Fitz,
The RM-5 is a preamp worth keeping in service. Call Roger Modjeski at Music Reference (aka RAM Labs) at 805-687-2236. He will give you thorough and reliable advice. Roger is sometimes hard to reach, but worth the effort when you do get him on the line. Don't bother with email because he is not always prompt in responding.
Scott
Hi,
Actually email is better these days. ramtubes@gmail.com. Calling the 687-2236 number will give you that message. I hope by this summer to have a live person answering that phone again.
I have already spoken with the owner and the preamp is on its way for a complete go-over. Anyone who needs any service just let me know. As rbwalt stated, my equipment rarely fails and the RM-5s are now in their thirty-first year of service. I only see about 4 a year which is very good for the 1000 units out there.
If anyone has trouble with the single row of jacks on the early units I can replace them with nice, gold panel mounted jacks. They were suggested to me by another manufacturer and I never liked them anyway. The advent of heavy cables really did them in. If yours are still ok but a bit shakey, I have a metal bracket that will tie them down mechanically. It can be installed in about 15 minutes, just 3 screws after you take off the top. The cost is $50 with the hardware.
I also have the 4 jack clusters used in the later units.
