Just got the rebuilt motors back from Athan Corp. for one of the Studer A80RC rigs. Can't wait to put this thing back together. Can't say enough about the service and shipping. This is a top grade company. I encourage everyone that has a Studer/Ampex/Otari to get your reel/capstan motors rebuilt by these guys. You will essentially have a brand new machine!
Just got the rebuilt motors back from Athan Corp. for one of the Studer A80RC rigs. Can't wait to put this thing back together. Can't say enough about the service and shipping. This is a top grade company. I encourage everyone that has a Studer/Ampex/Otari to get your reel/capstan motors rebuilt by these guys. You will essentially have a brand new machine!
With those Extended Frequency Response Flux Magnetic heads and now the rebuilt motors from Athan... your A80RC MkII is as good or better than when it left the Swiss factory... I am almost getting all bothered and hot looking at the fresh capstan. Sweet!
I share Ki Choi jealousy for the fresh capstan. Unhappily sending the motors to Athan from Europe costs a fortune - customs and shipping will easily cost more than the service.
Recently I got an almost new working spare A80 capstan motor at a reasonable price, but the capstan does not look so nice as the one shown in the picture.
Absolutely concur on the outstanding work from Athan. I drooled at my brand-new looking A80 capstan after the service (which took about a week in my case). Their pinch roller is great, too--very easy to maintain, especially since seeing the oxide build-up is easier due to it's color. I just couldn't be happier.
I was going to send my ac hysteresis capstan motor to Athan but decided to use the OEM Ashland Electric,who has a rebuild program. The cost was a little more than what Athan quotes on their website,but the motor is so rare I thought the OE was the best choice.
Rebuilding these motors can be expensive and I think Athan is very good. I had one highly respected motor rebuilder quote me an enormous amount to rebuild the MR70 motors. To be fair that is for the idler,capstan and two reel motors but still that's a hefty price tag to swallow.
I just got off the phone with George at Athan and the MR70 capstan motor is finished. George told me that this motor is unique and the design was ingenious,he thought the Ampex engineers really had something that should improve the tape transport. I am really happy with Athan and George's work,he is a perfectionist.
UPS delivered the motor today and I thought I would post a photo of the capstan motor since there just isn't that many around. Hopefuly I can get the MR70 transport shipped to me in the next 3 weeks.
IMG_1603sm..jpg
