The Ares Vintage Preamp pedal is designed to replicate the preamp section of the EP-3 Echoplex tape echo unit. The EP-3 was known for its tape delay effect and the unique coloration that its preamp added to the signal, even when the echo was turned off.

The Ares Vintage Preamp faithfully reproduces the sound of the EP-3 in bypass mode, which is a popular setting used by many guitarists. It features a simple JFET gain stage that adds a special phase response to the signal.

Based on the ClinchFX EP-Pre, the Ares uses a charge pump to achieve 18 or 24 volts from a 9 or 12-volt power source, similar to the original EP-3’s 20V supply. It also includes an output buffer to ensure consistent interaction with other pedals in the signal chain.

The EP-3 had two versions: an early version that was brighter and a late version that was darker and fatter. The difference between the two versions was a single capacitor added to the first JFET stage in the later version. The Ares Vintage Preamp includes a toggle switch that allows you to switch between these two versions, as well as a third mode with an additional capacitor that further thickens the tone.

It’s important to note that the Ares Vintage Preamp does not provide a significant boost in overall gain. Even with the Volume control at maximum, it only adds about 6dB above unity. Instead, it functions more as a tone enhancer or conditioner, adding the characteristic coloration and phase response of the EP-3 preamp to your signal.

Summary created by AI from the original source.