Vintage Technology CA73...
I have 2 1073 Clones made by Thomas Kristiansson in Sweden. The company is Vintagedesign and the model is the CA73. The great thing about Thomas is his support. You can Email him and he will reply in depth. You can ask for mods on the unit such as cap changes from the original that will add more air in the high end, etc.. The units are hand wired also. My unit was modded that way, and in our AB test using a Neumann 149, everyone, myself a singer, a keyboardist who plays with Elton, and a producer all thought the CA73 to be superior to the original 1073 pair we had, having the same fat rich mid and bass while having a clearer, airier high end. But the CA73 stock is a very close copy of the 1073, but with slighly more accurate, more reliable caps etc.. He also adds a DI stage that is not found in the 1073.
His description is as follows: "Built with high quality components like ELMA goldplated switches, ST'Ives (Carnhill UK) transformers and inductors, only tantaliums, styroflex and polypropaline caps in the signal path. All internal switching with goldplated relays for optimum signal path. Single ended class A signal path with dual input stages, first stage is only switched in when needed(+55 to +80dB gainrange). Illuminated push buttoms. Instrument input with a high impedance fet buffer, fed through the mic transformer to get it's coloration! ( most units connect the instrument jack direct to the inputstage after the transformer)"
The thing about old 1073's, LA-2a's etc. etc.. is yes, the old ones in MINT condition are exceptional, but it is rare to find them that way. Caps in particular are not permanent. The clones sound more like a 1073 when it was new. And IMHO, in general, that is better. Pre's aren't guitars....They don't get better with age unless heavy color is what you are looking for.
Again, I am no expert like many of the serious engineers on this site, and I defer to there experience, and I have not actually tried all the different versions of clones, but I researched this ALOT before I dropped thousands on a 1073 pair, and a Tube pre MASTER designer told me the CA73 was the best one going even amongst the tube pres, and he was right IMHO. They will pry the CA73 out of my dead hands.
Eric
Last edited by lust4lyfe; 28th November 2006 at 11:22 PM..
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