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musical instrument details
Avalon VT-737SP Tube Mic / Line Amp w/ ~$800 1960s E88CC Telefunkin's MODDED
Estimated price for orientation: 2 495 $
Category: Avalon Vt737sp T
Class:
Description Brand: Avalon Features: Headphone Output, Hybrid Preamp, Rack-Mountable Model: VT-737SP Number of Channels: 1 MPN: VT-737SP Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Type: Channel Strip
**This Avalon was listed previously with the tubes valued at ~$600 - however, that was when I purchased them about a year ago, or so. They are practically new (less than 100 hours) and if you were to buy them today, well, they've gone up in cost as the quantity available is dwindling, and very soon they'll be gone forever. If you were to buy them today, well, they'd cost you ~$800. - Just FYI**This Avalon VT-737SP is my personal treasure. I never intended to every sell her, EVER. It was a project of mine and was to be used in my new career in voice over work. However, as with all things in life, I never got noticed, and I’m simply ran out of time - I have to move on. However, at the time, I wanted to make this Avalon purr like the heavens above, and so I went OCD on it. You see, I've been in the electronics repair service industry for 35 years, as a bench electronics technician. I’ve been repairing these things and all other Audio and Video electronics day in and day out, week after week, year after year. I was trying to use my voice to get out of the repair business, and I wanted to make this Avalon VT-737SP all she could be. I spent wayyyyy to much time and wayyyy to much money on her. When I purchased it, there was nothing wrong with it - but I didn't like that a couple of the pots felt loose - so I replaced a few of them. Well, I did get carried away... While I was 'under the hood' I replaced all the Vishay-Dale Electrolytic capacitors with brand new Vishay's. I replaced EVERY single WIMA capacitor, but I used new WIMA’s with higher voltages, so now they’ll last orders of magnitude longer, and I even replaced all the small clear poly caps with new. Don’t forget about the lead-free solder that I removed and replaced with silver bearing audiophile quality leaded solder. I removed the wires that went from the tube circuit board to the main circuit board and replaced them with silver plated stranded wire, and the same for several PC boards that have wires running to them. You can see them in the pictures, they're WHITE. I didn't stop there, not even close. I replaced ALL the capacitors in the power supply section with nothing but the best - Nichicon KG, KZ and FG's and some Panasonic Gold caps (I still have stock) I replaced EVERY relay with factory spec, original manufacturer, brand new Panasonic’s with gold plated contacts - and there's 17 of those little relay's inside! Everything I replaced was brand spankin new, factory spec, OEM. I never use generic parts - nothin but the best for my baby! I replaced every single part in the secondary power supply that’s located on the motherboard, with brand new factory spec, OEM parts. And of course I replaced the capacitor in the compressor section for the 'Fast Attack' - otherwise known as the 'Babyface Mod'. Yep, it's in there! Next came the tubes. I did a lot of research on what sounded best and came across some 1962 Vintage, New Old Stock, Telefunkin tubes. These were the E88CC - and they work beautifully. I had them matched and I had one of them cryogenically treated and used it for the final output. These tubes are at $200 each and there's 4 of them. I did so much work on this amp - like I said, I went OCD on it. It was my personal amp and I was planning on using it for the rest of my voice over career... oh well. I used this amp along with a Neumann TLM-103. The sound is completely AMAZING. It's the best, clearest and crispest highs I have ever heard. Put on a pair of headphones and whoever is listening drops their chin - their mouth is wide open - Every time. Airy - smooth, crisp, clear, transparent, natural, open - there' s more words to describe what this sounds like, but the chin drop pretty much says it all.... and trust me, your chin WILL drop. It's simply amazing and defy's logic. This amp is more than the sum of the parts. Everything I did created a synergy - a mind blowing synergy that produces nothing short of magic. This unit is barely broken in. I have less than 100 hours on it since I did all the work. Heck, the new parts and tubes take 100 -150 hours to fully break-in - so there you have it. She's a newby - ready for years of continued, reliable, no holds barred, best that you can be VT-737SP. Heck, I spent upwards of 60 plus hours on this thing - the amount of detailed work, and the technique involved to do a good job. I took close pics for a reason - so you could see my work. If I did a good job, you can’t even tell I was in there. If you're wanting an Avalon VT-737SP - and you've got the bucks, look no further. You can buy new and never get this sound. It's something you have to hear to believe. It gave me my 'voice'- unfortunately a voice that no-one heard. I can't say enough about this amp - it has to be heard to be believed. It will have the absolute best sound that one of these can have - at any price - period. If you're wanting a no-compromise, get all you can get, Avalon VT-737SP - look no further. Price: OK, you can buy one of these in OK condition for about $1500. These vintage tubes are worth about $800 - every penny. That puts us at $2300. I've got over $200 in NEW parts installed. That puts us at $2500. So, for pretty much nothing extra, you're getting so MUCH MUCH more. Think of the hours that were put into this thing - the leaded solder, all the new parts, the love and care that went into it - heck, if you go by the numbers alone - buying this thing is a NO BRAINER. BUT - THE reason to buy THIS Avalon, is because of the sound it puts out. I just thought of a word that fits - dreamy. That's what it is. Whatever voice you have - once you set the bass, treble and mid where you find your 'voice' - you'll use nothing else as long as you have your career. You can change mics, but you'll never part with this Avalon. She will transform your voice and make it special. If you're a singer - this Avalon will take your voice to new heights - regardless of the mic your use with it. Of course, one must start with quality - the TLM103 is a PERFECT fit for the unit and it's what I used when I was trying to get into this work. My problem was that I had so much mouth noise, I had to turn down the treble. But the treble is where a lot of the magic is happening. This thing has a top end that is unbelievable. If you want the treble to shine - and everything from the bottom end and in-between - this baby's for you. She really is something. I hate to get rid of it. Cosmetics: This was rack mounted before I got it, so you'll see that the rack mounting holes are scored from use. There are two flaws on the top edge of the front panel - the one above the meter is a shallow gouge. I guess it's from sliding in and out of a cabinet. See the pics - I show the marks. Despite the cosmetic flaws, she's still beautiful. The top and bottom covers have only light marks, if any. While she isn't perfect - you're NOT buying this thing for looks. This is a ONE OF A KIND - never to be repeated - Avalon VT-737SP that has been heavily modified to be All That It Can Be - a ‘no-compromise in audio’ solution for one heck of a microphone or line amp. Nuff Said. Included in this auction are the 4 Telefunkin tubes, and you also get a brand new Quad Matched set of Electro Harminix 6922 tubes that I picked up a while back - these are the original spec, stock tubes. Install them just in case you want to hear drab... lol. Nonetheless, they are yours. Shipping: I've been doing this a very long time. After all my hard work, you think I'm gonna let something happen to her in shipping? Nope. I'll pack this thing to survive whatever UPS throws at it. Don't worry - she'll arrive safe and sound. Bid with confidence! Check out my , I don't disappoint.
Description
| Brand: | Avalon | Features: | Headphone Output, Hybrid Preamp, Rack-Mountable |
| Model: | VT-737SP | Number of Channels: | 1 |
| MPN: | VT-737SP | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Type: | Channel Strip |
**This Avalon was listed previously with the tubes valued at ~$600 - however, that was when I purchased them about a year ago, or so. They are practically new (less than 100 hours) and if you were to buy them today, well, they've gone up in cost as the quantity available is dwindling, and very soon they'll be gone forever. If you were to buy them today, well, they'd cost you ~$800. - Just FYI**This Avalon VT-737SP is my personal treasure. I never intended to every sell her, EVER. It was a project of mine and was to be used in my new career in voice over work. However, as with all things in life, I never got noticed, and I’m simply ran out of time - I have to move on. However, at the time, I wanted to make this Avalon purr like the heavens above, and so I went OCD on it. You see, I've been in the electronics repair service industry for 35 years, as a bench electronics technician. I’ve been repairing these things and all other Audio and Video electronics day in and day out, week after week, year after year. I was trying to use my voice to get out of the repair business, and I wanted to make this Avalon VT-737SP all she could be. I spent wayyyyy to much time and wayyyy to much money on her. When I purchased it, there was nothing wrong with it - but I didn't like that a couple of the pots felt loose - so I replaced a few of them. Well, I did get carried away... While I was 'under the hood' I replaced all the Vishay-Dale Electrolytic capacitors with brand new Vishay's. I replaced EVERY single WIMA capacitor, but I used new WIMA’s with higher voltages, so now they’ll last orders of magnitude longer, and I even replaced all the small clear poly caps with new. Don’t forget about the lead-free solder that I removed and replaced with silver bearing audiophile quality leaded solder. I removed the wires that went from the tube circuit board to the main circuit board and replaced them with silver plated stranded wire, and the same for several PC boards that have wires running to them. You can see them in the pictures, they're WHITE. I didn't stop there, not even close. I replaced ALL the capacitors in the power supply section with nothing but the best - Nichicon KG, KZ and FG's and some Panasonic Gold caps (I still have stock) I replaced EVERY relay with factory spec, original manufacturer, brand new Panasonic’s with gold plated contacts - and there's 17 of those little relay's inside! Everything I replaced was brand spankin new, factory spec, OEM. I never use generic parts - nothin but the best for my baby! I replaced every single part in the secondary power supply that’s located on the motherboard, with brand new factory spec, OEM parts. And of course I replaced the capacitor in the compressor section for the 'Fast Attack' - otherwise known as the 'Babyface Mod'. Yep, it's in there! Next came the tubes. I did a lot of research on what sounded best and came across some 1962 Vintage, New Old Stock, Telefunkin tubes. These were the E88CC - and they work beautifully. I had them matched and I had one of them cryogenically treated and used it for the final output. These tubes are at $200 each and there's 4 of them. I did so much work on this amp - like I said, I went OCD on it. It was my personal amp and I was planning on using it for the rest of my voice over career... oh well. I used this amp along with a Neumann TLM-103. The sound is completely AMAZING. It's the best, clearest and crispest highs I have ever heard. Put on a pair of headphones and whoever is listening drops their chin - their mouth is wide open - Every time. Airy - smooth, crisp, clear, transparent, natural, open - there' s more words to describe what this sounds like, but the chin drop pretty much says it all.... and trust me, your chin WILL drop. It's simply amazing and defy's logic. This amp is more than the sum of the parts. Everything I did created a synergy - a mind blowing synergy that produces nothing short of magic. This unit is barely broken in. I have less than 100 hours on it since I did all the work. Heck, the new parts and tubes take 100 -150 hours to fully break-in - so there you have it. She's a newby - ready for years of continued, reliable, no holds barred, best that you can be VT-737SP. Heck, I spent upwards of 60 plus hours on this thing - the amount of detailed work, and the technique involved to do a good job. I took close pics for a reason - so you could see my work. If I did a good job, you can’t even tell I was in there. If you're wanting an Avalon VT-737SP - and you've got the bucks, look no further. You can buy new and never get this sound. It's something you have to hear to believe. It gave me my 'voice'- unfortunately a voice that no-one heard. I can't say enough about this amp - it has to be heard to be believed. It will have the absolute best sound that one of these can have - at any price - period. If you're wanting a no-compromise, get all you can get, Avalon VT-737SP - look no further. Price: OK, you can buy one of these in OK condition for about $1500. These vintage tubes are worth about $800 - every penny. That puts us at $2300. I've got over $200 in NEW parts installed. That puts us at $2500. So, for pretty much nothing extra, you're getting so MUCH MUCH more. Think of the hours that were put into this thing - the leaded solder, all the new parts, the love and care that went into it - heck, if you go by the numbers alone - buying this thing is a NO BRAINER. BUT - THE reason to buy THIS Avalon, is because of the sound it puts out. I just thought of a word that fits - dreamy. That's what it is. Whatever voice you have - once you set the bass, treble and mid where you find your 'voice' - you'll use nothing else as long as you have your career. You can change mics, but you'll never part with this Avalon. She will transform your voice and make it special. If you're a singer - this Avalon will take your voice to new heights - regardless of the mic your use with it. Of course, one must start with quality - the TLM103 is a PERFECT fit for the unit and it's what I used when I was trying to get into this work. My problem was that I had so much mouth noise, I had to turn down the treble. But the treble is where a lot of the magic is happening. This thing has a top end that is unbelievable. If you want the treble to shine - and everything from the bottom end and in-between - this baby's for you. She really is something. I hate to get rid of it. Cosmetics: This was rack mounted before I got it, so you'll see that the rack mounting holes are scored from use. There are two flaws on the top edge of the front panel - the one above the meter is a shallow gouge. I guess it's from sliding in and out of a cabinet. See the pics - I show the marks. Despite the cosmetic flaws, she's still beautiful. The top and bottom covers have only light marks, if any. While she isn't perfect - you're NOT buying this thing for looks. This is a ONE OF A KIND - never to be repeated - Avalon VT-737SP that has been heavily modified to be All That It Can Be - a ‘no-compromise in audio’ solution for one heck of a microphone or line amp. Nuff Said. Included in this auction are the 4 Telefunkin tubes, and you also get a brand new Quad Matched set of Electro Harminix 6922 tubes that I picked up a while back - these are the original spec, stock tubes. Install them just in case you want to hear drab... lol. Nonetheless, they are yours. Shipping: I've been doing this a very long time. After all my hard work, you think I'm gonna let something happen to her in shipping? Nope. I'll pack this thing to survive whatever UPS throws at it. Don't worry - she'll arrive safe and sound. Bid with confidence! Check out my , I don't disappoint.