Note: The SC-1, SC-1mk2, SC-1mk3, SC-1mk500, SC-501 all have the same audio DNA, and share the same audio path circuitry. This is just a small sampling of customer testimonials. To read more, click here.

If you want a good sounding preamp with little risk or ambiguity, the Five Fish SC-1 are wonderful meaty units for little money. - Garrett Haines, Recording Tips Editor, Tape Op, Chief Mastering Engineer, Treelady Studios

The pre-amps both worked perfectly from the first time and seem to sound very good. I've already had questions about buying more of these kits 'wholesale' in numbers. Good Luck with your kit. It's a solid product and I had fun building it. - Barry Rudolph, Recording Engineer/Producer - http://www.barryrudolph.com

I'm using my Five Fish pre amps exclusively for all tracks done from my studio. Thanks again. - Dave Cleveland

Well my SC-1 project is done and in use. I just wanted to rave a little. The nutshell is that this is an incredibly clean and quiet pre-amp, even at massive gain levels. The signal you put in is the signal you get out without coloration -- which is what the doctor ordered for me! And it was a ton of fun to build too. If you are not afraid of a little soldering (its not a difficult thing to learn -- if you can glue a model airplane together you can learn to solder) I highly recommend an SC-1 or two or eight. - scottso

I tried the SC-1 pres up against other high-end preamps with great results. They really open up the ribbon mics I have made. We were kinda shocked (big improvement) but your pres sounded much better than my other pres. So much so that my buddy kept them! The othe preamp had a different full sound-not good or bad. We used your pres instead for the drum overheads. I have another producer who is going to use the pres and the ribbons on a horn session next week. We tuned the trim all the way up and just used the gain. If this is any indication of what the new version will be I can't wait to get some time to make and use the newer SC-1mk2. We were under a time constraint so we did not have time to delve into the super-specifics but under pressure, the SC-1s performed flawlessly. - Ed P., USA (Ribbon Mic Manufacturer)

I don't have any experience building gear, just soldering cables. So when I ordered your SC-1 kit, I didn't know if I could do it or not. But your PDF guide (great read BTW) made the process easy to understand and has been a great help for a newb like me. And the best thing is I couldn't believe it worked! I'm impressed (not only because it sounded very good) but the fact that I built it myself. ME! I built this thing! And it was not as hard as I thought it will be. This project has opened up a new world for me. Now, I want to build your other kits. Thanks again.

Public Post on TapeOp Forum: Those FiveFish units (SC-1) rock... An engineer I deal with a lot has a "preamp on a stick" (4 of those preamps on a small piece of plywood) that he's been using as "go to" units for months. I went there for a "shootout" last fall - They sound great on everything. And they seem so simple... Although I'm not exactly an electrical engineer... Keeping in mind that he has Amek, Langevin, Neve, hot-rodded this & thats lying around also. And he's using these kits more than any of them now. -John S, Massive Mastering, USA

I bought your SC-1 preamps months ago. Have only opened this to set up and assemble it......amazing wont describe the sound quality, my friend...its actually awesome sounding preamp...I am more than impressed ..I have a range of new and old preamps also have many emulation preamps...but none was sweet as this pre. Best money invested. - M.Nambi, Ireland

The SC-1 pre is awesome. It is so good, no noise, very clear, nice dynamics and all that without a trafo. I'm very happy and i will recommend that unit to anyone who is serious. You have sonic perfect mic pre amps, it knocks the others off the shelf, and leaves them running a close second, but in very many cases they're two laps behind you. This is the best money I've spent this year. Thank you. Great product. - Warren, Spain

I use the SC-1 and it is absolutely fantastic sounding. Clean, transparent, and exceptionally musical. - Daniel R, post on Gearslutz.com

I have a Shadow Hills Mono Gama, Avedis MA5, Five Fish SC-1mk500, and Chandler Germanium. While I love the other pres for other things, the Five Fish is my favorite on my voice with the SM7b. It seems a tad more open and it sits in the mix better for some reason. - post by PlayRadioPlay! on Gearslutz.com

I bought 2 channels of the fivefish pre's, and they were the simplest build ever... The circuit boards are TOP-NOTCH.. fully through-plated vias, incredible component layer silkscreen.... I barely even needed to look at the directions... all parts were individually packed and labeled... put together the power supply board in about 1 hour... the preamp boards took about 1.5hours for the first one, and about 1 hour for the second... - forum post on Gearslutz.com

And after another round of trials, my SC-1's were used by the touring engineer for John Doe (from the seminal LA punk band "X")...this was an acoustic show at the Great American Music Hall, and the pres were used on the vocals. Big, warm and detailed - that's how i would describe the sound and feel. No noise issues whatsoever - very, very nice. - Tyler S., Audio Engineer, USA

I've just finished the first SC-1. What can I say: WOW Very Happy The amount of CLEAN gain is unbelieveable and that's with everything in the open on my makeshift worksurface! No hum, buzz, or whatever, just clean! Now it's time to build the other one. Can't stop smiling Very Happy - Geert G., Netherlands

Awww yeah, this has been a super cool experience, building and learning, and then listening. I gotta give it to FiveFish Studios - the kit is ridiculously well packaged, and the support is spot-on. Mine worked beautifully from the moment I powered it up, too. Success! So I put it in a radio shack project box mainly to see how close I can have the preamp card to the transformer and PS card - the project box is 8" deep, the same depth as the metal rack case that will ultimately be home to four SC-1 pres. This is obviously enough space, as I can't seem to make the thing hum, buzz or otherwise reveal AC/RFI noise. - Trock, USA

I've been meaning to let you know how much I appreciate your whole DIY thing. It's a great service to all the DIY audio freaks out there and the PSU's rock. Very nice attention to detail also, which means a lot to me. I'm a furniture maker by trade, so elegance in design is something I notice. - T.Philp

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