Helios / Audio Design F760 Compressors

- The Private Room, Munich, Germany

www.the-private-room.com

These are very rare discrete all-transistor compressors designed by UK company "Audio Design Recording" (ADR) for Helios. Originally installed in Berlin's famous "Hansa" studio in 1972, as part of a full Helios console. The console and compressors have been used with a number of big-name artists including David Bowie and Iggy Pop. Compressors and console now reside in the superb "The Private Room" studio, based in Munich, Germany.

These units are very similar to the F760X "Compex" compressor with a number of "quirks" in the design.

The gain variation is implemented with a FET placed in the signal path - which is a nice, fast way to implement gain reduction. There is a peak-function, with variable threshold, to catch fast transients before they get a chance to distort the transistor circuitry. The ratio settings offer a number of soft and hard knee curves with slightly varied thresholds. The ratio markings are particularly interesting - see the photos.

Needless to say, these units sound great - especially when repaired and fully calibrated.

Get in touch to have Keats Audio service your vintage studio gear!

Sola-Sound 100W Guitar Amp

- Repaired and supplied to Macraris, Charing Cross Road, London.

This is a rare 100W amplifier manufactured by Dave Reeves for Sola-Sound in the late 60s.

This closely resembles the Hiwatt build quality, as you would expect. Built at a time when the Hiwatt brand was still finding its feet.

This amp now lives in the "Macaris" shop window as a reminder of the shops rich heritage.

Fully serviced - reservoir capacitors changed, revalved, rebiased. Sounds great.

Beautiful point-to-point wiring - work carried out in such a way to preserve original build-quality and appearance.

Bring your amp back from the brink...

Keats audio has a comprehensive repair service that will deliver you with a great-sounding, reliable amplifier.

Maybe your amp used to sound great but has lost a little magic along the way... Perhaps your latest ebay purchase has just gone "bang" in a puff of smoke... Keats Audio can help!

Previously-wrecked Fender Bandmaster amp... New signal and reservoir capacitors, new mains and output transformer. Replacement NOS front panel. Now sounds as good as new, looks nice, and will offer many years of trouble-free use.