FS- Croft pre amp

[Sovereign]

I have a cracking Croft Pre amp I am looking at selling. The only reason why I'm selling is I'm having a stab at building my own pre amp. here is a link to the sale thread when I bought it from the wam
http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?109471-Croft-Epoch
Mods not sure if it is ok doing it this way but I'm in Cape Town for Christmas, so hope this link to the Wam is ok.
The pictures are not so great, in the flesh it's a lovely bit of kit and looks quite special.

As there are a few Epoch models, I asked Glenn Croft a few questions about it as I couldn't find that much info on this exact model. Glenn is VERY help ful but a man of few words, but this is his email back to me.

Hi James,
the Epoch name was used for about 15 years and covered lots of different chassis and circuits. This one is a very good later version with an excellent circuit and using the Octal triode valves and it’s a bargain price, at that I would bite the guys arm off. I would say it is simular to a Micro 25R.
Cheers,
Glenn.

Price is £600 posted.
As I,m away I wouldn't be able to post till jan 1st or so.

Cheers
James

[Audio Al]

Link not working James ?

[Sovereign]

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?109471-Croft-Epoch
Works now

[The Black Adder]

Thought I'd add the pics for you - Always better than just a linky :)

This is a stonker of a pre - Brilliant for the money, worth twice that and more IMO.

http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/07988717-8c54-4338-8faa-e01df976981f2.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/f2d26d2c-60c7-4a74-bd78-57be11faa14f2.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/2df14356-1999-44c0-9f91-37baa60a7f0b2.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/6359daed-35ad-42ac-ba19-3191c0cde5b12.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/6359daed-35ad-42ac-ba19-3191c0cde5b12.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/cd3b28f7-a885-4ffd-b6de-865f4b98cec72.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/7c4701cc-3377-47d8-a601-879a6cd913062.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/4968f02d-955b-45c7-8d84-75e07cef91ee2.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/6533a85b-c21d-4bbc-a018-c5897b87b1e52.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/5d8934d6-796d-44bb-9b12-b241a1df2b372.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/91941ae5-cc13-4a4d-873e-88e171348fa82.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/5ca47ca8-868e-4270-9f64-ef708523f0272.jpg
http://imagecdn2.panjo.com/images/65a8758a-9b7c-4e80-bc54-ee64901dc5f32.jpg

[Sovereign]

Massive thanks Jo, much appreciated .

[The Black Adder]

Your welcome, James. Good luck with the sale.

:cheers:

[vinyl]

Keep it James, you'll regret it. I have a Croft Charisma Elite, Glenn built for me 16 years ago with the help of Tom Fletcher (RIP) of Nottingham Analogue. And have been buying his stuff loyally.

In all my years, I am yet to hear better and have been offered serious money for it and declined every time. Have been lucky to be acquainted all those years ago with Bill Beard too and to know how good these British manufacturers are.

Don't do it - I would love to go into more detail but would betray the friendships I have made. That's a little piece of history!

[The Black Adder]

I have the Epoch Elite and modded to the hilt.

Is there a reason why you are selling it, James?... You know that for very little outlay Glenn can update this pre and will blow the pants off so many £2k+ pre's on the market today. The Octal valves really make the difference over the small ECC83 signal valves imo...

[vinyl]

Second that, Glenn serviced mine and updated it accordingly for pennies. It's a destroyer of high end pre amps - that's the highest recommendation I can give. I've seen blood drain from grown men's faces listening to it as they witness it's ability! Oh and before folk get any ideas - Glenn won't make them anymore, so don't bother hassling him!


I have the Epoch Elite and modded to the hilt.

Is there a reason why you are selling it, James?... You know that for very little outlay Glenn can update this pre and will blow the pants off so many £2k+ pre's on the market today. The Octal valves really make the difference over the small ECC83 signal valves imo...

[DSJR]

Perfectly stock Croft preamps have been doing this for decades now ;) The one here looks fab and with only ONE volume control! Bearing this in mind, if there's ANY way you can keep it for reference until the DIY one is finalised (try and compare straight through with no preamp if you can to either put in the circuit). I keep my old Croft as it's much better sounding than when I bought it and knowing that Glenn can tweak one or two iffy things out easily (iffy phono stage output loading being the main thing).

[Marco]

Superb preamp at a bargain price, so someone should snap this up, toute-suite!

It’ll sound fab as it is, but if the new owner is up for some modding, I’d urge them to lose the big white Ducatti coupling caps and Jensen electrolytic PSU caps, and replace them with Obbligato SCR telfon and Mundorf Tubecaps, respectively.

That done, you’ll have a genuinely world-class preamp! :)

Marco.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Superb preamp at a bargain price, so someone should snap this up, toute-suite!

It’ll sound fab as it is, but if the new owner is up for some modding, I’d urge them to lose the big white Ducatti coupling caps and Jensen electrolytic PSU caps, and replace them with Obbligato SCR telfon and Mundorf Tubecaps, respectively.

That done, you’ll have a genuinely world-class preamp! :)

Marco.

Upgrading to a stereo coffee ?

[The Black Adder]

Superb preamp at a bargain price, so someone should snap this up, toute-suite!

It’ll sound fab as it is, but if the new owner is up for some modding, I’d urge them to lose the big white Ducatti coupling caps and Jensen electrolytic PSU caps, and replace them with Obbligato SCR telfon and Mundorf Tubecaps, respectively.

That done, you’ll have a genuinely world-class preamp! :)

Marco.

+2 +2 :)

Indeed, although I've modded my casework (as it's the Charisma casework) to fit the ClarityCap TC4 it will probably accommodate that cap too.

Although it's a shame that he's not heard the 'real sauce' of what this thing can do I wish him all the best.

[Tweedle-Dee]

Best wishes with the sale. This is a superb pre-amp - I have a very similar Epoch V that in stock form was fantastic, but Glenn recently breathed some magic on the PSU and now it is sensational. The service Glenn offers is exceptional, matched by the quality of his products. Any new owner can be confident that they will not do better and have world class back up.

[KONDO]

hi, what type of valves does it use,hoping to buy this in next few days got twin star 1.yours Charlie

[sondale]

Pm sent.

[hughandella]

Hi

can you let me know if this is still for sale or not ?

tks

chris

[Ninanina]

Hi

can you let me know if this is still for sale or not ?

tks

chris
Chris can I suggest you send James a Private Message about his Croft Pre...

[Vinyl turner]

Hello everyone,
I have been lurking around in the undergrowth for quite some time and I think this is perhaps my first post. Hopefully I will become a more regular 'contributor'.
This probably isn't the best place to tell you all why I'm here etc but it is one of the most relevant sections for me to put up a comment.
Having spent some time, but not necessarily a lot of money, I have a semi-decent disc spinning apparatus but I have a particular desire, which is to avail myself of a Croft pre-amp (preferably with a built in phono stage.
But, as usual, my timing is impeccable (in the sense of being out of kilter with reality).
Over the last year I have kept looking on e-bay but decided I'd be better looking at several forums where a unit with better provenance may be found. Brilliant idea except that all the links throw up historic posts - such as this one.
Anyhow, I will keep a more 'beady eye' on these pages and hope to come across something in the next six months that might suit my needs.
I know I could go out and purchase a new Micro 25, but I feel drawn to something more like the Epoch or Vital models.
I realise some of you folk have a keen reverence for Mr Croft so any thoughts/guidance would be very welcome.
Incidentally, the good Mr Croft is within shouting distance from where I live (well, metaphorically speaking) and he kindly spent some time re-kindling life into my Leak Stereo 20. For my part I promised to use one of his pre's, eventually !
Hence my quest to find something good to partner the ST20.

[Jimbo]

Hello everyone,
I have been lurking around in the undergrowth for quite some time and I think this is perhaps my first post. Hopefully I will become a more regular 'contributor'.
This probably isn't the best place to tell you all why I'm here etc but it is one of the most relevant sections for me to put up a comment.
Having spent some time, but not necessarily a lot of money, I have a semi-decent disc spinning apparatus but I have a particular desire, which is to avail myself of a Croft pre-amp (preferably with a built in phono stage.
But, as usual, my timing is impeccable (in the sense of being out of kilter with reality).
Over the last year I have kept looking on e-bay but decided I'd be better looking at several forums where a unit with better provenance may be found. Brilliant idea except that all the links throw up historic posts - such as this one.
Anyhow, I will keep a more 'beady eye' on these pages and hope to come across something in the next six months that might suit my needs.
I know I could go out and purchase a new Micro 25, but I feel drawn to something more like the Epoch or Vital models.
I realise some of you folk have a keen reverence for Mr Croft so any thoughts/guidance would be very welcome.
Incidentally, the good Mr Croft is within shouting distance from where I live (well, metaphorically speaking) and he kindly spent some time re-kindling life into my Leak Stereo 20. For my part I promised to use one of his pre's, eventually !
Hence my quest to find something good to partner the ST20.

Hi Mark, Glenn refurbished a Leak Stereo 20 for me 30 years ago which I then partnered with his then first Micro. Very nice combination, wish I hadn't sold the Leak! I should think any of his preamps will work suitably with the ST20 so just grab any that come up. Think you just missed a Croft Epoch. All old stuff can be bought up to the same level as the modern stuff and then taken to whatever level your pockets allow. The older Croft preamps have nice large boxes so can accommodate almost any mod you would need. Another model to look out for is the Charisma especially the x.

I have the Croft 25R which has been modified and now sounds stunning but any of the 25 range are good. Some folk like the bigger valves but these can be more microphonic. Don't be put off by the smaller valve models of Croft preamps, they sound wonderful. Also useful living near Glenn as you could just drop stuff in saving a fair bit on shipping costs both ways!

I think people are turning over Croft stuff regularly as I see amps come up every few months or so.

Happy Croft hunting.

[Vinyl turner]

Thanks Jimbo,
Apologies all - no intention at deception !
Looking back I did post an original 'Hello' as well as a couple of follow up posts, but they were a few years back.

I should go back to that post and give the update as to where things are now.

My ST20 came with a crummy Varislope that out of loyalty I felt I should try and use. Glenn fettled that sufficiently to have it working with the power amp, but he gave me a huge warning .... That it was basically rubbish: And he was right, that unit is now in the loft in a box, I used it for a short while then bought ............ STOP - I'll tell that story elsewhere as it has little to do with this thread.

[Vinyl turner]

Thanks Jimbo,
Apologies all - no intention at deception !
Looking back I did post an original 'Hello' as well as a couple of follow up posts, but they were a few years back.

I should go back to that post and give the update as to where things are now.

My ST20 came with a crummy Varislope that out of loyalty I felt I should try and use. Glenn fettled that sufficiently to have it working with the power amp, but he gave me a huge warning .... That it was basically rubbish: And he was right, that unit is now in the loft in a box, I used it for a short while then bought ............ STOP - I'll tell that story elsewhere as it has little to do with this thread.

PS - I note something on ebay for £175, which is clearly a Croft box, but I have no idea what it is, if it's any good as a starting point to mod ?
The seller is in Norwich/Norfolk and it marked as collection only - so a long way to go if it's a 'crock'.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I now use the Croft pre amp and it's been VERY heavily modded. There should be a thread somewhere on the forum detailing the mods.

[Vinyl turner]

Continuing my search for a Croft pre-amp (in no great hurry but miffed that I seem to have missed so many in the last 6 months) - does anybody know the owner of this one advertised on Gumtree?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/amplifiers/croft-charisma-x-preamp/1223269950

It is about 3x what I had in mind paying, but ............ !

[Lawrence001]

Does seem a bit steep but if it's got a separate PSU box (from Glenn) then it won't have been cheap.

Sent from my NEM-L51 using Tapatalk

[Adam D]

Continuing my search for a Croft pre-amp (in no great hurry but miffed that I seem to have missed so many in the last 6 months) - does anybody know the owner of this one advertised on Gumtree?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/amplifiers/croft-charisma-x-preamp/1223269950

It is about 3x what I had in mind paying, but ............ !

I can't see it :confused:

[mikeyb]

I can't see it :confused:
Possibly sold, but I think Gumtree have time limits on ads so it might reappear

[Vinyl turner]

Possibly sold, but I think Gumtree have time limits on ads so it might reappear

Yes, I looked earlier yesterday evening and it was still up - but later it had dropped off. He may have sold it.