Another A12 Kit Success

[tele_player]

I built a second A12 this morning. 2.5 hours to assemble, a few minutes to adjust, then the tedious task of installing it in the chassis with the two J99's, one N72, and another A12. Space for three more modules - maybe I'll get another N72, for some kind of symmetry. I seldom use more than a couple of preamps - but I love building gadgets.

Worked perfectly right off the bat, sounds great. I took the opportunity (while the box was open) to replace the Avedis 1122 on the first one with the SC25. Now both are identical.

Anybody need an Avedis 1122? $50, incl. shipping in the US.

[Category 5]

Congrats! Tim sure makes the kits easy to get right. After building a few I'm not so surprised when they work first try. In fact, on my second N72 I had a bad output tranny, and it blew my mind that it didn;t work first time!

All in all the experience was good for me. I learned a lot about troubleshooting circuits, and that kind of learning is ultimately invaluable.

After building the 2 N72s the A12s seem like a warm up project. THey're definitely easier. Not that the N72s were that hard, but I did find myself thinking "how many more resistors can there be!?"

Shane

[tele_player]

Sounds like you should build a J99...

Anyway, these things are nothing compared to the things I've build from scratch. An example:
http://www.acplink.com/chassis/display.aspx?curpage=103

That amp was stripped to chassis and transformers. Though it looks complex, it's really pretty simple, and I had another Super Reverb open for reference the whole time. Worked first time, and ever since.

[Bastiaan]

Hey Tele, maybe you can ask Tim to help him out a bit when he needs to have truckloads of 'em built.

[compeq]

I'd like to share my success as well. I just built two A12s and they sound fantastic! I decided to go with the load inductors and the fellow up at Jensen was so nice. I A/B'd them against Neve 1073 pres, a Drawmer 1960, Tubetech pres and Trident 80B pres on piano and I prefer the A12s. The Tubetechs sounded next-best due to the low end sounding muddier thus more likely to need more attention in mix, wheras the A12s have a low end that will fit nicely in a mix.

Thanks Tim! This was my first DIY project since I made an LED flasher in high-school electronics class fifteen years ago.

Now I'm having the same dilemma as some of the other posters. Whether to fill up my case with more A12s or satisfy my curiosity by trying out some of the other flavors: N72, J99 and I hear there's a DI coming soon. I assume that will fit in the case also?

My A12s just started their first session yesterday. Drums. Since I have two, they were used on kick and snare top. I'm still smiling from that sound and wishing I had more for the rest of the kit. Today - bass and guitars. I am so looking forward to this!

[tpryan]

Congratulations! Yes, the DI will fit in the CH01.

[compeq]

Bass and guitars went swimmingly! This is my favorite tracking session to date and that's because of the A12s. I've haven't touched the EQ. I bring a sound up and it's there. Tim, thank you for providing me with the tools to be a better engineer. Meanwhile, I will be continuing to enjoy their use.

[desol]

Bass and guitars went swimmingly! This is my favorite tracking session to date and that's because of the A12s. I've haven't touched the EQ. I bring a sound up and it's there. Tim, thank you for providing me with the tools to be a better engineer. Meanwhile, I will be continuing to enjoy their use.

Hey compeq! Do you have any mp3 examples of the a12s' on drums?
I'm seriously thinking of buying a rack and a couple kits but really wanna hear something recorded with them first...

Thanks man!

[compeq]

Desol,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I've been on a somewhat lengthy project lately and due to this I haven't fired up that hard drive in months. When I get the opportunity I would like to get that to you, but I haven't had the control room available to mix it yet and I'm not yet at 96k at home. (It was an after-hours project for a friend) Geez, I feel like a dufus! Maybe someone else can help out?