Flickinger TwinFlicks -- a 72 dB dual-channel, dual-OpAmp mic preamp. Originally we racked up a bunch of the vintage 52 dB Flickinger channels from the 1972 Ray Stevens' 32-Channel, Nashville Sound Lab console. These units were very successfully received, and when we sold out of the vintage channels, there was a demand for more. So we have now reverse-engineered the 1972 consoles's original 736-2 Flickinger channel cards, with its prized 535-7 opamp, and added a few new features, the most notable is a fader knob -- powered by a second 535-7 opamp with an additional 20 dB of gain -- which more closely resembles the signal path of the Flickinger console, giving a total of 72 dB of gain, while keeping the flexibility to drive the main gain stage harder by cutting back on the output fader. We now have 2x 535-7 OpAmps per channel, along 3 transformers: with a custom-designed Crimson Audio input transformer, an interstage transformer, and the output transformer. We have retained the +/- 24V power rails of the original design, and also the 150-Ohm input transformer impedance, and added a high/low impedance button allowing for a tonal change when switching to a higher impedance. Lastly, we added a 4-mode metering system to help you better control levels.

Flickingers's still have that great vintage American studio console character and tone that imparts a creaminess and heft to your tracks. The low end is full and powerful, and the +/-24V design gives you lots of headroom. Closely adhering to the 1972 vintage 736-2 Flickinger channel card and 535-7 OpAmp design -- using the identical NOS transistors -- these preamps still sound magnificent today -- and are one of very few built to the vintage 150-Ohm / 24V spec, which is where a lot of the Flickinger magic comes from.

$1,495

These new Flickinger styled preamps were conceived in a joint venture between Stephen Bright of Cathedral Guitar , David Evans McDonald, and Avenson Audio and are manufactured in the USA in small batches by David at the Avenson Audio shop.