Legendary Altec 9200 Recording Console 1960’s PREORDER OPPORTUNITY

This 10x4 analog Altec 9200 recording console is for sale via pre-order only. The details below go in order of history, pedigree and specs. This is a fully recapped turnkey console, now in perfect working order but getting some big upgrades over the fall such as phantom power, topology upgrades, new motorized stand (looks identical to the original), new XLR/TRS companion rack and more. This is the exact same year, make and model Lady Gaga just did her last album with Dan Auerbach (console sold around a quarter million from Bradley's Barn). It's also THE console Bob Dylan, Carol King and The Beach Boys worked on at A&M in the 1960’s. Modified completion is estimated to be completed around the fall/winter of 2026, though it is currently fully functional and being used as a front end board at JML Recording Studios, 15 minutes from Manhattan NYC.

*** Message us to speak with us for further details ***

Artists to have recoded on the fabled Altec 9200 console:

• Bob Dylan
• Grateful Dead
• Joan Baez
• Ray Charles
• Dan Auerbach
• The Black Keys
• The Beach Boys
• Lady Gaga
• Cher
• The Lumineers
• Lenny Kravitz
• Herb Alpert
• Burt Bacharach
• Joni Mitchell
• Carole King
• Karen Carpenter and Richard Carpenter
• Loretta Lynn
• Conway Twitty
• George Jones
• Brenda Lee
• Gordon Lightfoot
• J. J. Cale
• Leon Russell
• Townes Van Zandt
• Booker T. Jones
• Miike Snow
• Dave Grohl
• Gotye  
• Joan Baez
• The Beau Brummels
• & more

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UPDATES:

• Feb28 - New spare parts purchased that will be included if not used: extra Langevin PSU (now recapped and working), 4 new amps, extra OEM 600 ohm faders, etc.
• March 8 - A second 9062a has been locate and purchased for the meter bridge.
• March 21 - New aluminum CNC prototype machined meter bridge to house the two new Altec 9062A "motown" EQ’s has been designed and ordered. Both Eq's have been serviced.
• April 10 - Joshua Lutz (of JML Studios) has recapped all 14 amplifiers and both power supplies (the original and the Langevin spare 24V supply). All four 9061 channel strip EQ’s are all working. All ins and out working. Grounding reworked.
• June 19th - Martin Eich of Custom Audio Labs spent roughly 60 hours on final restoration of functionality. VU meters rebuilt and working. 4 busses now working. All channels passing audio. All 10 ins and 10 outs (4 bus out, 6 line out) are fully working. Board is now fully recapped.
• July 8th - Began installing the new 9062A's and companion patch bay (via all new molex).
• Sept. 1st - Board is being used in tracking sessions and sounds great. We are waiting on the CNC shop to deliver the meter bridge and mic/line panel but other than that, board is complete and fully functional.
• Sept. 18 - New motorized stand installed and operational. Second spare PSU recapped, tested and working. New grounds added to channel strips for quieter operation.
  
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  This is a unique listing to preorder arguably one of the greatest consoles ever made. It’s estimated only 4 or 5 complete working 9200’s still exist in the wild. This is one of the only known, all original, complete working desks left in existence. It's not only one of the best sounding desks on earth but also one of extreme historical pedigree up there with Redd, Helios, Focusrite, the Trident A-Range series, etc. Rarer than even an original 80 series Neve or original API 1604/2488, as far fewer were ever made and even fewer 9200’s exist. There are even fewer 9200's in existence than there are REDD desks left, and other than the Beatles, the 9200 boasts far more historical records, as seen above.

THE HISTORY OF THE LEGENDARY 9200A CONSOLE

The Altec 9200A console was considered one of the best sounding recording consoles of all time, famously recording artists like Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Santana, Cher, Beach Boys, Grateful Dead, Frank Sinatra and more. Many of the artists above, such as Bob Dylan and Loretta Lynn, have worked on this exact 10x4 console in LA while installed at A&M studios in the mid 60’s.

The seller we procured this desk from told us that the console was originally pulled from A&M Studios in LA. From our research, there is persistent industry discussion that A&M Studios DID have an 9200A desk in 65-68, possibly '69. The board was made in CA and delivered to A&M in '65, which we have confirmed. A&M Engineers during that time also do recall this Altec 9200A 10×4 console at there before later custom Howard Holzer desks were installed in 1969 (which then lived there until 1975). This is why the Altec disappeared from records after 1969. During 65-69, while this board was active, some of A&M's biggest albums were recorded, such as Bob Dylan, Loretta Lyn and many others. The board has remained largely untouched since then, until our current restoration.

HOLLYWOOD ALTEC HISTORY

The Altec factory was based in sunny CA at the time when studios like Gold Star and Capital Studios all had Altec 9200’s consoles installed as their primary boards, due to their larger than life sound. For instance, United / Western Recorders (Hollywood) used an Altec 9200 board to record Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, The Mamas & the Papas there. Wally Heider Studios (San Francisco & LA) recorded artists on an Altec 9200 board such as Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jefferson Airplane, Van Morrison and Santana. Gold Star Studios (Hollywood) had a custom Altec 9200 board which recorded many Phil Spector productions, Beach Boys and Sonny & Cher. Fairfax Recording in Los Angeles had a wildy hotrodded Altec 9200A installed by Kevin Augunas after Sound City closed. Electric Lady in Manhattan NY then procured that same tricked out 9200 from Vintage King via Dan Auerbach, where it lived in studio D, recording the biggest records being made today such as Lady Gaga's 2025 Grammy winning Mayhem LP. Our board is becoming it’s own unique hotrod but will take it’s cues from similar boards of heavily modified structure, while retaining as much originality and aesthetic as possible of course. Additionally, it now features some incredibly rare 8-band mastering grade stereo Altec System EQ's with true bypass on each band, in addition to the pair of "motown" 9062A EQ's and four 9061 channel strip EQ's.

The Altec 9200 was often modular and heavily modified and meant to be customized for each client, built to be user serviceable. For this reason, studios famously rarely documented it. Studios also often replaced them quickly and shuffled them around from room to room due to their smaller footprint and tank-like builds. By 1970 most major rooms switched to API, Neve, Sphere, Helios, Quad Eight, Electrodynes, etc. Many 9200 desks were dismantled for modules, making a complete console like this absolutely unheard of today. Portus Barlow, who has helped me procure some rare parts for this console, also assisted in assembling a 9200 console for Ryan Adams as well as a hodgepodg, makeshift 9200 for the Black Keys that they use to this day. The black keys have been known to have been trying to hunt down an original one like this one for decades.

The Bradley’s Barn Altec 9200 console lineage, the one Lady Gaga used at Electric Lady on her last record, is of Nashville origin and was used on Bob Dylan sessions like “Blonde on Blonde." It's said he and his team loved the 9200 so much he went on to make two more albums on it.

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PREORDER DETAILS

As of July 1st 2026, this console is fully operational with temporary direct ins/outs on XLR pigtails, soon to be re-installed on a custom patch bay as seen in the pictures above. The EQ's and custom panels are being CNC'd and expected for delivery in late September. We're currently working with the worlds best techs to modify this hotrod with modern features such as direct outs and phantom power on every channel, without changing its topology or aesthetic (as much as possible). So far, we’ve spent over 50k cash on parts and bench time alone and are about 75% finished. Martin Eich of Custom Audio Labs drove to NYC from KY in June/July and lived out of JML Studios while completing all the wiring, XLR knockout-panel punching and PSU re-build. The companion rack system will live tethered next to the console and feature mic/line ins and out, phantom power switches for every channel, etc. The console stand has been replaced with a new motorized, adjustable height frame stand that looks identical to the original. We plan to be finished by the end of 2026, at which time it will be turnkey and either available for sale or removed from Reverb and installed somewhere locally. Price is subject to change at that time as well, depending on the finished outcome. We’ve been speaking with many studios about building a new room around this centerpiece but are open to a direct sale exclusively through Reverb.

CONSOLE SPECS
The board currently is wired to XLR direct in and outs, on 8’ pigtails and fully operational while we build out the phantom power network and rack panel system. All channels, amps, PSU etc are recapped and reworked where need be. We currently have procured many extra parts for it as well such as an extra Langevin PSU, two NOS Altec faders, extra amplifiers (the frame can hold up to 18 amps in a sled tray with wiring and connectivity for 8 more channels if you’d like to take it even further), extra sleds and hardware, etc. Many other spare parts will be included.

Echo sends and tape machine playback system is wired and ready but since it’s 2026 and there’s very little use for a reel-to-reel only tracking board to have a 1965 mono playback system (as it was initially designed), I have decided to focus resources elsewhere and leave those two functions wired but dead-manned. You can hook it up if you plan on using it with a 4 track machine exclusively, which you won’t :) everything else works as it should. If moved or transported, plan on having a tech professionally install it and recalibrate. This is a vintage 65 year old machine and should be treated as such upon delivery.

CHASIS REFURBISHMENT

The 65 year old glue from the frames laminate (fake wood) has come up and the wooden frame is being restored entirely. The torn green cushioned armrest is being reupholstered by local car shop with the identical material and will look brand new. The original legs are long gone, but we have found identical looking matching legs on an electronic desk-riser system that allows you to raise and lower the desk with a push of a button. The desk will run on 120v USA power.

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NOTE *** We are currently in discussions with three LFC studios locally in Manhattan NYC to install this board and build out a room around it. For this reason, this listing may disappear at any time. We reserve the right to cancel this listing suddenly with or without notice.

Reach out if you have any questions

SHIPPING & PICKUP DETAILS

We use Estedes insured continental covered truck pallet/crate delivery and can assist in arranging a delivery to any of the continental United States. Pickup in northern NJ/NYC area. Absolutely nothing is guaranteed once it leaves the property. It is highly recommended to come and do all your listening and testing on location before purchasing because bouncing around in the back of a truck on the highway somewhere, is not what vintage consoles enjoy. As you know, this board is over 60 years old and not meant to be moved. All sales are therefore final, sold as is, where is. Come test or ask for video prior to purchase. Buyer may decide or change method of transit and delivery. We are happy to work with you to arrange alternate delivery options. The listed shipping quote is a placeholder and does not reflect actual shipping cost. Thanks for looking.