Heavily Modified Altec 1591A microphone preamp 1-of-a-kind tube mic pre / 436 compressor combo - a HOTROD MONSTER

Here we have a full blown modern mic pre with 90db+ of overall gain, fully serviced, vintage tone with modern features and an iconic Altec compressor… all in one!

Freshly modified, one of a kind mic pre/compressor combo with some unique features. Now Includes 48v+ phantom power installed with oversized toggle switch on front panel. Has original NOS Altec octal preamp cans for huge headroom. Two in fact, which have been creatively made to blend and work together in a unique way.

Fully Recapped where needed. The compressor section was also rebuilt so it performs like an Altec 436 (just with more limited stepped threshold and release). I leave it on 5:1 with .5sec release and it sounds absolutely killer. has mic or line input now too and can be used as a DI!

Obviously stellar on vocals but also a secret weapon preamp for your fav guitar, horns, drum or old mono synth. This is my go to preamp when I need a BIG sound. Classic rock and indie guys will love it for its full bodied punch and unbelievable gain but it really shines with a ribbon on vocals and guitars in any genre! Sounds fantastic with pretty much everything you throw at it. Yields an absurd 90db+ of clean, yet colorful gain and HUGE soundstage. Has been modified to have quieter noise floor and deflect RF better than stock units too. Even with the gain hungry mics like RCA44’s and Altec 639’s I only get up to like 1 or 2 (out of 10) on the input dial! Not kidding, I’m yet to find a mic I go past 2 or 3 and mostly sit at around 1. with LDC/SDC’s I’m comfortably at .5!

No issues whatsoever. Unit is aesthetically very clean too. The power lamp indicator has been repaired and works. VU repaired and calibrated. Frayed power cable has been repaired. The new phantom PSU is attached to the inside of the chassis. Huge amount of work has been put into this unit. A rare gem of a module for any studio on earth, even those who have it all.

This one of a kind preamp compressor pairs perfectly with ribbons and other gain hungry mics. A long ribbon’s best friend. Has a colored vintage sound with a clean top end and warm bottom. Everything you’d want from a modded vintage pre. Mids are punchy and larger than life. I’ve always describe this one as “everything you want out of a colored vintage preamp”. If you’re looking for a color, but you want something that just kills every other preamp out there, this is the one. Not too woolly or dark (as you might think) thanks to the new high end electrolytic capacitors, it has a nice clean sound but still maintains vintage character, best of both world… with a killer built in compressor!

The compressor side is admittedly more limited than the 436C but more versatile than the 436A and B. Lower ratio settings give it light to medium compression before you “hear” it, as much higher settings would do (the higher settings we rarely use). It’s actually the perfect set it and forget it compression for most vocal and guitar applications.

Any questions please ask. Open to trades of any kind. Thanks for looking.