Otari MTR-12 Brahms Cello and Piano Sonata Jacqueline Du Pre

It is hard not to like the MTR-12, as it does so many things well. Perhaps the only thing I would change is its spindle type - the typical Otari smooth shafts that do not allow the use of AEG DIN platters. Amplex ATR-102 also used smooth shafts, but it put the female thread into their ends, thus allowing one to use the platters... albeit with their own, unique adapters. Otari has no such provision, so the only way to get that function is by reworking the hubs... which I did on that machine. While not too complicated, do not try it with our hand drill - let the machinist do that. Another modification involved the installation of a direct head output - you can see the new panel installed below, with both input and output connectors present. So in this video it is playing through the external head preamp. Jacqueline Du Pre was a student of Mstislav Rostropovich, who gave her extremely high praise, and indeed she deserved every bit of that. Unfortunately the fate was not kind to her - she had short and difficult life, leaving behind many wonderful performances for us to enjoy.