Ampex mm1000 and maintainence

AlphaDingo · 24th February 2004, 02:08 PM

I'm serioiusly considering getting a 2" 16 track ampex mm1000. Are there any resources available on how to maintain this machine or am I going to have to regularly hire a tech to do all of that stuff? Also, can some of you guys post links to used gear websites? I'm also looking for a mixer too, mainly an allen heath system 8. Thanks.

Phil Cibley · 24th February 2004, 05:06 PM

Go to: www.recordist.com and sign up for the Ampex
mailing list. Flat out the best resource for anything
Ampex. Many experienced techs and former Ampex
employees hang out there.

Berolzheimer · 24th February 2004, 11:40 PM

I used to have one of those, sometimes I wish I still did. Very punchy sounding machine, although the wow & flutter are not up to modern standards. depending on which version of the transport you have you may also find that the tape runs at a slightly different speed at the beginning of the reel than it does at the end. (on the varispeed version I think this problem was alleviated.) I maintained the one I had myself although I'm not much of a tech; I was able to keep it sounding good but I did have a recurring problem with the transport control relays.

Good luck, let us know if you get it & how it goes!

BTW Bill Schlegel at International Recording in Burbank has lots of parts for these and knows them inside-out.

International Recording Corporation
75 East Santa Anita Ave.,
Burbank, CA 91502
(818) 848 5771, fax (818) 0837
email: ircorp@earthlink.net

Wiggy Neve Slut · 24th February 2004, 11:53 PM

try and find a MM1200... the transport is slightly more stable and they still shares teh same kinda discrete transformer coupled circuitry which is what makes these machines sound so ****ing MASSIVE!!!!

im still kicking myself that i had and sold both my mm1200 16 and 24 tracks!!! DOH!

Also look for the PURC cards for seamless drop ins.

Cheers
Wiggy

Jay Kahrs · 26th February 2004, 07:52 AM

Ditto what Wiggy said.

Why an MM1000? An MM1200 or MCH JH-16 or JH-24 would run circles around it for about the same money or not that much more.

AlphaDingo · 26th February 2004, 01:59 PM

Cool. Thanks guys. I will look for an mm1200.

Wiggy Neve Slut · 27th February 2004, 01:51 AM

Jay..

AS much as i love the JH 24 and its one of my fave machines, sonically its no patch on an MM!200.

ITs a great transformerless machine with transport that WILL run rings around an MM1200 cos the transport on them is kinda archaic and 'steam driven' by comparison.

So what imsaying is... but both a 1200 for base tracks and a jh24 for overdubs and drop in cos no shit my jh 24 was THE fastest machine in the world for drops... it had some bullshit blackbox mod for dropins and it was as good as a DAW. It came from the UK and the techs out here cant make sense of it and have tried to replicate it with out success.... MCI voodoo!

Thanx
Wiggy

Jay Kahrs · 27th February 2004, 08:43 PM

No dobut an MM1200 2" 16 will run rings around a JH-24 soniclly, especially at 15ips the bottom is thick enough that you can eat with a spoon. But, the JH-24 is a cleaner deck where the MM1200 sounds a bit more rock & roll. The MCI can also punch way faster...

Berolzheimer · 28th February 2004, 12:12 AM

And then again there's this STUDER

I don't know if he has 16 track heads but I'm sure you could find some somewhere.

Groove1962 · 5th April 2005, 10:50 AM

If anyone is still looking for the Allen Heath System 8, we have a pristine condition Mark III version of the System 8. It has the full VU meter bridge and is built into a slate blue wooden producers desk that is almost 7 feet long, with 5 pre-wired patch bays, multiple snakes (TRS, Elco/ADAT) as well as a remote wall mount XLR panel. It even includes a custom made blue cover that matches the desk.

If you are interested email us: gty at cox dot n e t

We'd be happy to send pictures, or you are welcome to come by our Las Vegas studio to check it out in person.

Reptil · 28th October 2008, 05:07 PM

Ok, I can buy two Ampex mm 1000 amplifiers. (not really expensive)
I'll be using them for all kinds of things, but also want to fit as mic preamp.
Any tips? What kind of sound do these have? maintenance issues?

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24th February 2004, 02:08 PM	#1
AlphaDingo Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 489	Ampex mm1000 and maintainence I'm serioiusly considering getting a 2" 16 track ampex mm1000. Are there any resources available on how to maintain this machine or am I going to have to regularly hire a tech to do all of that stuff? Also, can some of you guys post links to used gear websites? I'm also looking for a mixer too, mainly an allen heath system 8. Thanks.

24th February 2004, 11:40 PM	#3
Berolzheimer Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: El Lay Posts: 1,966	I used to have one of those, sometimes I wish I still did. Very punchy sounding machine, although the wow & flutter are not up to modern standards. depending on which version of the transport you have you may also find that the tape runs at a slightly different speed at the beginning of the reel than it does at the end. (on the varispeed version I think this problem was alleviated.) I maintained the one I had myself although I'm not much of a tech; I was able to keep it sounding good but I did have a recurring problem with the transport control relays. Good luck, let us know if you get it & how it goes! BTW Bill Schlegel at International Recording in Burbank has lots of parts for these and knows them inside-out. International Recording Corporation 75 East Santa Anita Ave., Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 848 5771, fax (818) 0837 email: ircorp@earthlink.net __________________ Purveyor of fine sounds since 1961. My very incomplete IMDB list: My very incomplete IMDB list I'm all ears.

24th February 2004, 11:53 PM	#4
Wiggy Neve Slut Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,839	try and find a MM1200... the transport is slightly more stable and they still shares teh same kinda discrete transformer coupled circuitry which is what makes these machines sound so ****ing MASSIVE!!!! im still kicking myself that i had and sold both my mm1200 16 and 24 tracks!!! DOH! Also look for the PURC cards for seamless drop ins. Cheers Wiggy __________________ If i see another 'Which neve clone is better thread... im seriously gona go postal!!!!!!!"

27th February 2004, 01:51 AM	#7
Wiggy Neve Slut Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,839	Jay.. AS much as i love the JH 24 and its one of my fave machines, sonically its no patch on an MM!200. ITs a great transformerless machine with transport that WILL run rings around an MM1200 cos the transport on them is kinda archaic and 'steam driven' by comparison. So what imsaying is... but both a 1200 for base tracks and a jh24 for overdubs and drop in cos no shit my jh 24 was THE fastest machine in the world for drops... it had some bullshit blackbox mod for dropins and it was as good as a DAW. It came from the UK and the techs out here cant make sense of it and have tried to replicate it with out success.... MCI voodoo! Thanx Wiggy __________________ If i see another 'Which neve clone is better thread... im seriously gona go postal!!!!!!!"

24th February 2004, 05:06 PM	#2
Phil Cibley Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New York, NY Posts: 464	Go to: www.recordist.com and sign up for the Ampex mailing list. Flat out the best resource for anything Ampex. Many experienced techs and former Ampex employees hang out there.

26th February 2004, 01:59 PM	#6
AlphaDingo Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 489	Cool. Thanks guys. I will look for an mm1200.

28th February 2004, 12:12 AM	#9
Berolzheimer Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: El Lay Posts: 1,966	And then again there's this STUDER I don't know if he has 16 track heads but I'm sure you could find some somewhere. __________________ Purveyor of fine sounds since 1961. My very incomplete IMDB list: My very incomplete IMDB list I'm all ears.

5th April 2005, 10:50 AM	#10
Groove1962 Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1	Allen Heath System 8 available If anyone is still looking for the Allen Heath System 8, we have a pristine condition Mark III version of the System 8. It has the full VU meter bridge and is built into a slate blue wooden producers desk that is almost 7 feet long, with 5 pre-wired patch bays, multiple snakes (TRS, Elco/ADAT) as well as a remote wall mount XLR panel. It even includes a custom made blue cover that matches the desk. If you are interested email us: gty at cox dot n e t We'd be happy to send pictures, or you are welcome to come by our Las Vegas studio to check it out in person.

28th October 2008, 05:07 PM	#11
Reptil Gear Guru Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Uterèg statsie woar! Posts: 10,941	Ok, I can buy two Ampex mm 1000 amplifiers. (not really expensive) I'll be using them for all kinds of things, but also want to fit as mic preamp. Any tips? What kind of sound do these have? maintenance issues? __________________ For sale: BFE MK3d equaliser pair racked, Filtek equaliser last generation tight pair of mixing/mastering eqs in steel rack, with new PSU (230V) offers welcome - Woman, opening the door: Are you the police? Jake: No ma'm, we're musicians. Zymurgy's 1st Law: Once you open a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is to use a bigger can. - STOP MONSANTO DESTROYING THE PLANET !!!

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