AMPEX 950/1260 project (for DIY guys)... done with it

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dr ZEE
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Dr ZEE

Dr ZEE

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I mean I really feel like done with it. Sort of feeling, after being so focused on something for long time... so got sick of it at the end. But I'm overall happy how it came out at the end. Still ..it's time to move on something else... like playing guitars actully, for example :o
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For guys who are interested or into DIY stuff, I have the page setup at my website, I have links on that page to .jpg files, which are photos/charts with some details and explanations.
Here's the page in Workshop section: Dr. ZEE Workshop AMPEX 950 Project IN THE MAKING - ENTER HERE!
...so there click on titles to view pictures/charts.

The other page is in Studio section, there just short description and some photos: Custom AMPEX 950 (in studio section page)

If any questions or what ever .. I'd be happy to blah.
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here's a photo I've made after all wood-finishing work done, put it all back together and gave it a spin in the studio room:
 

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ZEE has my vote for Master & Commander of the analog forum.

That really is a beautiful job... and expertly documented as well.

:)

I keep attempting official forum Kudos, but…
 

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SteveMac said:
Really nice Mike. Does that have tubes? In what part are they and how safe do you have to be when you enclose them? What exactly is the function the top and bottom sections? How's it sound? Enough questions yet?
Click to expand...
Steve, tubes are in the recorder (in the ampex that is :)) ... they are all here see third photo and down on this chart , and that is what I call "main unit"..which is the recorder ..lol ...it is placed inside the 'main enclosure' ...as shown here ... so it's all in the "bottom" section, if you want to call it that way.
The "top section" is that thing, which I've made, as I was planning on adding VU-meters, but after figuring things out, I've decided that it would be too much pain in the as* to actually build well working (functioning) VU-meters unit from scratch... (that's a different topic...) so instead I've found an old cassette deck with nice large VUs and modified it, but at the end, I've got this 'stand-alone' unit which can be used as VU-meters, but also still has in it two mic ins (can be used like a crappy mic preamps (not so bad, but pretty crappy ..;)) , can be used as two line ins preamps, also has headphones output. The other function I was thinking about is: it can be used as feed-back level control unit when using tape-recorded as tape-delay effect (instead of taking up a channel on my main mixing board for this purpose). To use this unit as VU-meters with precision, you'd need to set-up input level (calibrate it first)... which I am not going to do for the most, I don't think I am ever going to use it for 'critical level monitoring'... but it can be done, if desired.
The sound of the recorder (I've recorded some stuff simply from CDs to tape for testing) is amazing to my judgement... it's subjective though. I did not get my hands on experimenting with using it as preamp only... but I did play around a bit. Last night I actually plugged my strat into EH SmallStone box, then into ampex line in , then output from ampex into actually my 70s pioneer stereo system amp and Played Strat through Technics home-stereo Speakers (I have big ones :)) ... TOTALLY UNprofessional set-up! :p :p :p - and I've got some unusual result... I don't know how to describe it... it's freaking cool. I gotta' do more set-up experimenting, get Fender DeVille involved, try micing stuff etc...
 
Looks beautiful! :)

Nice woodworking skills you have there! :cool:

Enjoy it.

Cheers! :)
 
Tim and Jeff, thank, Bros :)

woodworking that IS first I must say :D
 
_DK said:
Looks nice. How much have you spent on the components?
Click to expand...
Thanks!
How much? hmmmmmmm
overall like nothing, but still not exactly free ..., also i have a lot of all sorts of parts electronics and other parts collected over the years ... all kind of useless crap, which you just never know when you may need.
As for this specific project:
I've got the ampex (no case as is) unit for 33 buck off e-bay (incl shipping)
akai deck was 37 bucks including shipping cost from where ever they were shipped.
Then I've found head-set from similar ampex F-44 recorder, and I needed the play-back head to be replaced... so that was $25 pluck 5buck shipping (I've found the heads posted at audiokarma.org boards (there's adds section there) - that was good luck, other wise I'd have to keep looking.
I had to buy few new small things.. lamps, lamp holders, xlr jacks...couple other things ... that was a bit over 30 bucks as I recall.
I've used many pieces which came from italian-made PASO outdoor PA system (which I've got locally ..also found on e-bay) ...also was 30 bucks purchase... it was not working, but a lot of good parts, especially those metal grey-coated shiny enclosures (piece of which are used to make front panels)... bunch of nice screws.
I don't count wood and wood finish material .. because I have this stuff all the time, but of course if buying it all specifically for the project you can calculate something extra there. so... what does it look like? ... something like 150-200 max bucks project ???? I can't calculate right :D
 
Dr ZEE said:
but also still has in it two mic ins (can be used like a crappy mic preamps (not so bad, but pretty crappy ..;))
Click to expand...
This reminded me - have been meaning to ask - have you got a ciruit for the mic pres? Should be possible to quiten them up a bit.

Looks seriously cool though :cool: . Wish I had those woodworking skills :o
 
arjoll said:
- have you got a ciruit for the mic pres? Should be possible to quiten them up a bit.
Click to expand...
yeah... that would be nice as an idea. if I knew for sure how to. Practically I don't think I'm going to do anything about it. Also 'attitude' component is a bit down... I kind of sick of dealing with that thing. I also had no schematics neither for akai deck neither for ampex.... so I had enough headache already figuring things out in 'look and follow the lead style' ....
and, skills??? hah hah .. I've got no skills, really... just have spent some good amount of time playing with toys sort of speak.
 
Man, you've really got that web design thing down don't ya. I don't know how you whipped that up so fast.
 
Beck said:
ZEE has my vote for Master & Commander of the analog forum.

That really is a beautiful job... and expertly documented as well.

:)
Click to expand...

As per the above. Nothing to add nor subtract. The Dr. is cool no doubt about it. ;)
 
Daniel! Thanks to YOU as always! :D
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Steve, no web-designing here at all ...also I'm on the basic-skills html level forever :p All I do here is simply drag'n'drop some pixels around in hobbiest's PhotoPaint-8 :o
 
One thing I'm not clear on is how the valve circuitry is being ventilated. There seems to be a small grille in the side.. is that enough?
 
jpmorris said:
One thing I'm not clear on is how the valve circuitry is being ventilated. There seems to be a small grille in the side.. is that enough?
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was something I was worring from the very begining, also I had no idea how much ventilation does it 'need' so not to cook itself to death. Did I do it right or good enough? - I have no slight idea, to be honest :o
As I can tell, the enclosure I've built is more ventilated than the original case (which I never had...so can not be 100% sure, I am saying this based on what I've seen on some photos. You can see some photos on this page ,,, scroll down to see 1260 model there and its case... from what I've seen it only has a round cut in the center of the bottom of the case, located where the motor's fan is and that hole is covered with ventilated metal plate. I can't tell how much air flows in that original case from the sides (if any).
The enclosure I've built has about 3"x7" side window, covered with very thin soft metal almost net-like plate (it's all perforated). Then the bottom cover plate (made actually of two cuts) has large ventilated area ( see HERE ), Also see THIS PICs ... the enclosure stands on about 1" tall feet so the air flows pretty good under, also the very front-bottom 'section' under the enclosure is pretty open (where the front in/out panel is mounted and connecting leads/cables are going through... you can see there front portion of the inside metal cage. The back metal cover-plate is not exactly sealed either.
Now is it good enough? How am I supposed to know? :D Time will show ..I guess :)
 
Hi, guys... so not to start another thread about this, I'll just add a note here.
*****
This is for ppl who are interested in using recorder(s) for tape delay/echo effect.
I've added speacial page with an example of set-up and audio-samples (see chart ) (note: there are many other options (ways) in how-to set-up, use mixer, other devices around etc...), so this is only a one possible way and also is the set-up I've used to record some samples for demonstration.)
You can stream or d-load mp3s there... (those are just few recordeings I've made to demonstrate tape-delay).
Here's the link to the page: AMPEX tape recorder Tape Delay/Echo effect set-up and samples
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any Q(s) or what ever - drop a note or something :)
...I gotta try to figure something out and maybe build some sort adjustable mechanism in the tape path, which I can mount on as 'option' to control delay time (tape distance between rec and rep heads) without changing speed. Practically, that's a tricky thing ...i'm not sure if it's duable, but I really have not gotten into it yet ... :(
.../later
/respects
 
Exemplary work, my friend… Inspirational! :)

As for the adjustable delay time without changing speed, perhaps the play head could slide along a curved guide or rail of some kind (fashioned form a cartridge clip from an M1 or SKS)… or you could add a head or two like the old space echo with a switch labeled for different speeds. However, changing speed in real time can create some pretty awesome effects so you may want to have it as an option.

~Tim
 
I just took my Sony deck out for tape echo recently and have been using it on vocals. I like the idea of being able to adjust the speed. I wonder if I could fashion a guide for the play head.

Zee, what are you doing to the drums and what kind are they?
 
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