Turner Ultramix I (60’s preamp, reverb, tremolo)

[Psychophonic]

Does anyone have any info/diagrams for this obscure late 60s preamp/fx unit? Pot date codes indicate 1968. This particular unit works but has issues. Reverb cuts in & out depending on where the knob is set. Tremolo is a bit faint and the rate is crazy fast. Was pleasantly surprised at the amount of overdrive/fuzz with the gain cranked up. Actually sounds great upon first listen/test.

I had an old MXR Phaser with a crazy fast rate. Replacing one capacitor corrected the issue, so I'm thinking this unit's tremolo circuit might have a similar issue.

Without a diagram, would replacing all of the electrolytic caps be the first order of business here? With the reverb and tremolo turned off, the unit seems to function fairly ok. I'm able to adjust the gain from clean to dirty, seemingly as intended.

Very cool piece here and I would love to get  it working 100% so I can use it.

The only info I have found online is a print ad from a 1970 issue of Popular Electronics magazine.

[theehman]

I'd start by replacing all those old black electrolytics.

[Rob Strand]

Reverb cuts in & out depending on where the knob is set. Tremolo is a bit faint and the rate is crazy fast.

Cool look and construction.

Sometimes the pots go bad/scratchy.   Cleaner might help it along.
Could be the case on the Reverb but maybe not on the Temolo.

There's some company history at the bottom,

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=3660

Two more names pop up Colortone  and Telex Corporation.

Didn't find anything myself.

[Jarno]

Looks fantastic! Also, in great condition after 60-odd years

[Psychophonic]

Thanks guys. I will order some caps and spray the pots. I must say, after playing through it for 30min or so, everything is working much better than the initial testing. Reverb is decent. Tremolo gets nice and choppy and sounds great, the rate control is working better. The fuzz is outstanding.

Using a stereo pedal, I plugged into inputs 1 and 2 of this Ultramix. Wow. With both gain knobs dimed, the fuzz gets real thick. Line noise is surprisingly low. This thing is dreamy.

I actually scored two of these units, so I will go back and test the other one again and spend more time playing through it. I figure I'll keep one and sell the other. As cool as these are, I really don't need two of them.

The majority of the caps are 5uf 25v. I found some Sprague TE1202 caps on the bay for around $2 each. Should I be looking elsewhere? I couldn't find them at small bear.

[Rob Strand]

Thanks guys. I will order some caps and spray the pots. I must say, after playing through it for 30min or so, everything is working much better than the initial testing. Reverb is decent. Tremolo gets nice and choppy and sounds great, the rate control is working better. The fuzz is outstanding.

If the unit hasn't been used for some time the electrolytic caps can replate just by powering it up and letting it sit there for a day or two.   Similarly, playing with the pots can clean-up the track.
[I should add re-plating won't fix dry electrolyics.]

Using a stereo pedal, I plugged into inputs 1 and 2 of this Ultramix. Wow. With both gain knobs dimed, the fuzz gets real thick. Line noise is surprisingly low. This thing is dreamy.

I actually scored two of these units, so I will go back and test the other one again and spend more time playing through it. I figure I'll keep one and sell the other. As cool as these are, I really don't need two of them.

Good score getting those.   The rarity and good condition of those things is bound to be worth something.   If they sound good it's big plus too.

[Rob Strand]

I did a search on Turner TIS97  (TIS97 is one of the transistors).

I got this Mic schematic.  Turner made Mic's more than anything else.

You can see it has an AGC,
http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ACC_microphone/Turner_+3_user.pdf
http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ACC_microphone/Turner_+3B_sch_1972_+_parts_info_FR.pdf

Search Turner 2N3710
http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ACC_microphone/Turner_Expander500_sch_version_1975_1979.pdf

The schematic might give you some hints on the Ultramix circuit since companies tend to use similar patterns in their designs.   On the other hand it could be completely different.

You might dig-up some other stuff.

[Psychophonic]

I did a search on Turner TIS97  (TIS97 is one of the transistors).

I got this Mic schematic.  Turner made Mic's more than anything else.

You can see it has an AGC,
http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ACC_microphone/Turner_+3_user.pdf
http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ACC_microphone/Turner_+3B_sch_1972_+_parts_info_FR.pdf

Search Turner 2N3710
http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/ACC_microphone/Turner_Expander500_sch_version_1975_1979.pdf

The schematic might give you some hints on the Ultramix circuit since companies tend to use similar patterns in their designs.   On the other hand it could be completely different.

You might dig-up some other stuff.

Hey thanks for those links. I'm only familiar with the Turner brand by the old mics although I've never owned one.

I was curious about the AGC switch on the Ultramix. The on position seems to cut the gain but only slightly. Sounds better to my ears when it's off.

[Rob Strand]

Hey thanks for those links. I'm only familiar with the Turner brand by the old mics although I've never owned one.

I was curious about the AGC switch on the Ultramix. The on position seems to cut the gain but only slightly. Sounds better to my ears when it's off.

I guess these things are what they are.     I'm surprised how little technical info is out there considering how long the company was running.  I have a feeling there's a stash of info out there but it's stored under some secret title  .

I did manage to find this very cool history page.   Someone put  a lot of time into that.
Still no schematics for the Ultramix.

https://cbdaze.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-turner-microphone-story-and.html

It does say Turner was bought by Conrac in 1967, that's just before the Ultramix (and is on the back label) so perhaps Conrac is the name we should be using.