A Designs

Also known as: A-Designs, A Designs Audio, A-Designs Audio

A Designs Audio is a boutique pro audio manufacturer based in West Hills, California, founded in 1999 by Peter Montessi, a former touring bassist and session player. The company specializes in handcrafted analog recording equipment, including microphone preamps, tube compressors, equalizers, direct boxes, and 500-series modules. Their flagship REDDI all-tube direct box, inspired by the Ampeg B-...

19 Products · Used by 20 Artists

A Designs REDDI Tube Direct Box Direct Boxes

$863.78 - $950.00

3 available stores

5.0 (1)

^# 18

in Direct Boxes Rank

14 artists using

A Designs Pacifica Stereo Microphone Preamplifier / DI Preamps

$2,350.00 - $2,630.25

4 available stores

5.0 (1)

^# 55

in Preamps Rank

2 artists using

A Designs P-1 Preamps

$900.00

3 available stores

5.0 (2)

^# 64

in Preamps Rank

2 artists using

A Designs HM2 Compressor "Nail" Effects Processors

$2,550.00

3 available stores

5.0 (1)

2 artists using

A Designs em-peq Effects Processors

$875.00 - $1,100.00

4 available stores

5.0 (1)

A Designs MP-2 Stereo Tube Microphone Preamplifier Preamps

$2,850.00

1 available store

A Designs Hammer 2 Dual Channel Tube EQ Effects Processors

$2,550.00 - $2,990.56

3 available stores

A Designs REDDI (v2) 2-channel Tube Instrument Direct Box Direct Boxes

$1,550.00

4 available stores

1 artist using

A Designs MP-2A Stereo Tube Mic Preamp Preamps

$2,850.00

1 available store

A Designs Mix Factory 16-Channel Analog Summing Mixer Mixers

$3,250.00

1 available store

A Designs EM-EQ2 Dual Channel 3-Band EQ Effects Processors

$1,699.00 - $2,550.00

3 available stores

A Designs KGB-Itf Single Channel Instrument Preamplifier Preamps

$745.00

1 available store

A Designs EM-Gold Preamps

1 artist using

A Designs ATTY2'D Passive Audio Line Level Control 5.1 Studio Monitor Management

A Designs KGB-II 2-Channel Instrument Preamplifier Preamps

$775.00

1 available store

A Designs MP-1 Preamps

A Designs EM-PEQ 500 Series Equalizer Pair Preamps

A Designs EM-Silver 500 Series Preamp Preamps

A Designs Ventura Mic Pre / EQ Preamps

The A Designs product line includes the Pacifica microphone preamp — named after the Quad Eight console and praised for blending characteristics of classic Neve, API, and Massenberg designs — the MP-2A tube preamp, the NAIL tube compressor, and the Hammer 2 three-band tube equalizer. The company also offers 500-series format modules such as the P1 preamp and EM-PEQ equalizer. Their gear has been used by Grammy-winning engineers and producers including Al Schmitt, Dave Pensado, Joe Chicarelli, Ross Hogarth, and Tony Shepperd, as well as bassists Stanley Clarke and Reggie Hamilton.

Montessi also runs Pete's Place Audio, a related boutique brand featuring designs from veteran audio engineers. A Designs operates under the motto "Quality Without Compromise," with a team representing over 60 years of combined experience in pro audio engineering, sales, and service.

A Designs has 19 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Preamps, Effects Processors, and Direct Boxes. Their gear is featured by 20 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Electronic, and Pop. Notable users include Aphex Twin, Neeraj Khajanchi, and Chris Wolstenholme. Most A Designs products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.