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Hello all,

I run a small project studio and have a client who's looking for a
"warm vintage" vocal sound. The core of my rig are two Grace pres -
an 801 and a 201 through Lynx Aurora converters into Logic. I also
use a Toft ATB24 console, but have found the Grace's to be so superior
that I seldom track with the Toft Pres. I also have a GT Brick
sitting around.

The client is a female singer songwriter with a self-described
"whiskey voice." The arrangement is solo voice, acoustic guitar, and
clean electric guitar. After some initial tracking the client told me
that she's seeking more "vintage" sound for her voice, which I take to
mean a colored, warm sound with a tamed top end and a round low end.
I found the tracks that we did with the Grace (using a Gefell UMT70s)
to be exquisite in their detail, but I think the client maybe wants
something a little less honest.

I tried an AB test with the Grace and the Brick using the Gefell and
doing the vocals myself. The Brick is pleasant, but very different,
of course. What I am wondering, is if I want to take this a step
further, do those of you with experience think I will hear a
meaningful difference if I swap out the stock Groove Tubes 12AX7 and
12AT7 for NOS Telefunkens or RCAs or something? It occurs to me that
GT may develop their products with their own tubes in mind - and thus
their gear may sound best with their own tubes - but I am also aware
that some think that the build quality of old tubes was far superior.
Before I drop $50 and wait a week or two to order vintage tubes, I'm
curious if anyone has experience with this sort of thing, or even this
specific preamp (the Brick) using NOS tubes.

Thanks!
Steve