For your consideration is this 1966 SE CORP. / Universal Audio 18-Channel tube recording console custom-ordered by, and made specifically for, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. This absolutely legendary console was used to record Frank Sinatra , Diana Ross , Duke Ellington , Sammy Davis Jr. Tom Jones , Andy Williams , Buddy Rich , to name literally just a small splattering of everyone who performed or recorded through this magical mixer. Engineer mixing marker tape from several sessions is still adhered to the underside of this desk, denoting which channels were allocated for both Ike & Tina Turner , as well as, which 2 channels the Everly Brothers would sing through. Ordered this 1-of-a-kind console, there was literally no expense spared. This console represents the pinnacle of tube recording technology, pure and simple. Painstakingly designed and executed by Bill Putnam and John Hall, this mixer is the marriage of their respective genius: at the time there was nobody better, and no company at that moment in history even dared to be so visionary. The results are an unparalleled. This console isn’t just the pinnacle when measured by the standards at the time, which were arguably highest, but this fully restored work of art out performs anything produced since. Not merely a beautiful object, the simplicity of design is incredibly thoughtful and the layout of controls and color-coded knobs is second to only Apple’s design sensibility inspired by Dieter Rams. In many ways, this particular console is the birth of the modern recording console. Altec and the like were making baby broadcast machines, while Putnam had the foresight and fortitude to create a console with EQ’s on every channel, master summing EQs, summing filters, modern style faders, etc. Due to the cost of such an endeavor in 1966, it is estimated that only three total consoles like this were ever made. And of those three, you guessed it, only one survives: the Caesars console is not only one-of-a-kind, but it’s the last of its kind. This UA is so far beyond that of a 610 mixer with respect to fidelity and functionality, and it is undoubtedly the final stage of evolution for this kind of HiFi modern recording. Jam-packed with 38 UA 1008 pre-amps, 18 allocated for mic pres, the others for respective make-up gain on all 18 UA 508 eqs, and others for the L-C-R master Langevin 252s, this beast sounds beyond good. It is so clear, incredibly dimensional, sensitive, musically transparent, balanced and rich, there just aren’t enough kind adjectives to do it justice. Completely restored and ready for the studio, it is wired-up and working perfectly. Gallo enlisted Rob Harvey to fully restore it. I acquired it, fully restored it to 100% original, and added DB25 back panels for any modern studio application. Where original hard-wired snakes were poorly poking through the back of the console, I replaced with color-matched powder-coated plates. It includes all the necessary snakes, cabling to plug it right into your existing rig. This is a once in a lifetime piece, and will be the crown jewel of any studio in the World. Thanks for reading, please scroll down for 80+ high resolution photos. The item “1966 SE CORP UA Universal Audio Caesars Palace Tube Recording Mixing Console” is in sale since Wednesday, August 18, 2021. This item is in the category “Musical Instruments & Gear\Pro Audio Equipment\Live & Studio Mixers”. The seller is “ampexaltecakg” and is located in Los Angeles, California. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Number of Channels: 18
- Model: Caesars Palace Custom
- Number of Buses: 10
- Type: Mixing Console
- Brand: Universal Audio