Downbeat Studio

Was really excited to have the opportunity to work on these units for a client. It’s kind of crazy how good these amps sounded after repair.

FOR SALE: $500 Shipped in US

You’re looking at a passive/active Motown style DI box. This unit feature features an AMI UT26 transformer that is a clone of the vintage UTC A-26 transformer. It has two audio paths controlled by a switch on the front panel. One path is completely passive just through the transformer. The second path inserts a tube circuit with a small amount of gain. Get two unique DI flavors in the same box. On the rear is a switch for the output impedance, switching between 200 and 500 ohms.

12 V DC power supply is included. NOS capacitors used in this build. NOS RCA 12AU7. Backlit VU meter for measuring output signal.

PCB Designs / Studio Update

Hello, friends! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, so I wanted to share a quick update....

Exciting Studio Update: New Home and PCB Designs Revealed Discover my new home studio in Elgin, IL, and explore fresh PCB designs including RCA, Altec, and a unique bus saturator project!

DB-70 coming in hot! 🥵

I’ve been dying to use this Westrex meter since I got it. This unit has the typical features with the added phantom power, phase and switchable pad. We’ve got gain control, negative feedback control, switchable low end. A couple unique things with this unit are the turn arrow on off switch and the custom vented cover panel.

Input transformer is a Stancor WF-20
Output transformer is an ADC 122B

RCA and Sylvania 6SJ7 and 6C5 respectively.

This one’s already sold.

FOR SALE $500/ea shipped.

Have a pair of Electrodyne LA-602B modules. These make great little preamps and have big heavy output transformers. Both units have been recapped and are ready for racking or installing in your console. I also have a the edge connects I can include for free.

FOR SALE: $375 shipped in US

Here we have another passive Motown style DI. This unit is built around the UTC A – 11 transformer and has a switch for 200 or 600 ohm impedance. The finish is a black wrinkle textured paint with gold flick. High-quality components throughout and carbon comp resistors.

Get yourself a sweet smooth sounding DI.

Snagged this old Leedy snare at an estate sale last weekend. It needed to be cleaned up, new heads and new wires. I’m kind of surprised how great it sounds.

Anyone know of a good way to date these? There’s nothing stamped inside the drum.

Here is a fresh build for a client. This is our Downbeat version of the UA 175 variant-mu compressor. Honestly, it’s a little over built, but we found a sweet spot with this thing.

We’re got a UTC P-1 (aka O-1) on the input, UTC A-18 for the interstage and the UTM 3580 on the output. NOS tubes throughout except the power rectifier tube.

On the front we’ve got controls for input, output, attack, release, hi/low input, 150/600 ohm output, meter select and test switch. Finished in a vintage gray. Love the big meter.

FOR SALE: $2000 shipped

You’re looking at a 2 channel Gates SA-70. This was originally built for our studio and has been used on and off for the last two years. It’s in great working order sounds awesome and has a slew of additional features. Does have some scratches on the top and bottom, but will be hidden once racked.

Controls include gain, switchable low end, variable negative feedback, phase, pad, and phantom power. There is a FET DI input for both channels. External solid state power supply, built to run 4 channels.

We’ve got UTC CG-134 input transforms and Collins output transformers. Sylvania 6J7 and RCA JAN 6C5 tubes. Tests flat 20-20k. The negative feedback and low end controls offer subtle to drastic changes in the sound.

This is a dope unit that has served us well and is ready for a new home.

Just realized I never posted any pictures of the finished studio space. This took a few months to build out, but I’m really happy with how it sounds and how functional the space is. It’s roomy yet tight and really convenient to just walk upstairs to the attic.

This is the fourth studio I’ve built out and I’ve learned a lot along the way. If you ever have any questions or ideas, please comment or reach out.



Be sure to scroll to the end to see before pictures.