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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| I have an original '78 Country Artist (sunburst). Been thinking about having the preamp and saddle assembly upgraded with the best applicable electronics. Don't want overkill, just something better. Maybe just an OP24 or OP24plus...Anyone have this done? Was it expensive?
Thanks,
Steve
(sorry i posted in the wrong forum) |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Why not upgrade it to an OP PRO VIP!!!
See here! |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Overkill..thank's just the same... |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | I'm assuming that you've got a single volume control up by the neck? To put in any new preamp (or older one for that matter), you'll have to plug that hole and cut a large hole in the waist, regardless of OP 24/Optima, or OP Pro / Studio / VIP.
I'd go with the newer ones because that way, you're going to be compatible with any upgrades in the future. And the cost is going to be about the same regardless of new or old. Have the factory do it. Well worth what they would charge.
It's not overkill. It's upgrading. And if you're going to do it, you ought to do it right. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Is easy to do as well.
The best Lyrachord hole filler is some Automotive Bumber patch epoxy.
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Steve, I just got my '77 1615-1 back from the mothership after a nice refresh/rebuild...they replaced the original single volume preamp w/ the stacked vol/tone FET 3 system...I love it...fits right where the old one was and gives you much more flexibility over your sound...you might check it out unless you want to do surgery on the bowl...just an option... |
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| Mike, (crimsonlake) did an excellent job re-fitting a 1613 with an Al Dimeola OP-pro setup with the boost button...for me, I really wish I still had that one... but it's still in the family here.. only mod was a plug where the old vol pot was.... everything else was nicely done the combination of the boost and xlr out was fantastic.
the preamp swap is not that big a deal, and on the older deep-bowls they don't take up too much room.
Glenn |
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April 2008
Posts: 498
| I will add though, the 1613 was a stereo model, which made the placement of the xlr/-1/4 jack a lot easier for him... and it was his 2nd operation at doing a preamp swap like this... I believe he made a clay template for the job which set up the proper placement for the modern preamp can.
but again, he did a GREAT job at it.
any space on the ping-pong table yet Mike?
Glenn |
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Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| Thanks for the info guys. My 1624 has the stacked tone/vol on the shoulder. I remember seeing a photo of a factory refit. The hole from the original preamp was professionally replaced, and a new system was installed in the waist. A basic OP-20 would be sufficient for what I need. It's got the tuner calibration and LED readout. |
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1624 refit...