Lightning Boy Audio (LBA) has announced the availability of the 1401 stereo microphone amp and the Ghost Box, a combination that forms a versatile all-tube stereo microphone preamp.
Through the use of high quality components such as NOS paper in oil capacitors, NOS tubes, Carnhill iron and the careful layout of point-to-point wiring, the 1401 Preamp (short name) and Ghost Box command a stereo image with high fidelity.
The preamp was designed to serve as the output amplifier for the LBA 1401 Analog Plate Reverb, but with the addition of the Ghost Box, it’s capable of serving most tracking needs in the studio. The 1401 Preamp’s front panel offers gain and passive treble controls for two channels, while the Ghost Box provides phantom power, phase invert switches and passive low-cut switches for two channels.
The Ghost Box offers a new take on phantom power, which utilizes a 6X4WA Rectifier tube to create 48-volt DC and an NE-16 neon regulator tube to regulate voltage. It brings out a unique tonal variation in any condenser mic powered by it.
As with all LBA gear, no solid state components are used. The 1401 Preamp can be ordered directly from the company website, lightningboyaudio.com.