Ampex 351-2 restoration project

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    Thanks, @jetmaker737 I appreciate your comments.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    iaenwgqmhufe.jpg

    Artist rendition of new wood panels.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,519
    If you guys ever get to listen to a good #1,2,or 3 copy tape on a good RTR you will be in utter awe... I have had the opportunity a few times one of which, Polk member Luther ie @Wardsweb

    When I hunt what I consider true DSD recordings, I first look for those taken from master RTR.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,212
    yup.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    Here are some photos of the replacement wood panels that were made at a local woodworking company.

    7y4dwgshy3kd.jpg
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    wj5zpi7ju9mj.jpg
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    pez1dns9vqdt.jpg
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    pohwefefn2qg.jpg
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    b0p5n44e7l5w.jpg
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  • maxward
    maxward Posts: 1,715
    Very nicely bookmatched! I should know the wood, but I have to ask.
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    Thank you, the wood is kewazinga and the inlay is jatoba.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,212
    beautiful.
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,519
    edited February 2021
    Ken,
    Is this for you or a customer? Absolutely beautiful!!
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 7,598
    Thanks, no it's for me.
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,297
    This is the earliest advertisement I've seen for Ampex found in Audio Engineer 1948:

    um6vswkfwfoc.png
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  • Northamusi
    Northamusi Posts: 31
    Hi Folks: Hope all of you are well. The same friend who gave me my first Ampex 350 gave me a second one (!) and I want to do the same restoration using GAS PCBs. The problem is that Recording With GAS seems to be MIA -- no web site and no response to messages via FB or Gearspace going on two years. If anyone has a set of PCBs (power, record, and repro) that they don't need, please send a message! Thanks, Steve
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 35,212
    SeleniumFalcon wrote: »
    This is the earliest advertisement I've seen for Ampex found in Audio Engineer 1948:

    um6vswkfwfoc.png

    nice find.
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  • JayF
    JayF Posts: 3
    I'm rebuilding half a dozen Ampex tape recorders, refitting a recording studio. I'm having huge issues with the female spade connectors of the 351 boards; it's actually a major problem. They are loose, corroded and break at the slightest pressure. I know they are similar to a Faston, but they are female and slide over the edge paths. Anyone working on one of these will see this problem. Does anybody make these little gems anymore or is this a complete hardwire job I'm facing? Thanks for any help!
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,297
    edited April 2022
    The first step I use is to clean the complete wiring harness in an ultrasonic cleaner with hot water and Simple Green. Then I very carefully burnish the connectors with a Dremel tool using a fine brass wire wheel attachment. I have done the same approach on hundreds of similar Revox harnesses, so I am very careful of breaking wires. I have collected Ampex and Revox wiring harnesses, over the years, so I can replace anything that does get broken.

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  • JayF
    JayF Posts: 3
    Was able to do some slight bending and crimping with 4.8mm fastons and they'll work great in a pinch. The orginals were incredibly thin and I'll probably hardwire the connections in the future. By the way, I've rebuilt just about everything on the first of these units, including the balanced capstan -bushing bearing motor with low clearance bearings. What a great design; quiet and smooth. By the time I get done with about 10 of these, I should know all the tricks.
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  • JayF
    JayF Posts: 3
    zuv2bgn0y5ac.jpg
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,297
    a9bie5id7qm0.png


    Here's a photo of Pink Floyd in a Decca studio with an Ampex MR70 in the background. The MR70 is arguably the finest sounding tape recorder ever made, in my semi-humble opinion.
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  • dbxdx5
    dbxdx5 Posts: 1
    Great thread. I'm working on an Ampex 30750-09 version of the master electronic assembly with variable equalization (part #31172). Crucially, someone in the past modified some of the wiring coming from the variable eq., and I've been unable to find any schematics or photos of the stock set-up in order to reverse the mods. I believe what I need may be in this version of the manual, though I'm not 100 percent certain.

    rr6eq61s791n.jpg

    If anyone has any leads or other references before I pull the trigger on buying this manual (available on ebay), please let me know. Thanks!
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  • SeleniumFalcon
    SeleniumFalcon Posts: 4,297
    Hello,
    I would recommend sending an email to Dave Dintenfass at: www.fulltrackproductions.com he is extremely knowledgeable about anything Ampex.
    Good luck with your project!
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  • JLemons
    JLemons Posts: 1
    Hi everyone. I'm about to start cleaning one of these up. I had one for a very long time and loved it. I am a recording engineer, so I always used it as a mic amp, along with (2) 350s and (2) 600s. Over the years I got rid of all of them, except my 351. Anyways, something unfortunately happened to it while in a friend's possession, and they did the right thing and replaced it for me (although not in plug and play shape). This one is a tad different, cleaned up, it will probably be better overall, I hope. It's got all of the vital parts. But I have a couple of questions for the experts:

    1. The face plate is filthy. What did you all use to clean it? Is it aluminum?

    2. My old unit had the green(ish) boards, and this "new" one has the blue boards. What are the implications? Is one better than the other? I imagine they are from different eras? Are the green boards from older?

    3. This "new" unit has a more gold/copper/bronze looking chassis, while my old unit was dirty gray. This "new" unit as weird trap door on the undercarriage of the unit. As far as I can remember, my old unit did not have this door.

    4. If I'm to try to build a diode rectifier to replace the og selenium rectifier, to I need to follow it with any sort of resistor to compensate for the higher output voltage?

    Thank you so much for any advice. I've already ordered the Hubbell 7464V adapter to make a power cable for it. My tech told me I'd never find one and to just replace it with and IEC. So this forum and thread are already helping immensely! Thank you!
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