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Basic Tools Required |
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A few basic tools are required to build our kits.
1. Soldering iron – adjustable temperature recommended, but not necessary. Your soldering iron must have a sharp
conical tip. I do not recommend a “flat-head, screwdriver-type” soldering iron. DO NOT USE A SOLDERING GUN. They
are usually rated at 100Watts and are overkill for this project. 2. Mini Pliers Cutter – to cut component leads, wires, strip insulation off wires (if you don’t have a wire-stripper tool). 3. Mini Long Nose Pliers – to bend component leads, use as a heatsink, hold components, tighten bolts. 4. Manual Solder sucker pump or desoldering gun– sucks up solder when you made a mistake soldering components on
the PCB. Pictured below is a Hakko model. 5. Multitester – A simple meter/tester to measure resistance, and voltages. A digital read-out is a big help. 6. Soldering Lead – 60/40 lead or lead-free solder 7. Magnifying glass – to see what you’re doing! Especially when soldering IC pins and the Grayhill selector switch. 8. Clean and well-lighted work area – Lots of good lighting, clean work area. You want to be able to leave your work-in-
progress without packing everything away. Extra Tools (Nice to have, but not required) 1. Vacuum desoldering pump – if you make a mistake, you need to pull out the component from the PCB 2. Component lead bender – bend component leads like resistors uniformly and evenly 3. PanaVise – to hold PCB while you’re working on it 4. Tweezers – to pick tiny things 5. Masking tape – to hold components on the PCB while working 6. Wire-stripper – for cutting wires and stripping its insulation
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Testimonials
I own a couple of your SC1 Mk2 preamps which I put in a custom made case. I am thinking of buying a few of the MK3 version. Thank you for creating and offering these preamps. They are just ideal for classical recording, every bit as good as my [high end preamps]. - D.Rumley, USA
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At tax time, i wanted to add some nice flavor to my studio. I bought an A-Designs 500-HR rack and (2) 500 series units: a name-brand preamp and the Five Fish Studios X-12. I used both for various purposes over the next 2 months: upright piano, drums (kick, snare, OH,) guitar, bass guitar...And in the end, I got rid of the name-brand preamp and picked up another X-12, no contest. I found the X-12 to be crisper and clearer, easier to use, easy to dial in the perfect gain structure. That's just my personal take on it. I think the name-brand preamp is great but for my money, it will always be the X-12, no contest. - post on Gearslutz.com |
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The fivefish kits are very high-end, the PCBs are very thick and sturdy, the coating is excellent and very resistant, they look very well done, unlike anything i have ever seen before. - J.Gomez, Analog Recording Forum |
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This is a great preamp, great sound, full bodied sound. - eBay feedback X-72mk500, May 2010 |
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Just got my pre-built x12.. its totally rock solid. Messed around with it a little today, great addition to any collection of preamps. The x12 had a little of that signature grainy upper mids with a more focused bottom end. No DI included, but it loves to amp the Countryman DI. I like the meter, its handy. The construction is top-notch, solid knobs and switches, good illumination. You can get in there and swap out the IC for a DOA, etc.. but I think the transformers are making the "sound". Oh yeah, its quiet too. - Andy S, USA |
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X-12mk500 - I can't believe the value & quality of these preamps! Amazing! - eBay Feedback, May 2010 |
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I just finished auditioning the SC-1mk500 with output transformer. I recorded a Taylor acoustic with a Neumann TLM-193 into your preamp and then into a Tube -Tech CL-1B compressor. The results were fantastic. I couldn't believe how much clean gain was available. Not sterile clean, it does have "character", but clean! Solid lows and a sweet sparkly top end, it captured the Taylor perfectly. If I really hit the strings hard, the preamp could handle it easily.---My wife came in and she agreed, which is always nice, that the SC-1 sounded wonderful and was worth the expense. I won't hesitate to buy more modules and I'm already gearing up to purchase the package of three. You make a really great-sounding pre. |
i'm up to (2) SC-1's, (2) X-12's, and a deal pending on (2) x-72's! i'll be sure to take a photo of my full lunchbox and send it to you or your site. i am really enjoying your pres, and i'd like to thank you for making a great sounding, quality product.
consider me a fan, and a member of the street team! - Roger L, USA |
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I bought an X-12 and iiked it so much that I had to get rid of my other peamp and replace it with another X-12. Kudos on making such an awesome design, I look forward to outfitting my studio with some more of your other tonal options in the near future. - Justin H., USA |
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