Croft servicing

[Mikeandvan]

Interested in a couple of Croft pre amps, one is older micro A, not sure about the specs on that one, no info on web, its the one where the top casing has many punched holes in it, rather than the newer ones with a few elongated slots for ventilation. And also the more recent model - the micro 25. Anyone know the cost of a standard service at Croft for these? The newer one may not need it, just wondering how long valve pre amps are good for without a service. Oddly to me anyway, the older model has discrete left/right switching, meaning when you change from cd to phono or streamer, you need to change 2 switches rather than one, not exactly the height of luxury! And of course the newer models have left and right volume controls! :doh:

[Jimbo]

Email Glenn Croft at glenn@croftacoustics.co.uk and he will give you a price for servicing. Good to check any older Croft amps out as they may have drifted out of spec, components may have deteriorated or they may have been abused.

Glenn will put anything back to original spec or update older designs to his latest configurations if you ask.

[Macca]

Pre-amp valves should last tens of thousands of hours so no need to worry about that. Not hard to fit a new one yourself if one goes bad in any case. Just take the top off the case and slot it in.

[Mikeandvan]

Just wondered if there was any general info on servicing prices? Quad usually come in around £100 for instance.

[donmarrese]

Straight to Glenn
It's a no brainer... he is extremely reasonable knows his stuff inside out and you will never be mugged off. Contact him direct by email


Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

[Hammer]

Straight to Glenn
It's a no brainer... he is extremely reasonable knows his stuff inside out and you will never be mugged off. Contact him direct by email


Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

+1

[tankertop]

+1

+2

[Mikeandvan]

Gonna go for the newer unit now, so I won't bother with service, its a micro 25 with stereo volume control, so ideal!

[donmarrese]

As long as it's Croft, you can't go wrong!

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

[hifi_dave]

So long as it hasn't been messed about with.

I have had a couple of Croft pre-amps here which have done the rounds and not performing properly.

[donmarrese]

That's true...good point...

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[IHP]

Hi Mike,

I hope all is well with you and the 909 ! When using my 25R with a 909 GC advised this.....

If you change the line stage valve in the 25R to a 12BH7a that will reduce the output impedance of the amp so that it will be able to drive the Quad properly.

Adding....

It's an impedance issue which will affect fidelity.

I don't know whether this would apply to the 25, I'm not technically minded, but thought I'd flag this up.

Cheers.

[Mikeandvan]

Here's the one I'm probably gonna be buying - serial number around the 5000s

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48002029897_e2dc39a529.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g8LX88)croft 5 (https://flic.kr/p/2g8LX88) by Mike Van (https://www.flickr.com/photos/145505522@N02/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48002092298_3cc0efb9dc.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g8MgF1)croft 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2g8MgF1) by Mike Van (https://www.flickr.com/photos/145505522@N02/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48002094338_4d34bec197.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g8Mhhb)croft 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2g8Mhhb) by Mike Van (https://www.flickr.com/photos/145505522@N02/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48002036122_5636b93a0f.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g8LYYs)croft 3 (https://flic.kr/p/2g8LYYs) by Mike Van (https://www.flickr.com/photos/145505522@N02/), on Flickr
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48002096023_434ab72def.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2g8MhMe)croft 4 (https://flic.kr/p/2g8MhMe) by Mike Van (https://www.flickr.com/photos/145505522@N02/), on Flickr

[Mikeandvan]

Anyone Crofters out there? This all look normal?

[Mikeandvan]

Hi Mike,

I hope all is well with you and the 909 ! When using my 25R with a 909 GC advised this.....

If you change the line stage valve in the 25R to a 12BH7a that will reduce the output impedance of the amp so that it will be able to drive the Quad properly.

Adding....

It's an impedance issue which will affect fidelity.

I don't know whether this would apply to the 25, I'm not technically minded, but thought I'd flag this up.

Cheers.

909 continues to bring joy!! Thanks for that, I'll look into it.

[Frazeur1]

Looks quite “normal” to me, except for missing one volume knob! :)

[IHP]

Just wondered if you'd contacted GC Mike ? :)

[Mikeandvan]

Just wondered if you'd contacted GC Mike ? :)

Yeh, he didn't answer.

[southall-1998_mk2]

Spoke to Glenn once over the phone many years ago. He sounded a little 'monotone'. But a very clever man indeed.

S.

[IHP]

Yeh, he didn't answer.

I've heard it said that his availability during the cricket season is limited !

[Mikeandvan]

I've heard it said that his availability during the cricket season is limited !

Fair enough, email is not the most reliable communications method, what with spam etc.

[hifi_dave]

Spoke with him a couple of days ago but he is away now.

[fiddlemaker]

Personally, I'd have gone for the micro A, which has a better power supply.
Assuming that it's all in good order.

[Mikeandvan]

Personally, I'd have gone for the micro A, which has a better power supply.
Assuming that it's all in good order.

I didn't know much about the models, is that a higher spec? What I like about the one I've been offered is it has one volume control, one selector, the micro A did have one volume control but 2 selectors, left and right channel, PITA!

[fiddlemaker]

I didn't know much about the models, is that a higher spec? What I like about the one I've been offered is it has one volume control, one selector, the micro A did have one volume control but 2 selectors, left and right channel, PITA!

The micro A will have been modified if it has a single volume control. Maybe other mods lurk within? Any such work may well have been done competently (perhaps even by GC himself) but I'd advise caution.

[Jas0_0]

Yeh, he didn't answer.

He told me he’s busy while the cricket World Cup is on. I was looking for an upgrade and he said wait til July.

This is all part of the reason I love Croft. Superb-sounding, non-flashy valve amps named after a guy whose surname means small Scottish farm and who stops all work for cricket. Could you get any more British than that?

[Mikeandvan]

He told me he’s busy while the cricket World Cup is on. I was looking for an upgrade and he said wait til July.

This is all part of the reason I love Croft. Superb-sounding, non-flashy valve amps named after a guy whose surname means small Scottish farm and who stops all work for cricket. Could you get any more British than that?

That's good old fashioned service for you! No really, 'wait till the crickets over', sounds like the man's got his priorities right. :cool:

[Alex_UK]

Well apart from the fact that I know how good Croft amps sound, they are now elevated to a whole new level of desirability after reading this! (And I don't even like cricket! :lol:)

[Firebottle]

Anyone Crofters out there? This all look normal?

That all looks normal to me. It has the MOSFet power supply filtering rather than valve regulation of earlier/other models.

It is unlikely that anything would need a service, the design is conservative and very low power so things run cool.
I could check it over for you if you get no joy with Glenn.

[Mikeandvan]

Once again Croft don't reply to emails, but I would like this Micro 25 pre looked over and possibly implement the mod as suggested by Ian below:

"I hope all is well with you and the 909 ! When using my 25R with a 909 GC advised this.....

If you change the line stage valve in the 25R to a 12BH7a that will reduce the output impedance of the amp so that it will be able to drive the Quad properly.

Adding....

It's an impedance issue which will affect fidelity.

I don't know whether this would apply to the 25, I'm not technically minded, but thought I'd flag this up."


Been listening to the Croft for a month or two now with my 909 and it sounds a tad rough I must say. My system is not quite there yet.

[Firebottle]

I have modified a Croft pre to Cathode Follower output, this reduces the output impedance a lot.

The gain is also reduced so if you have a lot of gain (volume control near start) then this would be a good move.

[Mikeandvan]

I have modified a Croft pre to Cathode Follower output, this reduces the output impedance a lot.

The gain is also reduced so if you have a lot of gain (volume control near start) then this would be a good move.
No idea what that is, but if you can service these amps then I'll gladly use your services, ta.

[Lawrence001]

Once again Croft don't reply to emails, but I would like this Micro 25 pre looked over and possibly implement the mod as suggested by Ian below:

"I hope all is well with you and the 909 ! When using my 25R with a 909 GC advised this.....

If you change the line stage valve in the 25R to a 12BH7a that will reduce the output impedance of the amp so that it will be able to drive the Quad properly.

Adding....

It's an impedance issue which will affect fidelity.

I don't know whether this would apply to the 25, I'm not technically minded, but thought I'd flag this up."


Been listening to the Croft for a month or two now with my 909 and it sounds a tad rough I must say. My system is not quite there yet.Too be fair the World Cup was followed by some matches against Ireland and the Aussies are here, or on their way...

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[Mikeandvan]

Many thanks to Alan (Firebottle) for further improving the Croft, sounding quite tasty indeed with the 909, if still a little too forward, but that is obviously another issue.