|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
209.179.38.227
I have a customer with a lot of older records who's interested in finding a mono tube preamp that features some of the various different EQ curves of the late 40s/early 50s.
Some of the ones he mentioned to me, the Marantz Model 1, the McIntosh C8, and the Brook 4B are pretty rare and expensive these days. I mentioned the Scott 121 series to him, but checking prices, even those are no longer inexpensive. (I haven't been in Gear Acquisition Mode for a while.)
Is there such a thing as a sleeper in this category anymore, or have all the good vintage pieces been discovered? At current prices for used gear, probably in need of rebuilding, I'm almost thinking I could build him a new preamp, copying one of the vintage circuits. (Of course, a custom preamp won't have vintage collector value, but still...)
Follow Ups:
There is always the Dynaco PAM-1. It is basically 1/2 a PAS-3X with a 78, RAA and original LP equalization. They are cheap and simple, but need to be used with a tube amp or a transistor amp with a high input impedance, due to a lack of a cathode follower stage. There is also no power supply, but you can build one, or many of the old mono power amps can be used as a power supply.
Dave
I know you said they r not cheap but there is a stunning 121 Scott on eBay right now.
Best,
Dave
I have a set of Quad QCII mono preamps with the equalization needed. He needs only one, but also a power source for the QCII, ie Quad II amp. These preamps are not expensive, in a relative sense.
I have seen custom power supplies as well. The QCII has all the equalization settings he needs, but remember, they also require the phono plug in the rear of the preamp. Possible to DIY the appropriate plug, based on choice of cartridge.
Alternatively, your customer might consider the equalization in the Fisher TA 500 receiver for the older records, using the tape out to a mono preamp of his choice, without spending an arm and leg. He could have you install a pre-out jack on the TA 500, to power an amp, or simply use the entire receiver for the older records.
May not be the solutions he is looking for, but a possibility without spending a lot of money.
David
Is an interesting unit, although I'm not sure how much they're selling for now. It should be cheaper than most of the vintage preamps mentioned and would satisfy the vintage tube requirement.
As an alternative, consider one of these. I have one and find that it far better than the phonostage/preamplifiers with built-in equalization curves, having tried several of these (including a Scott 121) and finding them wanting in one way or another.
It goes AFTER the phonostage/preamp and has a pass-through mode. I've included a link to the operating manual. Yes, it does have some insertion loss and, frankly, I find that many 78 rpm records sound just fine being played back through standard RIAA equalization. But if you want to play back 78s and early LPs with proper EQ, it does the job.
Excellent and easy to use EQ that does not get in the way of your preamp. Very highly recommended.
I have a very nice Pickering that not only handles all the Phone EQ but also tape. It was primarily designed for radio stations. Not sure if 400 is the right model. Not sure what you're looking to spend but contact me directly if you are interested. It would need to be refreshed.
Gary
While it's stereo, not mono, A H/K Cit. 1 does have the desired multiple EQ capability. Specimens of the Cit.1, like the models you mentioned, don't come cheap. If you are interested in this excellent Stu Hegeman design, contact AA sponsor Jim McShane about what it takes to do a refurbishment.
Eli D.
If you aren't sand phobic you can build one of my Legacy Mono Preamps.
Not only will it give you most of the bass turn and treble cut frequencies which you may need, it will sum a stereo cartridge to mono for vertical as well as lateral records. There is also switching to pass the phono cartridge output to your RIAA stereo phono stage for stereo records.
The schemo is somewhere on this site and I do have an electronic copy of it.
Feel free to build one for your use. If you want to sell them, we should talk. Also I've got some updates to the input switching which we should talk about.
Below is a link to photos of it.
Phil
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the link. Whether I'm silicon-phobic or not isn't the issue. This customer is really into vintage equipment, so, for him, I think tubes are a necessary part of the experience. He might go for a copy of a vintage circuit...
If your friend will accept a mono integrated amp, I have just a thing for him. It is a 1950-53 era 12wpc tube amplifier, with all of the 40-50's turnover and rolloff curves, as well as all the other most basic controls of that era. The Newcomb Classic 12 is the "baby brother" to the Newcomb 25, a combo pre-power amp with chairside control box. This "older brother" is the amp I grew up with driving my father's very large JBL corner horn, and it is still some of the best sound I've ever heard.
Right now the amp is listed on US Audio Mart. Look for it there. I may list it here as well in a day or two.
Harry
I've put the US Audio Mart listing below:
Harry
If you can read a schematic and are handy with a soldering iron, build the JE Labs Mono Preamp (just Google it for more info.) Sounds totally awesome and the parts won't cost you a fortune. I replaced the original 6SL7 and 6SN7 with 7F7 and 7AF7 to take it to the next level, and opted for Jensen Copper coupling caps. IMO it's not worth it shelling out crazy money for vintage gear!
I own one that I think is under the radar. It is the Brociner A100. (I have the A100-CA2 combination in the wood cabinet. (I am not interested in selling it. It was my late father's.) It has a wide variety of selectable EQ's as well is selectable turnovers for any EQ's that it doesn't have. IMO it can play anything mono made of vinyl or shellac. Brociner was very good equipment and very respected in its day. However, it did not survive the transition to stereo, so it is not very well known. Victor Brociner was forced to close the company due to financial reasons. He then when to University Loudspeakers, and then to H.H. Scott, where he was engineering vice president. In 1972 he moved to AVID Loudspeakers, also as vice president of engineering. For more info see: http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V25_3_PG167.pdf
Dave
to find an Eico. Sure some of the Eico pieces go for big bucks, but I think there may be some pieces out there 'under the radar' especially mono preamps, like perhaps the HF-65 and HF-61. Sure, everyone wants Eico monoblock amps, but obviously they also usually want a stereo preamp.
Just a thought
--Matt
"When you think everything is someone else's fault, you will suffer a lot."
--Dalai Lama
I second the Eico suggestion. People may not realize how easily
the front plates of these older Eico units are to refurbish.
The front plate is made of brass. All "writing" is engraved so the
item cleans up easily and nicely with more than a bit patience.
Regards to all,
John
I'm very happy with my ca. 1957 Fisher 80C. Has the most popular EQ's: NAB, Columbia LP, AES, RIAA. Also has a Flat setting.
In addition to the above mentioned units, Look for the following:
Heathkit WPA-2
Fisher made some pre-amps and Tuner/pre amps with multiple curves-
Leak
Bogen
Allied Knight
and I thought that tone of the newer MFG'rs like Leben, made a unit w/ multiple curves - check out old Art Dudley articles in S'pile...+
Happy Listening
The Heathkit WPA-2 and the Leak require external power supplies, which are not hard to build, but does complicate things a bit. I think they both also use AC on the heaters (I know the Heath does). I had a pair of the Heaths and I rebuilt and wired for DC, then built an external supply - very nice sounding but I only tried the RIAA curve.
Hi Therm, the Dynakit PAM-1 mono preamp might be a cheap way out. I'm slowly working on getting 2 going myself and I almost always see them on Ebay. The amp being used must have an octal socket to provide some power to the preamp. The old Heathkits and Dynakits had this provision,some don't, just look for the tube like socket on the chassis....Mark Korda
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: