Vintage King overhauls historic Neve console for Power Station

Power Station New England, founded in 1995 and located in Waterford, Connecticut, has taken delivery of a historic Neve 8068 MkII console from Vintage King as part of an extensive studio expansion.

At the centre of the 2017 upgrade is the main recording space with signature 35-foot dome, four isolation spaces and the historic Studio A control room, which now features the 40-year-old Neve 8068.

Power Station NE enlisted console specialist Ed Evans to consult and oversee the restoration and modification of the Vintage Neve 8068. Evans conceived and designed all the mods for the console in collaboration with Vintage King.

"We cleaned the frame inside and out, cleaned all the wiring looms, and then we recapped and serviced every module in the desk,” explained Vintage King console technician Rich Hunt. “We cleaned all the switches and replaced all the faders with new P&G faders. We had new faceplates made, recovered the armrest, and did new woodwork on the sides."

The console was originally installed at Electric Lady Studio in NYC in 1979, and was later located at Record Plant in NYC and most recently at Pachyderm Studios in Minnesota. The console played a role in recordings by such artists as John Lennon, AC/DC, Van Halen, and Nirvana.

Power Station NE recreates the exact design and acoustics of the original Power Station in New York City, which was designed and built in 1976. Power Station was one of the most awarded recording studios in history, thanks to an acoustical design that contributed to hundreds of Gold and Platinum records.

"We put Vintage King through the ringer during its restoration and at the end of the day they knocked it out of the park," added studio director Mike DiBiase. "There is something about this console that’s just magic."

A video of the vintage Neve 8068 restoration can be viewed below:

https://vintageking.com/