Concertone

[EVBoy]

Concertone stereo tube tape recorder. Looks like a studio type. Anyone know anything about it? Is it worth pursuing?

[dr*audio]

These were very good machines. Some were mono, though. Pictures? Model#? There is some info available on the web about them. Some were made by Berlant, some by TEAC.

[KentTeffeteller]

Hi,

Most of the Berlant Concertone machines were mono. Berlant Concertone tape recorders were really semi-pro decks. Beloved of dillettantes in the day. The original ones were entirely made by Berlant in the USA. The middle period used Berlant electronics (USA made) and Teac transports made in Japan. The last of the Concertones were made in Japan by various vendors. Teac didn't officially import their decks here until 1967 (also ReVox's first year sold in the USA). All of these machines are difficult to obtain spare parts for. The early and middle period decks are usually decent performers.

[EVBoy]

The vintage fool that I am, I bought it. Here are some photos. It is a Berlant, made in L.A.

[spartanmanor]

Very nice looking piece of equipment. Does it work?

[no1maestro]

I used one, a little newer than the one you have, for location recording in the early 60s. It was solid state and was a pretty good performer. The color was unique, a light green color which was strange for the day.

This one you have looks to be a version of the old Ampex type with two mono amps. This type was copied by many manufacturers and was the standard for many semi-pro units. Good luck with it!!

[dr*audio]

Looks to be well built. The one I had was a Concertone Series 90, I think. It had TEAC heads and reel motors, a huge American mad capstan motor, and TEAC tube electronics. Even said TEAC on the pc boards. The construction was similar to an Ampex professional deck. It had 2-track heads, and balanced inputs and outputs. It's mounted in a black, Tolex covered road case. I bet somebody still has it.

[cfoster]

The Berlant series of Concertone machines are some of the best built recorders ever made. I have 3 of them (one being playback only) but, alas all are mono and have not been used in about 25 years. I always wanted a stereo model but, never found one for sale locally.

They are easy to work on and produce excellent recordings. I bought my first one (used) in 1960 and ran it quite a bit to the point of having to replace some of the heads a few years later, when I could still get them from a dealer. One day I will bring them up on a variac and service them up just because I still love them.

Clyde

[Scott_Smith]

Warren,

I have the electronics for a deck that was made by Teac, which I believe is the Concertone series 90, but I'm not sure. I can't find any photos anywhere to verify it. It is a two channel system, 5 1/4" rack mount chassis, with a combination light gray and brushed chrome front panel. Does this sound like the model you had?

(I would post photos, but don't have my camera with me at the moment).

Thanks,
Scott

Looks to be well built. The one I had was a Concertone Series 90, I think. It had TEAC heads and reel motors, a huge American mad capstan motor, and TEAC tube electronics. Even said TEAC on the pc boards. The construction was similar to an Ampex professional deck. It had 2-track heads, and balanced inputs and outputs. It's mounted in a black, Tolex covered road case. I bet somebody still has it.

[Plumberboy1]

The Pic looks like the one I had when I moved here to Glendale, AZ. Somewhere around my house is an extra reel lock, looks like brand new too! I posted some info in a previous thread.

Greg