AMPEX AG 440 series tape recorders...

Ampex AG 440 series Tape Recorders - notes on buying one


Here are some things I've picked up over 35 years of 
professional audio recording on and Repairing Ampex 440's.....


First off the old Ampex 440 B and C version machines are very nice to have 

AND they usually sell cheaply...  I've seen 440 2 tracks sell for $ 50 in OK condition
	but they generally go for more than that.... 

These were the first Professional tape machines I used way back in the 70's.

They SOUND GREAT !!!  Most of the music recorded in the USA during the late 60's, 70's and 80's
	were recorded onto Ampex 440 Tape Recorders, and or the Ampex MM1000, MM1100, and MM1200
	Multi-Track machines.... that use the SAME AUDIO CARDS as the 440 does !!!

PLUS - They are usually easy to repair.  

Flux Magnetics still makes brand new heads for the 2 track versions, and may 
	make heads for the 4 track and 8 track as well.

BUT these machines are really old now, and there are some things that might be
difficult or impossible to fix easily.  So BEFORE buying a 440 please check the following !!

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1) With the machine OFF and NO tape threaded, turn each reel table by hand one way then the opposit way.
	You should feel a firm breaking in one direction, and a weak braking force in the other.

	Braking in the B and C version machines use a Torrington Clutch spindle, which allows 
	the Spindle to easily turn in one direction, but stops turning in the other.  
	This is how you get a nice firm braking in one direction and a much weaker brake force 
	in the other direction.  The side that is supplying tape to the other reel always gets a firmer 
	braking than the reel which is taking the tape up.  
	Note that each reel has some brake force on it when the reels are stopped.
	
	Many old 440's now have Torrington Clutches that are no longer working !!! 
	If you turn a reel table by hand with the machine OFF, and have NO BRAKING or 
	very weak braking in both directions odds are the Torrington Clutch is not working correctly !
	And these cannot be easily repaired... and cannot be replaced usless you can find a 
	good Ampex reel motor with a good braking system from another 440 B or 440 C.
	
	What will happen usually is that the tape will stop from the wind modes 
	- remember you rock the tape to slow it down first - by pressing the opposit
	wind button, and go back and forth to slow the reels down, and only then hit the STOP button !!!
	But what happens after you stop the reels turning is one reel will have no braking tension at all 
	and spill off tape.
	
	Sometimes this is just a brake adjustment, most of the time the Torrington Clutch is bad.
	
2) Verify the capstan turns smoothly in BOTH speeds.... especially with the SERVO Capstan versions.

	You do not need to have tape running to do this....
	Just block the tape-break arm on the Right side of the machine
	and hit PLAY.
	
	The 440 C version, with the servo motor, supplies AC power to the Capstan Control Box
	located at the back of the machine, via a Control Relay in the Transport control box
	at the front of the machine, so if the Servo capstan does NOT turn, the relay or transport 
	control system may be a fault and needing repair...  or the Capstan Card is bad, or at worst
	the Servo Capstan Motor itself may be bad.... which is very very expensive to fix.
	
3) Run good NEW audio tape on the machine.  

	The transports are simple to use, but remember you 'rock' the wind modes back and forth
	to slow the tape down in the wind modes BEFORE pressing the Stop Button !!!
	
4) Align the playback and recording system and do some test recordings on the machine.

	Please read my 'Tips on buying a Tape Recorder' pages via the Front Page link !!!
	
	Check Erasure as well....  Verify all VU Meters are working well.
	
 Verify the the Record and Repro heads still look good and are not too worn down !!! 

	Most 440's have heads that are very worn by now... and often will need replacment.
	read my 'Bad Heads' page  - link is back on the Front Page.
	
	
REMEMBER - NEVER buy a tape recorder you cannot Test, Run and Listen to !!! 

 NEVER TRUST THE SELLER.... Do your OWN tests on the machine