AMPEX ATR800 Refurb - Kit

including LED STEREO VU METER LED REPLACEMENT and servo alignment guide

The LED replacement kit contains all the parts needed to replace the T1 lamps installed in an ATR800 stereo tape machine (and possibly others using the same VU meters). For a 4 track machine you need 2 kits, an 8 track 4 kits.

The correct T1 14v 40ma flange type bulbs in red and white are no longer available from AMPEX or other sources. At one stage there were some LED replacements from Dialight but these needed some tweaking to get the right colour balance. These are also no longer available. When they were available 6 of these worked out to $36USD plus shipping.

The lamps are critical not just because of physically fitting them in the VU meter but also length and colour balance. The ATR800 in play mode mixes 25% red (12.5% from each red lamp) and 75% white, in record mode both red lamps are at 100% brilliance which changes the VU meters from white to red.

This kit took some time to develop in R&D, with considerable fine tuning to make it an easy to assemble and install upgrade. The best part you never have to change a bulb again. The kit comes complete for 2 x VU meters and includes PCB and all parts to assemble the modules, plus spacers and new correct length mounting bolts. A 2 track ATR800 can be modified in a few hours. 

1 x SERVO Alignment Guide

The alignment guide was engineered over a long period of time trying to align the servo's on 2 and 4 track ATR-800's. Without the guide alignment is all but impossible. I ended up plotting all positions of the tape sensors and the tape tensioners on graph paper to work out the correct geometry of mechanical and electrical alignment. Those who have snapped tape on ampex recorders will realise the value of this item in the cost savings on one reel of tape you will break without it. The ATR-800 was made with Ampex electronics and a Tascam transport. In making the laser cut alignment guide I discovered that Tascam made an engineering error, the right hand side tape sensor are is out by 1mm from the left hand side one. Does not sound like much but it causes havoc in alignment. The guide comes with my notes on alignment using it. You can save days of work with this guide.