Preamp and Harp Alternatives on the Same Keyboard
Preamp and Harp Cover Alternatives.
Note: This topic reflects a bit of self-indulgence on my part, but as a good friend says: Life is now.
I love these keyboards, and if I had the money and space, I would probably be a collector. That not being the case, however, I have been intrigued with the various preamps that were used on the various versions of the Suitcases.
The first Suitcase I had (1979) was a silverface slider model. I owned it for about 10 years, then sold it (1989) to buy the equipment I needed for the kind of professional music I was playing at the time.
Along the way, I discovered that I could not really find an emulation that, really, even came close to my original Suitcase. The presence of the online forums for these keyboards convinced me that there were enough resources out there to keep one maintained and get parts, so I found a Suitcase in excellent condition on eBay and the same as my original model: a 1979 silverface slider model, even from the same week:
Not being in a position to be a collector, however, I nonetheless was curious about the various preamps, so started looking around on eBay and elsewhere.
My decision was to get my one Suitcase into as good shape as I could instead of trying to buy several different Suitcases with the various preamps and then having to spend the time and money getting all of them in good shape.
That is, I have tried to put my maintenance time and money into a single Suitcase and simply acquire the different faceplates and preamps which I could then switch out whenever I wanted.
So, for my 1979 Suitcase 73 (1479 stamp), I have:
(1) the original silverface slider preamp:
with which I can use either
(a) the original rounded harp cover:
or
(b) the rather rare Mark I flattop harp cover:
(2) a Mark II black faceplate
with the Mark II flattop harp cover
with which I can use
(a) the black slider version preamp,
(b) the black knob version preamp (with push-button vibrato):
(c) the regular Stage preamp:
(along with the Stage sustain pedal assembly and a heavy-duty Viking stand
this makes the keyboard into a Mark II Stage 73).
In effect, I have one Suitcase 73 that can, depending on which preamp and harp cover I use, be 5 different models:
(1) silverface Mark I slider model with rounded harp cover (the original keyboard):
(2) silverface Mark I slider model with flattop harp cover:
(3) blackface Mark II slider model with flattop harp cover:
(4) blackface Mark II knob model with flattop harp cover:
(5) Mark II Stage:
[pic coming]
Commentaires
PaulB le 15/12/2007 à 19:00:42This is a great idea! Have you considered going 'back in time' as well? You could easily get a '76 suitcase with the 3 concentric knob name rail. I realize the amp would still be the 100W Haigler and not the 80W Peterson, but the piano could be close. One could imagine going back to the first Mark I's? The 5 models you have look great. Nice work. Paul
Rob A le 17/05/2007 à 20:13:59
I love it. What a great approach to being a collector. I'd be very interested in your opinions on sound differences among the various preamps.