Technics RS-1520 (A Rebuild Like No Other)
Alex Dorin’s Alter Ego Appearance takes one of the top spots, with the Snowflake - Its Technics RS-1520 Open Reel Tape Deck. Alexsander Dorin Is the Creator of Alter Ego Appearance Bespoke Deluxe Tape Recorders. Alter Ego Appearance combines art with technical skill. Custom would be an understatement as each machine is its new creation; a snowflake. No two machines will ever be identical. Every part of the tape decks is rebuilt; brand new front panels (from scratch), switches, head blocks, caps, motors, and everything is rebuilt! It is basically a brand-new machine. Every single piece of this Technics 1520 has been custom-made from blocks of solid metals & alloys. Each knob, lever, pinch roller cap, face plate, head block and more was made brand new. Technics RS-1520 is a complete rebuild inside & out with new features and components. This restoration provides endless features: multiple VU meter backgrounds, improved counter, exquisite knobs, buttons and levers, bespoke NAB adapters and reels, jewellery grade raised metal lettering, aerospace grade titanium, textured coated front panel and so much more.
Technics RS-1520 Completely Rebuilt and Fully Serviced:
Heads Relapped and as NEW
Boards checked, re-soldered
Brand new front panel, switches, knobs, controls
Completely recapped
Custom-made hubs and reels
Gorgeous side panels
Brand new VU Meters
Recording and Playback perfect frequency response.
This Reel-To-Reel Tape Deck is a semi-professional machine that has great similarities to the RS-1500 but with a separate dual mono preamplifier section that features more adjustability. The Technics RS-1520 Reel-To-Reel Tape Deck is a half track record, quarter track playback deck with a switch on the headlock to change the playback head to quarter track. It has the Isolated Loop tape path developed by Technics which improves wow and flutter (.018%) as well as modulation noise. A large 34mm capstan with 2 pinch rollers makes for a very smooth and stable tape path with an electronic tension control system.
The tape tension is low compared to many other machines, so for those using older tapes with rippled edges, this may not be the ideal. A Quartz-Locked Direct-Drive Capstan Motor completed the well-designed assembly. Logic controlled electronic braking, which applies reverse torque to the motor prior to deploying a mechanical brake, results in very smooth transition between function selections and virtually no tape stretch.
Alter Ego Appearance writes: “High resolution screens as VU meter backgrounds allow to customize the appearance of this machine into any existing system. Upgraded head block. Stroboscope LED circuit with 5V amplitude and 64Hz, 128Hz, or 256Hz (depends of tape speed) removed as possible source of distortions.
Capstan speed monitored by 600MHz clock speed microcontroller and indication on counter screen. No belts in tape counter. Tape counter wheel made from aerospace grade nonmagnetic, non-corrosive 6AL4V Titanium CNC machined, polished, centered, and mounted directly on high precision encoder shaft. Encoder mounted to the face plate with precisely machined and centered adaptor. All exposed white metal parts are made from white bronze, provided by Belmont metals, Brooklyn NY. Unfortunately white bronze is jewelry grade material and coming only in forms of small dices 0,5 in size. For each metal knob, lever or roller graphite form machined, white bronze melted and formed, than CNC machined for final appearance. Weak plastic tridents and weal springs removed from reel motors. New CNC machined from white bronze and stronger springs installed.All bearings include capstan bearings replaced. Tape tensioner bearings nonmagnetic stainless steel. Every single letter on the front, top, and sides of this machine are made from silver containing alloy. Raised 0,4mm. Will shine forever. Even tape load pattern on the top is metal. Which was extremely hard to produce.
Back side of this machine made of acrylic with very simple purpose. Rubbed slightly with natural wool it attracts dust and let air go in and out. We have possibility to make back panel from any material, but acrylic demonstrates the best dust protection. Needless to say is recapped. Is recapped the hard way. Each capacitor for each channel matched using high precision lab equipment with difference no more than 0,2%.
Rebolted as well for convenience of future maintenance. Which may not happened for another decades. Precisely machined NAB adaptors from 7075-T6 aviation grade aluminum, centered, spring loaded. American white oak stabilized and dark colored with Cactus Juice, then baked and CNC machined, polished to silk like touch. Metal CNC machined protective flanges added to the top and bottom of panels as most fragile areas.
Technics RS-1520 Aereum Edition (A Rebuild Like No Other) Custom Creation By Alter Ego Appearance, USA.
This Technics RS-1520 Alter Ego Appearance Edition tape recorder - Brooklyn, USA.
