guilty pleasure; Nagra IV-S

[Mike Lavigne]

i've been watching ebay auctions for Nagra IV-S tape decks for awhile. knowing i could not really rationalize spending money on one, since what would i really do with it? but they continued to attract me like a moth to a flame and a few weeks ago a particualrly pristene one came up for sale and i jumped on it. this one is the NQS-LSP non pilot configuration (no time-code head) featuring a track width of 2.75mm (wider than the time code version for a slightly better sound). there is not a nick or scratch on it.

the plastic cover is almost new looking, the heads show very little wear, and this IV-S has the ruby tape guides.

i suppose i've finally resigned myself to the fact that at least regarding tape decks; i'm a collector.

 

[vinylphilemag]

i've been watching ebay auctions for Nagra IV-S tape decks for awile. knowing i could not really rationalize spending money on one, since what would i really do with it? but they continued to attract me like a moth to a flame and a few weeks ago a particualrly pristene one came up for sale and i jumped on it. this one is the NQS-LSP non pilot configuration (no time-code head) featuring a track width of 2.75mm (wider than the time code version for a slightly better sound). there is not a nick or scratch on it.

Very nice!

i suppose i've finally resigned myself to the fact that at least regarding tape decks; i'm a collector.

Hi. My name is Mike and I am a tape deck collector.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Hi. My name is Mike and I am a tape deck collector.

....and it's been 12 hours since i bought my last tape deck.

12 step plan? wadusay?

 

[Ki Choi]

Are you muscling into my territory, Mike? ... ;-)

Take this!

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Are you muscling into my territory, Mike? ... ;-)

Take this!

oooohhhhh! Studer C37....looks really clean.

how does it sound?

 

[rad]

sounds like we need to start a new thread

TDA ( tape deck anonymous )

sign up below! first meeting at Ki's house

 

[Ki Choi]

Hey Mike:

The C37 showed up yesterday at my house. It belonged to a studio owner in SF area (who will move to the same studio building as Paul Stubblebine's soon). He had intended to rebuild the machine for his personal collection and had done some work already. But after many years of no action, he found me through DocB to finish the task... I have to thank Dan for contacting me with the question of "Do you want a Studer C37?" Duh... ;-) (We joked about the incident at the RMAF over a cold beer.)

Thus, although it looks pretty, it is not ready for primetime yet. I would guess it will take me several months at least to get it all checked out, obtain replacement parts - before it can play any music.

You'll have to visit, and I may let you touch it, if you would promise that you would stop buying more tape machines. ;-)

Now you need to buy the 10.5" reel adapter setup for your IV-S.

 

[Bruce B]

sounds like we need to start a new thread

TDA ( tape deck anonymous )

sign up below! first meeting at Ki's house

That's like having an AA meeting at a liquor store!!!

 

[rad]

that's like having an aa meeting at a liquor store!!!

lol!

 

[Mike Lavigne]

You'll have to visit, and I may let you touch it, if you would promise that you would stop buying more tape machines. ;-)

did my wife put you up to this?

trust me; i will never approach the high bar you have set for Tape Deck excess. i'm just a piker.

 

[Ki Choi]

That's like having an AA meeting at a liquor store!!!

It's classic, Bruce. I do like it. On the other hand, you are one to talk...;-)

 

[MylesBAstor]

Charlie King may have a few insights into the Nagra since he owns one (hint: I heard his hear as a transport and it was equipped with Nortronics heads if I remember).

 

[Ki Choi]

i will never approach the high bar you have set for Tape Deck excess. i'm just a piker.

As they say, we all start as a simple "piker" and then boom... turn into a "monger" before we know it...

Gary is also showing early signs of the TDA symptoms... I might add.

 

[naturephoto1]

Mike,

Congrats on the latest acquisition. I am glad however, unlike many of you, I just do not have the room for collecting additional R2R tape decks in my multipurpose Listening Room/Home Theater.

Rich

 

[RogerD]

Very nice decks,congrats.

Ki,

I would imagine your C37 has been converted to use 120V power,if so how was that accomplished.

 

[Ki Choi]

Hi Roger:

Not to hijack Mike's thread, I will start a new thread on the C37.

 

[c1ferrari]

May I invoke right-of-first-refusal...

Again -- LOL
Your acquisition demonstrates desirable examples remain available...congrats!

I'll continue to seek one

The QGB adapter will be practical, if not exorbitant. Let us know if you record with it, Mike

 

[amirm]

Must be something in our weather in the Pacific Northwest that leads to these addictions. Perhaps lack of vitamin D has something to do with it?

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Again -- LOL
Your acquisition demonstrates desirable examples remain available...congrats!

I'll continue to seek one

The QGB adapter will be practical, if not exorbitant. Let us know if you record with it, Mike

hi Sam,

honestly, i have seen the QGB adapters but don't exactly understand how they work. i do realize one feature of the IV-S is it's mic preamps. i have a IV-S manual on disc, i suppose i need to read it.

admittedly this was mostly a 'tape deck as art' purchase at this point. i figured i'd discover what the thing can actually do at some point.....and then maybe do recording or use it to have the ability to take tape recordings to places they don't have them (imagine that!).

and sure; if i sell it at some point......

 

[Ki Choi]

hi Sam,

honestly, i have seen the QGB adapters but don't exactly understand how they work..

Mike:

You should get with Phillip Chance when he will be using the QGB adapters when making the live recording next Thursday evening. With the QGB adapter setup your IV-S will take 10.5" reels. I can guess that you will eventually get into live recording (analog of course) scene soon... and as I understand it, the world of collecting mics is worse than the TDA illness we are currently fighting...