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bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1026
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 1:01 am:   Edit Post

Just wondering if there's a mechanism for determining the age of the preamp. It has the red capped knobs, a black face, and a neat little white logo. The knob and jack positions are slightly different from the current model as well (a bit more spread out and the "output" toggles are aligned vertically instead of horizontally).

Thanks-
Bob
edwin
Intermediate Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 135
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 10:54 am:   Edit Post

I have one of these and it doesn't even have a serial number. I am assuming it's a prototype. I paid $75 for it from Daddy's Junky Music in Boston. I don't think they knew what they had. It sounds great!

Don't know about the age of it though. I got mine around 1992 or so.
Edwin
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3097
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 1:11 pm:   Edit Post

We don't track the preamps like we do the instruments, afterall, they aren't usually very custom. But, you should be able to find a handwritten 4-digit number inside on either one of the pots or on one of the boards. This will reveal the year and week the preamp was built.

The city name on the back and the case description can get you a rough estimate of the age. From your description, Bob, your F-1X is probably from around 1990-1992. Your red capped knobs are the same as the current knobs, only with red caps.

For Edwin's, I wouldn't assume it was a prototype - even those get serial numbers in our way of doing things.

BTW, these red capped knobs are not the red capped knobs on the oldest F-2B preamps.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1028
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the info! The city is Santa Rosa and I popped it open to look for numbers. There is nothing hand written, but there appears to be a 9113 put on with a rubber stamp. It's on the long board right under the 170-048 label. I would guess that means this dates to the end of March '91.
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 1030
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 8:30 am:   Edit Post

Hey Dave, if you read this you might consider summarizing the info above for the FAQ section. I suspect that it holds true for the other rackmount gear as well, but I would confirm before documenting it as such.

-bob
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3320
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 1:19 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Bob! I've posted the above statement about the date code.
edwin
Intermediate Member
Username: edwin

Post Number: 136
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2006 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post

What would it mean, then, with no serial number? I don't remember what the city name is. I seem to recall Santa Rosa (my F1X is SF.). It hasn't left my rack in quite a while.

Thanks,
Edwin
mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 3110
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 12:34 pm:   Edit Post

It would mean that the serial number sticker was removed or never installed.

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