What I got for $300

  • Thread starter Thread starter sweetbeats
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holy cow man... how many car trips did that take?
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Heheheh...I can't answer that yet...might give something away.

psst! cjacek! don't say anything! :D:D:D
 
Richard King said:
That last item looks like a remote control for a 3 track machine (maybe). The next to last looks like some kind of power amplifier. Ampex did make power amps for a while.
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Looks like a channel of recorder electronics for an old Ampex mono tube machine, maybe? :)

Cheers,

Otto
 
Surprise...

How about this?
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Yep. That's an Ampex 440 transport with 4 'C' electronics modules all in a really cool heavy-duty steel rolling rack that's like 28U...all that stuff together was like moving a fridge...no joke. Its that heavy. You'll notice there is no head nest on the thing (no heads) and the more astute will notice that there is also no head interface box with the plugs for the head cables and the interface cable array that goes to and from the electronics. The scrape flutter filter is there though. I have the head interface box and cables...no heads or nest. But??? Who knows. Maybe sell it all off, or keep three modules (use two and keep one spare) and look for a 1/4" halftrack head assembly or...1/2" halftrack?

The pinch roller is good on the transport and it is pretty straight and clean. It has the cool spring-loaded reel adapters. It powers up but the transport functions are funky...it doesn't do what it should, but I happen to have a spare transport control box so...oh yeah...came with the rare remote too. OH! And two NOS reel motors...

Here are some more pictures:
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And...there's more...anybody want to guess?
 
guess?
the way this thread is going you probably got a brand new ampex machine nos in box right?
 
No...not THAT incredible, but still pretty good.

We're to the last thing, but I'll have to tell what it is later.
 
why do I get the feeling you are enjoying keeping everyone in suspense!
 
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Wow man... that is beautiful. I can't believe what you paid for all that. Lucky lucky lucky guy.
 
Thanks. I feel very fortunate. Very.

And I hope this all isn't taken as boasting...it is all quite a Godsend for me and I'm just excited. Its actually releasing me from some things.

That's a 1" 8-track Ampex MM-1000. I'll be starting another "Story..." thread shortly. It...is...a...beast, and I believe it is functional...came with full-function remote, and a ton of spares including a lot of the electronic stuff to reconvert it to 2" 16-track which is how it started out life. Oh yeah.

It took me one trip to get it all but that was in a Suburban towing a horse trailer. The MM-1000 is around 600 pounds. It was literally like moving an upright piano.

Stay tuned, folks.
 
An MM1000? Wow. Are the heads any good?
So, it kind of was an MM1100 and it kind of was a Quad video machine...
I guess those modules were the ones to set it up for 16-track operation, right?


**EDIT**
I seem to have been answered while writing this...

**EDIT EDIT**
It will work off single-phase mains, right...? IIRC many Quad machines didn't and the MM1000s were basically a Quad transport...
 
Hey, Cory, that's awesome! Looking forward to the "Story...." thread and also BIGGER photos of that MM-1000 beast!!:eek::D
 
sweetbeats said:
The MM-1000 is around 600 pounds.
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It would make a nice little remote rig...

Or not. :D

Congrats. That's a hell of a nice machine. Do you have clients or do you record your own material? Now if you could convert it to a 2" 8-track...
 
Molalla

I saw that MM1000 on craigslist and knew it was coming once you started pulling out Ampex gear..... What better place for it!

--Ehtan
 
sweetbeats said:
Hey, if somebody wants to tell me how to convert a 440 electronics module into an 1176 clone, I'm there! Their main value to me at this point is spare parts sources for pots, meters and switches. Trannies too if I had one go bad.




Yes, there is a lovely Mrs. Sweetbeats and 4 Sweetbeats jrs. To get really real here for a moment, without them I would be nothing. Didn't know that until my world enjoined with theirs, but as our family has grown I increasingly can't imagine the opposite. I would be a sad man indeed. I have a legitemate gear addiction. It is real and powerful and it is a topic that is not hidden in our relationship. The gear acquisitions over the years have actually been a means to an end. The problem comes in taking on too much and allowing it to lead me astray and that has been an issue particularly in the last year. Getting a handle on that (or starting to) and demonstrating what my wife and children mean to me is what has driven the sale of the Tascam 48 and M-520 as well as (so far) a number of other items. I have a list of items to sell and I am making headway on that as well as accomplishing long-standing promises to my wife and kids. They have been patient, and I know I must keep my word and work hard to firm up trust. Its about balance and frankly I have been out of balance. You've all seen that if you follow my threads. I did this (i.e. went through gear) when I was sorting out my digital studio and it has literally been years since I have aquired anything new for that component. I found what works and works well for me. I'm honing in on that for the analog component as well but I have to fight for balance and I have to have a plan and fortunately my wife has been helpful and patient. That is literally an understatement. It is junk to her for the most part especially boxes of parts, and she and I cannot communicate on the technical level or relate in terms of its value. I recognize that I'm in a stark minority of people that do see the value. I don't expect her to want to and she is making an effort to trust and I have to reinforce that with my actions.

So how does this recent foray play into that? I told her about it first. She gave me her blessing. I don't have to have her blessing, but I seek it knowing my weaknesses. IOW I have more respect for her blessing than my own selfishness. So, this $300 score is part of the plan...you'll all see as the thread unfolds okay? ;)
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It's hard when there is so much to do and so little time huh? I've got some of the same problems. Congrats on a good find, it should be some fun.
 
So, it kind of was an MM1100 and it kind of was a Quad video machine...I guess those modules were the ones to set it up for 16-track operation, right?...It will work off single-phase mains, right...? IIRC many Quad machines didn't and the MM1000s were basically a Quad transport...
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Yes, you were indeed flanking the truth. :p

No, those spare electronics modules are probably just gutted 440B spares from something else. The MM-1000 modules utilize a military-type connector for the connector on the back that handles input switching as opposed to the 4-pin jones plug on the 'B' modules.

And yes, it is single-phase.
 
The "Story" Continues...

Please go HERE to follow the story as it relates specifically to the MM-1000.
 
evm1024 said:
I saw that MM1000 on craigslist and knew it was coming once you started pulling out Ampex gear..... What better place for it!

--Ehtan
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I totally agree! I love those old machines. I'm not in a position to make room for such big machines, though. I'm glad this machine found a good home! :)

Cheers,

Otto
 
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