Analog dream machine! Here we have a 16 channel one inch tape machine in working condition. All functions tested and operational. Lightly calibrated for approximate matching of input and output levels. All channels tested and recording/reproducing. All transport operations responding as expected....
reverb.com
Let me start this thread with the link above.
A couple weeks ago, I saw a sale ad pop up on Reverb. I was in the search for one of these machines. I found this legendary piece of equipment at a great price and had my finger on the trigger and ready to purchase it.
I then started reading the description, and saw some words I thought I'd never read. The machine belonged to Jay Bennett of the alternative rock band Wilco!
I then contacted the owner, who turned out to be the up and coming rock star Neal Francis! He got me in touch with his manager, Brendan, and we got the sale good to go!
It turns out the machine was originally owned by Leroy Bach, who was the keyboardist for Wilco, and he used it in their famous Loft studio for first demos of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, their breakthrough album.
After Jay Bennett's departure from Wilco, Leroy Bach sold it to him and it was used in his Pieholden Suite Sound Studio with engineer Matt Dewine for a while until Jay's unfortunate passing.
I do not know how Neal Francis got ownership of the machine, though I believe it was from help from Mike Novak at the Chicago Electric Piano Company.
Anyway, thanks for reading my thread!
Ryan