Console Refurbishing & Service

Console Refurbishing & Service

If you already own or are thinking of purchasing a pre-owned classic console, you’re going to need service or restoration. Unlike fine wines, vintage consoles don’t get better with age. Electronic components generate heat, and heat is the enemy of electronic components (the Focusrite Forte at Electric Lady could heat the control room in winter by itself). What that means for vintage gear is that sooner or later those prized consoles will need service and component replacement—but will it still be the same console afterwards?

There are only a handful of audio technicians with the necessary knowledge and experience who are up to the task of vintage console refurbishing. Our Director of Technical Services, Eric Anderson, and his hand-picked team of console experts and aficionados are among the select few.

Restoration not modification

Not only does console restoration and repair require a knowledge of troubleshooting and console topology, but also an intimate understanding of the sonic character of the various classic desks, along with which components or their modern equivalents will maintain that character. In essence, after your SSL, Neve, API, Trident, or other classic console has been serviced, it needs to sound as if the original SSL, Neve, API, or Trident you have was transported forward in time to your studio, ready for long-term and reliable action.

PAD to the rescue

There are only a handful of audio technicians with the necessary knowledge and experience who are up to the task of vintage console refurbishing. Our Director of Technical Services, Eric Anderson, and his hand-picked team of console experts and aficionados are among the select few who can breathe new life into your vintage desk while maintaining its unique essence and character.

Mics and outboard spoken here

Not just limited to console repair and resurrection, our tech staff is equally versed in the care and feeding of renowned vintage microphones and outboard gear from the golden age of recording. We even maintain a supply of "new-old-stock" K47 capsules and rare VF14 tubes for your Neumann U47 and U48 condensers, T4 opto cells for your original Teletronix LA-2A, plus potentiometers, switches, wire, capacitors, and schematics for myriad classic processors—it's all here at Professional Audio Design.

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