thebes Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Customer gave me what appears to be an1960 or so Ampex 960 RTR. All tubes check out fine and it looks like it will start right up but as a minimum it will need new belts, and then a recap down the road. I'm also going to have to rewire the plug to get it to start since it has one of those old-timey, two rounded power prong thingy and he couldn't find the power cord. I know Ampex is well thought of, but is this particular model going to leave me in sonic bliss once I've dropped a bill or two on restoration? This is a three-head, two speed, one motor model. Here's the basic specs form the web: Freq Response 30 - 15,000 Signal to Noise 55 db Speed 3.75 & 7.5 ips Motors 1 Reels 7 inch Timing accuracy 0.2% Weight 36 lb Price $650 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 As I recall, this belongs to a vintage old-timey very mechanical (belts, linkages, and mechanical switches), very nice full-sounding item that worked pretty well for a one-motor deck. It didn't have the 3-motor electronic slickness of a Concertone, but it seems to me it stood up well to other one-motor decks like Tandberg. That's a long-standing impression, of course. It'd be interesting to rig up a power cord, but I don't know if you could get the belts any more. Then, it would be interesting to see how it sounds and functions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Fascinating. Love the look! Your question is a Travis question. Ping him. I'd be interested in his opinion. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 My opinion is to invest your money into a 3 motor deck if you really want to get into R2R decks. I would absolutely look at the Otari MX 5050 B II, you will not find a better sounding or built machine for the price you can the Otari for!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarheel Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 canyonman.....are Otari decks still made? Where would you find one if not. Sorry Marty for butting in. I would think that Ampex would make a better conversation piece.....long way from an expert though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 My opinion is to invest your money into a 3 motor deck if you really want to get into R2R decks. I would absolutely look at the Otari MX 5050 B II, you will not find a better sounding or built machine for the price you can the Otari for!!! Of course. issue with that one wouldn't be state of the art performance, but preservation of a fine vintage piece. That was my assumption about what he was after. Thebes certainly wouldn't go for a preamp with a 55db S/N if it were performance he was after. Actually, I am surprised the noise is that high. Happens to correspond with the acetate tape specs of the day and I wonder if they meant tape included. Certainly the 15k hiss was quite audible even on the best tape, but I don't recall anything like 55db electronic noise. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Hey Dave, to be honest, I'm not sure what Signal to Nose is but here's a link that goes farther into what the this means for this deck. http://www.ilk.org/~ppk/Manuals/Ampex_Misc/Ampex-960_brochure.pdf Canyonman I'm pretty sure the Otari would be out of my price range, for what would be only occasional use. I'm not actually interesting in just a vintage restoration but excellent sound, and from what Larry told me when I talked about this on the phone, the one motor versus three relates primarily to re-wind speed, which wouldn't be a big deal to me, since I could easily switch over to a cd player to turntable while it's rewinding. I'd probably use it primarily for playback I've PM Travis and hopefully he'll check in on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 I've PM Travis and hopefully he'll check in on this A wise choice...but first, a little chichi Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted October 2, 2015 Moderators Share Posted October 2, 2015 That is nice, the amplified model. I will post more in a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Make sure you get decent belts for that machine. I had about a 1965/66 model and constant problem with the belts because they would stretch and stretch and stretch and stretch and stay permanently stretched. They weren't rubber but some kind of plastic. A lot of hiss on the high end at very loud volumes. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebes Posted October 2, 2015 Author Share Posted October 2, 2015 Make sure you get decent belts for that machine. I had about a 1965/66 model and constant problem with the belts because they would stretch and stretch and stretch and stretch and stay permanently stretched. They weren't rubber but some kind of plastic. A lot of hiss on the high end at very loud volumes. JJK Good to know. I've used this guy for years now and he's been great on all the belts for my turntables, and a cassette deck I restored for a friend. http://www.vintage-electronics.net/ampex-960-belt-kit.aspx I'm a little unclear on weather you feel the belts were the cause of the high end hiss, or just an aspect of Ampex decks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) That is nice, the amplified model. I will post more in a bit I look forward to your post. I'd like to see Marty make a recording or two from some LPs, because LP "burns" seem to sound better (IMO) on a good deck with good electronics than in the flesh on a good LP player. Not sure why that's the case, but the tapes tend to sound fuller among other things. I don't know why that kind of magic appears, but I kind of predict it here if it all comes together nicely. Agreed, even after recording, it's simpler to put a needle in the groove than thread a tape on the ol' RTR, but it will be interesting nonetheless. Edited October 3, 2015 by LarryC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I'm a little unclear on weather you feel the belts were the cause of the high end hiss, or just an aspect of Ampex decks. Need more expert opinion than mine on that...but not really comprehensible as to how belts could cause hiss. Comes from the tape or the electronics. Like so many sources not a problem if the recording is good. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted October 3, 2015 Moderators Share Posted October 3, 2015 Marty, How do the heads look? I found my service manual for the 960 that I will send you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Make sure you get decent belts for that machine. I had about a 1965/66 model and constant problem with the belts because they would stretch and stretch and stretch and stretch and stay permanently stretched. They weren't rubber but some kind of plastic. A lot of hiss on the high end at very loud volumes. JJK Good to know. I've used this guy for years now and he's been great on all the belts for my turntables, and a cassette deck I restored for a friend. http://www.vintage-electronics.net/ampex-960-belt-kit.aspx I'm a little unclear on weather you feel the belts were the cause of the high end hiss, or just an aspect of Ampex decks. The belts were not responsible for the hiss. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Marty, How do the heads look? I found my service manual for the 960 that I will send you. If this is no longer viable, please object. Back in the day, the standard head check was to draw a fingernail vertically across the head. If you felt an edge it was worn. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 canyonman.....are Otari decks still made? Where would you find one if not. Sorry Marty for butting in. I would think that Ampex would make a better conversation piece.....long way from an expert though. Tarheel, Yes they are still made but, a new one is around $5000 USD. You can find them on Ebay at good prices I would start watching if you really want one, and wait for the right one at you price point. when I got mine it was $400... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Hey Dave, to be honest, I'm not sure what Signal to Nose is but here's a link that goes farther into what the this means for this deck. http://www.ilk.org/~ppk/Manuals/Ampex_Misc/Ampex-960_brochure.pdf Canyonman I'm pretty sure the Otari would be out of my price range, for what would be only occasional use. I'm not actually interesting in just a vintage restoration but excellent sound, and from what Larry told me when I talked about this on the phone, the one motor versus three relates primarily to re-wind speed, which wouldn't be a big deal to me, since I could easily switch over to a cd player to turntable while it's rewinding. I'd probably use it primarily for playback I've PM Travis and hopefully he'll check in on this. Marty, I have seen them sell from $200 to $1000 on Ebay just depends on how much you want to invest!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Travis In Austin Posted October 3, 2015 Moderators Share Posted October 3, 2015 (edited) Marty, How do the heads look? I found my service manual for the 960 that I will send you. If this is no longer viable, please object. Back in the day, the standard head check was to draw a fingernail vertically across the head. If you felt an edge it was worn. Dave The fingernail check is still the gold standard, but just where the edge of the tape rides on either side. The tape wears a grove in the head. Edited October 3, 2015 by dwilawyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Cleaning out our garage towards our move next summer and an upcoming garage sale. Found a head/guide demagnitizer I had not seen in many years. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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