Cello Rescued from the wrecking Ball!

[Doug Rogers]

EASTWEST purchased the famous studios, formally known as United Western Recorders on Thursday at auction.

"Part of me just wanted to save it from the wrecking ball, as we were bidding against a real estate investment trust who would have torn it down; however EASTWEST (www.soundsonline.com) and it's premier brand QUANTUM LEAP are virtual instrument developers who have a real need for great sounding recording rooms to make even better sound and software products." said Doug Rogers, EASTWEST president and producer. Studios 1, 2, 3 and the mix room will be immediately restored to their original condition and made available to outside clients. Other studios will be retained for EASTWEST use.

The studio has been known as Cello Studios since 1999 when it was last purchased from Ocean Way. It was built over 40 years ago by the legendary Bill Putnam (UREI) and Frank Sinatra who started Reprise records there and recorded many hits in Studio 1, which is large enough to hold a 70 piece orchestra.

In addition, the studio has a mic and equipment collection that is the envy of the industry.

The studios are one of only 15 US studios featured in the book "Temples of Sound".

This will be a total 'sounds' facility, with studios, soundware and software development all under one roof.

More information about the renamed EASTWEST studios history can be found here -

http://www.studioexpresso.com/Spotli...ht%20Cello.htm

More information about EASTWEST SOUNDS can be found here -

http://www.soundsonline.com/aboutus.shtml

[Jamz]

Congrats!
The merging of new technology with the studios history makes for a great spin.
Good luck and much success.

[rickrock305]

cool, glad to hear someobody bought it to keep it as is.

[Pepe Ortega]

congratulations Doug, we want to hear new "Quantum Leap /cello sound" samples thumbsup

[drmmrboy]

Cool!!

Where's the smiley wiping his forehead, sighing, wheew...?

[mrbowes]

Nice save! I hope turns out to be a great investment for you, Doug.

[Jose Mrochek]

Awesome news!

[Resonater]

Doug,

I looked for you at the NAMM show to offer my personal congratulations, but never saw you. SO, here are my online congratulations! I hope the purchase works out well for you and the many, many friends of Cello/Oceanway/United Western.

Best wishes for a tremendously rewarding revival of this great facility and the ongoing success of the East/West business interests!

John Van Nest
Resonate Music Studios (Burbank, CA)
and former owner of
Image Recording (where you recorded the Steve Stevens' CD)

[MichaelT]

I love the quality of your products already, so I'm sure to be even more pleased!

-Mike

[Drumsound]

I am so happy that such an important part of American musical history will remain a place for making music!

Congratulations Doug!

[Doug Rogers]

Thanks everyone, we have a lot of work to do there before we move in. However, we won't alter the acoustics that made the studios famous.

If there's any interest I may post pictures of the restoration as it progresses.

- Doug

[David Herbert]

Please post pictures. David

[MusicKat]

Pictures would be great Doug! Thank you

[studjo]

Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiics we want piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiics


good to hear these news - btw somebody got to tell some stories about that Steve Stevens record - I like that guy's playing


Jo

[EveAnna Manley]

Pictures

I took my nephew there 2 years ago.........

[jayfrigo]

Thanks everyone, we have a lot of work to do there before we move in. However, we won't alter the acoustics that made the studios famous.

If there's any interest I may post pictures of the restoration as it progresses.

- Doug

I don't really need any EastWest products, but I may go buy something just to support the saving of this studio. Well done. And I think it's safe to assume we all want to see those pictures!

[De chromium cob]

Originally Posted by Doug Rogers

Thanks everyone, we have a lot of work to do there before we move in. However, we won't alter the acoustics that made the studios famous.

If there's any interest I may post pictures of the restoration as it progresses.

- Doug

No, thank YOU Doug, for saving a piece of history.... Best of luck to you and a big fat hearty welcome to gearslutz. Please keep us up on how it goes with the restoration.


PS- Great pics EveAnna!

[D Pinder]

I'm sooooooooo relieved. Thanks EW!

[Jim Williams]

Wonder why Oceanway sold, not enough biz?
Wonder why Cello sold, not enough biz?

Any bets on how long the latest business model lasts?

I want to know which bank floated the loan on this, it can be very hard convincing a bank loan officer to approve a loan on a business location with a proven failure rate.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[StoneinaPond]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Wonder why Oceanway sold, not enough biz?
Wonder why Cello sold, not enough biz?

Any bets on how long the latest business model lasts?

I want to know which bank floated the loan on this, it can be very hard convincing a bank loan officer to approve a loan on a business location with a proven failure rate.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

EastWest is hardly a failed business.

Seems to me it is that, not a bank, that will underwrite this venture.

Not that I want to presuppose what Doug is going to do with the place, but smart he certainly is.

thumbsup

[robmix]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Wonder why Oceanway sold, not enough biz?
Wonder why Cello sold, not enough biz?

Any bets on how long the latest business model lasts?

I want to know which bank floated the loan on this, it can be very hard convincing a bank loan officer to approve a loan on a business location with a proven failure rate.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Jim, must you be such a negative a** all the time ? It's my understanding that one of the reasons Allen sold the building was to avoid certain huge maintenance costs that were building up. Also, at the time of Cello's closing they were solidly booked.

As for EastWest, this may prove to be a brilliant move. If you had seen their current digs you'd know what a hugely successful company they are. Buying Cello may actually save them money in the long run. Remember they have a built in need for studios and don't have to rely on outside bookings to float the payments each month.

[Doug Rogers]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Wonder why Oceanway sold, not enough biz?
Wonder why Cello sold, not enough biz?

Any bets on how long the latest business model lasts?

I want to know which bank floated the loan on this, it can be very hard convincing a bank loan officer to approve a loan on a business location with a proven failure rate.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

Jim,

It will be run as a commercial recording studio - EASTWEST - however we aren't solely dependant on studio income as our sounds and software business is very strong. We will also be a major client of the studios.

I agree the recording studio business is a challenge these days. However, there are a few gems out there worth preserving, the really great rooms built by those with really good ears. Bill Putnam was one such individual, and an innovator in many areas of the sound and studio business.

IMO, this is America's equivalent to Abbey Road with it's acoustics and history. Anyone with a passion for sound, that had the ability to save this place, had an obligation to do so.

As soon as we get started with the restoration I'll start posting some pics. It will start with something as mundane as replacing the roof, which is pretty large.

- Doug

[pan60]

wow very cool Doug
welcome!
i look forward to some pic's
glad to see it live on!

[pan60]

Originally Posted by EveAnna Manley

Pictures

I took my nephew there 2 years ago.........

thanks EveAnna!

[Phil Cibley]

Too bad nobody like you was around when Columbia 30th Street went
belly up.

[delcosmos]

Hi Doug, Congratulations, I was in a similar situation 2 years ago, obviously not as big and expensive as yours and altough as a building was a very good investment, It has some personal value for me:
My family started this Big studio in 1979, they owned it for 7 years, until one day in 1986 they sold it because it wasn't good bussiness anymore, they couldn't handled it.
Since 1986 every day of my Life I've dreamed about this particular studio, "Golden Studios" it was for Mexico like "Cello" to USA or "Abbey" to UK.
2 years ago the owner call me saying that he wanted to sell me all the equipment because he wanted to demolish the studio to make some apartments. Thank God I was able to purchase the building, so I made the deal!!
At the beginning I was afraid because all big studios around the world were closing, but I am so lucky! Since I got this building my job increased a lot, I have 7 times more work as a producer, I don't rent it, because I don't have to..
Congratulations and thank you because you saved the memories of many people and a true Music Temple.

Best regards.

Armando Avila.
www.cosmosproducciones.com

[Rail Jon Rogut]

Originally Posted by robmix

It's my understanding that one of the reasons Allen sold the building was to avoid certain huge maintenance costs that were building up. Also, at the time of Cello's closing they were solidly booked.

No, Allen sold it because he got an offer which was too good to turn down. The studio was working fine at the time and business was good. Allen never owned the building when it was Oceanway.. he bought it purely to sell to Rick in the package deal when he sold the business at that location.

Cello filed bankruptcy. Their problems weren't lack of business.

Rail

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Rail Jon Rogut

Cello filed bankruptcy. Their problems weren't lack of business.

Rail

You leave us to speculate so I must guess, bad management?

War

[SiliconAudioLab]

Nice one Doug! Was just down there myself. Almost went the same route too!

What a way to start the new year! Best of all luck in the new studio. Looks like a great move.

Hope to see you around the forum more often too.

Michael

[SiliconAudioLab]

Originally Posted by delcosmos

Hi Doug, Congratulations, I was in a similar situation 2 years ago, obviously not as big and expensive as yours and altough as a building was a very good investment, It has some personal value for me:
My family started this Big studio in 1979, they owned for 7 years, until one day in 1986 they sold it because it wasn't good bussiness anymore, they couldn't handled it.
Since 1986 every day of my Life I've dreamed about this particular studio, "Golden Studios" it was for Mexico like "Cello" to USA or "Abbey" to UK.
2 years ago the owner call me saying that he wanted to sell me all the equipment because he wanted to demolish the studio to make some apartments. Thank God I was able to purchase the building, so I made the deal!!
At the beginning I was afraid because all big studios around the world were closing, but I am so lucky! Since I got this building my job increased a lot, I have 7 times more work as a producer, I don't rent it, because I don't have to..
Congratulations and thank you because you saved the memories of many people and a true Music Temple.

Best regards.

Armando Avila.
www.cosmosproducciones.com

Armando's not kiddin' either, Doug, check it out: http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...ight=gear+slut