Golden Age Project Pre-73 Mic Pre **FULLY** MODDED For Sale
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Golden Age Project Pre-73 Mic Pre **FULLY** MODDED:
$541.00
This takes the GAP Pre-73 to an entirely new level. This is an "As New" unit that has been completely modded and is - arguably - as close to being "Neve-like" as is possible for this model of preamp.
The mods are:
Power Supply - Both TIP122 transistors and the 7824 voltage regulator have been replaced with higher quality components and have been heat sinked properly with Mil-Spec silicone heat sink compound. The main filter caps have been replaced with Nichicon High Temperature, High Reliability, Low Impedance caps and the cheap, Chinese 5 watt resistor that tends to fail on units that remain powered on for extended lengths of time has been replaced with a Dale 6.5 watt, silicone resistor. Manypeople mod the GAP Pre-73 but often overlook the power supply - I haverepaired more units with power supply problems than any other problem; mainly due to lesser quality components that have little or no heat sink compound that are destroyed due to overheating.
Input transformer - Thestock, Chinese input transformer has been replaced with a Carnhill VTB-9045 input transformer.
Output transformer - The stock, Chinese output transformer has been replaced with a Carnhill VTB-1148 output transformer with improved 22-gauge wiring and improved Zobel components.
Drive/Output transistor - The stock transistor has been replaced with a Motorola New Old Stock (NOS) 2N3055 - date code 8052.
BC184C transistors - This unit contains (8) BC184C transistors that make up the gain stages. According tosome of the Nevedocumentation on the Internet, Neve looked for transistors with a Beta, or hfe, of 600 or greater. All 8 of the transistors in this unit have been replaced with hand matched Fairchild BC184C transistors - all with a perfectly matched Beta of 655. I had to test approximately 200 transistors to obtain enough for this unit and another unit thatI will be offering soon withtransistors that are matched within .5% The stock transistors that were removed from this unit had a wide range of Betas ranging from 458 to 603.
Tantalum capacitors - The cheap, stock Chinese electrolytic capacitors within the signal path have been replaced with solid, tantalum bead capacitors - just as Neve used. This type of capacitor will not "dry up" over time as electrolytics do.
Finally - the unit has been fully tested and rebiased utilizing the oscilloscope/signal generator method rather than simply setting a "recommended" bias voltage on the collector of the 2N3055 transistor.
Photo 2 shows the modded unit on the left and a new, stock unit on the right. Photo 3 is a close up of the modded unit.
Words cannot do justice to how great this preamp sounds. If you have been looking for a GAP Pre-73 with all of the bells and whistles - you need look no further.
This auction includes the fully modded GAP Pre-73, 120V AC power adapter, and original box. Because the unit has been modified, the manufacturers warranty is no longer valid. However, I will fully warranty the unit for 90 days . Your satisfaction is completely guaranteed. 100% positive feedback.
PayPal only, Please. Shipping is $18.99 in the US. International shipping will be quoted by request.