classicapi.com*VP2x Assembly Guide for 500 Series

[Liam Judah]

Just downloaded the PDF. Total noob, and I've been looking for something like this to get me going. Very cool, thanks!

[jsteiger]

Originally Posted by ResonantMind

If you wanted to do something innovative... you could create a sort of vintage-modern-hybrid pre with both op-amps inside and allow people to switch between the two.... Would this be possible...?

Yes it would be possible and maybe practical. That would have to be investigated to see. Like thenoiseflower has said, I do have the Mill-Max sockets for the opamp so the change over time is super quick. Not the push of a switch but quick enough IMHO. I also feel that even if you had a few different DOA's that you liked and used, it would take very little time before you knew what amp you would use on a particular source.

Actually, I think somebody has or is working on a pre something like this??

On a similar thought, there are a few things we are working on behind the scenes now. They will be unique (I think!) and quite versatile. They all revolve around HiZ Direct Inject applications and will require the additional features of the 51x rack. My colleague, [silent:arts] is the mastermind behind this idea which will be implemented in a few of my future products, as well as some of his products. That will be a discussion of its own...all in due time.

Cheers, Jeff

[py75]

Originally Posted by G-3

Just downloaded the PDF. Total noob, and I've been looking for something like this to get me going. Very cool, thanks!

Same here, i'm total newbie on DIY. I bought today a VP26, wait for it, build it and back to you here...hope so :-)

PY

[jsteiger]

Originally Posted by thenoiseflower

you can swap out the opamps in seconds...

I have two of the VP26's (swapping beetween GAR, Melcor, and Huntington, and even the modern 2520) and they are getting heavily favored over the 312's we have, which have the regular modern API opamps (PIA to swap out, obv).

I remember you saying how much you enjoyed the Melcor 1731's in the VP26. Especially for vox and bass using a passive DI. Which DI, BTW?? I am curious to hear how you like and what you think of the gar2520's compared to the other versions you guys have on hand.

These pre's just sounds better than a 312, in every single way.

Thanks man. I'm not sure what to say to this except I guess kudos to Saul Walker and company for the work they did back in the early 1970's! thumbsup And of course to Gary and Ed for the work they are doing today.

Best, Jeff

[Surfkat]

I ordered a pair of the VP26 kits from Jeff with the GAR2520 op-amps. The build was pretty straight forward and I learned a bit in the process. I have to say these things sound fabulous. I have only done one quick session where I used them on electric guitar and the vintage vibe is quite evident. I would say these are the closest pres I have heard to real vintage API 312. And the price is right too if you can solder. My advice to newbies is don't try to build the 2520 op-amp kit, buy the op-amps ready made.

I plan to build another pair soon with different transformers for a contrasting sound. I am looking at Cinemags, probably with Nickel on the outputs. These are great kits and quality of the parts is first class. Kudos to Jeff for the design and to Ed Anderson for these amazing transformers. I am looking forward to the DIY 500 racks. Those DIY dudes have a few tricks up their collective sleeves that will expand the horizons of the 500 series.

[py75]

Hi,
I received my VP26 kit with the GAR2520 op-amps yesterday.
It took me 2 hours to built it, my first DIY :-).
I want to do that since more 20 years, for me it's a Great Day.

With some attention the Assembly guide is perfect, very clear.

I've tested it today at the studio, it's works perfectly.
No buzz or noise from my work.

I can't talk about the sound, i was recording a voice for commercial with a SSL 4000G+. At the end of session i plugged the 87 into both, VP26 and 4000 to compare on few sentences. That's was good to me, different but with same kind of quality.
I will try it on drums and guitar to compare with other stuff and i'll back to you.

Cheers from Paris

PY

[indie]

These things on kick and snare are amazing. Mixing something now where it was recorded through these.

[u b k]

Oh man, I'm late to this party but let me just say in no uncertain terms that Jeff's pre has serious mojo. It has what I would call "juice" in the mids; they're not creamy, they're more what I would describe as "electric". Very alive, very rich.

The red dots, the gar2520, and the laz2520 were all amazing in this pre and each for different reasons. For some odd reason I didn't try out one of my original 2520's in it, we'll call that a ubk fail.

What struck me most was how the modern api 'zing' at 10k was non-existant, and the 2-4k had the sweetest compression on it, which I'm guessing is from that transformer. Lovely.

If you're lusting after the api sound that's more akin to the 70's records than the 90's ones, this one is for you.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[Phil Cibley]

Originally Posted by bkbirge

Anyone doing a DIY rack? 10-11 spacers from the usual suspects are on the pricey side.

I am. I have a front panel that holds 12 500 series modules across and hook
it up to a Lambda +/- 15V supply. The audio line ins and outs go to my patchbay,
and the mic ins go to D3F connectors on a blank rack panel.
I also have a DBX FS900 frame I got cheap on Ebay which I will re-wire to
accept 500 series modules.

Oops. I didn't realize you are looking for someone who is making a frame kit. That said,
if you can find an appropriate front panel for the 500 modules, adding a Power one or
Lambda supply and wiring an edge connector are not hard to do.

[Jeradiadg]

Any news on the DIY rack? Getting anxious!!
Does anyone have a schematic on the Original Style 10 or 11 space racks?

[jsteiger]

Originally Posted by Jeradiadg

Any news on the DIY rack? Getting anxious!!...

Oh yes, we have shipped the majority of the first batch. So far, so good. We are getting closer to having them "stock" at our internet stores. The XLR's and edge connectors that we are using are not stock items. They are made to order which takes a pretty big upfront investment and many weeks lead time.

No schematic for the original racks that I know of. Pretty straight forward though. Some are just wired point to point. Click the GDIY logo in my signature for the pin-outs to the standard rack and the 51x version.

I do have a few new versions of my preamps coming out. I am actually waiting on a FedEx PCB delivery as I type this.

Regards, Jeff

[bkbirge]

Hey Jeff, am I still on your list for one of the racks when they are available? I looked at the prodigy link but it's hard to find anything on it. I definitely still want one w/PSU kit if possible.

[py75]

Hi Jeff,
After fews weeks using my own built VP26, i can say it's a really good pre.
I used it on kick, tuba, guitar without any problem.

Now for my 2nd DIY i wish to do a VP25 with parts from a 325 API card.
Before to order it, i get fews questions.
As i saw on your website, the VP312 PCB can use a 2503.
What about the cable colours ?
On my 325 card the Out Transformer get:
orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, grey and brown, red.
On your VP312 PCB rev3 colours are:
orange,blue,brown,red and yellow,green,grey,violet.
Do i just need to sold the pink on violet ???

If I can use the originals 2520 and 2503 with your kit, i'm sure i'll get a killer 312 pre, what do you think about it ??

Thanks

PY

[jsteiger]

Originally Posted by py75

Hi Jeff,
After fews weeks using my own built VP26, i can say it's a really good pre.
I used it on kick, tuba, guitar without any problem.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you are happy.

If I can use the originals 2520 and 2503 with your kit, i'm sure i'll get a killer 312 pre, what do you think about it ??

Thanks

PY

This will absolutely work and will sound great.

Ed has made sure that the colored leads for the windings match the vintage transformers. I have a note on our spec sheet. The "pink" and "violet" must be the same since the rest of the colors match up.


Also, if you look at the old AP transformer spec sheet, they do show "violet". Maybe yours has been bleached by the sun?

Old AP trafo spec sheet

Regards, Jeff

[py75]

Good news,
you're right, pink is a old violet :-)

Now, I need to order the VP25 kit, built it and like it.

PY

[jsteiger]

Hey everyone,

Our VP26 mic preamp kit was recently reviewed by Garrett Haines for TapeOp. The article is in the current issue which is #77. Garrett was apparently quite happy with the Assembly Guide. To quote he said "The full-color directions are a solid "A" in terms of clarity and illustration.". That makes me all warm and fuzzy inside...and maybe a little aggressively mid-forward...kinda like a VP26!

For those who don't get the mag or maybe have not received your copy yet, I have a scanned pdf version here.



Regards, Jeff

[Amun Ra]

Wow, this looks like incredible value! I will order a couple of these and build them over the summer. Wish me luck!

[Fhl]

This guide is superb. I have never soldered anything but cables and panels, so this is just what I need for a DIY project.

Are there any complete 1U rack kits? SSL Clone f.i?

Thanks

[jsteiger]

Originally Posted by Fhl

This guide is superb. I have never soldered anything but cables and panels, so this is just what I need for a DIY project.

Thanks. That was my idea when I started. To make it a great "first" kit. Not only is it fun and easy, you end up with a killer preamp!

Are there any complete 1U rack kits? SSL Clone f.i?

I don't have any standard rack mount kits as of now. I designed the VP312 boards to fit 4 channels in a 1RU enclosure so it can be done but would take a bit of leg work on the customers side. Like a Parmetal enclosure and so on.

I am nearly finished with my VP312DI. 2nd proto boards are due in next week. It has the most HiZ Direct Inject options for this style preamp of any on the market right now. Not only does it have the classic "straight into the DOA" option (which uses Bo Hansen's ever popular circuit) but there also the option to go DI thru the input transformer. Much more to come on this a little later. It is 500/51x compatible.

There are many great project available over at Prodigy including Igor's new MixBuzz which is a dual channel GSSL comp for 500 format. It is almost crazy right now there. The stuff coming out for 500/51x is ridiculous.

Regards, Jeff