Conference napalm::guitar

    
    Rick,
    
    Just think about it...what could ANY device IN-LINE do to DOUBLE
    the output of your amp???  The LPB-1 was just a pre-amp, that's
    all (used to have one til it kissed the wall one day). It had a
    real grunge sound to it.  If you are looking for a preamp, I have
    an MXR unit that is similar but not as grungy for sale.

    I used to have one years ago. It's amazing how this little $12.99
    device can cause a $200.oo amplifier to go into meltdown. I used
    to have an old "Gibson" amp. It was a 50 watt combo model with
    2 12" Jensen speakers until the LPB1 ate it. It cost me close to
    $100 to get the amp fixed but it was never right after that.
    
    Mark Jacques

    re: .1
    
    You're right of course.  Double the output, silly me.  I checked
    and the ad actually said it would boost the output 10 TIMES!!!!!
    I stand corrected :-).
	
    The LPB-1 was pretty good for getting distortion and feedback
    effects out of a small amp, which is what I want it for.  Maybe
    I'll check out your MXR.
 
    Another blast: anyone remember the "Mike Matthews Freedom Amp"?
    400 watts (batteries not included:-)
    
    /rick

    
    

    To say that an inline preamp could double the output, (let alone
    10 times the output) is totally absurd. The most a preamp can do
    is saturate the input stage of the preamp and cause it to distort.
    Once you reach a boost of around 20db to the input signal you are
    already totally saturated. 
    
    In recent years I used an MXR micro amp to switch from a low volume
    to a higher volume for leads. It also helps make single coil pickups
    sounds more alive. I used it in moderation and never had any trouble
    with my Twin Reverb. Years ago I bought the LPB1 because my Gibson
    amp wasn't loud enough for playing in a rock band. It worked for
    a while, then one day the amp just blew out on me. As I remeber,
    one of the things that blew out, along with the speakers was the
    transformer.
    
    Mark Jacques
    

    re .4
    
    makes sense.  Output transformer core saturation is a big factor in
    giving an overdriven amp that sustain (sometimes called "grind") but
    it overheats the transformers.  Are blown output transformers the reason
    that some Marshall's have a reputation for "flaming out"?
   

    I used an LPB-1 for a long time with no ill effects.  It was very
    noisy, but it did server the purpose and overdrive the preamp in
    my Fender Pro-Reverb.  I had forgotten about that.
    
    The Mike Matthews Amp!  Small, black, 400 watts and batteries. Right. I
    did buy 6 10" Mike Matthews Freedom speakers for an empty speaker
    cabinet.  I don't remember what the power handling claim was, but I
    connected the cab up to an SVT head (300 watts RMS) and had a friend
    play the synth parts to "Lucky Man" through it.  I was waiting to see
    smoke come out the back, but it held just fine!  The SVT was about half
    way up and the sound was approaching the level of pain, but those 10"
    speakers never let up.
    
    
    Kevin
     

    
    
       If I remember correctly the LPB-1 was advertised as 4 times the
     output and the LPB-2 which was a floor stomp box was 10 times the
     output of your amp.      
    
                   and if you believe that one....

    Inside they are delicious, they consisted of a single transistor
    amplifier with a gain of about 10...you could get some awesome
    distortion and sustain out of these babies but no more output power,
    since that's a function of the power amp portion (output) of your amplifier,
    not the input sections.. I used to have the schematics, you could
    build one yourself for about $2....
    
    
    dbII

    Q.  "Where are these schematics now?"
    
    A.  "They WERE (urp) delicious..."

    
    You guys are all laughing about E-H's claim to double the output
    of your amp, but a lot of the amps of the day (well, the better
    ons anyway) had a lot of headroom in the preamp, to keep the sound
    clean.  So if you were to boost the input signal, you could utilize
    that headroom to increase volume.  Until, of course, the power amp
    saturates.
    
    I have used an LPB-1 with an old Traynor 35-watt bass amp for
    practices, and it did indeed give me more volume with the amp set
    on 8 or so then I could get with the amp set on 10.  I wouldn't
    say it was *double* the volume....certainly not 10 times.
    And of course, the LPB-1 was set pretty low as well.  I also have
    used it at high gain settings with a Silvertone guitar/amp combo.
    With both the guitar and amp on 10, you just barely get some
    distortion if you really slam the strings, due to the pickups' low
    output.  Plug into the LPB-1 first, set at about 7 or so, and you
    can start getting some grunge with the amp at about 6 or 7 and serious
    feedback at 10.  And, it is a *lot* louder.
    
    With a modern amp with a high gain preamp stage, and modern guitars
    with "hot" pickups, the LPB-1 can't do much for you, but for older amps
    it was a useful device. And remember it only cost $14.95 when it was 
    introduced!!!!
    
    Now how about the "Mole" (also known as the "Hog's Foot") which
    will "give your bass the swampy bottom of an old Jazz Bass played
    through an old Ampeg amp".  $7.95 at my local Lafayette Radio store,
    and I still use it.....                                  
    
    Or the "Ice Cube" which plugged into the jacks for your Fender's
    reverb tank and allowed you to use the reverb level control and
    footswitch to kick in overdrive.....
    
    

    Hmm, I used the LPB-1 with an old 50w marshall and my trusty gibson
    sg...did it scream when everything was put on WOW! Now that marshall
    didn't have a whole lot of headroom in it, but then it was a marshall..
    
    seems to me the original list price on these babies was $8.95, at
    least that's what I paid for mine...after I opened it up and looked
    I was so disgusted I built one for a friend....we then experimented
    a bit and came up with the 'screaming bird' treble booster a few years
    before EH, all you have to do is change the output capacitor to
    a smaller size...                                            
    
    dave
                                               
    

    Screaming bird  -  "gives your axe the razor sharp bite of a
    harpsichord who's strings are whipped instead of plucked!"

	I remember the "ice cube".  I had one that I used with my 
	super reverb many moons ago.  I think I still have the cube
	laying around somewhere.  Any takers??

	-gary

    
    BTW...
    
    Although the MXR Microamp stomp box is no longer being made either
    (MXR having gone under) MacDuff's in Worcester has one brand new
    for $32 as of Saturday.....
    
    

re: < Note 479.14 by CIMNET::JNELSON "Let the MACHINE speak!" >
                              -< MAYBE... GO ON. >-


You mean about the Ice Cube?  Like I said, it's probably laying around
somewhere.  Probably at my ex-drummer's house.  I don't have a fender
amp nomore and have no use for the cube.  I wasn't really very impressed
by it anyway.  I was just experimenting with different things.  I stuck
with no DOD overdrive unit in which I replaced the opamp with a slightly
hotter one.  If I can find the cube it's free for the taking.

-gary

    

    I'd be psyched, I've got a fender concert amp w/reverb, and am into
    unique effects...  See if you can't dig it up!
    
    Thanks
    Jon

	Okay...I'll check around for it.  I'll be out of the plant 
	(and my terminal) for a few days, so maybe next week I'll
	get back to ya.  Where are you located any ta how?  I make
	frequent trips to the LTN and NIO areas.

	-gary

    
    For Worcester MA area LPB-1 seekers...
    
    Gordon Music, recently opened in the Denholm building on Main St.
    (across the street from City Hall) has about 20 LPB-1s as of today.
    Some may be in the Southbridge store, so call first....753-8724.
    
    $19.95 each, brand new.
    
    Also some other EH stuff they unearthed...
    
    	Electric Mistress flanger
    
    	Knockout attack equalizer 
    
    	Deluxe Memory Man analog delay
    
    	Clone Theory chorus
    
    	Black Finger sustain/compressor
                        
    	10-band Graphic EQ 
    
    All this stuff is *brand new* they must have bought out another
    store or distributor who still had some.