RegressiveRock
Just half a pint of cherryade for me
Joined: 01/09/04
Posts: 5350
Loc: Knebworth, Herts
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1970s Harrison Desk
#289991 - 01/05/06 06:30 PM
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Before you ask, no I don't have US$20,000 swilling about at present, or have any
involvement in the sale of this desk, but I am interested, 'cos I ain't heard one
before... Harrison Desk Auction on eBay!
-------------------- Google less; read more!
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The Byre
Joined: 27/03/05
Posts: 1674
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: RegressiveRock]
#290063 - 01/05/06 08:45 PM
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It's been many, many, many years since I've used one, but from what I remember they are
very 'forgiving' and mild in their settings, but somewhat noisy by today's standards.
£11,000 is a hefty price for a big, old desk, though if it was upgraded by ADT, then it
was upgraded by the very best. ADT desks are technically better than just about
anything out there, Neve, Amek, SSL included.
-------------------- www.the-byre.com No longer Forum Member
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RegressiveRock
Just half a pint of cherryade for me
Joined: 01/09/04
Posts: 5350
Loc: Knebworth, Herts
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: The Byre]
#290068 - 01/05/06 08:57 PM
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Thanks Andy...
There's alot of upspec talk in the ad... Certainly looks pretty
anyhow.
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Google less; read more!
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Barish
Kebab Mafia
Joined: 04/03/03
Posts: 698
Loc: Istanbul, TR
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: The Byre]
#290164 - 02/05/06 06:26 AM
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Quote The Byre:
£11,000 is a
hefty price for a big, old desk...
You ain't seen the best part. That's the starter price and there is a reserve just
below $70k (£40k), which is what he claims he'd spent on refurbishing the bloody
thing.
B.
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Steve Hill
member
Joined: 07/01/03
Posts: 13140
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: Barish]
#290180 - 02/05/06 07:45 AM
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Refurbishment on that scale is strictly for dilettantes: it's like putting gold taps in
the bathroom of your rented bedsit and expecting the landlord to reimburse you for them
when you move out.
It is a beautiful beast though, and I suspect it sounds
great. Wouldn't fancy the maintenance costs myself.
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Dynamite with a laser beam...
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RegressiveRock
Just half a pint of cherryade for me
Joined: 01/09/04
Posts: 5350
Loc: Knebworth, Herts
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: Steve Hill]
#290206 - 02/05/06 08:46 AM
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Well not for me at either price, even if I had the money. But Peppermint Jam seem to like
'em... Studio A - SSL 4064 G-Series, Studio B - Custom refurbished Harrison
5632...
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The Byre
Joined: 27/03/05
Posts: 1674
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: Barish]
#290226 - 02/05/06 09:38 AM
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Quote Barish:
Quote The Byre:
£11,000 is a
hefty price for a big, old desk...
You ain't seen the best part. That's the starter price and there is a reserve just
below $70k (£40k), which is what he claims he'd spent on refurbishing the bloody
thing.
B.
It
reminds me of my house in Germany. I spent massive sums on this old large farmhouse (new
roof, stairs CH, DG, you name it!) bringing it up to spec so that I can rent it out.
Thinking of selling the bloody thing as it needs even more renovation just eith years
later I had a look at other similar properties and I have come to the conclusion that it
is worthless - well £50k max - unless I tear the beastly thing down and build a new
house. In other words an old house is still an old house and an old desk is still just an
old desk.
Conny Plank used to have one of these beasts and it is the very
design of the animal that would be the problem. Caps, faders, input transistors etc are
not the whole story. Bus voltages, summing amps, line drivers and a whole host of things
make this a noisy desk. The only way to bring this thing up to 2000 standards would be to
replace every part of the insides with modern componants and modern designs. Back in
1970, Harrisons were just the best out there, but the kind of money this guy is expecting
is just utopian.
But I bet old Gerd at ADT was happy to take his money!
Certainly a fairly reasonable modern desk like an Audient would be many times
better than this old beast - and at a fraction of the cost.
One must remember
that a really good modern mic pre can achieve SN ratios, distortion values and F responces
that just 10 years ago would have been concidered physically impossible.
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www.the-byre.com No longer Forum Member
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IvanSC
Joined: 08/03/05
Posts: 7760
Loc: UK France & USA depending on t...
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: RegressiveRock]
#290357 - 02/05/06 01:15 PM
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my brother Brian was one of the design team at Harrisons in the seventies. Find him by
googling AF4K or Brtian Carling.
As far as I know he is still in touch with
dave Harrison on a regular basis and can undoubtedly clue you in on this and many other
Harrison products. Incidentally, the biggest ever Harrison desk was one bought by the
Disney mob for one of those Sci Fi epics years ago - might have been Battlestar Galactica
or Dark Star or Black Something or...somesuch, but I know it had multiple operator`s
chairs ON RAILS for the guys to move across the desk, it was so wide!
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Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!
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Barish
Kebab Mafia
Joined: 04/03/03
Posts: 698
Loc: Istanbul, TR
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: The Byre]
#290415 - 02/05/06 02:56 PM
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Quote The Byre:
In other words
an old house is still an old house and an old desk is still just an old desk.
"No matter if you put a
golden saddle on it, a donkey is still a donkey."
A Turkish proverb.
The dude is chancing it to see if there's a fish big and stupid enough to
jump on the rotten needle.
B.
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Dagnamski
Joined: 26/04/06
Posts: 57
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: RegressiveRock]
#291173 - 04/05/06 01:02 AM
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i know i'd blow it in seconds. 
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Steve Hill
member
Joined: 07/01/03
Posts: 13140
Loc: Oxfordshire
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: RegressiveRock]
#295444 - 11/05/06 04:12 PM
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Auction ended. No bids.
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Dynamite with a laser beam...
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MadManDan
Joined: 13/09/04
Posts: 1853
Loc: Across the pond....New Yawk
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Re: 1970s Harrison Desk
[Re: Steve Hill]
#295462 - 11/05/06 04:29 PM
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The pics were great-the shot of the master section with the scope- was that a scope?-
makes an awesome desktop on my 'puter.
-------------------- Gear list: If you can't find it, grind it 
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