ClinchFX EP-Pre: The Pinnacle Of Echoplex Preamps

Описание: I've always struggled to 'get' the Echoplex Preamp thing - but this pedal has shown me where I've been going wrong all these years!

In the world of EP-3 Preamp replicas, one name repeatedly rises to the top of the pile as making the most accurate version out there: ClinchFX of Brisbane, Australia (though they have a Belgian dealer called Gosia Guitars for those of us in Europe!). Peter has gone to the ends of the earth to figure out what makes this circuit tick, and how to accurately recreate it using modern-day components.

Internally, it takes your power source and ups the voltage - at 9V, it goes up to about 17V; but running on a 12V supply, that goes up to about 23V...the same as the original circuit in the Echoplex ran on for accurate dynamics and frequency response.. Plus, Peter uses a JFET transistor that is as close to the old (and unobtanium) TIS58 JFET found in the 70s EP-3s as possible. Apparently (to the best of his knowledge!) no other manufacturer making an EP-3-alike is using this JFET.

But there's more! There were two versions of the EP-3 preamp - the earliest was slightly brighter; the later iteration was slightly darker. This pedal recreates both of them, selectable by the toggle switch on the top. Cool, eh?

What do you think? A super-handy device? Or too subtle? Comment below!

Guitars:
Rickenbacker 330 w/ Creamery Mid '63 Toasters
Ron Kirn Barnbuster w/ Bill Lawrence Micro-Coils
Gibson SG Standard w/ OX4 Low-Wind PAFs
Gronlund R16 Redeemer Jr w/ TV Jones Ful-Fidelity Filter'Tron

Amps:
Dr Z Z-Wreck
Vajra JTM45 Clone

Both amps running into a Zilla Studio Pro 2x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion Gold & Fane A30 AlNiCo speakers. Recorded with Aston Spirit Condenser, '70s Sennheiser MD441 and sE RNR1 ribbon mics, with a Schoeps CMC6 room mic.

0:00 Intro
4:21 Voltage Comparison
5:22 Clean Amp
7:47 Dimed JTM45
12:25 Post Gain
14:36 Outro


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