So a guy gave me a crazy good price for two of these CAPI console fader units, saying that one of them was a few db short of gain, and he didn’t know which one it was. Fair enough!

It gets here and two of the transformers aren’t even screwed in, and the tiny nuts are bouncing around in the box.

I got them about as secured as they’re going to get with one nut each without taking the whole thing apart… probably not a big risk to power this thing on? Or should I just ship them off?
I can’t imagine a loose transformer could cost a few db of gain but what do I know… also don’t want my 500 rack to eat shit.

Edit:

still basically came out ahead but not so lucky

I have a known good VC528 to compare both to.

The one with all the appropriate transformer screws matched almost perfectly with my good one, except it cuts out if you jiggle the 6/-12 HPF switch.

The one missing the screws (but is held in with one screw) is 1.5 db too hot, but you can adjust it down a click or two at the fader or trim.

I haven’t listened to them yer but tested them with test tones. Will just use them and deal until I find a tech in Houston I can drop them off to.

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 3:07 pm CAPI

I have 2 of there Opamps to build for my Warm Audio 412. The other 2 Opamps in there are Hairball audio BA512 that sound a little more smooth than the stock WA opamps. Say what you will about Warm, its cool that they made this pre to accept other opamps

Kniferide wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 3:44 pm

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 3:07 pm CAPI

I have 2 of there Opamps to build for my Warm Audio 412. The other 2 Opamps in there are Hairball audio BA512 that sound a little more smooth than the stock WA opamps. Say what you will about Warm, its cool that they made this pre to accept other opamps

That’s cool, report back. I’ve picked up a few of these discontinued units that all just happened to have 2520. I didn’t ask or intend for them to match as I’m using them for tracking mono sources, its just how it worked out.

I think Skibbe sells Flickenger style op amps as well. I’m sure it all kicks ass.

Try metric fasteners for krautrock, imperial for more zeppelinesque tones.

Could swap opamps and see if level difference follows…is that the audio bacon module?

Capis was cool early on for diy folks but the marketing hyperbole became enshitified


Edit: could it be the difference can be dialed out via trim pot? Need to reference schematic…does Jeff still make that info available?

llllllllllllllllllll wrote: Sat Nov 15, 2025 3:50 pm
I think Skibbe sells Flickenger style op amps as well. I’m sure it all kicks ass.

Iron Age Audio offer a couple of different flavors of DOAs for around $20ea if you’re looking:

https://www.ironageaudioworks.com/opamps

scrotescape 4 real wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 5:37 am Try metric fasteners for krautrock, imperial for more zeppelinesque tones.

Could swap opamps and see if level difference follows…is that the audio bacon module?

Capis was cool early on for diy folks but the marketing hyperbole became enshitified


Edit: could it be the difference can be dialed out via trim pot? Need to reference schematic…does Jeff still make that info available?

Yeah! The old one. You use them like the last part of a channel strip. They have a newer version that is a little different so these were cheaper. They have some sort of subgroup control I don’t understand.

Here’s another not strictly-technical question. Feel free to redirect me if it should be posted elsewhere.

What are people doing for band websites? Our current deal expires in February and I’m paying way too much a year for something that doesn’t really get much use. No matter what I’m keeping our domain name but am undecided if I want to just have it redirect to our Bandcamp or Linktree page, or just have a small wordpress thing where we can post updates and whatnot.

Also want to have a band email address that will just redirect to a gmail band account address, if anyone has any experience setting up one of those.

My wife and I have been playing folk songs together. She wants to get a parlor guitar to have something more than her tenor. She's got a Martin acoustic, which I've been playing. I hate the thing. The neck is amazing, but the body is not real wood. It's got a rough surface that makes a loud sound if you were recording and your shirt ran across it. It also doesn't have a lot of warmth and body. Her tenor--also a Martin--has way more body to it. Anyway, she says we can sell it and I've got the go ahead to get myself an acoustic.

Any recommendations to look for under $800?

A replacement parlor or full body all around guitar?

TylerDeadPine wrote: Sun Nov 16, 2025 6:25 pm A replacement parlor or full body all around guitar?

Full body all around guitar.