good diy preamp

http://www.bottlehead.com has been a great experience for me. Great fun to build and incredible sounding resuls. I strongly recommend checking them out. The kits are complete unlike others where you have to buy the parts.

+1 for Mingles recommendation.

If you want a really nice preamp you should consider the #26 DHT. It's the best sounding preamp tube I've ever heard, still widely available, and not overly expensive. I built a preamp using it and the sound is fantastic - check out the "#26 Preamp" thread over the DIYAudio for everything you ever wanted to know abou this tube and lots of examples of different builds.

Here's a picture of my 26 preamp build, using Cunningham balloon 26s and gas VR tubes:

#26 Preamp

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Finally, a link to the 26 Preamp thread at DIYAudio:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/151421-26-pre-amp.html

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does this 26 pre come as a kit? I am not an electronic guru. yours looks very nice.

Not a kit. Straight DIY.

have decided on the audio note L2 with mods. thanks for all the input.