Soundgas Type 636P - Second Build Preorder

This is for the second pre-production build of ten units – similar spec/look/sound to the prototypes –  with special preorder pricing.

Why are we taking preorders? It’s similar to crowdfunding: building these requires a large upfront outlay in parts and time – your support means we can secure components and allocate resources to produce them more quickly.

We are building several short runs of pre-production units this year. We expect to begin shipping the second build within the next 2-3 months. They will resemble the prototype shown in the picture.

Please note: the photo and demos below are of other prototypes – the design and build these units may differ in appearance slightly (though will be very close to the photo). Some demos feature units with the earlier silicon buffer board which don’t sound as good as the final all-germanium design.

This is the hairy circuit you find in the mic preamp section of the Soundgas Type 636 – based on the Grampian Type 636 – famously used and abused by Lee Scratch Perry and Pete Townshend – and many others since. This is designed and built absolutely in the spirit of the original vintage units – no surface mount components or tone sapping DSP. 

The unit features a balanced input via combined TRS/XLR socket, vintage germanium transistor circuitry with original Grampian specification Mic transformer, overload lamp, impedance switch and on/off toggle switch. Staying true to the original design, the output is unbalanced on a ¼” jack socket.  Power is via a 12v external supply: please note we may not be able to supply one of these with the initial orders due to long lead times.

The early units will not have a faceplate and will be a limited production. Demand is already very high and we cannot build many given current component shortages: it’s a strange situation when the vintage components are more readily available than modern parts.

As with our original 636s, we have put tonal considerations ahead of all else. I was skeptical that we’d see a real benefit in using germanium transistors in the buffer section: all our original prototypes had used silicon and sounded great. However Ben and Dr Huw insisted that we build an all germanium version for comparison which proceeded to blow all the earlier versions out of the water.

The current situation regarding component shortages means that while we have secured enough vintage components to build 100 units, getting essential modern components is proving trickier with long lead times, a great deal of uncertainty and a significant outlay required. We are taking these preorders to help secure further components and to help fund the early stages of the production process. 

There’s more info on the build including photos and demos here.