AMPEX Recorder 403

  • Thread starter Thread starter hellhammer
  • Start date Start date
Well, judging by the fact that there's no "record" button, I'd say it's a playback-only model. But that doesn't explain why there's three heads. I would guess that perhaps one head is mono, one is stereo, and one is for playing back quarter-track? I am not sure... and I don't see any switches for switching which head is used....

It looks built like a tank, as most Ampex models are, though the heads look strange -- there's a bump in the middle, and I'm not sure that's normal or not, maybe that's a sign of highly excessive wear?

Stay away from it unless you only need playback capabilities, or know if there's a way to mod these things to easily add recording capabilities.
 
thanks for an answer.

this item is really attractive to me, because it is ships free of charge. and since i live in russia, this is a significant plus, but I really do not want to be deceived. the seller does not give me any meaningful responses to my questions unfortunatly...
 
There should be an electronics package along with the transport. Without the electronics it won't record or playback. So, I suspect that there is a set of record/playback electronics that is missing. Being 3 heads, I suspect it is set up to record. I can't recall (its been 30 years) if the old Ampex 300 that I used to use had the bump in the heads or not. I THINK they did.
 
Sorry, I don't have an answer for you, but just wanted to chime in to say how nice it looks.
 
That "bump" is normal fare...the bump is the actual head element. The head elements on those heads are in an aluminum block, kind of like this...this is a mono head on my 440B:

IMG_3097_5_1.JPG



Here is a manual to a model 401...different but maybe has some related elements:

http://ppk.infomg.net/Ampex_Manuals/Ampex_400/Ampex-401_manual.pdf

The thing that's baking my noodle here is the fact that the capstan is on the left of the headblock, unless the thing runs from right to left...:confused:
 
Good eye on the capstan. I am now totally confused. :o Maybe it pushes the tape through. ;)
 
I'm picturing the mess that would ensue if the takeup tension resistor went bad or something in that circuit...:eek:

But, nonetheless that's how it works...tape passes from left to right just like we are all familiar with and the capstan feeds tape to the headblock. Back-tension is facilitated by a large wirewound resistor. The capstan is an AC hysteresis motor, and it is direct-drive. There is one reel motor hence why there is only one back-tension resistor. I guess it isn't really back-tension but it would set a differential tension between the feed rate of the capstan and the drive of the takeup reel. Looks like the reel drive motor power is diverted from reel table to reel table via solenoid actuated idlers. The supply reel back tension is provided by friction via a felt pad on flywheel.

+1 to what was said above about the electronics package. It looks like this is a mono deck. There would be a record/reproduce electronics module and that is where record arming and the energizing of the record head would occur. I surmise you set the record amplifier to RECORD and then engage PLAY on the transport and, viola, you are recording.

Never seen a 403. Neat looking deck, but without the manual or the electronics module it is not much more than eye-candy or a neat way to spool 1/4" tape.

Check out the lifters in the shot of the headblock with the gate cracked open...they aren't lifter posts but rather blocks and it looks like there is a special surface on them (the orangey colored surface). Might be some kind of mineral (i.e. some 440 series transports use ruby guides and that concept goes way back before any 400 series deck)

If you are interested at all I'd be asking the Seller where the record/reproduce amp went as well as any manual.
 
thanks for the answers guys, i do really appreciate it!

Sweetbeats, yeah ask please, that would be just great!
 
A deck like this without record/playback electronics is like a car with no steering wheel, gas pedals or gear shifters
;)
 
yeah.
i was, in fact, misled. the seller wrote that this recorder and i believed. but it is just a useless player. i put 50$ on it and now he does not respond to my mail. i`m totaly idiot in this situation, haha.
 
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