All posts by gruning1

Recordings

June 23, 2015Uncategorizedgruning1

A couple of years ago Inner City Records (Music Minus One) re-released my first record “Midnight Lullabye,” which was first released on vinyl in 1981. Thanks to Irv Kratka, the prez of MMO.

For your copy, contact Music Minus One on the web www.musicminusone.com and ask them for “Midnight Lullabye.”

Hmmm…it seems like every time Word Press uploads automatic updates, the compression on my tunes gets wonky. Not sure why, but just keep in mind that it’s not my doing.

Hello there! The following are a few tunes from the most recent project. I think CDs are on their way to becoming dinosaurs so rather than kick a dead (or dying) horse I’ve decided to release all future recordings on my website. Have a listen.. If you like the tunes, feel free to burn them to CD so you can listen in your car or on your home stereo. If you want to make copies and have the financial means, I’d appreciate it if you’d send a buck or two to me at the following address: Tom Gruning, 125 Grove Street, Middleburgh, NY 12122.

In any case, I hope you enjoy these and there will be more to follow.

By the way…the following tunes are ©1999-2008 by Tom Gruning except “Where Did We Go Wrong” which is ©Rich Prezioso. This means that if you download that one you really must send me a dollar so Rich can get paid. Thanks.

I wrote this in 1999. It’s a love song.

Angelina

Several years ago my friend, the late Dennis Monroe, came to visit. I had recently moved to a small, somewhat economically depressed town in Upstate New York. As we were driving from sound check, Dennis looked around and said, “Oh, Gunther, there are a hundred songs here.” This is one of them.

Small Town USA

Rich Prezioso is a fine writer and player. Several years ago he and his wife Jacquie played me this tune and I was awestruck. But their act, Small Potatoes, is a pretty up, family friendly sort of thing and this song was, well…not so cheery. Long story short, Rich told me to do with it what I will. And I did.

Where Did We Go Wrong

A while back I decided to do an album in which all the songs were about some sort of deviant or at least non-mainstream behavior: killers, thieves, cross-dressers, etc. One night my wife said, ” you’re always writing songs about transvestites, bums and thieves. Why haven’t you written a song about ME?” So I did.

For Jo-Anne

A buddy of mine, Harold Hedberg, once asserted that every songwriter had to have at least one dead bum song. This one is gratuitous nonsense, but lots of fun.

Watermelon Time

Hmmm…what to say about this one? It’s a song about the past. Kind of a mix of nostalgia and loss.

Company of Eagles

Thanks to Alan Whitney and Martin Swinger. Alan played classical guitar, drums, and sang backup vocals on “Angelina.” Martin was the other several voices of the geezer choir on the same song.

And Speaking of the past:

2000 OLD FRIENDS Obscure Records

This is currently available. Contact me at tcs_obscure@yahoo.com and I’ll make sure you get a copy.

1996 WOODLAND Lisa Bigwood, CEG Records

I play electric and acoustic guitars and dobro on this one.

1995 LIKE NO ONE ELSE Lisa Bigwood, CEG Records

1980 MIDNIGHT LULLABYE Inner City Records IC-1119

Available at finer flea market cut-out bins everywhere. 12 songs all written by TG.

Midnight Lullabye has been re-released on CD. For your copy contact Music Minus One and ask the nice folks there to send you one. Their address is: www.musicminusone.com

Gallery 2– Metal

June 22, 2015Uncategorizedgruning1

Gallery 2 – Metalwork (be sure to look at the Audioworks Store for more pics) . It’s been a while since I added anything to the gallery. Seems like most everything winds up in the “sold” section of the Audioworks Store. I just finished one that belongs here so…

Ward Beck 124 cards with 402 EQs. It doesn’t get much nicer.

Two pair of 460M modules with an external power supply. Sweet!

Vintage Sphere 1200B modules. I was going to keep these modules for myself, but decided I shouldn’t be so greedy. Enjoy them Cody!

A lovely four-pack of Neve modules for my friend Jacob in Denmark.

Here’s the new Altec design I built for my bud Tim using the Hammond case. The green front is obviously a tip of the hat to the Altecs of yesteryear.

WOW! What else can I say? Eight Neve 3116 modules, eight 283B modules, and eight 1166 transformers. Yummy…Scott, you are one lucky recordist!

A solo Auditronics 110B I built for my bud Gary D. He wanted it extra quiet, hence the external power supply.

Another beautiful BA-72A pair. I can’t say enough about how much I like these RCAs.

Here’s a gorgeous pair of Ward Beck 441 preamps and 402B equalizers I racked for my bud Ryan E. Huge, meaty sound; I want one of these for me.

Here is a four-pack of WBS 124 modules. The bare case is from Hammond and I just picked up thirty of them. I may switch permanently. We’ll see…

altec-6-pack — This is the second Altec 9470 six-pack I’ve built. Wish I had one of my own.

joes-q-8 — Here’s a cool set of Quad Eight Westar modules I racked for my bud Joe. They sound huge.

ADM 780 four-pack — A nice four-pack of ADM 780 pres I built for my bud Erick.

Altec 9470 six-pack tiny — This is one of the original frame/racks for the Altec 9470. Tim wanted to make it more usable so I put together a front panel with polarity, pad and output pot and a pivoting rear panel to allow for repairs or modifications in the future. More pictures below.

Another RCA rack; this one is a nice pair of BA-41 (BA-72) modules.

Meters 1 — The first of two meter banks for Atlantic Records.

Meters x 2 tiny — And here they are in action at Atlantic’s new studio (still under construction) in Los Angeles.

Meters 1 back — Front and back view of this meter beast . It’s pretty impressive eye candy and the group switches make it useful as well. Fun stuff.

Teel 8-pack 2 — Another Ward Beck 490 eight-pack. Teel has the largest collection of racked 490s on the planet I think. As I recall, with these he’s up to 40 channels!!

A pair of modules from a Studer 980 console. These were a bear to rack as they’re really a bit too big to fit into a standard case. But they sure sound good.

This is my first experience with the Spectra Sonics stuff and I’m pretty impressed. Nice sounding pre-amps.

A pair of the legendary Ward Beck M600s. The front panel ON/OFF switch powers the VU meters.

A pair of six-transistor RCA BA-31A modules. Big chunky sound. Warmer than warm.

Beautiful, completely recapped pair of RCA BA-71A modules with all the options: variable source impedance, DI, as well as polarity, 20dB pad, boost, and +48V switches. They don't get much nicer than these. — Beautiful, completely recapped pair of RCA BA-71A modules with all the options: variable source impedance, DI, as well as polarity, 20dB pad, boost, and +48V switches. They don’t get much nicer than these.

Ward Beck 470s in a nice 2U case. Huge sound for anything low frequency.

I love these AM-16s for drums, but sometimes you need that extra pad, so besides the usual compliment of toys I added a two stage 15 and 30 dB pad to take the worry out of close mic-ing.

Well okay...so if you just can't get enough of the AM-16s, here's a pretty special four pack. Wired 150 ohm in and 600 ohm out, these have dual pads (15 and 30dB), polarity and +48V switches, output pots, meters with two stereo buffers, and an external power supply with room for an additional four pack. Phenomenal sounding for various sources, but a dream setup for drums. — Well okay…so if you just can’t get enough of the AM-16s, here’s a pretty special four pack. Wired 150 ohm in and 600 ohm out, these have dual pads (15 and 30dB), polarity and +48V switches, output pots, meters with two stereo buffers, and an external power supply with room for an additional four pack. Phenomenal sounding for various sources, but a dream setup for drums.

These are just too sweet. Real API 312 modules. NOT revamped 325 units. I recapped them with audio grade capacitors and put a couple of WIMAs in to replace some old ceramics, but beyond that, they're completely original factory pre-amps. Gorgeous and huge sound. — These are just too sweet. Real API 312 modules. NOT revamped 325 units. I recapped them with audio grade capacitors and put a couple of WIMAs in to replace some old ceramics, but beyond that, they’re completely original factory pre-amps. Gorgeous and huge sound.

And here's the other pair of the same vintage API modules. — And here’s the other pair of the same vintage API modules.

RCA BA-71B pair with big meters, variable source impedance, 6 dB boost, and all the usual amenities.

Altec 9470A in green as a tip of the hat to the original color combo. Great sounding preamps designed by the same fellow who brought us the Langevin AM-16.

Moniz 1 tiny — A nice WBS 460 four-pack.

A nice pair of 34700 modules from a Neve 8100 Series console.

This is a custom set of vintage API 312 modules that are set in a 500 series format, but wired in the original 300 series configuration. Erick wanted them simple and industrial looking, so I engraved minimal text on the unfinished aluminum and finished with dark filler. More pictures below:

Neve 33415 modules wired to Geoff Tanner's specifications. I also recapped with Audio Grade capacitors. These sound pretty spectacular and have a whopping 71dB of gain. — Neve 33415 modules wired to Geoff Tanner’s specifications. I also recapped with Audio Grade capacitors. These sound pretty spectacular and have a whopping 71dB of gain.

Okay...so I tend to obsess about this stuff. I figured if it worked for the Series I, it would probably work for the Series II. I like these so much better than the standard 3U thing with all the knobs and switches that don't do anything. — I just got tired of having to use 3U of real estate for Neoteks so drew a 2U front panel, got rid of the extraneous switches and pots, and here is the result; svelte and ready to make excellent sounds.

So one of my clients pointed out that the numerical markings on the previous Series IIs made no real sense. From now on I'm engraving the settings markers modeled on the text from the original Neotek front panels. — So one of my clients pointed out that the numerical markings on the previous Series IIs made no real sense. From now on I’m engraving the settings markers modeled on the text from the original Neotek front panels.

I plugged my RCA 77-DX ribbon into these 1109s and wanted to keep singing forever.

Space saving pair of AM-16 modules. If you play drums you need some of these.

Blue 72. This one is a sort of mirror image of a black set of 72s I have for sale. — Blue 72. This one is a sort of mirror image of a black set of 72s I built a while back.

Ward Beck 480C pair with meters. These sound huge. Nice vintage Daka-ware knobs too. More pics below.

I bet you've never seen a pair of these. Burgess MacNeal (Sontec) is known for wonderful mastering EQs, but he also built at least one console. These are some of the input modules all racked and ready. As you might expect, they sound great and the EQs are stunning. — I bet you’ve never seen a pair of these. Burgess MacNeal (Sontec) is known for wonderful mastering EQs, but he also built at least one console. These are some of the input modules all racked and ready. As you might expect, they sound great and the EQs are stunning.

Here’s the second pair. Yeah, I know…I remembered the on/off switch on this one. No room for the Gruning Audioworks logo. Very sad indeed.

A simple and lovely pair of Germanic mic pres.

A modified rack of WBS 490 modules heading to Texas. This is going to be a killer setup for tracking drums

These are tiny little cards that sound HUGE. I want some for myself.

A ten-pack of half size Ward Beck modules including four 472, two 462B, two 466 compressors, and two 467 noise gate/meters. Inputs and outputs are all wired parallel for flexibility.

Pristine vintage Langevin AM-16 pair in one of the black and blue series cases. Simple, elegant, classic.

Another pair of AM-16 pre-amps. Slightly different layout, but the same excellent sound.

I'm having fun with these black and blues. This is a fully feature-packed set of BA-71 pre-amps. They have the usual compliment of additions as well as a variable source impedance switch from 37.5 ohm to 150 to 600. — I’m having fun with these black and blues. This is a fully feature-packed set of BA-71 pre-amps. They have the usual compliment of additions as well as a variable source impedance switch from 37.5 ohm to 150 to 600.

Ward Beck 441 pre-amps...one of the reasons I really like my job. These sound absolutely luscious. — Ward Beck 441 pre-amps…one of the reasons I really like my job. These sound absolutely luscious.

I read somewhere that the 672A was a poor relative of the standard Telefunken 672...don't believe it! These are sweet sounding pre-amps. I want some for me. — I read somewhere that the 672A was a poor relative of the standard Telefunken 672…don’t believe it! These are sweet sounding pre-amps. I want some for me.

What can I say? These 672 pre-amps sing like birds. Absolutely gorgeous...warm and phat. — What can I say? These 672 pre-amps sing like birds. Absolutely gorgeous…warm and phat.

Well okay...so I added meters and boost switches to this one. — Well okay…so I added meters and boost switches to this one.

They don't get any nicer than this. A pair of Ward Beck Systems 124 cards and a pair of 402A EQs. The 124s are exceptional sounding pre-amps with variable impedance options. The 402s are smooth as silk. The combination is nothing short of spectacular. — They don’t get any nicer than this. A pair of Ward Beck Systems 124 cards and a pair of 402A EQs. The 124s are exceptional sounding pre-amps with variable impedance options. The 402s are smooth as silk. The combination is nothing short of spectacular.

Another pair of the WBS 124/402A combos. These have the case handles and some vintage Daka-Ware knobs on the pre-amp side. I think I may keep them.

This is the new look (Summer 2013) for WBS 460s. I'll also be doing some in different colors...stay tuned. — This is the new look (Summer 2013) for WBS 460s. I’ll also be doing some in different colors…stay tuned.

A pair of BA-72 modules. I ran out of the vintage "meatball" emblems so made one from scrap 1/8" aluminum stock. — A pair of BA-72 modules. I ran out of the vintage “meatball” emblems so made one from scrap 1/8″ aluminum stock.

Here's a beautiful sounding pair of RCA BA-71B pre-amps. I invested in a CNC machine so I can custom cut and engrave my own projects and clients' one-offs. This is one of the first series of BA-71s. — Here’s a beautiful sounding pair of RCA BA-71B pre-amps. I invested in a CNC machine so I can custom cut and engrave my own projects and clients’ one-offs. This is one of the first series of BA-71s.

This is one with which I had a hard time parting. What a marvelous sounding pair of pre-amps. I'm a sucker for the RCA germanium transistor-based equipment. More to come; stay tuned... — This is one with which I had a hard time parting. What a marvelous sounding pair of pre-amps. I’m a sucker for the RCA germanium transistor-based equipment. More to come; stay tuned…

Well okay...one more RCA box. This one has the 6dB switch for boost. — Well okay…one more RCA box. This one has the 6dB switch for boost.

Tricked out, yet still relatively uncluttered looking RCA box. The DI and +6dB switch are nice additions to the standard fare.

I just had to add one of the vintage meatball logos.

I couldn’t resist including a shot of the logo.

These modules came from a client's old Soundtracs CP6800 console. I had to butcher the mainboards to get them to fit in a 19" rack, but it worked out nicely. They sound good and have an excellent EQ section. Altogether these should prove to be great utility pres. — These modules came from a client’s old Soundtracs CP6800 console. I had to butcher the mainboards to get them to fit in a 19″ rack, but it worked out nicely. They sound good and have an excellent EQ section. Altogether these should prove to be great utility pres.

A lovely set of Calrec 1253 pre-amps...creamy and yummy sounding EQs (I racked these before the CNC machine arrived) — A lovely set of Calrec 1253 pre-amps…creamy and yummy sounding EQs
(I racked these before the CNC machine arrived)

Now here's an odd duck. These are General Electric modules, probably vintage early-1960s(?). The circuit is similar to the RCA BA-71/72 and they sound somewhat similar as well. I'm keeping a single module version because they sound great and are so cool looking. — Now here’s an odd duck. These are General Electric modules, probably vintage early-1960s(?). The circuit is similar to the RCA BA-71/72 and they sound somewhat similar as well. I’m keeping a single module version because they sound great and are so cool looking.

A nice looking pair of Telefunken 672 pre-amps and Neumann 491 EQs. This was racked by a German company and came to me for repairs/retrofits.

Neotek Series 1 modules. These have Sowter output transformers; a nice add-on.

Here's a Neotek Series II with new power supply and op-amps. What a great sounding pair of modules! I didn't build this one; it was a repair. — Here’s a Neotek Series II with new power supply and op-amps. What a great sounding pair of modules! I didn’t build this one; it was a repair.

Neotek Series I and Series II I've been doing a bunch of these lately. No wonder as they sound lovely. — Neotek Series I and Series II
I’ve been doing a bunch of these lately. No wonder as they sound lovely.

This is a vintage Gates Sta-Level compressor that I rehabbed. Smooooooth as silk.

Eckmiller EQs. Talk about odd ducks, and very heavy. Built like a German tank.

This is my Auditronics test box. It's a 110B from the early to mid-1970s. — This is my Auditronics test box. It’s a 110B from the early to mid-1970s.

Here's a set of Auditronics 110B modules racked up in one of our stock 3U cases. These sound great: they make your voice sound like an FM disc jockey from the '70s. — Here’s a set of Auditronics 110B modules racked up in one of our stock 3U cases. These sound great: they make your voice sound like an FM disc jockey from the ’70s.

Another pair of Auditronics 110s. I added trim pots, phase and pad switches to the mix.

A tricked out pair of Auditronics 110s I built for my bud Jack Miele at Fudge Recording Studio in New Orleans.

Yet another pair of Auditronics 110s. On these I began marking gain settings.

Sounds just like its EQed brother...but without the EQ. — Sounds just like its EQed brother…but without the EQ.

A tricked out pair of PM1000 modules with meters, DI, and custom output transformers.

The first run of my PM1000 boxes came out with an extra letter in the MID designations...MiID... so there are six of these known officially as the "Mild Series." We've just about worked out all the kinks on these cases. — The first run of my PM1000 boxes came out with an extra letter in the MID designations…MiID… so there are six of these known officially as the “Mild Series.” We’ve just about worked out all the kinks on these cases.

The newest version of PM1000 rack sitting on a pair of Ward Beck 470s.

This is a PM1000 eight-pack I built from master module PCB cards so they are straight mic pre-amps with phantom, pad, and phase switches, but no EQ. Each channel has the original Tamura input transformer and they sound huge.

Phase two. This one lives in my rack and one day I just decided it needed to look a bit more distinguished. I did a few adjustments in terms of function as well. Sounds great.

Ward Beck 490s in one of my (old style) standard WBS racks. The newer ones have the company logo on them and the phantom switches and main power marked.

A nice pair of Auditronics 110s in a brushed aluminum box.

Here's a picture of a pre-CNC rack of RCA BA-72As. My friend Jack, of Fudge Recording Studio in New Orleans, wanted DIs, phase switches, and +48V on both channels. This was the first of many BA-7X rack cases from Gruning Audioworks. — Here’s a picture of a pre-CNC rack of RCA BA-72As. My friend Jack, of Fudge Recording Studio in New Orleans, wanted DIs, phase switches, and +48V on both channels. This was the first of many BA-7X rack cases from Gruning Audioworks.

Here is a set of modified Yamaha PM1000 pres (one of the first pairs I racked). These things really do sound great. While a bit off the radar, so to speak, these pres have a small but enthusiastic group of supporters. They are wired such that the Echo pot is a trim. The paddle switches are phase switches and the mini toggles are +48V.

Here is another pair of the Yamahas. These sound so good I bought myself a pair and racked them up for my own studio.

And here is a 460 pair at home in its owner's rack. A truly heartwarming sight if you ask me. Thanks for the picture Alex. — And here is a 460 pair at home in its owner’s rack. A truly heartwarming sight if you ask me. Thanks for the picture Alex.

Here is one of the now discontinued 'Recycled Rack' series with an oak faceplate. That's a 461M pre and a 462A equalizer. — Here is one of the now discontinued ‘Recycled Rack’ series with an oak faceplate. That’s a 461M pre and a 462A equalizer.

RCA box with two BA-11 and two BA-1 tube mic pre-amps. This one weighed in at 48 lbs (shipping weight). This is the before picture. The "after" the facelift is forthcoming. — RCA box with two BA-11 and two BA-1 tube mic pre-amps. This one weighed in at 48 lbs (shipping weight). This is the before picture. The “after” the facelift is forthcoming.

There now...I feel better about this. Besides the obvious additions, I added VU buffers and a small extra power supply so the VU meters actually work reasonably well. — There now…I feel better about this. Besides the obvious additions, I added VU buffers and a small extra power supply so the VU meters actually work reasonably well.

A hybrid Ward Beck 490C with a PM1000 on bottom. Very nice combination of sounds.

WBS 901 mic pre-amps from a Renaissance console...now that board was an odd duck, but the pres sound surprisingly good. — WBS 901 mic pre-amps from a Renaissance console…now that board was an odd duck, but the pres sound surprisingly good.

Mike's variety pack. "FIX IT TOM!" — Mike’s variety pack.
“FIX IT TOM!”

Welcome to Gruning Audioworks

June 21, 2015Uncategorizedgruning1

Hello and welcome. I specialize in rackmounting vintage professional audio components in either metal, 19" boxes or custom hardwood cabinets. I also build 500 series compatible powered cabinets and do custom work racking and restoring vintage equipment including: Altec; Ward Beck; Auditronics; Yamaha; Neotek; RCA; Langevin; Neve; Urei; Quantum; Gates; Calrec; Telefunken; Neumann; Quad Eight and various others. Please have a look at the galleries and the Audioworks Store to see examples of my work.

Tom Gruning, rack mounting, Rackmounting, pro-audio, pro audio, Ward Beck, Yamaha PM1000, Auditronics, API 500 series, Millennium Folk, Thomas Gruning

Hello world!

June 21, 2015Uncategorizedgruning1

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