NPD - New Preamp Day

[Piero the Guitarero]

Okay, short introduction: I alway wanted to have a 3+, but the prices
in germany, even on the used market are ridiculous, I'am not
willing to pay 1700€uros for a used one. So a friend made an offer
I couldn't refuse, a P-2-P 3+ for less than a used one - I didn't hesitate - I agreed!


After a waiting for 3 month (not his fault) I wanna celebrate this
with Rig Talk members (RT exclusive!)

The funny thing is: He made TWO! One for himself. He said "it's cheaper when ordering several parts!"
Whats so hilarious about that? I bet he hasn't touched his Les Paul for a year or so ,
but I don't care - I have a 3+ "in da house"

Oh, and it was my idea to make it purple...
And opposed to 'the original' the channels can be switched on the front

Clips? First one is for clean & crunch fans (notice that I suck when I have to play clean)
Highgainers may skip this "section" and go directly to the highgainclip.

Clip1: Clean/Crunch

Clip2: Highgain

Oh, and as a longterm Elmwood user I can confirm what Ralph said:

Ha, for me he is the same for Elmwood as Mark (Samhillband) is for CAE. Those guys should get medals from the respective mfr's

Giga.

It's funny that you should mention the CAE because I think the two amps sound very similar especially in the low Mids.

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=36827&p=432289&#p432289

♪♫♪♫ ...now I'm feeling all the way ♪♫ ... just a little bit like Mark Day ♪♫♪♫

 

[guitarslinger]

That is SOOO fucking tight.

Is that the same German guy who did this??

 

[TheEternal]

HNPD!! That sounds awesome..

 

[mctallica1]

Very nice.

That is tidy as hell inside.

 

[TheEternal]

That is SOOO fucking tight.

Is that the same German guy who did this??

Nothing like German engineering...

That must be ludicrously expensive.....

 

[Gainfreak]

AWESOME!!!! (playing /tone / and the build-look of the preamp!!)




And the purple face place is just amazing

Everyone knows that Purple sounds better

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

That is SOOO fucking tight.

Is that the same German guy who did this??

Nope - but Soeren was "the source"!
Easy if you look at the switching pcb

 

[guitarslinger]

There are SOOOO many parts in there. LOTS of soldering too.

These days, a 3+ is ~$1400 in the USA.

Those handmade monsters probably have a grand in parts + 50 hours of soldering.


I guess Necessity is the mother of invention.

damn..

Those are cool.

 

[Digital Jams]

WOW!

Very impressive work and from the looks of the guy's bench he knew what he was doing

Congrats, very nice rig

 

[duesentrieb]

Very nice, Piero !!!!

Nice PT (compared to the Wüsten), what are its specs B+-wise?

 

[DiezelMonster]

Wow that's awesome! impressive work! I'll check the clips out, but simply amazing!

How close is this to the original preamps? made by bradshaw/suhr?

I'd love to have the Bad Medecine one hahaha!

Cheers1

C

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

Very nice, Piero !!!!
what are its specs B+-wise?

Thanks Olaf

Should be close to the original

AC = 275V
DC (first filter Cap) (correct?) = 366V DC
B+ (A) [Leadchannel] = 343 V DC
B+ (B) [CF V3/V5] = 328 V DC
the rest (C/D/E/F) is around 323V DC

Too high?

That is SOOO fucking tight.

Is that the same German guy who did this??

BTW: Thats me at a german forum meeting. What do you spy in the rack?

 

[duesentrieb]

350-400V is perfect for enough tightness and a good headroom IMO.

 

[robertkoa]

Love the clarity of the CRUNCH where you can still play chords without getting too narly.

The thing has a lot of clarity and smoothness with definition - NICE ! ( a very difficult combination to achieve ).

I can hear the "purpleness" in the tones from the faceplate color....................................

Edit- even the high gain tones are clear where it sounds like LESS gain on single notes because of the clarity- then when you hit a chord you realize there's LOTS of gain.

I love that it's the kind of gain that doesn't hurt your ears- excellente!

 

[Piero the Guitarero]

Thanks for the kind words guys

350-400V is perfect for enough tightness and a good headroom IMO.

Just checked the X99

AC = 297V


DC = 398V


B+ (Lead) = 372V DC


B+ (Cf) = 316V DC


plate voltage V2a = 219V DC



plate voltage V2b = 308V DC



good/bad/ normal?

 

[gibson5413]

Very cool! That first clip about a minute in sounded great. It was reminiscent of the tone Joe Walsh got on the tune The Confessor. Congratulations on a great preamp!

 

[Dr. Nöres]

Hi, I´m Sören

I build the "Bad Medicine" preamp. To my knowledge it is the first CAE3+ clone and being my first diy-preamp ever, I am a little bit proud of it.

But furthermore it is much more ravishingly seeing someone, who developes my Layout further to perfection!

Piero, I would really appreciate to get to know and meet the builder of your preamp! Since I have build the "Müller Classic" I´m loving eylett-boards. The builder of your preamp did his work so affectionately and precise! And the sound of the youtube video is verry promising.

Up to now I have seen such ultimate perfection only in Larrys amps.

If your preamp-builder is able to offer a preamp like this far below 1700€ this thing could become a real Jon-Schaffer-Signature-preamp-killer

 

[Shark Diver]

Damn those look clean! That is great work. Love the tones too. (Even that sloppy clean playing Piero. )

Very nice gear you always seem to have. Love it.

 

[jkdsteve]

Beautiful workmanship...

 

[duesentrieb]

If your preamp-builder is able to offer a preamp like this far below 1700€ this thing could become a real Jon-Schaffer-Signature-preamp-killer

lol

Thanks for the kind words guys
Just checked the X99

AC = 297V
DC = 398V
good/bad/ normal?

Good.
The question is: how many volts (DC) on the CF-cathode? >>200V? (I bet it is at least 210 or 220)
Then bad