Gotham Audio Studer C37 60HZ 1960’s

RogerD

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I’m almost ashamed how long it’s taken to restore this super rare deck. The tech is again working on it and I hope to have it before the winter. Gotham Audio imported 6 of these American voltage C37’s. Here is a new photo sent today..I have my fingers crossed.
 

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Ron Resnick

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Wow! Congratulations, Roger!

That looks amazing!
 

RogerD

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gian60

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This was mine i bought in 2011 with plexiglass rack made by www.therecorderman.com,completely restored in italy and part in Germany from 2 old studer technician
I had also,A 80 and the difference between them from my test is like to listen a good solid state ( A80) and Ongaku ( C37 ),same difference,i had 2 Ongaku so i know well.

Then i sold in 2016 C 37 to go on on my system and i kept A80 because the value is less

Therecorderman sell the plexiglass rack for C 37 that is very good

Studer C37 Plexiglass Trolley 1.jpg
Studer C37 Plexiglass Trolley 3.jpg
Studer C37 Plexiglass Trolley 4.jpg
 

Ron Resnick

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beautiful, Gian!
 

RogerD

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This was mine i bought in 2011 with plexiglass rack made by www.therecorderman.com,completely restored in italy and part in Germany from 2 old studer technician
I had also,A 80 and the difference between them from my test is like to listen a good solid state ( A80) and Ongaku ( C37 ),same difference,i had 2 Ongaku so i know well.

Then i sold in 2016 C 37 to go on on my system and i kept A80 because the value is less

Therecorderman sell the plexiglass rack for C 37 that is very good

View attachment 42901
View attachment 42902
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gian....like a Swiss watch,so amazing.

Mine came from RCA NYC Webster Hall...someday i’ll Be able to hear it.
 

gian60

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The sound is really amazing
If you listen modern music the bass is no good like A80 and other less old and high is little roll off vs A80 and A816 and 820
but for jazz and classic music from mid bass to mid high the sound is magic,very natural,dynamic and impressive

The price for rack i don't remember but tomorrow i ask to Fabio Liberatore,owner of therecorderman,or you can send mail to him
 

microstrip

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The sound is really amazing
If you listen modern music the bass is no good like A80 and other less old and high is little roll off vs A80 and A816 and 820
but for jazz and classic music from mid bass to mid high the sound is magic,very natural,dynamic and impressive

The price for rack i don't remember but tomorrow i ask to Fabio Liberatore,owner of therecorderman,or you can send mail to him

Perhaps you can get a tube tape preamplifier - you will get the best of the A80 mechanics with magic tube sound. Or, considering that the schematic of the C37 electronics is easily available, just ask someone to replicate the preamplifier!
 

gian60

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I did this trial in therecorderman showroom with Spectral pre and Audio Consulting amp and in my home when i had C 37 i had Kondo M7 KSL,and difference between C 37 and A 80 were same in 2 system

Never listen C 37 with CH before i sold before
 

bonzo75

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Have you tried Doshi?
 

microstrip

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Have you tried Doshi?

The Doshi has a solid state device in the input - very different from the Studer c37 E283CC input tube!

BTW, the C37 included a single solid state device - the ASZ 15 germanium power transistor in the power supply - still easily available.
 

RogerD

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Here are the capstan & reel motors all cleaned and rebuilt. Service tech Dan Zellman says he will have it finished this weekend. DE4C8AA2-2BAA-4DBF-AD9B-E25DD645867E.jpg 3126FC9C-04E1-4E43-B956-8A18C2493E9D.jpg 29F38195-4FB2-4219-B05D-8139F6295C45.jpg
 

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RogerD

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Studer C37 coming along soon to be done. I am jumping for joy! View attachment 43386

Right side switch cleaned and repaired.
 

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RogerD

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A79A3CE4-8720-4D90-A109-A09DAA14B3AC.jpg
The switching is done completely rebuilt.Now the painting of the turntable platters,testing capstan & real motors , headstack , & final alignment. Then touch up. It has been a long arduous journey.
 

RogerD

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7A3A4339-813C-477B-AE97-A22CDAE4E8ED.jpg 4F398A2C-5B15-4FE4-8FD6-82B936537EFF.jpg
Roger it is fascinating to look @ those pictures.

Bob,
Here's a new one today.Electronics recapped and rebuilt, tubes & new relays replaced that were needed.
 

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RogerD

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The "GOTHAM C37" is finally nearing a complete restoration .Should be a week or two away.You can see from the original pictures it was in need of paint and a good cleaning . I decided to restore the deck mechanically with new running parts ect, with recapped audio , power supply, rectifier, solenoids & tubes . Everything was cleaned along switches rebuilt new bearings for motors cleaned. Correct 5&7 class bearing in the running gear.New Brake assemblies including linings.Studer A80 Dark grey was used to paint the turntable platters.I am very happy now all we need is to get this home from New York City.

I was looking for information on the USA Voltage models and started this thread on the Steve Hoffman forum. I received some interesting feedback:

"Interested in finding those that know about or have knowledge of the USA version."

"Also, do remember the early Studer machines were very uncommon in the USA to begin with. Gotham Audio did import them. Just didn't sell a lot of them. The Studer B 67 was really the first Studer model to catch on in the USA. The C37 and J37 were much more common machines in Europe (they were Europe's equivalent to the Ampex 300 and 350 machines as a standard)."


"Ah, Steven Temmer. It's mute testimony to just how good the German stuff he DID sell was, since he was such a no-goodnik no one wanted to buy anything from him if they didn't HAVE to. The Studers were well made, but more expensive than Ampexes, and those were more than expensive enough."

"Indeed, Steven Temmer. A man who had a reputation of being abrasive at times."


"No, he had a reputation for being constantly abusive, combatative and out to gouge every customer as much as possible as often as possible. He signed exclusive deals with German (primarily) firms to represent them in the US and the Germans soon wanted out, but lacked the desire for what Temmer convinced them would be a long and expensive US court battle to get out of it.Several smaller US facilities wound up putting a gofer on a jet to Germany to get around Temmer."

"Steve Temmer was the US Studer importer when the J37/C37 were new machines. Nobody else could legitimately import Studer then. And Mr. Temmer was really notorious for not supporting grey market equipment. If you wanted then to buy a new J37/C37 in the USA, you had to buy it from Gotham Audio. What Burt has to say on this is extremely true. And in the day, it was cheaper to buy an Ampex 300 or 350 new then. The only major audio manufacturer I know of who ever escaped Steve Temmer's clutches for USA representation was Studer (who eventually opened their own USA branch). This attitude out of Steve Temmer and Gotham Audio is why it is so difficult to find a USA voltage Studer C or J 37 tape machine."

"Stephen Temmer and Franz Ammann, his export distributor, opened a Gotham office in Regensdorf, Switzerland near Studer’s facilities."

C37RCA RESTORED.jpg C37RCA.jpg C37RCA2.jpg $(KGrHqRHJB!FIdbZhWmkBSJ2,!QIV!~~60_57 (1).JPG
 
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RogerD

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What's the $$$ for the rack?

Ki the cost of the plexiglass rack is 1500 Euros = $1800 +500 shipping

BTW how do you like your C37? Did you find a good solution to Voltage/HZ?
 

Ki Choi

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Hi Roger,

Thanks for the C37 rack info. I had been using a Rubbermade rolling cart that fits almost perfect for C37 on the top section and a shelf underneath to place a PS Audio Power Re-generator P1000 with the Multiwave II option for going from 60Hz input AC power to 50Hz output power with me adding a 110V to 220V step up transformer inside the P1000 to feed my European C37 at 220VAC 50Hz. I can change the output frequencies in 1 Hz increment and it's been an excellent remedy for varispeed needs with some of the old tapes that were recorded with slight variance in speeds.

Congratulations on getting your US C37 finished.
 

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