Within minutes of opening my package, I knew that this preamp was not an OEM replacement part because it weighed less than half of what the original preamp weighs. The original preamp has two transformers and many capacitors and this preamp is all electronic without transformers. The end result was a bright, unrealistic, sound that feedbacks very easily (like you would find on a cheap acoustic guitar) as compared to the nice warm sound, with minimal feedback, of the original preamp on my 40-year-old Ovation Anniversary Special and the preamps on mid-upper end acoustic/electrics. Also, the volume/tone shaft is either too long or the volume knob is manufactured incorrectly because there is an obvious gap between the two knobs which should seat together nicely without a gap.
If this preamp was an exact duplicate of the original preamp, it would have been worth the price. But this preamp in my opinion is not worthy of buying at any price, it's that bad!
It looks like I will have to take my old preamp to an amplifier repair shop to have them rebuild my original preamp because I have been unable to find this particular preamp as originally built.
The only good thing from this experience was that Thomann Music was an easy ordering experience and I received the product promptly. I have just requested a refund and we will see how that goes but based on their generous refund policy, I don't expect there will be a problem.
