The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

Agnew Analog Type 6112 (12" version) and Type 6114 (14" version) Reference Instruments now available. These are exceptionally accurate and extremely reasonably priced vacuum platters, developed for our Type 612 disk mastering lathe (more on that soon), but also suitable for fitting on any vintage la...

As some of you already know, I am regularly writing for an American audio magazine called Copper, published by Paul McGowan/PS Audio and edited by Frank Doris, formerly known among other things for his work at The Absolute Sound. I have recently started on what will probably be a long series of arti...

This can be easily converted for 50 Hz operation without needing to use a converter:

https://agnewanalog.com/blog/rek-o-kut-model-v-repair-and-50-hz-conversion.html

Agnew Analog Reference Instruments (https://agnewanalog.com/) now has heater wire terminals in stock, in large quantity. Available for EUR 6.00 each or EUR 10.00 for a pair, plus shipping. https://agnewanalog.com/blog/media/posts/54/responsive/cambion_micro-md.JPG DSC_4058.JPG If you need larger qua...

Up for sale is this beautiful Studer A80 RC analog tape machine for sale, in outstanding condition, fully functional and calibrated. Preview head conversion also an option to any standard required. Will ship internationally. Other tape machines also available. Please inquire for further detail by em...

A belated obituary: Tim de Paravicini passed away on December 17, 2020, aged 75, in Japan, taken by liver cancer. Although I received the sad news on the day, I was unable to write this earlier. Born in 1945 in Nigeria, Tim dedicated his entire working life in audio, having worked for a number of co...

Yes, a good amplifier is extremely important to get decent results out of any lathe and cutter head. A couple of notes regarding your setup: The depth spring looks like it is set for a rather deep cut. Why not unscrew the knurled nut a few turns instead of adding weight? The only situation where mor...

mrd, I wouldn't try any form of jewel stylus until you have figured out what is up with the weight/spring/depth. For embossing and all kinds of metallic stylii, Mike's blanks are great. Worth at least getting a pack of 7" blanks to figure out the settings with. The R8 will most probably run out of j...

mrd, Did you figure out how to connect the feedback winding on the Grampian? The Grampian will generally sound much better than a stock 1C, but requires much more power. What are you driving it with? The 1C/1D heads can be modified (as can most heads) to improve performance: https://www.lathetrolls....

Mrd, thanks. The Presto 1C is heavier than the Audax, but not that much as to radically change how the machine should work. The type of stylus and blank may make more of a difference, as will the condition/adjustment/lubrication of the pivot points of the suspension. What blanks/stylus are you using...

This is an opportunity to buy a second-hand Type 1760 for significantly less than what they cost new. Motor-rated, constant-duty, 360W transformer to run American lathes in Europe or European lathes in the USA. Tested, fully functional. From customer’s equipment upgrade leftover bits and pieces. Mor...

Not entirely related to record manufacturing, but probably still of interest to some: The vacuum tube electrochemical synthesizer Type 8001 has a built-in miniature galvanic bath, which is too small to plate records in, but the process generates interesting sounds, amplified and further processed th...

Excellent work! Although I would have preferred uncompressed WAV files for comparison, the differences can still be heard. What is the "RUBY cone"? That was the noisiest and dullest sounding of the three. The sapphire is much better, but a bit sibilant (a tip resonance or even a glue resonance?). Yo...

Many thanks, helloheathen, I'm glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your new ROK! What model is it?

Markrob, dubcutter89 and Fela Borbone, many thanks. As Fela Borbone correctly points out, a metallic bobbin is a shorted turn, so it does have an effect on the operation of the transducer system. Being stationary, as opposed to the coil former on a moving coil transducer, the effect is quite differe...

Happy New Year, lathe trolls! Many thanks, Social Roots! No need to fry the head, I can modify another one for you! Next one to show is the Presto 1-D, modified in similar ways to become a Presto 1-DA. https://agnewanalog.com/blog/presto-1-d-cutter-head-feedback-modification.html There is almost alw...

As promised, here is Soulbear's Audax R-56A, the modified feedback version of the Audax R-56: https://agnewanalog.com/blog/rebuilding-an-audax-r-56-cutter-head-with-feedback.html R1.JPG The concept is very similar to what was done with Jccc's Neumann Ms-52HA, but with the Audax head being a differen...

Thank you so much for your kind words, Jcc, Soulbear and Patric/Socialroots! The Audax head will be up next! Patrick, I find all disk recording technology, from ancient to modern, truly fascinating. I still really enjoy cutting with vintage mono heads and trying to figure out their secrets. Consider...

I have been repairing and modifying vintage mono heads for a while now and have been experimenting with different feedback concept modification. This involves new coil formers, different winding configurations and changes to the mechanical damping systems. I have had very good results on a variety o...

Diving straight into the deep waters, with a 27 minute side as a first release! Congratulations, the result looks great and that modified Presto 1-DA head sounds amazing! Keep up the good work! By the way, post a picture of the laser etching on the other side, it looks really cool and will surely gi...