Rare Vintage Barcus-Berry Pickup & Preamp Prototype – Part No. 1480 – NOS w/ Hohner Note & Bag – Made in USA

A truly exceptional find for collectors of vintage audio tech and musical instrument history: this is a Barcus-Berry piezo pickup and preamp system, part of what appears to be an early prototype or pre-production run—accompanied by a handwritten note confirming its approval for use in Hohner diatonic accordions. All components are in pristine New Old Stock (NOS) condition, stored undisturbed in the original black zippered carry pouch.

🎛️ What’s Included:

• Barcus-Berry Preamp Module (Part No. 1480)

  • Compact black box marked “Made in USA” and “Patent Pending”

  • ¼" output jack, smaller input jack (3.5mm or RCA-style), and volume control knob

  • Presumably functions as an inline impedance buffer + signal booster for piezo pickups

• Matching Piezo Transducer Pickup

  • Black rectangular contact microphone (~1.5" x 1cm), adhesive-backed

  • Attached mini-plug cable; designed to install on acoustic surfaces (e.g., accordion treble end, guitar top, soundboard, etc.)

• Original Black Barcus-Berry Zippered Pouch

  • Classic leather (maybe fake leather) carry bag in excellent vintage condition

The Handwritten Note:

Inside the pouch is a piece of paper labeled in pen:

“This is a prototype system which has been approved by Hohner for use in their diatonic accordions. Checks here indicate it also works in a larger instrument. It mounts inside at the treble end so:” (Diagram of a rectangular shape, presumably showing placement inside an accordion)

This note, presumably written by a Barcus-Berry engineer or product rep, suggests the system was part of a limited pilot program or testing phase—possibly pre-production hardware customized specifically for Hohner accordions in the 1970s or early 1980s. It may never have reached general release in this form.

🧼 Condition:

• Preamp & pickup: Like new, unused. No visible wear or corrosion. Stored in pouch for decades.

• Note: Original and handwritten—intact and legible.

• Pouch: Very clean, zipper functions smoothly.

🎯 Ideal For:

• Collectors of vintage audio and musical instrument tech

• Accordion enthusiasts or historians of Barcus-Berry and Hohner collaborations

• Musicians who love analog signal paths and prototype-grade gear

• Anyone preserving the craft history of acoustic amplification

Ships fast, tracked, and packed with care. Feel free to reach out for additional details or photos.