NAGRAVOX MODIFIED / CALIBRATED  Made in China SIGNAL GENERATOR

Sometimes a reliable reasonable condition AF signal generator is difficult to find.  We have assessed a few signal generators over the years for our customers and this one we considered worthwhile doing some minor mods to upgrade it.  Its made in China and pretty much does most of the things its says it will do at a reasonable price.

You need a signal generator to setup and calibrate a tape recorder properly particularly the input/output and recording chains. They are also useful in fault finding and setup and testing of most analogue equipment.  

What makes this so special.  Nothing really other than its new manufactured in China and has a reasonable specification as most electronic instruments made these days have.  We simply fit a proper approved, earthed and suppressed mains socket, suppression to the power supply and calibrate the output at various frequencies very accurately so that you can use it as a reference source should you wish to check / set the calibration of your millivolt meter.  Probably a really important consideration is that we have our own instruction / user manual not one in Chinglish. The abilities of the instrument are  impressive and it is capable of doing many things. The controls are, as most digital user interfaces these days, a little complicated (multi level functionality) but once you get used to them they become easy to use - especially with our manual.  

Nagravox upgrades the mains input (IEC 320 type with proper suppression to EU / USA standards) including an earth, suppression of the PSU and adds accurate fixed loads on the outputs. We also test and calibrate certain test points in terms of frequency and level so that you can use the signal generator as a reference source for calibration of other test instruments like a millivolt meter.

 Input / output is via standard BNC connectors. The normal limited use Chinese test leads are supplied, software and a PC connector. You just need to supply a normal computer type mains connector cable so that you then have the correct mains plug for your country fitted.  Most people have these leads lying around from old computers and monitors. 

For fault finding use your fully screened oscilloscope leads as the supplied ones are limited. Otherwise you will need to get your own normal BNC connector leads and adapters to connect the signal generator to your audio device or millivolt meter via XLR or RCA connectors.

 WHY BUY FROM NAGRAVOX? 

*  My kits are relevant.    * My support is genuine and I am the only Revox and Studer service person offering it. 

NAGRAVOX SERVICE UPGRADE KITS are formulated to include all the bits likely to need replacing that are commonly related. 

These target the most likely worn or age degraded parts.

SUPPORT and HELP.  We try to incorporate most of the “confusing” or difficult aspects one needs to look out for in our upgrade kits instructional notes which we call “Service Sheets”.  We also refer you to the official factory service manuals most of which are in the public domain courtesy of Studer / Revox. As our customer we are happy to either provide you with a manual or refer you to the appropriate download site.  Further, as an after sales service, we are happy to answer any questions or difficulties you have in your repair or upgrade . We wont always know the answers but will certainly try our best to help. In any event, if we don’t know the answer it is an ideal opportunity for us to increase our knowledge and experience base and so  welcome all problems. Indeed perhaps you might share some of your innovative solutions and experiences. After all we certainly don’t know everything and welcome advice, suggestions and constructive criticism. My philosophy is that in reality their are few problems only solutions waiting to be communicated or discovered. Why do we offer this level of support?  Well as I indicated before, I do this out of a passion and I think I am right in saying so do you in your anticipated endeavors restoring your treasured vintage gear. It is in this common spirit I am happy to share my knowledge and experience with you as a customer.

ABOUT NAGRAVOX     specialists in Revox, Studer and Nagra tape recorder overhaul and upgrade kits and parts. 

I definitely DON'T consider Nagravox as a typical beady eyed Ebay vendor trying to get the highest price  and hocking anything that will sell.  Indeed ALL my kits and parts are buy it now not auction for that very reason.  I love and work with Revox, Studer and Nagra vintage gear every day. Its great equipment and I love helping other enthusiasts restore their gear. I back up everything offered with a help desk via email, phone or Skype to make sure what you buy from me works and is installed and set up the way it should be. Confusion and problems always occur on old gear but I am there to help you through it.  I don’t just sell stuff to enthusiasts - I help with solutions and make things as easy as possible whilst still retaining the high quality and integrity of the original designers. I am the only vendor that does this. Others of course may copy me, as they have already done in the last 2 years (just look at the other vendors suddenly offering overhaul kits on Ebay - hmm .... some with dubious white washing machine capacitors and below spec suppression caps !!).  I also am now re-manufacturing parts specifically for Revox, Studer and Nagra usually using small specialist manufacturers in Europe, Australia and Taiwan to my design and specifications. Some of the more complex triple can high voltage capacitors for example I personally hand make for the F36 / G36 machines and old A40 amplifiers. One enthusiast restoring a F36 said to me about a year ago - surely you cant make much money on those considering the time and effort involved? He is right of course but the satisfaction of knowing every time I sell one of those kits, a F or G36 will be brought back into this wonderful analogue world of ours, frankly tickles me pink! Revox A77 VU meters now remanufactured and better quality that the original. Motor parts such as low friction washers, shims, brake felts, lubrication felts etc - all newly manufactured for Nagravox. Solutions that make problems go away - see our new NAB deluxe overhaul kits with reel spacer disks.  GOOD IDEA - you bet. Why hasn't anyone else thought of it - who knows - its not rocket science. Will people copy me - of course - that’s life. Am I worried - no not at all - ts all good for the analogue tape enthusiast who wins all the way.  Gee - I do ramble on a bit - don’t I! 

If you are interested in our other endeavours please look at Nagravox or Laudarra.  If you want to have a chat or chin wag - comms me at Nagravox - only a pleasure.  Nagravox has a workshop and store in Sydney Australia.   Of course.. if you are ever in the vicinity please visit me  - there is always a good cup of tea or coffee and the chance of a chin wag.

Some blurb about me and why I do this.  Some people think I am a nutter!  Sometimes I might just agree!  My name is Peter Mony. I am according to the government "a senior citizen" - indeed I get to ride on all the trains, busses and ferries around Sydney for $2.50 flat fee a day (a perk of being 'old' I am told). I live in a stunningly beautiful part of the world in the Northern Beaches on the outskirts of Sydney Australia and am a tertiary qualified engineer and scientist.  I have worked in a few countries around the world for various companies in many different roles including in later years a few of my own businesses.  I love vintage audio equipment and have over the last 45 years been involved in one way or another with it.  I started Nagravox  in 2010 after 3 years of “hard thinking” (my wife thought I was asleep on the couch). I reckoned that I would love to see more of the old Revox, Studer and Nagra tape machines restored to their former glory.  I didn't want to be just another Ebay vendor hocking parts at the best price I could get for them. In 2011 I sold my specialist electronic manufacturing business Powerform Controls which was and still is successfully involved in HVAC controllers and electric motor speed control. This allowed me to have time to do those things in life which don’t necessarily have to be about making lots of money but rather being led in an ambulatory manner by ones passions.  I love playing classical guitar, classic cars and restoring old electronic gear. My wife and lovely daughters think I am nuts but they love me anyway. In 2016 I moved to a dedicated workshop and premises not far form home on the stunning Northern Beaches of Sydney.  In my “man cave”, as my dearest wife calls it, I can indulge a hobby and passion reliving my youth in the 60’s and 70’s when I was a youngster working as a recording studio technician and building valve amplifiers for friends. 

Why did I start in kits? Over the years restoring Revox's, Studer's and Nagra's and inevitably running the gauntlet of finding information and spares, the engineer in me has often asked the question.  “Why cant I just get a professional upgrade kit with all the bits and pieces that are really needed”?  There is a high degree of frustration in sifting through the hype of vendors sales talk, doubt on individual components serviceability and age and the need to shop bit by bit with many of the “bits in between” not available. One inevitably makes compromises and sometimes quick fixes often leaving a niggle of doubt and sadly sometimes not the results one was expecting or indeed all the promo hype intimated.  Service manuals are obviously great but there is always those little nuances not fully explained, aspects seemingly missing and your particular fault symptoms not listed. Inevitably I have found that with old equipment replacing just the item that is obviously faulty or worn isn't always the end of the story or quick fix one had hoped for. So, on this basis and in a spirit of doing the job properly the first time, I have put together a series of what I call upgrade kits with all the necessary bits and pieces that are likely to be worn or old and need replacing. Each kit is designed to address an important functional aspect of ones restoration or repair eg a kit for the mechanical tape handling aspects which includes not just a new fresh Revox factory sourced pinch rollers but also the guide bearings made of stainless steel (not el cheepo skate board ones). If one of these needs replacing, you can be sure a lot of the associated componentry will be in a similar condition and also soon need replacing. Doing one without the other doesn't make sense! Why fault find a leaky capacitor and replace it when its likely all electrolytic and tantalum capacitors, some of which may be 40 years old, really should be replaced despite what they may test like under low voltage test conditions.  What a hassle to have to source 50 or so odd value capacitors and then worry about the quality of cheap and nasty 'old stock' components that have been sitting on a shelf for years or fake Chinese made components! My upgrade kits are thus formulated to include all the bits likely to need replacing that are commonly related. Most of the components that make up a Revox or Nagra tape machine were top quality in their day and a fair bit of the mechanical gear with a good clean up and lube will function fabulously for another 30 years. Yes, I do and can sell individual items but would prefer that you do the job properly and upgrade functionally related sections at a time. These are the ones that will likely be degrading your tape machines performance. My full kits have written explanations and guide notes with pictures to help you. I call these Service Sheets. The bits and pieces that go into the kits have been researched extensively, assessed carefully for suitability and tested in many restorations and projects. They are not just ordinary cheap replacements but something that will last and is of an appropriate quality and grade. Capacitors I researched extensively in my previous business when I needed a high grade electrolytic with low leakage current and long term stability for a particular timer application. I went through 22 different manufacturers before eventually accepting just 2 of those as being of a suitable compliance to specification, performance and quality for the application. One was Japanese and the other Taiwanese. I have used this invaluable experience to source and put together the full electrolytic / tantalum capacitor upgrade kits. Likewise for the lubricating oil for the robust Revox and Nagra capstan motors. Don’t be fooled by some of the Ebay and internet hype. For Revox there are specific oils you use depending on how old the motor is and you do not mix them nor convert from one to the other.  For example, the PDP65 oil made by Kluber in Germany for both Nagra and later Revox / Studer capstan motors is very expensive but is the ONLY oil you should ever use on particular  motors. And, yes, you DO definitely need to lubricate despite Revox manuals being somewhat vague about it (later bulletins and in particular Studer did update and document this need for service lubrication). OK, before I digress further …. 

 

All the best with your restoration and hobby. I hope our kits and parts can help you achieve your goal of a perfectly operating Studer or Revox machine ... running like the proverbial Swiss watch! May the analogue force be with you.    

Kind Regards,

Upbeat Pete at Nagravox Australia.