Preamp

irst off, what or who was Melcor?
Melcor was a pro audio equipment manufacturer in the mid to late 1960s. They predated API by a handful of years. In fact, rumor has it that product designers and engineers left Melcor to start API with Saul Walker circa 1969 or so. The same folks that designed the Melcor 1731 opamp would then go on to design the API 2520. Besides the opamp, the Melcor CL-20 compressor limiter would morph into the early API 525. The Melcor 2-band GME-20 EQ would transform into the very first API 550 and the Melcor AML27 preamplifier card would become the legendary API 312.

Background:
Near the end of summer in 2023 my main transformer winder hit me up asking if I had any interest in his rendition of the Melcor 400-20 input transformer. Oddly enough and without his knowledge I was just nearing the end of my version of the 1731 opamp. I told him I would only be interested if he could also make a recreation of the OG 400-17 output transformer. "Challenge accepted" was his reply and suddenly we had the 3 main building blocks to create a new preamp.

Using these 3 main building blocks I created the EM-EFER™ FaQ31. All the surrounding bits were tweaked to work and sound as best as I could get them. That said, the FaQ31 is not really a copy or clone of the AML27. Just a badass mic or line amp built around great transformers and a killer unique discrete opamp.

The FaQ31 was specifically designed with our MEC1731 opamp in circuit. We have never tried other amps so cannot comment on how they might sound. In general, the FaQ31 has a distinctively phat, slow and old sound. Simply glorious.

https://capi-gear.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=674

Available as an assembled Module and as a DIY project.

This Module is currently available.