It begins !

Welcome to my blog which I have created to document the restoration of this early seventies Neve Console.



For those just entering the room, this broadcast console came from RTE (Irelands National TV and Radio broadcaster).

RTE was awash with Neve in the late sixties and early seventies but alas, most, if not all of the compressors/limiters, consoles and pre-amps are no longer in service within RTE.

All that remains are eight original 1073 mic pre/eqs.

The rest has either been relocated or was thrown in a skip (I know, I know, I know) Yes, thrown in a skip !

This console was in one of the RTE radio studios (Studio 7) and featured a very substantial customized talk back section routed to OBs, Television Presentation and the various RTE Radio studios.

It was sold last year and since has been stripped and stored with the frame landing in (Raheny) Dublin and the modules making it to the UK.

I discovered the frame on EBay and noticed it was the RTE console (I work there!) by the telephone perched on top in the EBay picture above.

The EQs have been sold, as has the compressor/limiter and at some stage next week, I will take delivery of the remaining modules as they return home from the UK.

I think I have a suss on a compressor/limiter so all that will remain (With fingers crossed!! and aside from the cosmetics and various electronic restores) is to replace the 18, 1073 EQ modules.

So as you finish laughing, I'll leave you with some good and bad news.

The GOOD news, is that Neve has started to re-issue the 1073, rated as being just as good as the older modules, hand built and wound in exactly the same manner and remarkably similar in many ways, in fact, its an identical copy! The only unoriginal part is the audio transformer which Neve has had re-made sounding just as unique.

The BAD news, is that each one will cost me at least €2000 (If I'm lucky!), yes, so doing the math, 18 channels=18 modules X 2000 = €36,000

OH DEAR !!!!!

Not forgetting the price of the comp/limiter I may have a suss on!

So, all in all, to restore this beauty to a working, fully restored, 18 channel super duper 1969 NEVE console, will cost me in the region of.......

SIT DOWN




€40,000


Which considering, is a vintage, one of a kind, and hand built in 1969 "NEVE" console, is pretty cheap !

So in my quest to build one of the ultimate tributes to the legendary Mr Rupert Neve, I"m willing to at least give it a go.

Of course, any help with sourcing 1073's at a good price would be more than appreciated (mark@futurecodeproductions.com) and if you are loaded (With information or cash !!!! ) and like what I'm doing......HELP !!



This is how things started:



All wood stripped, sanded and three coats of clear matt varnish. The front rest has come up remarkably well and so too has the top ledge.



The wooden ends I'm going to have to re-cut so it'll be a while before we see them again.



All black panels underneath have been stripped and are ready for a re-spray. Removed and measured the scribble strip and the plan is to replace it and the "Channel LIVE" LEDs.

Most of the coms panels have been removed as has the machine control you can see in the first picture above.

I have to figure what to do with the main routing module as it houses the studio volume, headphone volumes etc on this panel.

Obviuosly, I need them, but not the custom routing as it relates to the origiinal broadcast options.

I'm trying to source a matching paint to re-spray all the blank panels and modules with. Discovered the name for the famous Neve colour is in fact RAF gun metal grey!!

So at this stage, I have a pretty good idea of how I will configure the "Restored" version of this console.



It looks like I will have room for a 19' rack on the left seem as the Talkback section won't be needed and luckily enough, most of the wiring is in excellent shape, with any of the existing relay cards (Neve b210 and b212) in pretty good shape too.

I found a pair of Neumann cards behind a blank panel that I will have to ask questions about!! (Remember, this console was custom built and had many mods in its lifetime).

I will go into the original design of this board a little more as I find out.

Next up is the scribble strip as it needs to be replaced and while I'm at it, I'm going to replace the channel "Open" LEDS located above the fader. I'm thinking LED blue (Just can't get enough of that colour !!)

More to come next week.