Fodera Racked-Pre?

[Mario Lewis]

I've heard about these things. I think the Pope Pre is really really nice and I'd be interested in having one.

So, how much? I've seen $240, I've seen over $2K?

Can anyone give a half educated SWAG?

Thanks!

 

[Brian Barrett]

If Nick was happy with the sound of the prototype, and then something changed.....well, something changed. Was is because the layout of a hand-wired board was not duplicated? Maybe! But that shows why not useing boards can create a potential for inconsistency. Your idea that a preamp can sound "digital" because of a printed circuit board is actually kinda funny.
Following is a long; but I think intelligent article I pulled off the Bogner web site. These are amazing tube guitar amps, and they use printed circuit boards. The article was written by the head designer of THD, another company that is dedicated to high quality stuff. They also use printed circuit boards.

www.thdelectronics.com

That great, thanks for pointing it out...........

Not sure of your point, its a difference in taste which I stated. I'm no spokes person for Nick, just wanted to use him as insite into one issue that happen. Heck if everyone felt or believed the same thing then their would be no need for different products.

Sorry it bothered you.......

Back to the fodera pre..

 

[jokerjkny]

That great, thanks for pointing it out...........

Not sure of your point, its a difference in taste which I stated. I'm no spokes peron for Nick, just wanted to use him as insite into one issue that happen. Heck if everyone felt or believed the same thing then their would be no need for different products.

Sorry it bothered you.......

Back to the fodera pre..

well, it seems like you're saying handwired = warmth, organic, while circuit board = cold, digital, sterile.

the point is that, these days, there are many "boutique" amp designers that regularly use printed circuit boards, and i'm willing to bet that you wouldnt be able to tell any difference from something "handwired". just cause a designer uses a circuit board, doesnt mean he cant get those amazingly warm tones.

i too am a guitar player, and many of my favorite amps like Bogner's Ecstasy Classic, THD's BiValve & Flexi, and my current main gigging amp, a Fuchs ODS-30 head, all sound incredible.

and all in all, just cause its circuit board doesnt mean it wont sound nearly as good as a handwired circuit. its not a carte blanche to great tone. IMHO, these days, a guy saying their amp is "handwired" is as easily a marketing ploy as saying their amp was played and endorsed by "so & so".

sure, there are those cheapo circuit board amps that we all have played at one point or another in our careers, but with higher end boutique builders, getting incredible tone from a circuit board amp can be done.

 

[robb.]

sure, there are those cheapo circuit board amps that we all have played at one point or another in our careers, but with higher end boutique builders, getting incredible tone from a circuit board amp can be done.

not only that, but the incredible tone of a well-designed circuit board amp is repeatable from one amp to the next, instead of having to find the "magic" amp.

i'm sure there's a good analogy for similarly "magic" fender basses somewhere.

robb.