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
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.
lalitk2,241 posts12-06-2020 7:59ambob,

Not to discourage you but keep in mind the cost of R2R tapes are in the range of $300.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You ever try to record your own? It's actually pretty fun, some of these rigs can do a good job.  They have their own sound. I like messing around so the cost is pretty low for me..

I have 20 to 30 titles, OLD
Some still sound good. The recorded stuff I do is close in quality..

Certainly good enough for me..PLUS I like it... :-) YUP...

Regards
R2R is the best source I have, when I play the same content, CD, then LP, people pick the LP. Next R2R. EVERYBODY ALWAYS picks R2R over LP. Forget specs, they sound amazing.

I advise going directly to a more advanced model rather than starting with this one.

I progressed from basic like the a-6300 thru several models until I finally decided to get the last prosumer deck they ever made: X-2000r.

auto reverse, makes playing/listening much easier/enjoyable. (needs 6 heads).
closed loop design: two capstans totally isolate the tape from the two reels as the tape crosses the heads.
3-3/4 and 7-1/2 ips speeds (not ones with 15 ips (they omit the 3-3/4 ips speed).

Once you hear it, you will want content.

What content? Pre-recorded tapes are available on eBay, I bought over 500 of them, then sold 150 of them. No returns from me or to me. 40-55 years old, amazingly still sound terrific. But, the content stopped in the 80's. If young, none of the music you grew up with is on tape. If into classic rock, from 60's on, it's there to buy and enjoy. If Jazz, it's there to enjoy. Great singers, male and female, great bands, there to enjoy. Stereo tapes started in 1956 (2 years before LP's).

that price is low. if you change your mind, you could sell it on eBay, however, packing/shipping properly is important if you do that. local pickup is a small group of potential buyers, and that model is not one people are scrambling to get.

All the ones I have had are built like tanks, and only needed mechanical work, never needed any electrical work.

IF you are handy, you can more than likely get it going yourself IF IT NEEDS cleaning and/or a new belt, the old lubricant turns to glue, the belts rot and turn to glue. new belts readily available. pressure wheels: can harden, or, if left against the capstan shaft can have dents, also readily available. manuals available, speed and tension adjustments, again, if handy not hard. 

look at the heads, see if they are worn (look at images of heads on the net, you will see the difference. replacing heads is not inexpensive. seller says little use, see for yourself.

10-1/2" reels look cool as you say, but if you are playing pre-recorded music, they are 7" diameter. and the weight of the tape on larger reels makes motor condition, brakes, adjustments more important.  Make your own recordings on small or large reels, no one I know does that anymore, thus larger reels not important. blank tape is lousy, or expensive. only late models have dbx or dolby NR, for home made, pre-recorded are rarely dbx or dolby.


Teacs come in 3 varieties.

Classic like the a-6300, stainless steel face, real wood sides, non-reverse, not closed loop.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TEAC-A-6300-10-5-Reel-to-Reel-Tape-Deck-Player-Recorder-w-Hubs-Reels-Tapes/...

Intermediate: Beige Plastic Face, plastic body, non-reverse or reverse, closed loop

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Teac-X-10-Reel-to-Reel-Tape-Recorder/254794554713?hash=item3b52f05d59:g:KTA...

last design, thick metal face plate, plastic body like x-10's, optional wood-look (paper veneer) case. reverse, closed loop. black or silver face.  x-1000r or x-2000r.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-TEAC-X-2000R-Reel-to-Reel-DBX-Tape-Deck-In-Walnut-Case-Tested-Worki...

try this at sellers, learn with it, get into it, or not?






@oldhvymec

I don’t quite get the ‘desire’ to record music that’s already available on another format. First, you need a pristine source and just because it will sound ‘different’ on R2R doesn’t quite justify the long term investment for me. I’m sure it’s lot of fun because of the tactile experience it provides :-)

To me, R2R machines are nothing more than an eye candy unless one can afford to buy R2R tapes, like the one below.

https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/130634/Muddy_Waters-Folk_Singer-14_Inch_-_15_IPS_Tape