Hello all, I'm brand new to the 'tape thing' but of course, I've jumped in with wild abandon.
I put 'po boy' in the heading because I'm a shoestring budget, DIY type of audiophile (hate that word)!
I started down this road a while back, after hearing the buzz about vinyl, and getting a big stack of my fathers records, I went from Solid State reciever, to big pentode tubes, to flea power, horns, and vinyl..
After reading about the 'Mighty Lenco' I got into DIY, building a Slate Lenco, and some Back Loaded Horns... and that was it, My CD collection began gathering dust. ffwd to 3 months ago, I had been reading about Doc B's Tape Project, and the accompanying buzz, and I knew it was just a matter of time..
I now have 8 decks in varying state of function.
The first deck I got was a Tandberg 74b, it was misrepresented as working flawlessly, and overpriced, but I'm a sucker for tubes, soooo... it's 'on the shelf' for now. Next came an Akai 4000ds mkII. The little consumer grade 7.5 ips 4 track, I found it for $40, cleaned it up and threaded a copy of Beatles Revolver.... The first few seconds of playback told me I was onto something special!
The main deck in my system now is a Pioneer rt707, it's easy to thread, auto reverse, and sounds fantastic! Of course I HAD to give 'Reel-Lady' and 'crebasil' a bunch of my money and put together a library of sorts: Miles Davis, Brubeck, Zeppelin, Beatles, and of course, a pile of classical Barclay-Crocker tapes, etc...
BUT.... I knew without doubt there was more fun to be had, and I wasn't having it! We all know that feeling. I really need 15ips IEC/NAB capability.
And that is how I came to own 8 reel to reel decks.
The Ampex ag350 arrived last week, heavily damaged courtesy of FedEx.... this is the unit I'm hoping you fellows can help me out with. I haven't been able to find any info on the electronics accompanying the deck.. don't get excited, they aren't 350's, or even 351's! just some lowly SS thing, with a blank brushed steel front plate, and a plaque affixed, 1.5" x 6" reading 'Ampex"... I removed this plaque and viola! there is a bank of controls, where knobs could be fitted. There are pots for each control, adjustable by screwdriver, and the layout is: from L to R Power supply/on-off, Left EQ, Right EQ...
there are no VU's and no recording capabilities, leading me to believe it is a monitor/playback unit. Fine by me!
I will, of course post pics.
Next came, by sheer luck, a Studer-reVox PR99. It was advertised as not powering up-$50 takes it.
I was on it in a heartbeat, and yes, it powers up fine, the lights are simply burned out (silly wabbit)
So, the PR99 sits in its road case (nifty, dark grey, with a rack mounted reVox monitor)!
I've done the 15ips mod successfully, and am in the midst of modding the EQ boards, A' la Alain's method. Any further tips and tweaks would be appreciated.
This is an ex CBC machine, and was definitely used, it squeaks, chatters, and such, but most importantly it plays music! the 2 track, 15ips kind!
My friend John Chapman may bring some tapes by at some point for me to peruse (though I think it is a far better idea to bring the machine to John's and hear it through those beautiful OB's of his) wink wink, nudge nudge...
regardless, it sits, half baked, awaiting a good cleaning and calibrating.. I will build a cabinet or stand for it (I'm thinking oak or walnut, or black) refurbish and paint the front panels, head covers etc..as they are covered in splicing scrapes, paint, and scratches. And for the time being that will serve as my 15 ips 2 track machine.
Another 'po-boy' arrived damaged, courtesy of FedEx (thanks again FedEx) this one is a Crown A314,
I saw it on Ebay and snagged it for the princely sum of $63.
Couldn't find any info on the thing at all, after inspection, I see it is a 1/2 track, with inline heads...
hmmmm... am I going to turn into one of those guys with 5 purpose built tape machines?
Only after a divorce, I think! I'm already looking for 7.5ips 2 track titles on ebay.
This machine has no record capabilities, strange reel spools, and will need a good amount of work, so into the shop it goes for now! I'll do more research prior to bidding next time!
So, as it stands I'm still not quite happy. I need a machine, eventually, that can play 7.5ips 4track NAB, and 15ips 2 track IEC. And of course, I NEED a standalone, tube tape preamp... is that asking too much?
I'm going to have my friend David begin building me a few rack mountable Tape EQ's, so I'm desperately seeking schematics for something fairly simple... I'm thinking an Ampex 351 Clone, or something along the lines of a spartan, simplified KC type unit.?
I'm wanting to cobble together some fun machines with tube electronics. A four track, a two track, and maybe one of the little akais! I'm thinking something like a PO' Boy's JCorder?
I'll post some pics of my machines, and previous DIY stuff and kits.. I know its been a long, rambling post, but hey, I'm new here! Look forward to hearing from you guys, and I always enjoy reading about your amazing machines and systems. Ki, I saw your post re: the PR99... with the huge pile of Solens in it... whatever became of that unit? I'm looking to do something similar with mine, plus upgrade the fascia, replace bulbs etc... any info would be appreciated!
cheers!
Harv
I put 'po boy' in the heading because I'm a shoestring budget, DIY type of audiophile (hate that word)!
I started down this road a while back, after hearing the buzz about vinyl, and getting a big stack of my fathers records, I went from Solid State reciever, to big pentode tubes, to flea power, horns, and vinyl..
After reading about the 'Mighty Lenco' I got into DIY, building a Slate Lenco, and some Back Loaded Horns... and that was it, My CD collection began gathering dust. ffwd to 3 months ago, I had been reading about Doc B's Tape Project, and the accompanying buzz, and I knew it was just a matter of time..
I now have 8 decks in varying state of function.
The first deck I got was a Tandberg 74b, it was misrepresented as working flawlessly, and overpriced, but I'm a sucker for tubes, soooo... it's 'on the shelf' for now. Next came an Akai 4000ds mkII. The little consumer grade 7.5 ips 4 track, I found it for $40, cleaned it up and threaded a copy of Beatles Revolver.... The first few seconds of playback told me I was onto something special!
The main deck in my system now is a Pioneer rt707, it's easy to thread, auto reverse, and sounds fantastic! Of course I HAD to give 'Reel-Lady' and 'crebasil' a bunch of my money and put together a library of sorts: Miles Davis, Brubeck, Zeppelin, Beatles, and of course, a pile of classical Barclay-Crocker tapes, etc...
BUT.... I knew without doubt there was more fun to be had, and I wasn't having it! We all know that feeling. I really need 15ips IEC/NAB capability.
And that is how I came to own 8 reel to reel decks.
The Ampex ag350 arrived last week, heavily damaged courtesy of FedEx.... this is the unit I'm hoping you fellows can help me out with. I haven't been able to find any info on the electronics accompanying the deck.. don't get excited, they aren't 350's, or even 351's! just some lowly SS thing, with a blank brushed steel front plate, and a plaque affixed, 1.5" x 6" reading 'Ampex"... I removed this plaque and viola! there is a bank of controls, where knobs could be fitted. There are pots for each control, adjustable by screwdriver, and the layout is: from L to R Power supply/on-off, Left EQ, Right EQ...
there are no VU's and no recording capabilities, leading me to believe it is a monitor/playback unit. Fine by me!
I will, of course post pics.
Next came, by sheer luck, a Studer-reVox PR99. It was advertised as not powering up-$50 takes it.
I was on it in a heartbeat, and yes, it powers up fine, the lights are simply burned out (silly wabbit)
So, the PR99 sits in its road case (nifty, dark grey, with a rack mounted reVox monitor)!
I've done the 15ips mod successfully, and am in the midst of modding the EQ boards, A' la Alain's method. Any further tips and tweaks would be appreciated.
This is an ex CBC machine, and was definitely used, it squeaks, chatters, and such, but most importantly it plays music! the 2 track, 15ips kind!
My friend John Chapman may bring some tapes by at some point for me to peruse (though I think it is a far better idea to bring the machine to John's and hear it through those beautiful OB's of his) wink wink, nudge nudge...
regardless, it sits, half baked, awaiting a good cleaning and calibrating.. I will build a cabinet or stand for it (I'm thinking oak or walnut, or black) refurbish and paint the front panels, head covers etc..as they are covered in splicing scrapes, paint, and scratches. And for the time being that will serve as my 15 ips 2 track machine.
Another 'po-boy' arrived damaged, courtesy of FedEx (thanks again FedEx) this one is a Crown A314,
I saw it on Ebay and snagged it for the princely sum of $63.
Couldn't find any info on the thing at all, after inspection, I see it is a 1/2 track, with inline heads...
hmmmm... am I going to turn into one of those guys with 5 purpose built tape machines?
Only after a divorce, I think! I'm already looking for 7.5ips 2 track titles on ebay.
This machine has no record capabilities, strange reel spools, and will need a good amount of work, so into the shop it goes for now! I'll do more research prior to bidding next time!
So, as it stands I'm still not quite happy. I need a machine, eventually, that can play 7.5ips 4track NAB, and 15ips 2 track IEC. And of course, I NEED a standalone, tube tape preamp... is that asking too much?
I'm going to have my friend David begin building me a few rack mountable Tape EQ's, so I'm desperately seeking schematics for something fairly simple... I'm thinking an Ampex 351 Clone, or something along the lines of a spartan, simplified KC type unit.?
I'm wanting to cobble together some fun machines with tube electronics. A four track, a two track, and maybe one of the little akais! I'm thinking something like a PO' Boy's JCorder?
I'll post some pics of my machines, and previous DIY stuff and kits.. I know its been a long, rambling post, but hey, I'm new here! Look forward to hearing from you guys, and I always enjoy reading about your amazing machines and systems. Ki, I saw your post re: the PR99... with the huge pile of Solens in it... whatever became of that unit? I'm looking to do something similar with mine, plus upgrade the fascia, replace bulbs etc... any info would be appreciated!
cheers!
Harv
