LANGNER DCP-1 Preamp (Ex ADA)

[SwissPicks]

After ... 28 years of wondering about these, I finally scored a Langner DCP-1, created by Todd Langner who worked for ADA and helped design the MP-1 & MP-2 Preamps. And I'm here to tell ya.. it far exceeded my expectations !! Only 60ish of these made in the early 90's for recording artists, this all tube (5 12ax7's) is a gain monster with crystal cleans this side of a vintage Blackface Fender.. I'm no longer looking for a Bogner Fish. In minty condition with no ear rash. Hope y'all dig it. Any Todd Langner fans here??

 

[littleb]

Those are killer.ive always been interested in those.I own almost all the big boy preamps but not this one.
Iirc,and don't quote me,I may be wrong on this but i recall talking to somebody that had 2 of them.They told me there's 2 different versions, with one being more desirable than the other.Wish I knew more.

 

[jb4674]

Talk is cheap. Post a video of it.

 

[T Wilcox]

,I may be wrong on this but i recall talking to somebody that had 2 of them.They told me there's 2 different versions, with one being more desirable than the other.Wish I knew more.

Todd Langner had 2 modifications he added later at the owners request. 1. The Elite mod (which OP's appears to have) is a mod that bypasses 1 of the 5 gain stages. It is a mod to reduce gain
2. Hyper mod ,essentially a variable bright cap that adds sizzle and tightens channel 2 (OP's does not have hyper mod)

Todd Langner was a genius..RIP

 

[SwissPicks]

Those are killer.ive always been interested in those.I own almost all the big boy preamps but not this one.
Iirc,and don't quote me,I may be wrong on this but i recall talking to somebody that had 2 of them.They told me there's 2 different versions, with one being more desirable than the other.Wish I knew more.

This one is the Elite.

 

[SwissPicks]

Todd Langner had 2 modifications he added later at the owners request. 1. The Elite mod (which OP's appears to have) is a mod that bypasses 1 of the 5 gain stages. It is a mod to reduce gain
2. Hyper mod ,essentially a variable bright cap that adds sizzle and tightens channel 2 (OP's does not have hyper mod)

Todd Langner was a genius..RIP

This one is the Elite.

 

[murkat]

Oh man, congrats! very nice!
Yup, big fan of A/DA and Alesis.

 

[T Wilcox]

This one is the Elite.

Right! There are 2 knobs on the back and it was modded. There is one of the later units that is silkscreened "Elite" on the faceplate that I know of but most were destroyed when his shop flooded I've heard.
Congratulations on becoming the owner of a bad ass preamp. Good to see a Langner thread here at TGP.
By far my favorite high gain preamp in existence, would love to get my hands on TEQ-1 and Brutus

Todd

 

[SwissPicks]

Right! There are 2 knobs on the back and it was modded. There is one of the later units that is silkscreened "Elite" on the faceplate that I know of but most were destroyed when his shop flooded I've heard.
Congratulations on becoming the owner of a bad ass preamp. Good to see a Langner thread here at TGP.
By far my favorite high gain preamp in existence, would love to get my hands on TEQ-1 and Brutus

Todd

Yeah, once I heard it, I can't see living without it and haven't been this impressed with a rack preamp and I've owned most of em.. I set the gain on 4 and a half and it's Raging saturation. The date on the transformer is 12/93.

 

[littleb]

O.P.: so how are you gonna run this bad boy? Ie: power amp and cabinet,direct,etc?

 

[MikeyT]

Right! There are 2 knobs on the back and it was modded. There is one of the later units that is silkscreened "Elite" on the faceplate that I know of but most were destroyed when his shop flooded I've heard.
Congratulations on becoming the owner of a bad ass preamp. Good to see a Langner thread here at TGP.
By far my favorite high gain preamp in existence, would love to get my hands on TEQ-1 and Brutus

Todd

There was a Brutus for sale in S. CA last year. It was not clear if it was functioning so I hesitated.... and then it was gone. Not letting another one slip away.

The DCP-1 is an awesome preamp. Congrats to the OP!

PS. T. Wilcox makes a great DCP-2

 

[murkat]

PS. T. Wilcox makes a great DCP-2

uh oh... somebody is about to get bizzy.....

 

[T Wilcox]

There was a Brutus for sale in S. CA last year. It was not clear if it was functioning so I hesitated.... and then it was gone. Not letting another one slip away.

The DCP-1 is an awesome preamp. Congrats to the OP!

PS. T. Wilcox makes a great DCP-2

Thanks Mike!

 

[Hamer95USA]

I've been to that address in Oakland when Todd was still alive in 1993. He was nice enough to build my first guitar rack for me and he did a minor tweak to my 1st ADA MP-1 preamp. I wished that I bought his 3TM mod back then, but had no idea of what it sounded like or ever seen one. Both ADA and Langner Amplification goes out of business. I come across a website called ADA Depot and found they sold their version of the 3TM mod circuit board that Todd designed and offered repairs on the MP-1 preamps. I ended up having my original MP-1 preamp modded with the "Ultra" 3TM mod tube circuit board & upgrades/repairs. Later on, I bought another 3TM modded MP-1 preamp from a local seller.

Guitar George

 

[MikeyT]

Here is a picture contribution of my two to the thread.

 

[Stressfest]

I didn't think porn was allowed on this forum.

 

[devicaster]

congrats! I remember those well.

 

[SwissPicks]

O.P.: so how are you gonna run this bad boy? Ie: power amp and cabinet,direct,etc?

For now, I'm going to use the Velocity power amp, running into an 80's Marshall cab with Celestion G12H30'S (UK) i am curious as to what speakers Todd voiced these for.

 

[T Wilcox]

For now, I'm going to use the Velocity power amp, running into an 80's Marshall cab with Celestion G12H30'S (UK) i am curious as to what speakers Todd voiced these for.

The 4x12 in the pamphlets I posted, it states 50W Celestions. No clue what model though

 

[T Wilcox]

Here is a picture contribution of my two to the thread.

Thought you only had 1! I know one is a very early model with the tubes parallel to the board from early conversations we had. What about the other? Any mods done by Todd L? How do they compare tonally?