East Pre Amps

[AJC08]

Hi all

 

Has anyone had any recent contact with the guys at East? I've tried to make contact several times recently to get a DJ retro and have had zero luck. Are they still going or stopped now?

 

Any help would be seriously helpful.

 

Many thanks

 

Aj

[RSV60]

Bought a J-Tone at the end of January this year. Swift and good order handling👌

[Terry M.]

I'm still waiting for a response to an e-mail from the end of January this year so good question...

[Treb]

I've found John East quite responsive to emails in the past. With regard to the DJ-Retro preamps, I've read that John East has difficulty obtaining the curved control plates from Lakland. That would explain the difficulty of buying one. It would be nice however if questions by email get answered...

[Terry M.]

4 minutes ago, Treb said:

I've found John East quite responsive to emails in the past.

Same here. Had a very pleasant e-mail exchange with him about a year ago so it seems away from the norm there's been nothing since I last mentioned.

 

 

[AJC08]

I've even found his profile on here and dropped a message but nothing for weeks now. Anyone in the know or have any alternatives at all? 

 

Thanks for the replies so far though all

[snorkie635]

25 minutes ago, AJC08 said:

I've even found his profile on here and dropped a message but nothing for weeks now. Anyone in the know or have any alternatives at all? 

 

Thanks for the replies so far though all

Overwater use his pre-amps a lot. Give them a shout?

[lemmywinks]

Messaged a while ago about when the preamp knobs would be back in stock, also put myself on the email waiting list. Heard nothing so ordered the Guyker clones off AliExpress.

 

Emailed earlier this year about a UniPre 5 knob with the active/passive wired to an individual switch, again no response so made other arrangements.

[tauzero]

Alan Cringean uses his preamps - @skelf, do you happen to know if John East is OK?

[Russ]

Hoping John is OK. I know he's had some health issues over the past couple of years but he's always bounced back. 

 

I did notice Maruszczyk have taken his preamps off their options list.  

[AJC08]

Well crap, not looking good then! I hope all is ok on their end. Hopefully someone somewhere hears something soon!

[Geek99]

I spoke to him a few times - he was super-helpful 

[Mike Brooks]

John is okay, just heard from him. He will post in here later.

[John-E-Retro]

Hi BC-ers

 

Firstly, Russ, thanks for your kind concern for my health. I'm glad to say that I'm very well and feeling good.

 

Apologies for being elusive on the support side during recent months, but unfortunately, needs must, as outlined below. 

(I'll respond individually to those who still have outstanding enquiries)

 

To explain briefly, what started out as a minor production blip with some custom parts further snowballed, compounding the issue to a level that required a good deal of hands-on work from me for several months to keep things rolling. Thankfully, we're through it all now, and our UK assembly supplier has bounced back.

 

This period highlighted a weakness - support relying entirely on me. So, now there are 3 email support tiers: Info, Sales, and Technical, to facilitate sharing the load.

[John-E-Retro]

On 05/06/2025 at 17:37, Terry M. said:

I'm still waiting for a response to an e-mail from the end of January this year so good question...

 

I just answered a question to a Terry M. I trust that was your email, Terry.

[John-E-Retro]

On 06/06/2025 at 13:39, lemmywinks said:

Messaged a while ago about when the preamp knobs would be back in stock, also put myself on the email waiting list. Heard nothing so ordered the Guyker clones off AliExpress.

 

Emailed earlier this year about a UniPre 5 knob with the active/passive wired to an individual switch, again no response so made other arrangements.

 

I trust the Guykers did the trick.
(I bought some to check them out and found that mechanically they were fine, but finishes were very inconsistent.)

Did you get a satisfactory outcome for active passive for your UNI 5K?

 

 

[Terry M.]

33 minutes ago, John-E-Retro said:

 

I just answered a question to a Terry M. I trust that was your email, Terry.

Got it 👍

 

Thanks a lot John,yes it's me ☺️

[Russ]

1 hour ago, John-E-Retro said:

Hi BC-ers

 

Firstly, Russ, thanks for your kind concern for my health. I'm glad to say that I'm very well and feeling good.

 

Apologies for being elusive on the support side during recent months, but unfortunately, needs must, as outlined below. 

(I'll respond individually to those who still have outstanding enquiries)

 

To explain briefly, what started out as a minor production blip with some custom parts further snowballed, compounding the issue to a level that required a good deal of hands-on work from me for several months to keep things rolling. Thankfully, we're through it all now, and our UK assembly supplier has bounced back.

 

This period highlighted a weakness - support relying entirely on me. So, now there are 3 email support tiers: Info, Sales, and Technical, to facilitate sharing the load.

Glad to hear it, John.  

 

Going to drop you an email about possibly ordering a couple of custom preamps - ever done a 4-band (with low/high mids)? 

 

[lemmywinks]

1 hour ago, John-E-Retro said:

 

I trust the Guykers did the trick.
(I bought some to check them out and found that mechanically they were fine, but finishes were very inconsistent.)

Did you get a satisfactory outcome for active passive for your UNI 5K?

 

 

 

The Guykers are fine, just needed some to replace the plastic tat knobs on my Ibanez. 

 

RE The Uni Pre - I was looking to buy a new preamp for a bass with 6 existing holes (I have a 4k Uni pre in another bass and like it) but with the active/passive on a switch instead of push/pull. After gigging it a bit I quite like the stock Markbass preamp though so I'm just leaving it as it is at the moment. 

[AJC08]

7 hours ago, John-E-Retro said:

Hi BC-ers

 

Firstly, Russ, thanks for your kind concern for my health. I'm glad to say that I'm very well and feeling good.

 

Apologies for being elusive on the support side during recent months, but unfortunately, needs must, as outlined below. 

(I'll respond individually to those who still have outstanding enquiries)

 

To explain briefly, what started out as a minor production blip with some custom parts further snowballed, compounding the issue to a level that required a good deal of hands-on work from me for several months to keep things rolling. Thankfully, we're through it all now, and our UK assembly supplier has bounced back.

 

This period highlighted a weakness - support relying entirely on me. So, now there are 3 email support tiers: Info, Sales, and Technical, to facilitate sharing the load.

Hiya John

 

I'm glad to hear all is ok health wise and such and the business blip has been remedied!

 

If you could get back to me about a DJ retro it would be highly appreciated 😊

 

Thanks! 😊

[Owen]

Happy days. Mr East makes exceedingly fine preamps. 

[ezbass]

5 minutes ago, Owen said:

Mr East makes exceedingly fine preamps. 

Now I want a pre with fondant fancy shaped knobs.

[Geek99]

@John-E-Retro probably doesn’t recall after this long but he was very helpful with regard to putting a piezo bridge into a jazz bass and balancing it with the other pups 

[ezbass]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

Now I want a pre with fondant fancy shaped knobs.

[John-E-Retro]

On 09/06/2025 at 21:07, Russ said:

Glad to hear it, John.  

 

Going to drop you an email about possibly ordering a couple of custom preamps - ever done a 4-band (with low/high mids)? 

 

The only 4 band specials I've put together included an additional Mid Sweep. In other words, 2 sweepable mid stacks.

 

Whereas, if my understanding is correct, you're suggesting a stack with 2 boost/cut mids at different fixed frequencies.

The Flexcore would likely fit the bill straight out of the box. Have you considered it?

 

https://www.flexcorepreamps.com/shop/flexcore-system/