Heideana

Heres the Tascam up closeThanks Travis for the tip on tail-out tape storage!

Thanks all for the advice on open reel decks last week. Here's some photos of the Tascam 32 I purchased from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Angel Gentchev here in the bay area. His web address is: http://www.reelproaudio.com/ and his website has some fun machines to look at and he's got a hot Studer A810 on ebay right now if I could afford it and had the room (my partner told me this morning that I couldn't fit anything else into my playroom []<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Here's the Tascam on top of my continually improved "hifi" rig...[8-|]

How does the RF-7 compare with the Klipschorn? Any idea how much RF-7's are actually being used in Euoropean studios?

Thanks all for your comments and information! Once again, the forum is a great place to learn about audio...

I like the pink....[] Let us know how the treatment works!

I finally was able to listen to this track over my RF-7's and thought I point out that the guitar solo stood out and sparkled, where as over the CWIII's, I didn't even notice it. I went back to listen to the track again on the CW's, partially because I couldn't believe I missed it, that section sounds more like a rhythm section that needs a solo over it...its' not as "big" sounding... Also, I noticed on the RF-7's that the whole piece starts out strained sounding, like the singer's voice, and the sound stage is really small/compressed, like its' trying to get out of its' boxl; however, by the time I went to make a note, the sound stage, like the vocal, had become much more spacious, spread-out and defined...I hadn't initially noticed that on the CW's...

Thanks! If that's the case, when folks are talking about SET, then they're talking about running in class-A...is there a difference between folks getting really low power from their SET amps or say a kt-88 amp running triode?

I loaded the demo onto my server and played it back thru my CWIIIs. I think folks are right about the starting vocal sounding a bit to forcedreminded me of Rock Star: Supernova, but it settles down as the song progresses into a kinda teutonic Motown and does some nice keyboard stuff. Reminds me of a cross between Motown, Procol Harum and Judas PriestI could get into grooving on it, especially if you open the mix so you get the soundstage say on The Sad Wings of Destiny (Duke, isnt that 70s???) and cleaned up the vocals in a way that the listener understands the nuisances of whats being said without losing the style. Id also like to hear a hot guitar lead somewhere in there tooit sounds like youre running a Christian theme through your whole project or are you thinking in terms of universal guardians of all thats good and true? Id like to hear more stuff and Ill let you know what I think when I can play it back over my RF-7s with Denon HT amp..[H]. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> In terms of using RF-7s for studio monitors, I asked this question before. Even though the boys mix is rough, it reminds me of what I hear in stuff from the 60-70s (i.e. Love, Big Brother, Jade Warrior, early Grand Funk) where everything is real crisp, clear, and stands out a bit better, unlike what I hear in mixes from the 80s on. I wonder how much of that has to do with the RF-7s? It makes me wonder how much stuff released today designed to play in cars and on low-end equipment doesnt sound as good over RF-7s and other high-end speakers? Im also intrigued as to why RF-7s are becoming cult like in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Germany? The other question is why would RF-7's be used over Heritage speakers...Klipschorns and CW's have been used for monitors, correct?

What's the difference between SET and Triode mode? It sounds like they are the same, but I don't seem to see the terms used in the same sense... Thanks for any elucidations...

Glenn -- A big thanks for taking the time to record this event and putting together videos for those of us who couldn't attend! Best...Hopkins

Drag therapy, eh???

Thanks Travis! He wanted either $900 or $950 for the Technics 1500US. He's got a bit more work to do on it and told me that he thought it and the Tascam 32 were pretty much neck-to-neck in terms of recording quality. On the other hand, the Technics was a bit more delicate and didn't do well if moved around alot.... The B-77 he has is a quarter-track and he's asking $550 for it (he's still working on it...). I decided on this one, since it looked like a tank and was in good shape. I'm thinking with its' frequency response range, it'd make a good mastering rig for any studio stuff and give me a good 1/2 track machine.... There's a couple of Technics on e-bay...given the price he charges for a tuned-up machine, I'm thinking of trying my hand at getting one fairly inexpensive and working with him to rehabilitate it. That would give me a machine that plays 1/4 tracks and 1/2 tracks down the road. I'll let you know how I do with this one. It turns out that I can't get over to Fremont...concern about me driving that far on my own with my pain meds on board...Given that your familiar with him, I feel better about getting this machine from him.

So I ended up getting this machine... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200035695080&rd=1&rd=1 I thought at first its a high price, but on the other hand, its' ready to go, serviced and calibrated. Turns out this gentleman is right across the bay and can also provide support, etc...and I can also save on shipping. He's a recording engineer and this is his hobby. He also has a Technics 1500 and Revox B-77 that I might shift gears on when I go to see him next Sunday morning....

Hey all, fyi, I just received this and thought I'd pass along for those interested in the question of using marijuana for pain. GWPharm's Sativex may be in a pharmacy near you in the not so far future....http://www.gwpharm.com/news_press_releases.asp?id=/gwp/pressreleases/currentpress/2006-10-19/ GW Pharm stock was the very first stock I ever bought...that's another story... Best...Hopkins

So I've lost out so far on my bid for the Technics 1500us. Anybody have any recommendations on good sources of for Reel-to-reel decks beside e-bay? I'm almost about to take a leap on an Otari MX5050, but doubt that I'll meet the reserve....

Unfortunately Bud's succumbed to changing economics...Noe's great to live in. I didn't grow up here...transplant from Oregon. SF's been fun place for me to live, but its' definitely not everyones' cup of tea... Ben...I just read that BASF and Ampex put out white papers in the thread that Travis directed me to above. I suspect he or Duke can give you more details...sounds like baking at 225 for ? hours will stabilize your tape for a few plays so you can transfer to another tape...binder issues in the tape's make-up. If I don't watch out, I could end up with 3 machines...the Technics, a Revox B-77 MKII and a Otari 5150....yikes. Its' too easy to get lost in audio...

Thanks Daddy Dee...the forum has steered in the right direction and its' always appreciated. My needs are somewhere between Peach and Merlin....I don't need the HT/Impedence stuff, but would like 4 inputs making the Peach my option... I thought about jumping and getting a Merlin, but I know I'd be unhappy with only three inputs.

Thanks for the tip Duke! Baking is for rescuing then.... Travis, I live in an area called Noe Valley...a recent Animal Planet show referred to it as a suburb of San Francisco, which made us laugh a lot!

Thanks Travis! I stand corrected and have been finding all kinds of kewl stuff here!!!!

Hey Duke -- I agree with you about the digital conversion. Now that I've got a bit of time, I'm thinking that I'd much rather collect tape then vinyl for my retro vib...[8-|] I remembered recording all of my vinyl albums on tape to save on wear and started to get a hankering for the soft compression you get with a good reel deck. Truth be known, I'm also thinking it's a good tool to add to my audio equipment to "soften" a digital source if I need to. Are your Ampex tapes vinyl to reel recordings or from non-vinyl sources? Also, I thought I read that you can "bake" tape to help restore it?

I just did a search on reel-to-reel in the forum and it looks like there hasn't been any activity since 2005... I'm getting the bug to get back into reel-to-reel and have a bid out on Technics 1500US. Is anyone else doing anything with them as of late?

Thanks all! I'm putting a peach on my want list in my ever changing audio world....[8-|]

Speaking of big and expensive (not necessarily in that order): www.tuberesearchlabs.com/products/gt800.htm dref ___________________________________________________________ Wow...lots to dream about, especial the 800 watt DreFrank posted, Wow!!! If I'm reading Craig's note correctly, you've got some higher power amps that you're working on? Max, are the Tsakiridis Electra's monoblocks? I don't think I've come across them in all my web surfing for KT-88 based amps...[]

Speaking of Bottlehead, does this look like a good deal? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320037996921&rd=1&rd=1 Thanks....

Thanks gang! I'm just discovering the joys of surfing E-bay and your suggestions give me a toe hold in the literature, so to speak....[H]. I'm pretty happy with the 60-90 tube watts I currently have, but I'd be a really happy camper if I saw something go by within my price range that gave me a solid 120 watts to give me a bit more head room...[] I'm also keeping my eye out on the tube pre-amp, as I could plug it into my Rogue until I got a bigger power amp if I wanted to...