Description: These incredible Presto 40-A tube preamps were the first portable preamps ever made, starting way back in 1939. This is a beautiful work of art in my eyes. Easily the prettiest internals I've ever seen, with that gleaming UTC chrome and those brushed aluminum tube shields. Plus those two MASSIVE UTC LS-10 transformers, both just for one channel of preamp largess.I've had 3 of these and this is the cleanest of all of them. It looks barely used. Even the leather case looks incredible, and this after 85 years!! just a few years later, the 40-A was made more inexpensive, with just one LS10 and different tubes. This is the first version, with the two black cast UTC LS10's. It also comes with two freshly checked 6C6 tubes, one Western Electric, another Western Electric rebrand.This needs a power supply and a tech to wire it up properly, but once done THESE ARE INCREDIBLE!!. Easily the biggest sounding of anything I have heard. Think RCA BA1/BA2, Gates SA70, Collins 6Q (but with bigger iron and tubes).....Big, thick, warm tones but with incredible detail and clarity . This makes 12AX7 based preamps sound small and puny in comparison.Amazing that 85 years ago, they had already nailed this tone. Once set up it will be the preamp that you brag about to others, guaranteed. This is a flagship type preamp. Check out the pic's and read up online as a few others have mentioned these beauties.Oh, and don't confuse this with the 3 channel units sold elsewhere online. Those are 3 into 1 small mixers. The signal to noise for three channels is not usable and most would just prefer using all 3 as separate channels. That is not possible on those as they are 3 in 1 out mixers. This is the unit that's usable for modern recording, and the one everyone searches out.The parts alone are worth more that the price shown, but please don't part it out. It's a historic piece of amazing engineering, straight from the schematics of the previous Western Electric design.Sold as-is and needing a set up by a qualified tech. But the tubes and transformers all check out AMAZINGLY well.** FREE SHIPPING ***
Price: 1200 USD
Location: Los Angeles, California
End Time: 2024-07-25T22:40:48.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: Presto
Type: Tube Preamplifier
Model: 40-A
