Below are emails from people who purchased the HJFP2 and/or the HVTP2 micpre either assembled or in kit form.  Nothing has been edited unless the topic in the email deviated from the micpre, or if it contained peoples personal contact info (I truncate peoples last names for privacy).  These are copied->pasted directly into this page, with the newest ones at the top.  This page was created 10/12/05

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Howdy again, Hamptone.

I've been meaning to write a note for a while to say I LOVE THIS PREAMP!!! It's so great. It's got tons of headroom 

and sounds amazing in all ways. The DI sounds amazing and I even recorded an electric guitar plugged right in there 

through a sans-amp and that sounded great, too (I usually hate the sound of an electric guitar just plugged into the recorder direct). 

All my mics sound a thousand times better, etc.  So, anyway, just a note to say thank you for designing such an amazing preamp and a 

very cool kit. 

Take care and happy holidays,
Erik P

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Scott:

I finally got around to finishing the tube mic pre kit I bought from you, say 2-3 years ago, after a move across the country, etc., and I couldn't possibly be happier. While I'm not exactly an electronics novice, everything went incredibly smoothly and it came right up and worked after the voltage checks. I was quite impressed with the chassis design, how everything lined up perfectly and there were no missing screws, short wires, etc. (which anyone who has built previous kits has seen before). The real payoff is in the sound - absolutely stunning. A great design, and I applaud you. I've tried a number of my mics, from the lowly 57 to some great classics, and everything just really comes alive and sounds better than ever. I don't expect any nasty build-ups at any frequencies, since everything seems to be quite flat and natural sounding, but bigger than ever. I'm going to try it as the gain stage for my home-brew passive summing bus later today, and expect similar magic there.

Can't thank you enough. A very musical mic pre, and built like a tank.

Cheers,
(Funky) Frank P
Area8 Studio

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hi scott

....built the jfet pre and love it....use it all the time....so do all my friends who borrow it constantly...how much are the tube kits running these days? and are they in the same chassis w/ the handle?
cheers, alex m

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Hi Scott-

Picked up a pre from a studio via the TOMB...damn it's lovely. Only ever used a UA (newer) as a 'good' pre, and I much prefer yours. Really great.

Craig

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Hi Scott

Just fired up the HVTP2, quiet, smooth and nice sounding with rich overtones.  Many thanks for your excellent kit.

Best regards
Oddur G.

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Scott,

The preamp was delivered yesterday. I was able to try it out last night a bit. It's beautiful in every way, and I am so proud to have it. If there is a fire in my house, after my family and my Martin guitar, this thing is the next thing out.

Best,
Matthew H

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Scott,

It's been awhile, but I wanted to send an email.

Your pre-amp sounds simply awesome, it is everything I hoped for and
more. Plus, the new skills I learned have led me down a path and I
have accomplished a few other diy projects since then, a variety of di
boxes, and most recently some mic mods using royer's articles.

That led me back around to your site eventually and I see that you are
building mics too... using capsules your customers provide. Curious
how that works, and how to get in on that, what the costs are etc.
Where would you suggest looking for a suitable capsule?

Anyway, respond at your leisure, no rush. Just sending up a flare from
LA, and again letting you know how much I appreciate the work you do.

sincerely

steve m

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Scott,

I have been eyeing your site all through January hoping for some kind of news on the compressor kit, and today, when out of curiosity I checked the current stock section I became saddened that you may be discontinuing the mic pre kits. I purchased one of your assembled units less than a year ago and have had nothing but great success with the unit (and have even considered purchasing another). Everything has sounded great through the unit (including Piano, Guitar electric and acoustic, Bass, Drum overheads, and Vocals, though Drum FOK has been my one of my favorite applications.  I am sorry that you even have to consider discontinuing the unit.

 >>Alan G

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Saw on your website that your sheet metal supplier is expecting to deliver parts by the end of the month.  Hope they come through, and i'm really looking forward to firing up the soldering iron (i'm on the waiting list for a tube preamp with step attenuators).  I'd vote for you increasing the prices on the kits rather than discontinuing them!

Jerry G.

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Scott,

I enjoyed both building and listening to your tube pres. I like it very much in the role of a bass DI Pre. On bass I hear
well articulated, dynamically even transients and a musical "tubey" sustain. It dramatically highlighted the fatiguing and generally unsatisfying sound of the cheap solid state stuff I A/B-ed it with. I also like the push-button switches for phase, phantom and pad, and the cool textured finish on the top and sides of the case--nice. All this and your price have brought me back for round two--the JFET.

Kris

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Scott,

I love my HJFP2 preamp. I don't think I could really be much happier with the purchase. The stuff I have
been doing at home has so much more depth and character. Where I assist, I've been bringing it in
and using it along side several channels of API's. (512's and a 3124)

I am mainly writing to see if you have any future plans to release the opto compressor kit that was on
your site several months ago. If so I would be very interested.

Brian Frederick
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Scott,

Got the pre today, nice quick delivery. Just tried it out and my expectations have been met 100%. I think you describe it best when you say it's between a Neve and an API. I'd describe it as a punchy Neve. Or a creamy API. Either way, very nice job. Thank you a million times.

wes

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Hi Scott

It´s taken me a long while to get to assembling my kit. I´m just about finished and I was surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed the assembly. The directions + the info on your website are marvelous and just about answer all questions and I am a newbie in electronic kit assembly. Thanks very much.

Can you please advise what the wattage capacity of the variac should be for powering up and testing the unit.

Can hardly wait to try out the preamp.

Best regards
Oddur G.
Iceland

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Scott,
I have built 2 of your mic pre's (1 of each), you mentioned last fall you would be introducing a compressor kit. Any word on how that is coming along. I love the pre's by the way. You seem to have good ears.
Thnx,
David B

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Dear Hamptone,

I just finished a tracking session in a client's home studio . He has the HVTP2 (TUBE). WOW. I used it on acoustic guitars with a Neumann KM84 (sweet), and a Sure SM57. It was great with both! Tight, focused and accurate with great character. I'm now saving up money so I can buy one. Thanks for making such a great thing! Do you think the step attenuators will make a pretty big difference?

Thanks!

Andrew

Just finished the build and tried it out. Hot damn! This thing is great. No noise, and the distortion is awesome. I'm going to be DI'ing my Wurlitzer with it...and a hell of a lot of other stuff too. Thanks for everything!

JRL

Hamptone

…tech question……By the way, the DI on the channel that does work beat out all others in an informal shootout at a studio I worked at last week. There were about 12 different fancy DI's in all, the top 2 that seemed to be consistently (blindly) chosen were the Jfet and one of your tube pres.

Darren

Dear Scott;

My guitarist has bought and we use two of your preamps in our home studio (one J-fet, one tube) and they sound INCREDIBLE!!!!! You make some very killer products!!!

Thanks

David G. Johnstone

Scott,

I bought a tube and a jfet kit from u about 6-7 mo. ago and I just got around to putting them  together the other day. I had 0 problems. They worked right off the bat and sound fabulous. I had a blast building them. All the inst. were well thought out. Thanx a bunch.

David B, Athens GA

Scott,

The HJFP2 kit is up and running for three days now and it sounds wonderful. Building the kit went very smooth, no difficulties at all. Thanks to the excellent manual and the corresponding photos on your tech support page. Measuring results were spot-on. This is one quiet amp! Thus far I've only been able to use the pre with spoken voice in true stereo XY configuration. I use Schoeps cardioids and they now seem to have so much more presence, authority and reach than before when I used a non-transformer balanced opamp design. So the Hamptone promises a lot when I'm going to field-test it in a live-concert environment. I suspect that's where the transformers have additional benefits - where longer cable-lengths are used. But it's amazing how much just a couple of voices can reveal in terms of sound quality, especially when you have a really good recording/monitoring rig. I also like the metalwork of this preamp a lot. Not only is it very strong but the understated gray/green finish is very attractive. The lay-out of the controls and in/outputs I find another strongpoint of the amp. Everything on the frontpanel: convenient and foolproof. Bravo Hamptone!

Kees

Hey Scott,

Thanks for the reply. I relized after I had written you that you were on vacation and would just be patient until it got here. I meant to reply when they arived but have been too busy.  I have been enjoying the pre amp very much.  This past weekend I had a chance to run some drums and vocs through it also and love the sound. It has given my old akg 451's, which I havent been liking very much lately, a whole new life. They sound big and sexy on accoustic gtr.  I have a few mics on loan to a buddy of mine and cant wait to get them back and run them through your pre.

Thanks again and good work.

Brian McNamee

BTW - Excellent job with the instructions. The pictures on your site really helped me make sure I understood each step. I built a guitar amp from a kit that had a lot of holes in the instructions, but it came out nice anyway. Your kit blew that away from this kit builder's perspective. I've got a few friends I can turn on to your stuff.

BP

Wow. Just finished up the kit this weekend (I've been on the road a  bit lately, so I've worked on it in bursts).

You've done a really great job of putting together the kit. The building of it was a joy (it worked on the first try). I was actually sad once I realized that I had finished it. That is, until I started using it. ;-)  Great design! Beautiful sound. Outstanding noise performance for a tube pre.

The stepped attenuators make it a very unique piece.

Many thanks, kirk

Hey Scott,

I Finished my HJFP2 today works perfectly!! Sounds Amazing!! I'm a moderator for www.osxaudio.com I wrote a little plug for your Pre in the forums:

http://www.osxaudio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=146952#146952

Talk to you soon.

David Corter

Hey Scott!

Man Oh Man! I love the HVTP2.  I'm selling my Buzz Audio MA 2.2 to get a HJFP2.  Do you have any assembled units available now? If not, will you have any soon?

Thanks

Scott,

Had the opportunity to test the new pre last night.  I'm blown away. I absolutely love it! You Rock!

DP

It's up and running (HVTP2) and sounds great. Thanks again for a great product.

s

--

Scott Faris

Ring Master

FarisWheel Productions

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I just did a bunch of preliminary recordings with your HVTP2 preamps and I’m just tickled by them. I have a few other high end tube mic preamps, and without naming them, I think that this one smokes them all. Your unit is totally clear and full sounding, but sweet and rich without too much color. I can easily see myself using them all the time on my most important tracks.

Here’s another question. I have a couple of brand new Éclair Engineering Evil Twins. They are the famous DIs, and with the mic pre options on them. They have Jensen transformers in and out. Would you be willing to do a trade? If one Evil Twin (worth $1200 USD plus shipping and taxes) went towards two more HVPT2 units, how far off would we be from a trade? They are brand new, under warranty, and with all paperwork.

Thanks,

Gord

Thanks Scott! I thought R9 was the resistor to change but thought I'd ask you first. Very impressive service, I can see myself being a long time customer of yours.

James Hadfield

Hi Scott,

I bought your tube pre kit almost two years ago, and finally got around to putting together. Just amazing - thanks so much for providing the kits and for the articles in Tape Op.  Thanks again for what I consider to be an important public service (that I also hope you're making some money on).

Doug Smith

 By the way, thanks

for putting so much thought into this kit. The instructions were great and it was a breeze to build. I learned a lot. And thanks for the tips on the meter. I'm headed to ebay for an 8060A.

s

I actually got it to work. I pushed the fuse in with the holder and screwed it back and forth a few times and got some continuity.  Everything is up and running just great. Do you think I should still replace it?  By the way, you did a fantastic job with all the documentation. I have never put a PCB project together, but this was a lot of fun. I have done a few point to point tube guitar amps, but your kit was a joy to assemble. It also sounds fantastic. I will be buying a

JFET and a tube model from you eventually.

Thanks!

Elijah Arrigotti

Scott,

I am still absolutely loving the HJFP2 and the HVTP2 so when I heard the interview with you over at 3D I was very excited to hear you might offer an EQ and a compressor. Do you have any updates to that (i.e. features, ETA, etc.)? Just curious because I would be very interested.

Hope things are going well.

Best Regards,

Jason Aldrich

scott-

just wanted to let you know that I just finished my HJFP2, my first DIY project, and this morning I plugged it in and it sounds GREAT. can't wait to put it through a workout. also learned a lot in the process, and caught the electronics bug along the way. think I'll have to get a HVTP next. thanks also for getting back to me quickly on the one question I had in the process.

Dear Scott,

First of all I should apologize for partly dumping my truth finding process on you. After my initial doubts and rants, I performed some real-world tests and comparisons with other studio equipment and preamps, which showed two things:

1) My feelings about hiss, noise, or whatever, were based on an over-focused perception that led me to emphasizing the natural noise up to a level where I was listening to swinging atomic cores.

2) Connected to an appropriate back end, the sound quality of your preamp design exceeded all my expectations; e. g. comparing it to a Focusrite ISA428 showed that the latter performed only marginally higher and sounded almost the same, if not worse in some "musical" details.  On top of that, I conducted some basic measurements with an HP spectrum analyzer that I had a chance to borrow. As far as I can interpret the results, there is no non-random noise standing out on any frequency.  I am happy (and still a bit embarrassed) to conclude that I built a perfectly functioning HJFP2, but was mislead in my judgement due to the previous lack of comparison.

Thanks again for all your help and troubleshooting suggestions.

With best regards,

Ralf

Scott

I assembled one of your tube kits earlier this year with a friend of mine over many hours and many records. We both greatly enjoyed the experience and learned a good deal from it. I'd like to commend you on a very well written set of instructions and great backup on the website. Between those two tools, we were able to find all of the answers we needed without looking elsewhere. I've enjoyed using the tube pre's thus far and look forward to adding another couple of quality channels to my recording rig (I'm just a little short on time to assemble another kit myself right now). I'm sure you hear it this often, but I wanted to also thank you for

making high performance mic pres available to project studio owners at a very reasonable price.

Cheers,

Bob Meyer

Scott

I have been using the JFet pre and love it It kicks ass on snare, room mic and bass so far looking forward to using it on more stuff

Adam Lasus

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Scott

Sorry it took me so long to send you a note of appreciation. It took me
quite a while to get around to assembling the HVTP2, and it took, I
think, rather longer than 20 hours, although I wasn't rushing or timing
myself, and did it in a number of short spans over a few days.

It has worked great from the beginning, with the exception of
discovering I'd trashed a piece of coax from overheating it while
soldering to the pots. Much thanks for the checkpoint there --
visually, everything looked fine, and only the resistance measurements
told me there was a problem.

Other than that, all the voltage readings were right on the money,
everything seemed stable, burnt it in for a couple of days, adjusted the
voltages, and it's worked fine ever since.

At first, I thought it was a bit noisy -- then I realized how HUGE a
signal it was putting out. Even at a +4 setting, I had to turn the
inputs to my A/D converter way down. It's a big, smooth, (dare I say
it?) fat sound, definitely my go-to pre.

My compliments on the organization of the parts, and the excellent
instructions. Definitely not the same as the "insert tab a into slot b"
kind of instructions I was used to with the various Dyna and Heath kits
I built back in the day, but you went into exactly enough detail exactly
where I needed it.

Hope you make enough money to make it worthwhile selling these kits --
it's a great service to a recordist who wants quality but doesn't have
a huge budget.

Thanks again,

Marc L