Nagra Stories Sound-men won’t ever tell

[ilkka313]

Aloha!

I saw a nice private collection of small tape recorders so I thought to share some pics here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Spikesoundman]

On 8/2/2022 at 6:59 AM, Mark s said:

Hi I have a nagra 3 for sale probably only suitable for spares to go to a good home, I am in Wimborne Dorset uk

 

Good morning, what is your asking price. I can only accept it in terms for a great home. I already have a mint Nagra 4.2L and the same Nagra 14STC. Thanks

[MrD]

I've been following this thread with great interest, and now , I have a question of my own :

On Reverb, there was a Nagra III-"S" for sale. The S stands for Special, I guess. A modified machine that features Echo functionality. Heads are mono.

It features the NPH prefix and was build in 1964. I got some suggestions that this was most likely an aftermarket mod, but I would like to also ask for the opinions of the experts here. There are no images from the inside of the device, but I  should have those images soon.

 

 

 

 

[ilkka313]

Aloha Nagra folks! I'm a happy owner of IV-S TC model, serial numer is 605756. Any idea about the production time for this serial number?

[ilkka313]

Oh, there's a new service, just write down the serial number and you'll get the date:

 

https://analog.nagraaudio.com/?s=

 

 

[gekeda]

Hey guys quick question. I have a Nagra 3 and a SQN 5s mixer. Can anyone tell me the best way to connect them. The cables that came with the mixed don’t seem usable with the Nagra. I tried connecting to the Nagra as I would if I connected the mixer to a digital camera (for example) and no luck. Should I be connecting the mixer to the Nagra line in banana plugs or the tuchel accessories connection?

[Spikesoundman]

Good morning, NAGRA says 14S and year  is 1987. Cheers

correction Nagra 1V-S

correction Nagra 1V-S

[The Immoral Mr Teas]

On 11/2/2025 at 6:43 AM, MrD said:

I've been following this thread with great interest, and now , I have a question of my own :

On Reverb, there was a Nagra III-"S" for sale. The S stands for Special, I guess. A modified machine that features Echo functionality. Heads are mono.

It features the NPH prefix and was build in 1964. I got some suggestions that this was most likely an aftermarket mod, but I would like to also ask for the opinions of the experts here. There are no images from the inside of the device, but I  should have those images soon.

 

 

Mr D, I missed this a couple of days ago but it indeed looks like a very interesting modification.

 

Pictures of the top (in case any differences in head arrangement and/or extras) and ESPECIALLY the sides (in case any other ins/outs from normal) would be nice to see. Curious what changes or additions, besides an 'echo head' (is this different from the playback/confidence head??) that there might be ... and who might have gone to such trouble ... and why!?

 

Thank you!

 

Jez

PS I tried every combination of its serial number on the Nagra website too and no results ... an NPH model originally however - pilot tone (with loudspeaker) which suggests it had a previous life as a film (sync) recorder before the mods.

[ilkka313]

Aloha!  I got SNN model, see the pictures. What is the model exactly, SNN, SN-S or SN-G ? Serial number is 2101, all the  text on top part and inside the case is red, no green 'battery ok' area on the meter, no adjustable ALC control and full track I suppose. Any info about the manufacturing year? I have not been able to test with sound at all. I plan to make my own mini connector to line/out pins since originals are impossible to find.  Thanks for any extra info!

 

[MrD]

On 11/4/2025 at 9:53 PM, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

 

Mr D, I missed this a couple of days ago but it indeed looks like a very interesting modification.

 

Pictures of the top (in case any differences in head arrangement and/or extras) and ESPECIALLY the sides (in case any other ins/outs from normal) would be nice to see. Curious what changes or additions, besides an 'echo head' (is this different from the playback/confidence head??) that there might be ... and who might have gone to such trouble ... and why!?

 

Thank you!

 

Jez

PS I tried every combination of its serial number on the Nagra website too and no results ... an NPH model originally however - pilot tone (with loudspeaker) which suggests it had a previous life as a film (sync) recorder before the mods.

Hello Mr Teas,

 

More pictures can be seen in the original advertisment : https://reverb.com/item/92756485-rare-modified-nagra-iii-s-70s

If this is indeed an aftermarket modification, it is quite well done. I hope to get some pictures of the inside soon.

 

The sn# lookup function is , I believe, not complete. For example, it does not recognise my Nagra SNN with sn#25724 

 

[The Immoral Mr Teas]

18 hours ago, MrD said:

More pictures can be seen in the original advertisment : https://reverb.com/item/92756485-rare-modified-nagra-iii-s-70s

If this is indeed an aftermarket modification, it is quite well done. I hope to get some pictures of the inside soon.

 

 

 

Please post when/if you do. Looks like it's sold now (and not surprised).

The owner - who sounded like he knew the Nagra III - also had no idea of much of the modifications ... so whilst we might figure out the 'what' we'll probably never know the 'why' ...

 

Cheers, J

[ilkka313]

On 11/5/2025 at 9:10 PM, ilkka313 said:

Aloha!  I got SNN model, see the pictures. What is the model exactly, SNN, SN-S or SN-G ? Serial number is 2101, all the  text on top part and inside the case is red, no green 'battery ok' area on the meter, no adjustable ALC control and full track I suppose. Any info about the manufacturing year? I have not been able to test with sound at all. I plan to make my own mini connector to line/out pins since originals are impossible to find.  Thanks for any extra info!

 

 

After reading all info from this site I answer to myself: This red SN-model was made in 1973. 

[MrD]

On 11/7/2025 at 2:15 PM, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

 

Please post when/if you do. Looks like it's sold now (and not surprised).

The owner - who sounded like he knew the Nagra III - also had no idea of much of the modifications ... so whilst we might figure out the 'what' we'll probably never know the 'why' ...

 

Cheers, J

 As promised, here are some pictures of the inside.

 

The first thing I noticed was a red band around the motor, saying "Angos Winke, P.O Box 85023 California U.S.A."

Turns out Mr. Winke was a HAM radio operator , callsign KC60KA. I cannot say if he is the one who has done this modification, but HAM's are usually rather good at modifiying electronic circuits.

I wrote him a message to ask more info, but found out a short while after that he passed away in 2018.

 

In any case, here are some more pictures. I dot not have a III Neopilot to compare, feel free to make any remark.

 

 

On Mr Winke's facebook, I found a photo from 1969, with this Nagra in it!

The Saint Cristoffel (patreon of the travellers) tag is visible on the recorder on the right hand side.

 

 

[MrD]

And another image here of the same recorder.

[vanalles]

What a very nice place this is !! As a new member i had to read back all the way.... Fantastic experience.... Thanks to all !

 

If you do not mind asking,  i have a small issue with my Nagra E ....  

I found this small piece inside and cannot find out where its from ( technical parts manual shows no result) 

For me, its a mystery and hopefully not misery.... 

Does anyone knows please?https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A-kmmUtOjCFVuj8wFbLFHoqloWXSzj7o/view?usp=drivesdk

Edited November 27, 2025 by vanalles
Picture was missing

[JBond]

Thank you for reading the thread.
It looks like part of the lock screw you use to open the case; your picture makes it look much larger than it is.
Open up your Nagra E  Does it look like one of the three pieces of the two lock mechanisms? 

[vanalles]

Yes indeed, it looks very big... 

The locking mechanics looks very different..

[JBond]

I knew I had seen that shape before; it was a good guess. Whatever it is, I don't think it's affecting your machine in a big way.

[dela]

It seems to be one of the brackets holding the tape path plate onto the top case that has gone astray... If it is that bracket (which it seems to be), there might also be a couple of other parts rattling around (or they have been removed already). The wire is a ground wire that is connected to a small metal brush underneath the shield plate. The brush is close to the belt, and it eliminates static noise from the (moving) belt. If you have weird crawling noise on playback, the missing brush could be the problem...

[vanalles]

Hi Dela, yes yes... You solved my mystery...how it is possible i did not see it... And as i just bought the unit, it is possible that the other missing parts are already took out ( because i cannot find other loose parts) 

How can i find out what exactly is missing? You mentioned a brush ?? 

Thank you for your support!

[dela]

Here is a photo of the brush assembly beneath the belt shield. As you can see it is really low tech (but effective): A large (ish) solder log with a brush made of a wire end almost touching the belt. I don´t know if the brush itself is that important, unless you have problems with static noise. What is more important is that the missing screw+bracket holds the drive plate assembly fixed to the case top, so I will recommend that you find a proper screw and install the bracket.

[vanalles]

Wow.... Now i see clearly what i am missing.... Is it really effective? Maybe i can fabricate a small brush with carbon fibers? The bracket is already mounted by now and feels very comfortable that al felt in place....thx again!

[dela]

I think that the best would be to just replicate the original brush, you can use a brushed up wire end (it is actually what it is). No need for doing anything fancy or using exotic materials...

[The Immoral Mr Teas]

On 11/13/2025 at 7:38 PM, MrD said:

 As promised, here are some pictures of the inside.

 

The first thing I noticed was a red band around the motor, saying "Angos Winke, P.O Box 85023 California U.S.A."

Turns out Mr. Winke was a HAM radio operator , callsign KC60KA. I cannot say if he is the one who has done this modification, but HAM's are usually rather good at modifiying electronic circuits.

I wrote him a message to ask more info, but found out a short while after that he passed away in 2018.

[....]

 

On Mr Winke's facebook, I found a photo from 1969, with this Nagra in it!

The Saint Cristoffel (patreon of the travellers) tag is visible on the recorder on the right hand side.

 

 

 

Thanks (slightly belated) so much for posting these, Mr D. Fortunately I'm not on the face book but unfortunately it means I cannot do the same detective work you've done. Angos Winke truly looks like an interesting fellow - musician, possibly composer and with considerable gadgetry skill to boot. And what a great 60's image (I hope he wouldn't be offended if I said it reminded me of the Wendy Carlos covers). Everybody please scroll up to the earlier posts for a further image plus those of the heavily modified Nagra III itself. Whomever now has that Nagra is the owner not only of a great object but of a fascinating piece of history.

 

Mr Winke has meanwhile entered into my note book in the hope we come across more clues and eventually, I dearly hope, some compositions and recordings.

 

In my Mind Palace he is already discussing the arpeggio and fugue with Carlos, Daphne Oram, David Tudor and Glenn Gould.

 

Cheers,

Jez Adamson

[gekeda]

Hi, any here familiar with SQN mixers? I got one of them basically for free and want to try it out. What cables do I need to connect it to a NAGRA 3? 
 

THANKS!