Comments on: Assembling the Bugle 2 phono stage

By: Johann Cat

Johann Cat — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 05:15:04 +0000

This is sonically a good kit, but the board *is* extremely tight in design and its having single-push-through holes with tiny rings rather than a printed circuit board with traced metal makes this the sort of board usually soldered by robots in the “real” world. It takes a pin-point sharp soldering tip and it is easy for solder to creep into an extra hole, and once it is there, tricky to remove. Be artful & patient when assembling this. I have spent many hours soldering in my life and took it for granted this this would be a fairly ordinary job. It is actually tricky if you are used to something like guitar-amp kit PCBs.

By: gally mendoza

gally mendoza — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 04:14:35 +0000

Hi Bill,

Were you able to resolve this issue? I’m experiencing the same audio imbalance with mu bugle2. Please share onhow you solve it. Thanks.

By: jim goulding

jim goulding — Fri, 09 May 2014 16:58:40 +0000

In April 2014 I purchased one assembled for $189.00US to include postage. I expect I may have paid more than you guys because it was assembled but worth it to me. I bought it upon an audition at a friend’s house in a quality system.

This is a fine little phono pre. I cannot find a fault with it and is superior to what it replaced. I can highly recommend it and do! Cheers.

By: Russ Stratton

Russ Stratton — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:01:00 +0000

To Bill: I built a Bugle a few years ago. With all those resistors grouped so close together, it would be easy to overflow solder from one pad to the next and hard to detect it visually. If you haven’t done this yet, get out your VOM meter and verify each resistor value plus proper continuity between parts based on the schematic.

If that doesn’t turn up the problem, have someone else look at your assembly. Even if they don’t know electronics, you can quickly show them how to measure with a VOM and read the schematic. A fresh set of eyes may find something you missed. It’s happened to all of us.

By: Bill Zufelt

Bill Zufelt — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 02:56:33 +0000

Hi John

I had the same excitement in mind when I ordered the Bugle 2 this year 2014.

After building DYI and Heathkit projects in my earlier years and I thought this would be a snap.

WRONG Right channel has very low gain in relation to the left. I’ve contacted Jim Hagerman a number of times, looked at my assembled project pictures and rebuilt/soldered the unit and I am STILL left with this problem. Any suggestions?

Signed

Bugle Blues 2