a small rise in its high frequency response, along with some warmth-inducing distortion which contribute to its unique, punchy sound.

Put this in your rack and brace yourself for some serious tone

Chandler Limited's TG2-500 500 Series preamp was built from the original EMI TG12428 design notes and circuit board drawings provided by Abbey Road and EMI. With a genealogy like that, this preamp's a no-brainer. When you plug into the Chandler Limited TG2-500 Abbey Road Special Edition preamp, you plug into the sound behind some of the most memorable recordings in classic rock history. Put one (or more) of these preamps in your 500 Series rack and brace yourself for some serious tone.

Chandler Limited TG2-500 500 Series Mic/Line Preamp Features:
  • Topology based closely on the original EMI TG12428 at EMI/Abbey Road studio
  • Discrete transformer-balanced amplifiers produce a warm tone with clear highs and rich lows
  • Input gain ranges from +20dB to +50dB
  • 48V phantom power, phase reverse, and an impedance switch
  • Impedance switch toggles between 300 ohms and 1200 ohms, to match any mic
  • Channel output gain control lets you run the input gain hot for extra color
  • Requires compatible 500 Series chassis
  • Chandler Limited and their associated logos are registered trademarks of Chandler Limited, Inc. Abbey Road Studios, EMI, TG, REDD, RS and their associated logos are trademarks of EMI (IP) Limited.
Get legendary sound, with the Chandler Limiter TG2-500!

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Manufacturer Part Number: TG2-500

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 4/5

Pro tone but missing a few features.

There is no LED to tell you when it's reading a signal or if it's even on. There is no high-pass filter. The only problem is, as I understand it, it makes the compressor in your chain work harder because you can't kill the lows before it hits the limiter/compressor.

I record direct then re-amp & line-out out of the interface into the 500 Series gear. So it's nice having a line-level switch on the TG2.

My honest opinion:
This pre sounds polished and professional. HOWEVER, For certain tracks like drums or electric guitar.... it sounds TOO crisp and TOO polished, for my taste. I reverted back to my Fredenstein tube pre for guitar, drums, percussion and electric piano. Granted the Fredenstein doesn't sound as crisp but the tubes add a smoothness and saturated warmth you can't get from solid-state gear. The only thing I really found the TG2 useful for was vocals and acoustic guitar.

Don't get me wrong. It's an awesome pre. I just don't think it'll work for me as much as I would have liked.
Music background: Always learning
Rated 5/5

Extremely satisfying purchase.

This is like a 1073 with slightly less low end (and a more clearly defined low end too) and a more aggressive midrange and slightly more open top. I think these sound great on pop vocals, as does that one Swedish guy Max Martin. But what the heck does he know about vocal chains.

Chandler TG-2 is a pretty sick channel. I picked up two from my rep at Sweetwater, and I have no regrets.
Rated 5/5

Blew me away

This thing blew me away. Super open on the top with incredible clarity. Very smooth response and sound. Seems to bring things forward in the mix naturally. I'm not sure I would use it on percussion or drums but for anything melodic that needs to stand out and/or smooth out, this is your tool. Very unique sound. I have used it mostly on horns (saxophones mainly) and love it.
Music background: Musician, engineer
Rated 5/5

Chandler Equipment Rocks

Chandler TG-2 is such a great Pre-amp. We have used these on anything and everything, results yield patterns of beauty and open air thickness. Close feel on drums or room mics both have just the right amount of grab and tone to truly work on many types of sounds and even many types of mics.

Try these with a TLM-103 or a MD421 or a 414. No rules makes the ride man. Overheads using these helps so much with good thick background sounds we often require or search for using other units not labeled Chandler.
Music background: Recording Enginerr
Rated 5/5

Love it

All the other reviews cover it, but hard not to leave a comment about how awesome this preamp is. Can't wait to pick up another.
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