Late last year (2025), I found and bought a tape recorder in a version so unique that even Google seems unable to provide any reference.
This ‘very special’ Revox E36 was located at a large warehouse in The Netherlands. The building was filled quite literally to the rafters with pro gear. In a corner I spotted EMT 140 plate reverb – the holy grail of reverb units, built in 1957 and contained in a wooden crate weighing in excess of 300kg. It is usually priced around €10K – if you can find one on the used market.
On the dealer’s website the E36 was offered at a discounted price. Normally I wouldn’t have looked twice but my eyes spotted a rather fat capstan axle and heads that appeared full track. This was no speed conversion job by an enthusiast: the front panel clearly indicated 7.5 & 15 ips. That sealed the deal then and there.
Apparently, the seller was unaware of the full track / high speed feature: “I would have priced it somewhat more aggressively.” A good sport, he commended me for spotting what his appraisers had missed.
Inquiring about my ‘very special’ E36, the kind people at RevoxWorld near Zürich, Switzerland, informed me that on a few occasions Studer/Revox would built custom versions of their machines to meet the specific needs of a broadcaster or recording studio. My E36 is most likely such a made-to-order model intended for a Swiss radio station. There were probably no more than a few of these machines built.
According to the authoritative Revox Produktionsliste, the Revox E36 was launched in October 1961 and remained in production for only a single year during which some 6,000 units left the factory. It was succeeded by the much more famous and advanced Revox G36, the last valve-based tape recorder made by the brand.
The Plan
So far, I have taken this E36 only once out of its housing in order to check for modifications, parts replacements, non-original soldering joints, and other signs of tampering. The machine isn’t just clean inside, it hasn’t seen a soldering iron for the past 64 years. In fact, this E36 seems to have suffered only light use. The wear pattern on the heads is barely 1.5mm wide.
The plan is to keep this machine as original as possible whilst ensuring safe operation at peak performance. Some parts simply must be replaced such as the large can capacitors for the (3) motors and the power supply, the selenium rectifier bridge, and a few electrolytics in the signal path. All components taken out of commission will be stored and accompany the E36 as it continues its voyage through time.
Currently, I’m waiting for parts to arrive from the good people at Nagravox. Will be continued before long…
“I would have priced it somewhat more aggressively.”
