Ive only used one real 384 and dark is definitley the word, I wish I could get my gssl that way. I think there is a big enough difference between the gssl I built and the smart C2 I heard to at least pick them different. Im not much of a fan of integrated circuits and dont use them much for anything so Im not really the best judge anyway. When I need something to smear, I'll use my Gssl, its one of very few limiters I have that use IC's and I like it for that.
As for the TG-1, the parts count is ridiculous, I have one and nearly vomited when I saw what was inside it. That box could be 1/2 the price and still turn some profit. The transformers are carnhill, which hes using in everything, so there is some discount on bulk. The meters are expensive, period. The gain switch is an elma, but again, bulk purchase for the rest of the line, so they are affordable for him. Shitty plastic knobs. Horrifying lorlin cheap switches for two functions, I think the release and maybe the comp/limit select, and a really shitty feeling carbon pot for the threshold. The boards honestly look like they were made at PCB express, I swear. It looks like the original artwork from the EMI overlay Ive seen for the original PCB's. The wiring is very nice and the chasis just seems like a bad idea to me, but thats probably more of my "I would have done it differently" bias more than anything else, its just like the older neve console rails. It sort of feels solid, Id sort of feel afriad to bring it on the road. Its ludicrously overpriced, there's no way it costs much more to make than the 2254 copy, which with its extra transformer (if he's building it stock) probably offsets the cost of the more expensive meter in the tg-1 a little bit. He isnt selling pairs of 2254's for $4k, its really disgusting that that is the price on the tg-1. The person to offer that limiter to the marketplace for half the price with better parts (which IMO, if you are tooling up 100 units is so absurdly doable) is going to kick serious ass. Ive thought about it but I dont have enough time for my career right now, let alone a hobby...
Even at $4k, its a really good sounding box, its just a shame its priced where it is. Voodoo. silly.
dave