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Chris_Meck
pushin' record
Joined: 28 Feb 2004
Posts: 209
Location: Kansas City
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 Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 440B.. |
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1" 8 track for a reasonable deal, would you?
I've been looking to upgrade from my 1/2" 8 track.
Chris
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moogplayer
steve albini likes it
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 358
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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| let's see........YES, DAMMIT! |
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Sheep in Punk Clothing
zen recordist
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 6629
Location: Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx NY
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| Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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Maybe I would if i had the loot and it was local and the heads were OK....is it the one the guy in Bethesda is auctioning?..the price is steep..there was a 2"-16 mm1000 with a buy it now of 1200$ not too long ago..of course that was a huge..1/2 ton machine..only movable by a service..
its a very very fine sounding unit..i have the 1/4"-2 version for mixdown..its like the most rock and roll sounding deck ever!
the Bethesda guy says there is lots of life on the heads..the 1"-8 is pretty rare..i've never seen 1"-8 headstocks available anyplace so when those go, and theres no way of telling how much life is left short of sending them to a magnetics lab, you may be out of luck..but idunno i never really searched for it..
transporting it could damage it..you will need some money to get it up to spec from a tech..for the alignmet tape..scope..function generator/oscillator..i estimate 800-1k if your starting from scratch..maybe you already tech savy that would be a big plus.. these machines are easey to work on..the trasport isnt great..the motors can snap tape..if your planning on doing a lot of editing it might not be right for you..there are only 3 units listed on the june 04 ampex census..there might be more in the world though..
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Chris_Meck
pushin' record
Joined: 28 Feb 2004
Posts: 209
Location: Kansas City
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| Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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well, yeah, the transport is pretty primitive.
I believe there is an mrl tape, too.
I have a scope and multimeter, and have basic fix-it skills.
I have a bandmember that's got an electronics background.
My thought was that tape costs at roughly $70 a reel would make this a more affordable option than trying to scrape together $4-5,000 for a 2 inch machine and then having to pay $200 a reel.
I was thinking perhaps you could track all basic tracks to the 440 and then maybe mix and dump to a Masterlink; then bring it back on fresh tape to the ampex and start overdubbing. What do you think, pros? cons?
Chris
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Sheep in Punk Clothing
zen recordist
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 6629
Location: Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx NY
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:16 am Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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Chris..sounds like it could be good for you..im not sure about the masterlink bounce thing you have in mind..i never did that before..im sure it would be a little less hi-fi that way..but it might be ok..do you have a HD recorder? you could just go out of the 8 channels of the 440-8 to that..then overdub on the HD..that might make more sense if you have that option..
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drumsound
on a wing and a prayer
Joined: 02 Jun 2004
Posts: 5774
Location: Bloomington IL
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:22 am Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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Is the deck in KC? I know a guy who has one there and he and his engineer buddy tell me that it's one of the best sounding machines around.
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Tony
Oxide Lounge Recording
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Sheep in Punk Clothing
zen recordist
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 6629
Location: Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx NY
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 12:31 am Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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again beware of the 1" 440 heads..once they go you might not be able to find more..i have asked the Ampex list for you..I will post back with any info..
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Sheep in Punk Clothing
zen recordist
Joined: 07 May 2003
Posts: 6629
Location: Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx NY
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| Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2004 3:18 am Post subject: Re: So, if you had a chance to pick up a functional Ampex 44 |
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ok so i was told :
| Quote: | Well, for a PRICE, anything can be made. John French and other folks in that biz make, or can have
made, anything imaginable. Hence the 1" 2-track, but it costs a small fortune since it's typically
a one-off part.
I would surmise that most of the entire "worldwide stock" of 1" 8 track heads were made 20-30 years
ago, and most are seriously worn out/shot to hell by now.
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so if you have a chance on one with good heads your very lucky..go for it..
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