Robert Orban
May 28th 04, 01:34 AM
In article >, says...
>
>
>Vincent Piette > wrote:
>>> Why a 300?
>>>
>>I want a Ampex 300-3 (1/2" 3 track) or Ampex 300-4 (1/2" 4 track)
>>because of the sound of their recording. I don't need the parts, I
>>want the whole unit.
>
>Okay, wait, that's a different issue.
>
>You don't want a normal 300, you want a 300 configured for 1/2". That
>is an even greater rarity.
>
>Why not a 350? The 350 transport is going to sound a lot better, because
>of the reduced flutter. It doesn't have that horrific isolated capstan
>system that the 300 has. And it'll be a lot more common and a lot cheaper.
>
>The 300 is much more of a museum piece than an actual operating machine.
>There weren't a lot made since they were only a product for a fairly
>short amount of time before the 350 became available and most folks with
>them upgraded to 350s.
I came to this thread very late, but would like to add that the AG-300 was
made with the 300 transport technology well into the late 1960s; the 300
transport was not discontinued in the '50s. (I happen to have a 4-track 1/2"
version of this still sitting in my basement. It was purchased in 1968, and
is not for sale.) Because the electronics are solid state, it does not sound
like the old tube 300s.
I happen to have a ca. 1952 full-track 1/4" 300 also sitting in my basement,
although the playback electronics and head were replaced (a stereo
concersion) and I have no idea if the old mono tube electronics still work;
the machine has not been turned on in some time.
Moreover, I remember from old Harvey Radio catalog that the 300 and 350
coexisted for some time in the Ampex line. The 300 was substantially more
expensive than the 350 (by almost 50% IIRC) and was marketed as "top of the
line."
My old 300 _is_ virtually a museum piece. It was originally owned by Bell
Labs and evidently used for tape delay, as there are custom-machined guides
(to accommodate a tape loop) mounted where several of the transport mounting
screws still go. It was donated to Stanford University in 1968, and I bought
it at the time for $400. The nameplate says "Ampex Electric Company, San
Carlos, California," indicating that the machine was made before Ampex moved
to Redwood City and built their campus near the 101 freeway. This implies
that it was one of the first 300s made.
>
>
>Vincent Piette > wrote:
>>> Why a 300?
>>>
>>I want a Ampex 300-3 (1/2" 3 track) or Ampex 300-4 (1/2" 4 track)
>>because of the sound of their recording. I don't need the parts, I
>>want the whole unit.
>
>Okay, wait, that's a different issue.
>
>You don't want a normal 300, you want a 300 configured for 1/2". That
>is an even greater rarity.
>
>Why not a 350? The 350 transport is going to sound a lot better, because
>of the reduced flutter. It doesn't have that horrific isolated capstan
>system that the 300 has. And it'll be a lot more common and a lot cheaper.
>
>The 300 is much more of a museum piece than an actual operating machine.
>There weren't a lot made since they were only a product for a fairly
>short amount of time before the 350 became available and most folks with
>them upgraded to 350s.
I came to this thread very late, but would like to add that the AG-300 was
made with the 300 transport technology well into the late 1960s; the 300
transport was not discontinued in the '50s. (I happen to have a 4-track 1/2"
version of this still sitting in my basement. It was purchased in 1968, and
is not for sale.) Because the electronics are solid state, it does not sound
like the old tube 300s.
I happen to have a ca. 1952 full-track 1/4" 300 also sitting in my basement,
although the playback electronics and head were replaced (a stereo
concersion) and I have no idea if the old mono tube electronics still work;
the machine has not been turned on in some time.
Moreover, I remember from old Harvey Radio catalog that the 300 and 350
coexisted for some time in the Ampex line. The 300 was substantially more
expensive than the 350 (by almost 50% IIRC) and was marketed as "top of the
line."
My old 300 _is_ virtually a museum piece. It was originally owned by Bell
Labs and evidently used for tape delay, as there are custom-machined guides
(to accommodate a tape loop) mounted where several of the transport mounting
screws still go. It was donated to Stanford University in 1968, and I bought
it at the time for $400. The nameplate says "Ampex Electric Company, San
Carlos, California," indicating that the machine was made before Ampex moved
to Redwood City and built their campus near the 101 freeway. This implies
that it was one of the first 300s made.