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Post by sean on Mar 12, 2016 1:00:51 GMT -6
I think if you are only going to get one, it's the VP28. To be honest, it's one of the few preamps I've owned that made me say "wow!" It inspires creativity, which is not something I've gotten from other preamps...and I own or have owned Chandler, GML, AML, UA, Great River, Pacifica, API, BAE, Daking, Hardy, Manley, Vintech, Purple, Tube Tech...and other stuff too. I think it and the AML ez1073 are the best values on the market. Sure, the AML isn't cheap, but the next cheapest 1073 with full EQ section is twice what they charge (sure the Heritage and BAE look nicer but not $1000 nicer, to me anyway).
I recently had a pair of VP25's, I sold them to a friend who wanted some API style preamps for his studio. They are great, but the VP28 is special. If I was just building some preamps for, say, close mics on drums, I'd probably go for VP25s or VP26s because for a tom preamp I don't need a lot of features the VP28 has.
I'm pretty interested to try gar918 in a circuit. I've got GAR1731's and Red Dot 2520 in my VP28, but I might build some VP312's with gar918. I could use a couple preamps with DI's for when people want to hook up a keyboard or bass in the studio.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 12, 2016 12:19:21 GMT -6
I should buy a 312 and put it together...think even I could handle that tonycamphd i think adding a good iron, a flux pen, and a toothpaste free toothbrush 8) and you could build what ever you want. I have 2 tasks this weekend, fix an MK47 PSU issue, and fix your Vp28(I think i know exactly what's wrong with it?.?.?), i'll keep ya posted... Oh - I meant to tell you tonycamphd. "So I was checking everything to the other VP28 with Litz I have (built by Joel Phillips) and I noticed I had R20 and R21 in backwards...which is phantom power apparently. I thought that might have been an issue, so I texted Jeff and before I got an answer back, I decided to heat them up and take them out...Then Jeff says that orientation shouldn't matter. DOH. Damn, that was a bad idea. I don't have a decent solder sucker thingy - just a squeeze suction thingy...The problem now is how in the hell to get the solder out an have a hole to put the resistors back in...I ended up kinda half-assedly soldering them back in...but hey, if the phantom doesn't work off the bat, that's fine. I think I screwed R20 up, so I'm having Jeff send me two more...then I'm gonna have a pro put them in (talking to you Shannon)... Everything looks pretty damn shiny to me...I'll post a pick in a sec. Then I'm gonna try it again." So, I need to grab those and re-solder...although not sure I'd use Phantom with this pre anyway. Who knows, maybe they will work. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 12, 2016 12:19:58 GMT -6
BTW - I now have more tools...  |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 15, 2016 8:22:17 GMT -6
How difficult is it to build these op amps?
I'm still torn on the VP26 vs 28 situation. I worried about the difficulty of the build on the 28's and the extra op amp. Paying for prebuilt op amps significantly increases the cost of the preamps, especially on the 28 since it needs a pair. Maybe I should buy a 26 and build it as a practice run for the 28. I'm sure that if I successfully build a 26, I could get it sold for cost and buy a 28. Maybe I'll go that route.
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Post by jsteiger on Mar 15, 2016 8:33:02 GMT -6
How difficult is it to build these op amps? I'm still torn on the VP26 vs 28 situation. I worried about the difficulty of the build on the 28's and the extra op amp. Paying for prebuilt op amps significantly increases the cost of the preamps, especially on the 28 since it needs a pair. Maybe I should buy a 26 and build it as a practice run for the 28. I'm sure that if I successfully build a 26, I could get it sold for cost and buy a 28. Maybe I'll go that route. I have just released the Rev B version of the VP28. The build is a little bit easier mostly due to the reduced parts count with the signal present indication. I had to "update" the silkscreen by removing some stuff and then adding the CAPI®. While it was under the knife I made a few layout updates. The signal path is still the same. A properly built random Rev A should pair up just fine with a Rev B. |
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Post by unit7 on Mar 15, 2016 8:34:54 GMT -6
To me the key is using my visor w magnifying glass, and pointed tip iron. I've built 30-40 and didn't fail on a single one. Wouldn't have been possible without magnifying glass. No way,,,
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 15, 2016 8:55:01 GMT -6
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Post by tonycamphd on Mar 15, 2016 9:23:40 GMT -6
How difficult is it to build these op amps? I'm still torn on the VP26 vs 28 situation. I worried about the difficulty of the build on the 28's and the extra op amp. Paying for prebuilt op amps significantly increases the cost of the preamps, especially on the 28 since it needs a pair. Maybe I should buy a 26 and build it as a practice run for the 28. I'm sure that if I successfully build a 26, I could get it sold for cost and buy a 28. Maybe I'll go that route. JMO the Liebers red dot, 1731 are top of the heap sonically, no offense to Gary as his sound great and he's a great guy! but imo, if your time is worth the money, they sound better than all other options i've heard, i have/had dozens of 2520 footprint opamps |
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Post by tonycamphd on Mar 15, 2016 9:28:37 GMT -6
Jes, go to the diy section and read Regan's latest, plus there are all kinds of answers to your Q's over there, i'd suggest NOT using that tip, use a chisel flat sided tip, they transfer heat way better that a needle tip, the headlamp gives me a headache, so i use a table mounted ring lamp/magnifier, you'll find that stuff over there also... |
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Post by jdc on Mar 15, 2016 9:28:55 GMT -6
I've built 4 25's, 2 26's, 4 312's, 4 28's, and of them all the 28s are far and away my favorite. The 25s have a little more girth than the 26s, which feel like the most "middle of the road" sonically of all the preamps, they're the Swiss army knife of the bunch.
If you can build a 25 or 26 you can build a 28,it's all about being patient and following the instructions. I used Chunger's build documentation and that helped a lot when I started out.
Also I prefer building these two at a time. I feel like doing 2 at once takes about 75% as long as doing two independently, that's probably all in my head but it helps!
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 15, 2016 9:58:05 GMT -6
Jes, go to the diy section and read Regan's latest, plus there are all kinds of answers to your Q's over there, i'd suggest NOT using that tip, use a chisel flat sided tip, they transfer heat way better that a needle tip, the headlamp gives me a headache, so i use a table mounted ring lamp/magnifier, you'll find that stuff over there also... ...these Q's aren't answered over there. No links to different vices for this stuff. No details about the tips. |
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Post by winetree on Mar 15, 2016 9:58:17 GMT -6
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Post by indiehouse on Mar 15, 2016 10:13:08 GMT -6
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Post by indiehouse on Mar 15, 2016 10:15:34 GMT -6
Jes, go to the diy section and read Regan's latest, plus there are all kinds of answers to your Q's over there, i'd suggest NOT using that tip, use a chisel flat sided tip, they transfer heat way better that a needle tip, the headlamp gives me a headache, so i use a table mounted ring lamp/magnifier, you'll find that stuff over there also... ...these Q's aren't answered over there. No links to different vices for this stuff. No details about the tips. Also, here is the tip I use. Works really well. I use the fine point tip for op amp builds, but everything else is this: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OR9BV4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00 |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 15, 2016 10:19:32 GMT -6
Looks great. Any specific tip size that you're using? Are you on a Hakko? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2016 10:21:31 GMT -6
How difficult is it to build these op amps? I'm still torn on the VP26 vs 28 situation. I worried about the difficulty of the build on the 28's and the extra op amp. Paying for prebuilt op amps significantly increases the cost of the preamps, especially on the 28 since it needs a pair. Maybe I should buy a 26 and build it as a practice run for the 28. I'm sure that if I successfully build a 26, I could get it sold for cost and buy a 28. Maybe I'll go that route. The hardest thing for me was soldering the wires from the output transformers...but mine is still at the doctor to see why it doesn't work |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 15, 2016 10:24:09 GMT -6
How difficult is it to build these op amps? I'm still torn on the VP26 vs 28 situation. I worried about the difficulty of the build on the 28's and the extra op amp. Paying for prebuilt op amps significantly increases the cost of the preamps, especially on the 28 since it needs a pair. Maybe I should buy a 26 and build it as a practice run for the 28. I'm sure that if I successfully build a 26, I could get it sold for cost and buy a 28. Maybe I'll go that route. The hardest thing for me was soldering the wires from the output transformers...but mine is still at the doctor to see why it doesn't work You built the op amps? |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Mar 15, 2016 10:24:27 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2016 10:26:20 GMT -6
How difficult is it to build these op amps? I'm still torn on the VP26 vs 28 situation. I worried about the difficulty of the build on the 28's and the extra op amp. Paying for prebuilt op amps significantly increases the cost of the preamps, especially on the 28 since it needs a pair. Maybe I should buy a 26 and build it as a practice run for the 28. I'm sure that if I successfully build a 26, I could get it sold for cost and buy a 28. Maybe I'll go that route. JMO the Liebers red dot, 1731 are top of the heap sonically, no offense to Gary as his sound great and he's a great guy! but imo, if your time is worth the money, they sound better than all other options i've heard, i have/had dozens of 2520 footprint opamps I've had Scott's 1731s in one of my 526s for a while. For some reason, it hadn't occurred to try it in my VP28...Switched it over (already had red dots) and I think I like it better. More smooth and a little less saturated. Put the red dots in the 526 for color when needed. BTW, tonycamphd - you get a chance to look at the patient? |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2016 10:26:58 GMT -6
The hardest thing for me was soldering the wires from the output transformers...but mine is still at the doctor to see why it doesn't work You built the op amps? DOH - sorry misread...Hell no...wouldn't touch those with a ten foot pole. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Mar 15, 2016 10:29:04 GMT -6
Jes, go to the diy section and read Regan's latest, plus there are all kinds of answers to your Q's over there, i'd suggest NOT using that tip, use a chisel flat sided tip, they transfer heat way better that a needle tip, the headlamp gives me a headache, so i use a table mounted ring lamp/magnifier, you'll find that stuff over there also... ...these Q's aren't answered over there. No links to different vices for this stuff. No details about the tips. it looks like the links have expired on quite a bit, they are on the stickies at the top of the page, a mods has to go in there and update them...  |
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Post by svart on Mar 15, 2016 10:37:52 GMT -6
Man, now you guys got me thinking about some VP28's with 1731's.. Like I need to spend the money!
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2016 10:48:28 GMT -6
...these Q's aren't answered over there. No links to different vices for this stuff. No details about the tips. it looks like the links have expired on quite a bit, they are on the stickies at the top of the page, a mods has to go in there and update them... You're a mod on the DIY...will it not let you edit? |
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Post by tonycamphd on Mar 15, 2016 12:58:45 GMT -6
Hence the Pressed for time lately.:. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 15, 2016 13:38:35 GMT -6
Ah...
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