Greetings from Ystradgynlais

[Last Upgrade]

Hi Guys,

Been lurking for many years & realised tonight that I registered 5-years ago I'm somewhat overdue to introduce myself.
Brilliant site, often end up here after running Google searches for projects I'm working on.

Loved music and the magic kit that brings it alive since a nipper, and never bored of the fascination.

Particularly like vintage gear, but only if it can reasonably hold it's own against the new.
Don't like the constant churn of shiny new kit just for the sake of it.

I'm an audio engineer by trade and prefer to "keep it real" if at all possible.
Make my own interconnects with "honest" cable & connectors.
Whilst I appreciate and use digital audio daily, prefer pure analogue whenever possible.

Have a mish mash of kit that definately needs thinning out, my listening space is temporary so my main kit is a lash up:

Lenco 88 (upgraded bearing) with a Carl plinth on Townsend Sink with Origin Live Silver/Supex 900, Ear 834 clone
Sony ST-A6B tuner, i5 HTPC & Musical Fidelity V90 DAC
Panasonic TXP60ZT65B
Bryston BP25 pre / 4BST power
Currently: Tannoy homebrews with K3808 (15" Dual Concentrics) & DIY boutique crossovers & two Rel Stadium subs.

I collect numerous Tannoy drivers and fettle passive crossovers for fun, although I have ability to drive them actively.
Enjoy the challenge to pursue how far they can go. I have found the Dual Concentrics endlessly intrigueing in that they can sound absolutely different just by different Xover designs & subtle component changes.
From my own experience and opinion, you can make them sound as quick and "modern" as you like.
Probably ask for trouble as I'm a heritic - far more experienced in the ferrite magnet models.

Also collect 1/4 inch machines (Revox, Technics, Studer & Telefunken) at least half has to go.
Have some amazing studio masters & production copiess to play.

Currently servicing my Technics SL1210 to go back into service with Mike New bearing, I prefer this to an LP12.
Hoping to design & build some new cabinets for the Tannoys this year - still pontificating though.

Looking to meet new fettling friends, if you are near the Swansea Valley give me a shout.

Cheers Peter

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Peter.

Nice introduction.

Goodness, you have some very interesting kit there (I'm thinking of the R2R machines). Like you, I prefer to make my own interconnects, usually balanced, using standard 'studio quality' cable and connectors.

You are indeed fortunate in having some studio master and production copy tapes to play - I'm most envious. :) Talking of which, what are your tastes in music?

Enjoy the Forum
Barry

[walpurgis]

Hello Peter. Welcome to AOS.

As I'm sure you've seen there's a lot going on here, so just join in and get to know folk.


Enjoy the forum,
Geoff.

[Last Upgrade]

Hi Barry,

Thanks for the welcome. Love the R2R machines, rebuilt / restored some of them.
My favorite is the Studer A80, an ex-BBC machine, it sings. I've also have an A62 I purchased from Abbey Road, it has germanium transistors, sounds very smooth almolst valve like. Like Revox B77s not so keen on the Technics RS1500, arkward to lace up but sounds very good. The Telefunken M15A supposedly came from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, although I can't substantiate that. It's a serious machine might be more acurate than the A80?

The tapes are awesome. In my 20s spent time in Abbey Road with a full orchestra playing (for the score of Robocop) and it has a most distinctive acoustic, some of the tapes are from the same room and it is like being back there, like they've bottled the event.
I've a wide ranging selection of tapes including original albums and compilations - sometimes have pinch myself.
I own them jointly with a friend who help me acquire them.

I listen to a lot of dance from all ages, classical - some pipe organ, some jazz - just starting out with jazz to be honest, and increasingly getting in to R&B now that the Tannoys have bloomed. Tracks I always thought were un-playable are now getting a second look-in which is encouraging.

Cheers Peter

[Last Upgrade]

Hi Geoff,
Thanks, there is indeed a lot on the forum. It's like ebay when I try not to look some days as too easliy distracted into another rabbit hole.
But in seriousness, it's a great resource and community.

Cheers Peter

[walpurgis]

If you haven't already Peter and you like vintage gear, take a look through the Past Masters section, I think you'd find it interesting.

[Last Upgrade]

Thanks , will do

[Lawrence001]

Seeing the title reminded me of the time the car broke down near Ystradfellte when I was young. We walked to the village and the kind vicar let us wait there until the AA arrived and gave us hot Welsh cakes yum [emoji16]

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

[Last Upgrade]

Hi Lawrence,

Can't beat smell & taste of homemade Welsh cakes cooked on a griddle.
Far too lazy but have to buy a pack for mum every time I go past a shop
Like shop scones, think you have to nuke em for 5-seconds to revive them.
Funny how we remember those childhood memories & with crystal clarity.

[Smegger68]

Hi Peter,

Not a million miles away just outside Bridgend. Love your tape and R2R collection! I have an Akai GX-630D which i love :)

James

[Last Upgrade]

Hi James,

Akai made great machines (& a lot of great kit) and GX-630D is one of them, I know it takes 10 inch NAB reels, is yours 1/2 or 1/4 track & what speeds?

I was at your KFC for a covid safe ebay collection last week.
Nearly moved to Bridgend 5-years ago but the house fell through. Dare I ask, how's it doing since Ford closed?

Love to hear your SPU sometime.
Sounds like you've got a great established organic system there.

Peter

[Gazjam]

Welcome aboard Peter.

Fascinating history of the R2R players.
Played on the score for Robocop, wow :D

Know that score inside out, big fan of Poledouris’ stuff.
Was Howard Blake present for all the sessions or was it mostly Tony Britton there?

[Last Upgrade]

Hi Gary,

That's a gorgeous arts & crafts house.

I wasn't playing (if only I could) just a lowly roadie/ engineer for the highly talented keyboard player and programmer Derek Austin.
Basil Poledouris (RIP) had Derek programme a huge keyboard rig so that that they all played out by MIDI to a click track which was fed to the orchestra to play along to. It's a long time ago but I think it was relatively unuasual as Derek was in one control room (3?) which linked to another this way they linked two mixing desks and two parallel Studer A80- 2" machines. Something like that anyway.

It would have been around 85 and they were pushing what was possible in the best Abbey Road style.
Couldn't tell you about engineers or producers it's too long ago, I wasn't there for the duration but came and went as required each time they needed adjustments and changes, think it was over 2 or 3 days.
I was a kid at about 20, so very eager to learn and it was an electric experience.
Looking back - too young to fully appreciate it!

For context: Just before this recording session I had undertaken the electrical & audio installation works for Derek's 64-channel keyboard film score studio (Broxmead Studio) which had been featured in Studiosound.

I guess because of Broxmead I was befriended by Abbey Road staff and was given the full tour and was also taken to the old EMI factory in Hayes and shown the Anechoic chamber. I am eternally thankfull to Abbey Road, (particularly to Mr Phil Hancock) as he set me on my way and helped me establish myself in London in an associated field.

It was an amazing experience, I can still remember the smell of the place and the long corridor with black thick pile carpet was chocka block like a traffic jam of obsolete Studer A80 2-tracks.

Glorious days

[The Black Adder]

Hi Peter.

Glad to have you on board.

I too run Tannoy speakers as well as an A80 machine. Plenty of information on my blog site. www.tannoyista.com

One of my dream places to work has always been Abbey Road. I used to work in a couple of studios in Sheffield in the early 90s... Plenty of great times.

Anyway, have a great time here... [emoji108][emoji106]


Sent from my 9001X using Tapatalk

[Lawrence001]

Hi Lawrence,

Can't beat smell & taste of homemade Welsh cakes cooked on a griddle.
Far too lazy but have to buy a pack for mum every time I go past a shop
Like shop scones, think you have to nuke em for 5-seconds to revive them.
Funny how we remember those childhood memories & with crystal clarity.Yes it was 35 years ago but I still remember the smell and taste, they were off the griddle on the big open fire or range in the vicarage.

I wonder if the church has since sold it off and built a small modern one next door, seems to be the norm these days. I plan on going to S Wales next year and taking the family to all the places I lived in and visited. Llandaff Cathedral, St Fagans, Castell Coch, Dan yr Ogof, Cardif Castle (saw Eddie Kidd there in about 1980!).

Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk

[Last Upgrade]

Hi Josie,

Thanks for your message. Wish you hadn't sent your web link, I'll never get anything done this rate! Looks very slick and piles of cool info.
Just read your Lockwood Major page, wow I'm jealous, seen the studio pictures of Trident before & so glad the you found the ID badges after such a protracted search to authenticate their history. Can see there's a whole lot of reading on your site to catch up with but will have to pace myself.
I have a few tapes from St Annes Court and one night in the 90s I stumbled across a Crown IC150 & DC150 (pre & power) on the pavement outside, which ended up as my workshop stereo for years. (wish I still had it but can't keep it all).

Catch up soon, love to talk more with you.
Peter

[Smegger68]

Hi James,

Akai made great machines (& a lot of great kit) and GX-630D is one of them, I know it takes 10 inch NAB reels, is yours 1/2 or 1/4 track & what speeds?

I was at your KFC for a covid safe ebay collection last week.
Nearly moved to Bridgend 5-years ago but the house fell through. Dare I ask, how's it doing since Ford closed?

Love to hear your SPU sometime.
Sounds like you've got a great established organic system there.

Peter

Hi Peter,

My Akai is a 4 track machine with 3.75 and 7.5 ips speeds. Here it is playing a little PIL :)


https://youtu.be/gj-hm0CJuj8

Ford closing has certainly affected the area though with the C-19 lockdown it's hard to quantify what is due to that and what is due to the plant closure. It'll have an effect going forward though. Aston Martin is also facing closure. bad times for the car guys around these parts.

Yeah I'm happy with the system these days, havent made any changes for a while. Flat is a total mess as I'm reorganising (need something to do in lockdown) but after the restrictions are lifted and the flat is sorted I'd be happy to have you come down for a listen to the SPU :)

Regards,

James

[Last Upgrade]

Hi James,

Been away for a family funeral.
That's a handsome machine, thanks for the SPU invitation, be great to meet when able.
Was all sounding so optimistic with Aston not so long ago, great shame.
Lets hope it bouces back.
Talk soon
Peter

[hifinutt]

ah we love wales here , cant wait to get back there . we also love tannoys too.

[Patrick Dixon]

I have a couple of Telefunkens; an M15A and an M10 configured as a vinyl cutting machine with a pre-listen head.

One day I will get them working ...

[The Black Adder]

I have a couple of Telefunkens; an M15A and an M10 configured as a vinyl cutting machine with a pre-listen head.

One day I will get them working ...Wow.. Pretty cool.

You should get them working and cut some wax.

Sent from my 9001X using Tapatalk

[Patrick Dixon]

I don't have the lathe, just the tape machine to feed the audio signal to it. It has a tape loop path and two replay heads so that the engineer hears the audio earlier than the lathe, and he can adjust the groove spacing depending on the bass content.