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.