chaypup Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 I was replacing the batteries on my 1982 Daion and it got me to wondering what make of preamp I had in there. The guy I bought it off said he had owned the bass since 1985 and it was already installed when he bought it. The pots are British Omegs so I would think the whole unit is British - but what? Anybody recognise it? (I know, it doesn't help that part has been sprayed black, the ribbon is pretty distinctive though) [URL=http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/chaylockyer/media/Daion%20Preamp/IMG_4215_zpsj5frq02b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/chaylockyer/Daion%20Preamp/IMG_4215_zpsj5frq02b.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/chaylockyer/media/Daion%20Preamp/IMG_4223_zpshashuw8v.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/chaylockyer/Daion%20Preamp/IMG_4223_zpshashuw8v.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote
BigRedX Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 The ribbon cable might look distinctive, but it's standard off-the-shelf cable that you could have bought anywhere. I bought metres of the stuff from Maplins in the 80s. Quote
chaypup Posted February 11, 2015 Author Posted February 11, 2015 Ah, damn! Did you ever make a preamp with it and spray it black though? Quote
Happy Jack Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 If you were putting it on eBay, then I'd guess that it would be a prototype, or possibly a rare transitional version ... Quote
leftybassman392 Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 It may help if we had a pic of the front panel controls and a brief lowdown on what everything does. Quote
chaypup Posted February 11, 2015 Author Posted February 11, 2015 I'm not but yes it would be an extremely rare prototype that was once breathes on by er, James Jameson's second cousin once removed. There's a push pull pot on the bridge pickup volume which activates the preamp and then there's bass boost pot and a treble pot. That's it! Oh, its 18v Quote
leftybassman392 Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 Ok, thanks for that. I suppose another route might be to look at who was making active basses in the '80's. I'm pretty sure it's neither a Wal nor a Jaydee... Was there a market in third-party preamps at that time? I'm good at this 'shooting in the dark' malarkey! Quote
BigRedX Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 What's underneath the tape? Does it reveal vero board or a proper custom PCB? Maybe there's some identification there? Quote
geoffbyrne Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 In size & shape, it's not unlike the pre that was in Hohner Pro Jazz bass I had & also the one in the Hohner B Bass too although it was contained in a little tin box. Maybe someone knows where those came from? G. Quote
chaypup Posted February 13, 2015 Author Posted February 13, 2015 Thanks for the replies! Here's what's underneath the tape - looks a bit homemade. [URL=http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/chaylockyer/media/Daion%20Preamp/IMG_4229_zpsfplw7wgj.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1262.photobucket.com/albums/ii616/chaylockyer/Daion%20Preamp/IMG_4229_zpsfplw7wgj.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote
steve-soar Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Looks like a Kent Armstrong pre, to me. Quote
fingerz Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 [quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1423843228' post='2689636'] Looks like a Kent Armstrong pre, to me. [/quote] Interesting. Never seen one before. Quote
steve-soar Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 I had one in my KGB Status Replica bass, built in 1986. I think I still have it somewhere. Replaced it with an East U Retro Deluxe. Quote
steve-soar Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 And I had Omega 22k pots, with EMG Steinberger pickups. Quote
chaypup Posted February 13, 2015 Author Posted February 13, 2015 That's very interesting Steve - thanks! Do you have any pics at all? Quote
chaypup Posted February 24, 2015 Author Posted February 24, 2015 Hi Steve - did you manage to take any pics? Thanks! Quote
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