matta
Well-known member
I thought I'd share my latest project and birthday present to myself, a 4 channel mic pre called the Spectratone.
Channels 1+2 are based on the JFET design offered up in Tape Op by Scott Hampton, and laid out on a PCB by our Brazilian friend Fabio, which he dubbed the FETboy. It is an incredibly musical pre and very colourful as many of you know.
Channels 3+4 are Spectra Sonics 101?s, whose consoles were found in many of the great recording halls including Muscle Shoals, Stax, RCA & Ardent to name a few.
My particular cards were removed from the main studio console at Paramount in LA (between ?69/?79) and used by greats like Zappa and Dylan (Thanks to Doty!). Hopefully some of it rubs off. They sound nice a smooth, and harmonically rich with a big bottom end.
Still troubleshooting a ground issue with them since they don?t have a continuous ground plane and they probably also need a recap at some point, but so far, me likey!
Here a few shots:
Close up of a channel
The front and guts
The back and guts
I need to thank a few people for their aid in this project, here goes, in no particular order.
Frank, for giving my Front Panel Design the once, and thrice over to check for potential errors along with offering advise and a starting point with his Bratwurst Green.
Fabio, for his great design work and explaining the basics of audio transformers (read: How to wire an OEP), amidst other things.
Neeno, for the constant support, friendship and XLR drilling advise.
Joe, for his hip ?Go Between Kits? and SS wiring guide.
Paul, for the funky knobs and Spectra Sonics edge connectors.
Ray, for his advice and experiences shared with wiring his own 101?s.
There are many others, and I?m sorry if I left you out. Without your support as community and forum this wouldn?t be done, at least not by me.
Sunday marked my 1 year anniversary in DIY and year since my wife gave me an iron, since then I?ve gone from knowing nothing to building a couple Greens, a Calrec and GSSL.
You ALL rock!
Cheers
Matt
Channels 1+2 are based on the JFET design offered up in Tape Op by Scott Hampton, and laid out on a PCB by our Brazilian friend Fabio, which he dubbed the FETboy. It is an incredibly musical pre and very colourful as many of you know.
Channels 3+4 are Spectra Sonics 101?s, whose consoles were found in many of the great recording halls including Muscle Shoals, Stax, RCA & Ardent to name a few.
My particular cards were removed from the main studio console at Paramount in LA (between ?69/?79) and used by greats like Zappa and Dylan (Thanks to Doty!). Hopefully some of it rubs off. They sound nice a smooth, and harmonically rich with a big bottom end.
Still troubleshooting a ground issue with them since they don?t have a continuous ground plane and they probably also need a recap at some point, but so far, me likey!
Here a few shots:
Close up of a channel
The front and guts
The back and guts
I need to thank a few people for their aid in this project, here goes, in no particular order.
Frank, for giving my Front Panel Design the once, and thrice over to check for potential errors along with offering advise and a starting point with his Bratwurst Green.
Fabio, for his great design work and explaining the basics of audio transformers (read: How to wire an OEP), amidst other things.
Neeno, for the constant support, friendship and XLR drilling advise.
Joe, for his hip ?Go Between Kits? and SS wiring guide.
Paul, for the funky knobs and Spectra Sonics edge connectors.
Ray, for his advice and experiences shared with wiring his own 101?s.
There are many others, and I?m sorry if I left you out. Without your support as community and forum this wouldn?t be done, at least not by me.
Sunday marked my 1 year anniversary in DIY and year since my wife gave me an iron, since then I?ve gone from knowing nothing to building a couple Greens, a Calrec and GSSL.
You ALL rock!
Cheers
Matt
You can buy a variety of add on?s 
