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Thread: Info needed on this obscure Valve Pre Amp...Sound Design Studio...

  1. #1
    Join Date: Feb 2016

    Location: London

    Posts: 876
    I'm Don.

    Default Info needed on this obscure Valve Pre Amp...Sound Design Studio...

    Hi all
    picked this Pre up recently...did some googling as you do, but no results...it's labeled Sound Design Studio...

    Has anyone any info on this kit?
    Very similar to some Croft pre's I've seen in the past (Epoch etc) ....I've a sneaky feeling it was manufactured late 80's/early 90's.

    Some quirky points on this unit...the case is closed....no ventilation holes for valves ...
    Uses 2 x Sovtek 6922 + 2 x Golden Dragon Ecc83's (which I've replaced with Mullard ECC83 NOS)
    Just waiting to pick up some better 6922's..There's some RS caps in there, Regulator valve (me thinks) ECL85 Mullard...and the rear panel has a mix of RCA connectors... (Which I may replace with Audio note silver ones...)

    Sounds good, with room for improvement...any ideas on History before I splash some cash on it?





  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Milton Keynes

    Posts: 3,577
    I'm Andrew.

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    Cool


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

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    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by donmarrese View Post
    did some googling as you do, but no results
    You're right Don. I did a search and there's nothing out there on it that I can find and I'm good at tracking stuff down. Maybe it was a prototype.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

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    I'm Grant.

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    its got a alchamist look about it
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  5. #5
    Join Date: Oct 2017

    Location: West Wales

    Posts: 86
    I'm Alan.

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    Very nice.
    I agree looks very 'Croft-esque', regulator, layout and two volume pots. Never heard of Sound Design Studios though...

  6. #6
    Join Date: Mar 2012

    Location: London and Somerset

    Posts: 2,097
    I'm Dave.

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    Quote Originally Posted by struth View Post
    its got a alchamist look about it
    my thoughts too Grant. The Kraken industrial hammer tone look. Maybe same guy Andy Light.
    Kraken, Saturn, Emotion, Flying V Rocket, Planets.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Feb 2016

    Location: London

    Posts: 876
    I'm Don.

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    Thanks for the input so far guys, it's got a serial number ala Croft as well...
    Model 51 P
    Serial No. 007 (shit, it belongs to the Home Office..!!!)

  8. #8
    Join Date: Feb 2016

    Location: London

    Posts: 876
    I'm Don.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jollyfix View Post
    my thoughts too Grant. The Kraken industrial hammer tone look. Maybe same guy Andy Light.
    You could have a point here, as I think Alchemist were based in North London, Muswell Hill, and the previous owner..(departed) lived in Hampstead...

  9. #9
    Join Date: Mar 2012

    Location: London and Somerset

    Posts: 2,097
    I'm Dave.

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    http://www.alchemisthifi.info/ranges..._rear_1000.jpg
    Dout anything to do with Alchemist, but not many around with similar casework. Could be a route to take and may give more info to find out who made it etc.
    Kraken, Saturn, Emotion, Flying V Rocket, Planets.

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