Valley Wood Studio

27/07/2025

Weekend project getting this Strathearn STM 4- the DeLorean of turntables - back up and running.

A lot of clients are opting to have vinyl releases, as have quite a few of the sessions projects I’ve performed on. So makes sense to have something working to a decent fashion to play my work back on?

Well - I thought it would be easy but ended up stripping this down completely to sort some rather odd tonearm behaviour and wonkiness. Found one of the pivot bearings was completely gone and the main lower spindle bearing was off centre. No wonder I couldn’t initially calibrate it. Fashioned one with superglue that settled in a natural concave shape and set hard, that allowed the pin to settle in nicely with the help of a little grease. The originals are the smallest bearing races I’ve ever seen! See pics.

Works great now. Rocking to REM’s Green.
Pickering X-15 cartridge in there but I’ll get the original Shure M75 E back on when I source the correct elliptical stylus.

23/07/2025

Today’s overdubs.

15/06/2025

Oh lord - now this 1974 Teac. like a tank and needed new belts and tracing a weird issue on one channel. Think the idler wheels are beyond… but hey it’s really cool!

11/06/2025

What a legacy.
My ♡ has just sunk.
Possibly the most important figure in popular music.

06/06/2025

Obvs some form of mid-life crisis going on, harking back to 80s and 90s tech but I’m having by so much fun fixing up old 4tracks - and even a lovely little 1980 Sanyo personal stereo. None of these worked when I picked them up cheap (except the light grey Fostex 250 I’ve had since 1988) - and it’s been a blast bringing them back to life and calibrating etc. Sourcing a replacement head for the badly scratched one shown was initially a worry but a scrap machine turned up!
Want to use the three dbx Tascams for student 4 Track Challenge from September.
See what they can do with a machine, tape, couple dynamics and a pair of headphones…

22/11/2024

Vocal takes and comping on a remote session…helps to keep a tab!

20/10/2024

09/10/2024

When not recording I’m always fixing something up audio/music related. Latest is this 1983 Tokai Springysound that had all its identity removed (was it nicked in the past?) and a poorly fitted Fender Squier bridge installed with narrow Fender saddles - but I had an original spare Tokai one from the period. All screw holes needed to be dowled and drilled, cracks glued and secured, scratch plates replaced and correct decal sourced. Baseplate from definitely makes the rather weak bridge better if a little microphonic to taps but not feedback thankfully. A very nice instrument now!

17/08/2024

So got to do the producing/engineering thing in THAT place yesterday making sure to take my buddies for guitar amp duties. Wonderful to catch up with who I taught 27 years ago which was awesome - couldn’t be more chuffed to catch up and hear how well doing

14/08/2024

The joys of using two Fig 8 condensers when recording a singer guitarist👍🏻 - learn your polar patterns kids!

25/06/2024

Celebrating our silver anniversary today and marked the occasion with rings by . Married 25 years ago today and Valley Wood Studio was born not long after. Heartfelt thanks to all our clients over the years who’ve kept our lives full of music ♡

16/06/2024

You can do everything on a telecaster (maybe not divebomb but a neck grapple can get a Bigsby effect!) I got this 1983 JV on my last day as a student in 1993, using it for the first time the very next day with The Pretty Things in Hamburg - The Star Club of all places. Always loved the utilitarian bridge …