GE - Gates console project

Transplant preamps and program amps from Gates Yard mixer into GE Chassis.

Change of plans, July 22nd, 2005.

The GE console is being put away temporarily. I've found some circuits using the 6267 for both mic and line amps that I will use for the GE when I make time to return to that project. For now, I will concentrate on rebuilding the Gates Yard mixer, now moved to its own page at:

Gates Yard Mixing Console.

Update: June 21, 2005: I haven't done much in the past month or so, other than use the Gates Yard for testing my microphones. It impresses me with how good a job it does, even without any cleaning up beyond the power supply filament transformer that blew up/melted down. I have made some decisions on what to do with the Gates preamps to allow them to fit into the GE modular console, but will run the ideas past one of my tube guru associates before finalizing plans. The two consoles, recipient and donor, are now separated so I can work on them easier. I'll post more photos soon.

I've also got pricing for the slant faced modules in case anyone else would like to pursue a similar project. Watch for more information on this in the next couple of months.

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I know, this is tampering with historical pieces. But in all honesty, the GE console was the first of their solid state models and I couldn't find anything nice being said about it sonically - and I was attracted to it because it reminded me of my old Universal Audio modular console.

I've picked up two Gates "The Yard" tube mixers from the 50s, both in pretty rough shape but workable. The first one has been completely dismantled (not shown) and the program amp recapped. The preamps, four of them, are in the process of being recapped, but that project is on hold as I believe I will redesign the pc board to fit better into the GE console modules.

The second Gates console had RCA knobs! I now have enough to pick from to make the finished piece look very nice. The second Gates has been cleaned up and checked for shorts, then fired up - it didn't work. This wasn't a surprise, it was in worse shape inside than it was outside, this being worse than the first console. In short order, one of the filament transformers went, so I put in the power supply from console 1. I also traced the power through the console and found out that preamps 1 to 3 weren't connected to ground. I ran the ground wire and presto, all channels fired up! The modules definitely need work, but what a lot of gain! Actually sounds very good considering the shape it's in. I have picked up a better Gates external power supply that I will recondition to run the new hybrid console. Hopefully this will remove the ground buzz I'm presently experiencing.

I've posted a few photos for now, I'll work on the story soon and put more chronological photos in.

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New Photos Added April 6th

My work area was crowded when the second Gates arrived, best place for it turned out to be on top of the GE chassis. The GE is from 1964, a solid state console wired for dual mono although it's listed as stereo.

An angled shot inside the Gates console. This still has the paper/cardboard covered caps. I have a bag of replacements, but plan on redesigning the pc board so recapping will wait until they're ready. The power supply nearest to the right side blew a filament transformer the day of this shot. I replaced the whole power supply with the one from the first Gates mixer. I also used the back xlr panels from the first console as they were cleaner, including their contacts. Preamp number 4 oscillates like crazy above 50% gain right now, the others work quite well. The program amp has a bit of 60 cycle hum. The gain is such that with a condensor mic a preamp runs at about 40% with the program amp about the same. This gets meter action up to about 30% on peaks! Any more gain than that and my Edirol FA-101 digital interface craps out, although the actual output from the console is still clean.

A front view. I've since moved the consoles to different locations in the room while I decide on the best way to tackle the project. I'll add more shortly. I'm expecting this to be about a 3 month project.

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