Fully hotrodded Collins 12Z preamplifier - the ultimate microphone preamp

Each time we do one of these hotrod studio preamps we do it better. Here’s yet another totally unique, white-whale listing from LMM LLC and JML Studios. Technical specs listed below. This is one of a handful of grail preamps we do each year for the studio looking for the greatest preamp money can buy, achieved by using the existing topology and improving on it with custom modifications and improvements by some of the most creative techs in the business.

While others simply just buy vintage junk and flip it, we gut, modify and service our gear head to toe using multiple different world class techs all over the world to bring our customers a one-of-a kind opportunity to purchase the world’s rarest recording studio equipment available. Our customers include the biggest artists, producers and engineers around the world because we offer two things no other shop does: ground up hotroded unique gear and white glove customer service. This unique Collins 12Z is simply one of the coolest mic pre’s available for sale on earth, rebuilt to be something quite unique. If you’re looking for a clean sounding pre that is rich with color and vibe, look no further.

We present to you, 18 months in the making, the ultra rare and fully redesigned Collins 12Z field mixer, rebuilt to be the ultimate microphone preamplifier for the studio that has it all.

FEATURES:

Tons of useful mods such as a unique tube adapter that allows multiple tube styles for tube-rolling options and output levels (negates the need for old unobtanium tubes and poor gain staging), a super colorful yet clean gain output, an unbelievably huge sounding new D.I. input, all new components (many of which are hand wired PTP and some even NOS vintage parts), partially redesigned topology with hand drawn schematic included for future repair reference (as shown), 48v+ phantom power added with new PSU and new phantom power LED indicator lamp, new NOS hand selected glass and a full, ground-up concourse restoration from a stripped down empty chassis. We used as many original parts and even kept the original cloth wiring harness where possible & as much of the vintage parts as possible. Everything works like new and is plug and play. Included with this unit are extra Tungsol, Telefunken and RCA vintage new old stock tubes worth about $1000 alone! Many new features and extra surprises with this one.

WORK PERFORMED:

- Cleaned chassis, cleaned controls, replace defective components as needed, repainted emptied chassis before restoration began

- Constructed a new internal custom power supply from scratch

- improved SNR greatly, 2.0VDC @ 1amp, 6.0VDC @ 1amp, 
120VDC @ 50mA, 48VDC
@ 100mA

- Rewired chassis for microphone preamplifier use

- Installed new power connector and new fuse system

- Installed Phantom Power PSU and associated switch, indicator LED and wiring

- Installed a world class TS unbalanced DI Input on the front of the faceplate

- Installed a second (parallel) balanced Line out on the front of the faceplate and XLR direct line out on rear panel as well

- Installed XLR-F and 1/4inch input jacks and XLR-M output jack all on back panel

- Made an adapter socket to replace one of the unobtanium tubes with more common types!

- 100+ hr Burn in and test.

- Painted and clear coated the black metal outer chassis enclosure

*** Includes several different tubes to try in the input stage. Each one will give you a slightly different volume and tone. Note: Make sure to unplug and wait a while for the larger caps to dissipate before rolling tubes To avoid damaging the internal components. Lastly, original metal carrying case is included and latches work perfectly. Unit is pictured naked to show internal modifications.

Any questions please ask. In person or FaceTime audio tests are welcomed. We have a few other unique preamps like this (RCA, Raytheon, Ampex, Altec, Shane Young, Gates, etc) so make sure to check out our shop for more details, or swing by to test them all out in person in our commercial studio environment. Open to other barter ideas too, just ask. Thanks for looking! Please follow our shop for more items like this.