Reel 2 Reel loveliness ( Lodgesound )

[Audio Al]

Reel-to-Reel loveliness

My recent adventure started by complete coincidence!

I noticed a Hi Fi rack for sale in the advertisements and agreed to buy said rack that had to be collected in person

I set off to collect the rack and was invited in the home

The person I purchased the rack from was Stewart ( Lodgesound )

A cup of tea was offered and excepted followed by a chat on all things audio, I was then invited into Stewarts studio :eek:, Boy O boy it was a bit like entering mission control at NASA with some very nice machines all in working order, A demo of this equipment followed and I was mighty impressed with the sound quality :eyebrows:.

Stewart then informs me he is getting read to sell a R2R machine” I innocently ask “ What machine is it you are selling? “

It looked and sounded amazing I was like a lamb to the slaughter A price was agreed and it was mine ALL MINE :)

The machine is a Otari MX55 mounted in a portable rack,

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2916.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2916.jpg.html)



I needed to purchase some XLR to RCA leads, these arrived on Thursday so wired it up and had a listen, WOW

At the same visit I left my Tandburg 9100x R2R with Stewart for a look at as it seemed a bit labored in use , Philip had the pleasure of servicing this machine for me and today ( Sunday ) I returned and collected it :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2920.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2920.jpg.html)


Now enter the dae ja vu syndrome, while collecting the TB, Stewart tells me he is also selling a ReVox A77 in mint condition , Oh god not again :doh:

Yes the rest is history another R2R purchased

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2918.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2918.jpg.html)


I spent a very enjoyable hour with Stewart this man knowledge on ALL THING TAPE related is amazing , Much respect :respect::youtheman:

I left a AKAI R2R with Stewart for a look at !! PLEASE no more machines for sale :D

Lastly Stewart has a new arrival, I will leave this for Stewart to explain, don’t want to steel his thunder other that BLOODY HELL what a machine


I may need medical help soon ! :rolleyes:

Already own a Ferograph series 7 , and several Sony and Akai machines and this Tascam

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/bigboobs/IMG_2917.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bigboobs/media/IMG_2917.jpg.html)
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:)

[Spectral Morn]

Very nice, lucky you - right place, right time :cool:


Regards Neil

[The Barbarian]

Has that Tandberg had its press buttons & sliders replaced at some point? You see the coloured ones always cracked.

[Audio Al]

Has that Tandberg had its press buttons & sliders replaced at some point? You see they nearly always cracked.


Not in the time I have owned it , it is very clean and in good condition , The previous owner had looked after it well.

[walpurgis]

I may need medical help soon ! :rolleyes:

He He! You are a total victim Al. I doubt there's a cure. :D I bet your floorboards are creaking under the weight of your collection. :eyebrows:

[The Barbarian]

Well if they are black ones they ain't gonna be cracked. However anyone with the square coloured press buttons you find at the bottom & the sliders I'd be hard pressed to believe anyone who said none of them were not cracked.

Flaming people that never read posts properly

[Macca]

Like an alcoholic visiting a brewery...;)

[Roy S]

Nice one Al. Did you ever find out what was on that tape I gave you?

[Audio Al]

Nice one Al. Did you ever find out what was on that tape I gave you?


I did , very little , some music that I do not recognize then nothing , When I have time I will youtube what's on it , a short video :)

[Roy S]

I did , very little , some music that I do not recognize then nothing , When I have time I will youtube what's on it , a short video :)

Thanks Al, was just worried that it may have something embarrassing on it, my audition for the BBC World Service or something similar...

[337alant]

You lucky bar steward Al that Otari MX55 is a lovely machine if you ever want to sell it mate Ill buy it
I love R2R they are the ultimate analogue experience for me and my Tascams blow away even my best turntable IMO
I have 3 x Tascam BR20, Revox A77, Revox PR99 mk1, Revox PR99 mk2, Teac 3440 and Ive just sold a Akai GX225
Getting good tape is the hard part :D

Alan

[Barry]

You lucky bar steward Al that Otari MX55 is a lovely machine if you ever want to sell it mate Ill buy it
I love R2R they are the ultimate analogue experience for me and my Tascams blow away even my best turntable IMO
I have 3 x Tascam BR20, Revox A77, Revox PR99 mk1, Revox PR99 mk2, Teac 3440 and Ive just sold a Akai GX225
Getting good tape is the hard part :D

Alan

Is it still made, and if it is do you have to buy it from specialist outlets (much in same way as Super 8 cine-film)?

[The Barbarian]

I dropped on a giant box of 50 NOS Zonal '700' tapes still sealed £25 the lot. great tape.

[337alant]

Some more R2R Pron

Tascam BR 20 mint no wear on heads at all

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3886/14236098847_975b61ffc2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nFZJd8)IMG_1254 (https://flic.kr/p/nFZJd8) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Tascam BR 20 my older one but still excellent

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2898/14113741216_2f7976363b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nvbBxN)IMG_1188 (https://flic.kr/p/nvbBxN) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr


Revox PR 99 MK2 being calibrated

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/13950115798_b9395db8bf_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/nfHZpU)PR99 mk2 (https://flic.kr/p/nfHZpU) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Revox PR99, Teac 3440, Revox A77

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2787/13144297363_2fae09018b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/m2vXEB)IMG_1119 (https://flic.kr/p/m2vXEB) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Tascam BR20 at a Bake off in Hartlepool NEBO2

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9302176162_4fe58623c2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/fb15TC)Tascam (https://flic.kr/p/fb15TC) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Slight tape overrun problem :D

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/8067938384_34762810c3_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/dhWhZW)Tape Head (https://flic.kr/p/dhWhZW) by 337alant (https://www.flickr.com/people//), on Flickr

Alan

[Audio Al]

:eek::stalks:

Pwarrrr

KLEENEX :D

[337alant]

Is it still made, and if it is do you have to buy it from specialist outlets (much in same way as Super 8 cine-film)?

You can still get RMGI / Pyral tape and ATR its not cheap though
Ive just ordered a 10" reel of RMG SM911 from thomann

http://www.thomann.de/gb/rmg_recording_tape.html

http://usrecordingmedia.com/rmsm1x25on10.html

http://usrecordingmedia.com/1oprereta1.html

Most of the tape I have now I have bought second hand from ebay and its manly Maxell or Zonal which is good tape
I used to love Ampex 465 but most of that tape now is useless as it suffers from sticky shed so all ampex tape should be avoided now

If your serious about tape you should invest in a calibration tape from MRL a signal generator and an oscilloscope for calibrating the machines as it makes a big difference when you calibrate /Bias the deck to a particular type of tape

Alan

[The Black Adder]

Grr...

Stop it... your making me wanting, baby!.. Ow!

[The Barbarian]

Once upon a time i used to have an Analogue synth studio down in the basement..I remember that 'BR20' coming out. At the time i had a Tascam '38' Multi track & '32' Master machine.. The '32' was ok but always liked the look of the 'BR20' & '58' machines..

[Macca]

Grr...

Stop it... your making me wanting, baby!.. Ow!

I know, I know. I am trying so hard to resist. Good job I am so tight with money. I really want that console jobbie that Stuart's got. The one that looks like the computer from Space: 1999

[The Black Adder]

http://www.tvcream.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/space1999.jpg
"Wheres my Dragon 32?... This X5 computer is shit and the clock is slow..."

[DSJR]

I wish I was still single sometimes and with the money to indulge myself. I had a high-speed B77 mk2 and master copies to play on it - lovely! Trouble is, it just sat there looking gorgeous but with nothing to do with it and it went to a pal's 'museum' to join 'my' Nakamichis (700 original, 700ZXE and CR7).

That 4 track TEAC was used to make many a master tape I think, although Dolby A may have been used with it I think. A77's also featured in loads of recordings, either for delay effects or even recording the master on (I think it was just about good enough).

[jaym481]

I can relate. Just got this beauty:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/Old_School_BMW/Audio/DSC_0001_zps941b0f7a.jpeg

I needed to downsize, so this is replacing a 2 track Preco and a 4 track Sony TC765 that will be sold off (but in the mean time, are taking up space - my wife has only accepted on the downsize condition). I'd always wanted a Technics like this. This one is the 1506, 2 or 4 track playback, 4 track record, and 3 speed. The 1500 is 2 track record. Asking prices I have seen have been, shall we say, a tad unrealistic, so I was quite happy to find one for a reasonable price, including the reels and original manual.

[337alant]

Wow yes another classic Reel 2 Reel the RS1500 is a lovely unit but like you say they are normally a fortune to buy.

Alan

[337alant]

Some lovely custom tape decks here at United Home Audio in USA, note which tape deck the use to customise, the Tascam BR20
http://www.unitedhomeproducts.com/reel_to_reel_hq_tape_decks.htm Scroll down

http://www.unitedhomeproducts.com/silver_reel_to_reel_tape_dec.htm

Alan

[Lodgesound]

Many thanks for your kind words Al.......


This is the the new master recorder ....


http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/IMG_0102_zps45799916.jpg (http://s582.photobucket.com/user/Lodgesound/media/IMG_0102_zps45799916.jpg.html)





http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/IMG_0106_zpsacd4a252.jpg (http://s582.photobucket.com/user/Lodgesound/media/IMG_0106_zpsacd4a252.jpg.html)



http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss270/Lodgesound/IMG_0105_zpsed0a68ef.jpg (http://s582.photobucket.com/user/Lodgesound/media/IMG_0105_zpsed0a68ef.jpg.html)

[337alant]

One can only dream of owning a Studer A820, fabulous R2R Logesound, I rate the studers as the best there is

Alan

[Lodgesound]

One can only dream of owning a Studer A820, fabulous R2R Logesound, I rate the studers as the best there is

Alan


Many thanks for saying - it has been my dream since the age of 16 when I first saw one...

[PaulStewart]

One can only dream of owning a Studer A820, fabulous R2R Logesound, I rate the studers as the best there is

Alan

The 820 was mechanically the best ever, in my opinion and I had one in Tin Pan alley Studios and another when
I was running Village Way Recorders plus I've used many and far prefer it to the A80 the tension adjustment on which was a PITA. But for overall SQ and drive the 3M Iso-loop machines leave the clinical Swiss machines standing :sofa:

[The Black Adder]

That is still one of my dream reel machines, Stewart. Amazing! Thanks for sharing. :)

[Audio Al]

How about this beast then 24 track :)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Otari-MTR90-Mk11-Serviced-by-Chris-Notton-/261546936559?pt=UK_Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item3ce56988ef

[337alant]

Yep fab R2R but could you consider it for home use?, a tape for one of those machines cost more than a second hand revox :D
If you had an interest in mixing music or had a small studio there are some bargain players like that sold on ebay
A studer A80 another classic which takes 1/4" tape
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUDER-A80RCMKII-BBC-VERSION-WITH-BUTTERFLY-HEADS-USED-/181475925847?pt=UK_MusicalInstruments_Other_Pro_Au dio_Equipment&hash=item2a40cedf57

this is very nice and a bargain IMO
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-NEVER-UNBOXED-TASCAM-48-OB-9-Channels-DBX160-DBX-NEW-IN-BOX-ES-50-SYNCH/141363006421?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D23982%26meid%3D8744329946775730238%26pid%3D 100011%26prg%3D9421%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D141 353163824


Alan

[DSJR]

From same seller as that lovely old A80 (SO many of our LP's and CD's were made playing tapes back on one of these...)


Looks like a pro transport version of the Revox A700 -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B67MKII-TWO-TRACK-RECORDER-USED-/181474983704?pt=UK_MusicalInstruments_Other_Pro_Au dio_Equipment&hash=item2a40c07f18