Advice Regarding Reel-to-Reel


I went to a neighbor’s home to look at some records they were selling.  While I was there, the husband tried to interest me in buying his Teac a-6300 deck.  He said he bought it new in the 1970’s while stationed in Europe, as his music options were limited.  He doesn’t use it anymore and they are trying to reduce clutter.  He asked for $300.

I said I would get back with him.  Looking on-line, I see much higher prices for those decks.  They are described as semi-professional decks with good capabilities. I also read that such an old deck should be gone over by a qualified tech to be lubricated, have belts replaced and have the electronics checked for possible replacement.  This work could easily come to $500 or more, and that is if I can locate a person with the knowledge and equipment to do a quality job while hopefully avoiding shipping it.

I told the people I would pass on their deck, but I keep reading and thinking about it.  The price is good, but the expense and hassle of restoration, and not knowing how much I might use it (playing mostly records, CD’s and radio now), give me pause.  It does look really cool though with those 10.5 inch reels!  And if I needed to sell it on for a profit, that might not be too difficult?   And thoughts?
bob540
I had a Revox A77 R to R which I sold when CD’s first came out.  One of the stupidest things I have ever done. 
@bob540,   I used to sell the Teac A6400 reel to reel with 10 1/2 inch reels back in the 70's.  More than likely, this is the US model as opposed to the European model.  It was an excellent machine, the solenoids all worked perfectly and I can't remember ever getting any in for repair. (We were an authorized service center back then for Teac)  It is an excellent machine, I sold quite a lot of them to the local bands who were hoping tto get their big break.

I would grab it.  It is very doubtful the heads are damaged.  I would think a good repair shop could get it working like new for a few hundred.  It is mostly cleaning out old grease, replacing with new, resurface or replace pinch rollers, replace any bulbs, calibrate vu meters, clean, demag and align heads using a scope and Teac test reel.  If everything else works, you can get the best fidelity from it.  The Master tape series being sold are incredible sounding with astounding fidelity.  Food for thought.
I haven't heard it play yet. The husband offered to play it for me but I needed to get going. Maybe I will call and ask to hear it play, and if it sounds alright and the price is the same, I might buy it. Then take my time getting it serviced. No hurry.

I read an on-line forum by a guy that works on old decks. He said the auto reverse decks have more mechanical problems -- this deck has auto reverse.
It's almost always a service issue, oil to grease, grease to tar, dirt and dust mixed with all of it... clean, Clean, CLEAN. The life of a Tec, the life of a mechanic. clean Clean CLEAN, de mag, clean Clean CLEAN. Lube (never over) as the service manual says, the way it says, and with what it says. If it has a belt, CLEAN the pullies outside and clean and lube the axle assembly. 

After that if it has a preamp section, service it.. Valves, clean and check the pins. Look over the caps (visual), and boards growing green stuff. Again clean, Clean, CLEAN. Check for cold joint. Touch up as needed, back together, test, and cover when done.. Dust is not your friend...

Get that puppy...

Regards
bob,

Not to discourage you but keep in mind the cost of R2R tapes are in the range of $300 and not to mention limited titles availability. I thought of getting an R2R so many times but as it stands, it is probably the most expensive playback audio equipment to own when you factor in scarce repair facilities and tapes cost.