Custom Fabrication

RCA OP-6/BA-2 Hybrid Mic Pre Amp: Listening Test/Shootout

Alright!  So earlier this week I described the successful completion of the RCA OP-6/BA-2 microphone preamp.  Check out this previous…

13 years ago

UPDATE: Vacuum Tube Program EQ project – Part 2

The vacuum-tube powered program EQ that I described in this previous post is nearly complete.  This thing has sat on…

13 years ago

Altec 436 Compressor: Taming the output level: part 2

In a previous post, we looked at the Altec 436 vari-mu tube compressor.  I built one of these a few…

13 years ago

Recent Custom-Build Stereo Amplifier (Home Use)

Above: a very minimal single-ended stereo amplifier with very low gain, designed to accept headphone-level input from an iPod or…

14 years ago

The Field-Coil Guitar Amplifier

(web source) The year is 1946.  You are a man of the world.  Bold and sophisticated.  A true musical connoisseur.…

14 years ago

some recent pieces

Last week was busy in the shop. This is a 2-watt per-channel stereo power amp built for our friends K&D. …

14 years ago

TECH: antique theater equipment

It’s a sign of real accomplishment for an artist to have a monograph of their work published.  I would imagine…

14 years ago

Recycled Champs

one of the most famous electric instrument amplifiers of all time is the tweed-covered Champ amplifier made by Fender in…

14 years ago

Hey it’s one of those old horn speakers

Along the lines of the ‘Carbon Mic’ (see earlier post) are these early horn speakers.   They are visual icons that…

14 years ago