John Hassell Recordings

[Dub Studio]

Anyone here know anything about this recording studio, as featured in the BBC documentary "Reggae Britannia"?

[PLD]

There isn't a great deal of information out there, but here's a magazine cover with a photo of the man himself in 1967. He advertised his services in the various electronics magazines as far back as the early 1960s, along with similar outfits such as Rapid, Deroy etc. I have a few examples of his work but nothing particularly interesting, certainly no reggae floor shakers have come my way yet!

[Soulbear]

Anyone here know anything about this recording studio, as featured in the BBC documentary "Reggae Britannia"?

I had the same Model MSS Lathe as the one used in the Hassell Studio at one time, at time 0:58s you can see it in use here :- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YsIwHoItA0

(Could have been the same Lathe, it came from North London and they are Quite Scarce) I still have the MSS Overhead from it, the rest is GONE :-

MSS Lathe 3.JPG

MSS Lathe 5.JPG

Got some info about this Lathes "Modus Operandi" if you're interested send me a PM
Regards Soulbear

[PLD]

His MSS was described as being 'modified', though it doesn't specifically say how, and was run with a 100w Grampian amp (again, it says here). I'm sure I have another period article about JH somewhere, but can't find it at the moment. I also remember him being mentioned in a '75 hi-fi mag, having recorded an album by an early music ensemble called Musica Antiquita. Little things keep coming back!

[Soulbear]

His MSS was described as being 'modified', though it doesn't specifically say how, and was run with a 100w Grampian amp

MMMMmmm? An MSS Lathe with a Grampian Amp and Possibly a Grampian Laydown Head?? Makes sense, Head response of the Grampian compared to the MSS Laydown Cutterheads as different as Chalk and Cheese Probably this one??

Grampian Cutterhead1.JPG

Grampian Cutterhead3.JPG

P.S. I used to get cuts made at Deroy Sound Services, which used to be based in Carnforth, Lancashire, UK and in the promotional stuff I got from them, they mention that they used to operate a Modern Neumann Lathe, not a "Converted Ancient 78RPM Lathe" Do you know whatever became of Deroy????
Just Curious!!!
Regards Soulbear

[PLD]

I think Deroy packed up around 1979. Some of their '70s albums are highly sought after these days, especially the folky ones. There used to be a website dedicated to them but it vanished a couple of weeks ago. They made a big fuss about their Neumann, which it looks like they bought around 1968... £6000, apparently! I must scan in the feature where it's mentioned.

[Soulbear]

I think Deroy packed up around 1979. Some of their '70s albums are highly sought after these days, especially the folky ones. There used to be a website dedicated to them but it vanished a couple of weeks ago. They made a big fuss about their Neumann, which it looks like they bought around 1968... £6000, apparently! I must scan in the feature where it's mentioned.

I found these :-

Deroy-1.jpg

Deroy-2.jpg

Deroy-3.jpg

And an article in the Lancashire Post about Roy Marsh "Passing Over" the Quarrymen as a bit "Ordinary" after he cut a "Demo" on them!!!!!
Just for information for younger Lathetrolls, the "Quarrymen" evolved into perhaps the Greatest Band of the 20th Century, later becoming known as "The Beatles"
Oh Hum!!! Regards Soulbear

[PLD]

Lovely scans!

The Quarrymen thing is weird, as the famous 'In Spite Of All The Danger' acetate was made at Percy Phillips' studio in Liverpool, and I don't know of any other Quarrymen acetates ever being made. I need to consult 'Tune In', I suppose.

[treeforest]

wow, i actually own a Deroy acetate that features an anonymous merseybeat group, could it be? (i doubt it...)

i also don't have much of an ear for the beatles, so maybe someone here would know better

here's one of the songs (out of 4 total), seems to be an original(?) https://clyp.it/ajopk0id

[PLD]

That's very much untouched by the hands of the Fab Four, unfortunately. It's quite charming though, and better than any Deroys I've ever found!

[Soulbear]

wow, i actually own a Deroy acetate that features an anonymous merseybeat group, could it be? (i doubt it...)

i also don't have much of an ear for the beatles, so maybe someone here would know better

here's one of the songs (out of 4 total), seems to be an original(?) https://clyp.it/ajopk0id

Fred Garrity (Freddie and the Dreamers???)

[Dub Studio]

That's great info, thanks guys! I have a friend from a reggae sound system in Bath called Sectatone (still going, but here they are in 1983: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgdMugwBi9o) who used to get his dubs cut there... apparently John's wife (or partner?) used to add dub effects to the cuts at the client's behest