Equipment Rebuilding Services

Refurbishing and Re-designing (gasp) Classic Equipment

The delimia... refurbish, staying a close as possible to the original parts and function or re-design and keep only the best parts. For many, there is no question at all, but for me, if I wasn't getting any use out of it, it became fair game for a re-design! Example, the three pieces in the photo above, a classic Neumann, a Syncron AU7a and an Ampex MX-10. For me, the Neumann was a no brainer, fix the caps and power supply problems and enjoy the classic beauty. But the Syncron was a different story, it never sounded good, not on anything. The original design was a single FET, a few caps and a massive B+ battery. It languished in my mic locker for many years, never once making it on to a project. Finally, I put a nice new diaphram in to it, replaced the circuitry with a good tube pre and replaced the output transformer... so nothing left but the case. Now it is my everyday mic, finding extensive use on vocals and whatever else is happening. Likewise, the MX-10 was usually found in the back room, it had no phantom power, and it's gain structure was unsuited for modern recording. A quick look at the preamps found a good foundation, but we needed more flexibility. Additional tube buffer amps were employed to give four direct outputs (still high impedance though). Phantom power was added, a mic pad was added, input transformers were swapped. It has been modified many times, and has become a staple in the studio. So to refurb or re-design... you decide, we execute.

Quantum QM8 Rebuild

Here's a hybrid example. This Quantum QM8 needed some tlc. All new caps, an external power supply. That much is stock. Add to that, all new chips. A slightly modified gain structure to bring down the noise. Two EightOUT and one EightIN cards added to balance the outputs and provide a balanced patch point. Now, an everyday workhorse.