rainton
Well-known member
I know some of you have been waiting for months now but now I can finally start the feeler for my authentic Pultec EQP-1A chassis. 
It's been a long way and a lot of work to get to this point and I'm excited to know what you think!
This chassis is designed as close as possible to the vintage original - meaning: with the right components you will be able to recreate an original Pultec to an extend not possible before.
But let me show you some pics so you know what I'm talking about:
This is my finished prototype in the rack:
The almost finished unit outside of the rack:
from the back: as you can see the layout is exactly as the original - in this pic the only difference to a vintage one is the Sowter output tranny...yet 8)
Since I didn't want to build just another clone but a recreation of the vintage EQP-1A I did a lot of research to find and use original components throughout the entire build. Here's a peak inside (output tranny still missing in this shot)
Here's a closer look at the filter units mounted to the back of the EQP-1A. Here's an empty filter box as provided with the chassis:
And here's a finished filter unit:
The front panel color was a little tricky to decide on since there were at least half a dozen different grey tones that were used for the Pultecs ranging from a rather greenish gray to the enamel blue-gray.
With a little help of Frank @ frontpanels.de I went for a color which he found out was very close to the blue-gray used in many EQP1-As. The front panels will be powder coated RAL5009 and silk screened.
Other than my prototype the logo on the front panel will not say "Pultec" but only "program equalizer EQP1-A" since "Pultec" is a protected trademark.
The rear of the chassis will most likely be a slightly bit darker than my prototype, since I spray painted it with a varnish that gave me exactly the hammer finish grey tone I was looking for, but unfortunately all paintshops I called so far told me this color was not available for industrial production anymore. There's still one company on my list but for now I'd go with a dark grey hammer finish powder coating which is also very close.
All cutouts on the back are made for the original transformers so far but:
a) I'm open for discussion
b) I will offer adapter plates for the most requested transformers (as some of you may know I have done with my LA2A chassis project before which worked great)
In addition to the chassis I want to offer an "all-knobs included" option. I made a deal with don-audio.com if I buy enough of the Dakaware Pultec knobs he can give me discount of almost 40%!!
So with this "all buttons in" option one of the big boost/attenuation and also the frequency selection knobs will cost only roughly 7 Euros ea. instead of 11.50 Euros ea.
That makes a huge difference considering you'll need 7 of them altogether.
Ok that was the good news - now the "bad" news:
This will not be a cheap project - due to several facts:
- all parts of the chassis incl. the filter units need to be powder coated (other than e.g. the LA2A where only the front is powder coated)
- the filter units and 2 of them: these little boxes are pretty expensive for their size because they need to be spot welded, threads inserted etc.
- a lot of individual parts
As always: the more we are the cheaper it gets
For 10-19 chassis it'll be 270 Euros ea.
For 20-39 chassis it will be 250 Euros ea.
For 40+ chassis it will be 235 Euros ea.
The knobs kit with original Dakaware knobs will be 56 Euros
consisting of:
5x boost/atten knob
2x large freq. selection knob
1x power knob
1x chicken head knob for attend. selection
ONE MORE THING...
Thanks to forum member Deepdark I found out that Cinemag is indeed doing a technically exact replica of the unobtainable Peerless S217D output transformer!! It's not listed on their website but they do have it!
I talked to David @ cinemag and he confirmed he used 100% original material, L12 lams and he invested a lot of money to make it happen. The only difference is basically the color of the varnish, it has lead wires instead to terminals and the mounting studs are positioned slightly different. But given the fact it is electronically 100% identical to the original and also from outside looks very very close it is the best option available in terms of sound and look.
Usually the Cinemag S217D is 225 $ ea. but if we find more than 11 people the price will go down to 180$ ea.
So I think I might this be the standard OT cutout on the chassis...
I will start a dedicated feeler for the Cinemag S217D group buy tomorrow and as soon as I did I will post the link here and also post a link to this thread there so everybody interested in one or the other will have the chance to become aware of both...
This feeler will be opened for a limited time only - I'll update the thread ahead of time before I close it.
Ok guys I'm excited to hear your thoughts!
Martin
Group Buy List:
nickhepfer (2) PAID
Floti (2) PAID
Quayhog (2) PAID
Shaker-her PAID
kosi (2) PAID
LeRoux (2) PAID
Craig PAID
bancho (2) PAID
SimonDemon (2) PAID
Bobbi (2) PAID
jpharaoh (2) PAID
fishdrop PAID
rainton (2) PAID
It's been a long way and a lot of work to get to this point and I'm excited to know what you think!
This chassis is designed as close as possible to the vintage original - meaning: with the right components you will be able to recreate an original Pultec to an extend not possible before.
But let me show you some pics so you know what I'm talking about:
This is my finished prototype in the rack:
The almost finished unit outside of the rack:
from the back: as you can see the layout is exactly as the original - in this pic the only difference to a vintage one is the Sowter output tranny...yet 8)
Since I didn't want to build just another clone but a recreation of the vintage EQP-1A I did a lot of research to find and use original components throughout the entire build. Here's a peak inside (output tranny still missing in this shot)
Here's a closer look at the filter units mounted to the back of the EQP-1A. Here's an empty filter box as provided with the chassis:
And here's a finished filter unit:
The front panel color was a little tricky to decide on since there were at least half a dozen different grey tones that were used for the Pultecs ranging from a rather greenish gray to the enamel blue-gray.
With a little help of Frank @ frontpanels.de I went for a color which he found out was very close to the blue-gray used in many EQP1-As. The front panels will be powder coated RAL5009 and silk screened.
Other than my prototype the logo on the front panel will not say "Pultec" but only "program equalizer EQP1-A" since "Pultec" is a protected trademark.
The rear of the chassis will most likely be a slightly bit darker than my prototype, since I spray painted it with a varnish that gave me exactly the hammer finish grey tone I was looking for, but unfortunately all paintshops I called so far told me this color was not available for industrial production anymore. There's still one company on my list but for now I'd go with a dark grey hammer finish powder coating which is also very close.
All cutouts on the back are made for the original transformers so far but:
a) I'm open for discussion
b) I will offer adapter plates for the most requested transformers (as some of you may know I have done with my LA2A chassis project before which worked great)
In addition to the chassis I want to offer an "all-knobs included" option. I made a deal with don-audio.com if I buy enough of the Dakaware Pultec knobs he can give me discount of almost 40%!!
So with this "all buttons in" option one of the big boost/attenuation and also the frequency selection knobs will cost only roughly 7 Euros ea. instead of 11.50 Euros ea.
That makes a huge difference considering you'll need 7 of them altogether.
Ok that was the good news - now the "bad" news:
This will not be a cheap project - due to several facts:
- all parts of the chassis incl. the filter units need to be powder coated (other than e.g. the LA2A where only the front is powder coated)
- the filter units and 2 of them: these little boxes are pretty expensive for their size because they need to be spot welded, threads inserted etc.
- a lot of individual parts
As always: the more we are the cheaper it gets
For 10-19 chassis it'll be 270 Euros ea.
For 20-39 chassis it will be 250 Euros ea.
For 40+ chassis it will be 235 Euros ea.
The knobs kit with original Dakaware knobs will be 56 Euros
consisting of:
5x boost/atten knob
2x large freq. selection knob
1x power knob
1x chicken head knob for attend. selection
ONE MORE THING...
Thanks to forum member Deepdark I found out that Cinemag is indeed doing a technically exact replica of the unobtainable Peerless S217D output transformer!! It's not listed on their website but they do have it!
I talked to David @ cinemag and he confirmed he used 100% original material, L12 lams and he invested a lot of money to make it happen. The only difference is basically the color of the varnish, it has lead wires instead to terminals and the mounting studs are positioned slightly different. But given the fact it is electronically 100% identical to the original and also from outside looks very very close it is the best option available in terms of sound and look.
Usually the Cinemag S217D is 225 $ ea. but if we find more than 11 people the price will go down to 180$ ea.
So I think I might this be the standard OT cutout on the chassis...
I will start a dedicated feeler for the Cinemag S217D group buy tomorrow and as soon as I did I will post the link here and also post a link to this thread there so everybody interested in one or the other will have the chance to become aware of both...
This feeler will be opened for a limited time only - I'll update the thread ahead of time before I close it.
Ok guys I'm excited to hear your thoughts!
Martin
Group Buy List:
nickhepfer (2) PAID
Floti (2) PAID
Quayhog (2) PAID
Shaker-her PAID
kosi (2) PAID
LeRoux (2) PAID
Craig PAID
bancho (2) PAID
SimonDemon (2) PAID
Bobbi (2) PAID
jpharaoh (2) PAID
fishdrop PAID
rainton (2) PAID
![Electronics Soldering Iron Kit, [Upgraded] Soldering Iron 110V 90W LCD Digital Portable Soldering Kit 180-480℃(356-896℉), Welding Tool with ON/OFF Switch, Auto-sleep, Thermostatic Design](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gRDnlyfJS._SL500_.jpg)
