If you read my previous posts about my experience upgrading my Numark PT-01 Scratch to Jessie Dean spec you’ll remember I was pretty happy with it overall. I also pointed noted issues with PCB fitting and the poorly soldered screwdown terminals which I had a hunch would be a problem in the future especially if you used the device how it was intended - as a portable turntable.

“There is no future, the future is now It’s Non-Phixion; we’re coming at you like pow”

Of course, about a week ago, less than 6 months after I purchased the upgrades, I turn on the Scratch and gently place Black Bastards from KMD on the plater and then ever so gingerly I move maneuver and drop the needle.

Silence.

I was not greeted by the old timey voice of Mr. Hood. There was no cacophony of snares, kicks, or hihats. There was nothing. My volume was good, everything was plugged in. The cables were fine. It had to be the amp.

Maybe it was maybe it wasn’t I’m not entirely sure. I am beyond sure however that after opening the body of the Scratch and moving some wires around to investigate the screw down terminal on the amp just snapped off. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. I soldered it back on but still no sound.

I already planned on ordering some additional parts from Jessie Dean so rather than get upset I added another pre-amp to my order. This way I’ll be able to confirm if maybe the amp i received was a fluke or if this was the sort of thing I can expect from Jessie Dean.

My package arrived quickly in 3 days. Shipping is always fast - I live 2 hours away, so It better be. Here’s what I received.

He did it again. A completely different version than the one show on the website. No documentation about the changes, no notification about the changes - nothing. Once again my initial iimpression I probably screwed up and ordered the wrong part. But on closer in spection I noticed that imprint on the PCB indicating it was a new revision of the the phono pre-amp. What was changed? Well besides the obvious I couldn’t tell you. From what I can see the PCB has been cut a little better to fit without bending. You’ll also notice one of the screw down terminals has been removed. It was used to power the USB I believe which now goes straight through to the USB breakout board and he’s added an SMD coil which should producer a more dynamic ranger and higher decibel sound.

Let’s go back to that USB breakout board though.

Right then. So theres no possible way this has a chance of fitting. I dont know how you screw up this bad.

Once I got everything back together I had sound. It was a louder cleaner sound too so I guess i’m glad the old one broke? I dont know what to say about the quality control of Jessie Dean products. From what I can tell its a one man operation. I don’t know if he’s printing and soldering the PCB’s but I’m pretty sure he’s 3d printing everything he can himself (like the tone arm and mounts, etc). So i dont really have a problem with the inaccuracies here and there as long as everything keeps working and I dont blow myself up trying to crab on the fader. But I do also think its something everyone who is looking to upgrade should know before receive a box of confusing items.

…Oh and one of the other items i ordered was the stability puck to minimze the wobble of the platter. It works!