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  3. 162080-141093

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
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,614 posts
 
@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
elliottbnewcombjr
5,628 posts
 
no need to scare anyone.

that esoteric muddy waters is nowhere normal, and not needed to get into R2R, it’s more for collectors with deep pockets,

hop about ebay, find something 7-1/2" per sec ’returns allowed’, you will be amazed

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2487261.m570.l1313&_nkw=reel+to+reel+tape...

I sort: us only, buy it now, newly listed, returns accepted

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=reel+to+reel+tapes&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&...

here’s a bargain, EXCEPT, pay attention to the speed, you want 7-1/2 IPS, these are 3-3/4 IPS. good for content hard to find, but faster speed is what beats LP’s

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Reel-To-Reel-Music-Tapes-3Lot-Eric-Burdon-The-Animals/233807406308?hash=ite...

show tunes, this one 7-1/2 ips, make sure it is ’original cast’ like this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gigi-Reel-to-Reel-Tape-Chevalier-Jourdan-Caron-Original-Cast-MGM-STC3641/30...

box beat to crap, 7-1/2 ips, takes returns, likely will sound great, good one to try something for a bargain

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Barbara-Streisand-Funny-Girl-Reel-to-Reel-Tape-Used/143180756445?ha...

I forgot to mention classical

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MQ-309-Philadelphia-Orchestra-REEL-TO-REEL-tape-STOKOWSKI-classical-7-5-IPS...

I only view ’buy it now’ and often write with offers that are accepted, even if the listing does not mention offers.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
5,614 posts
 
^^^sure...there is always an opportunity to pick through litter and bargain bins :-)

Between our posts, OP now knows his choices.
steelhead
318 posts
 
Sounds like a good deal

I would advise getting ahold of Skywave deck repair.  Worth the wait as Sam Palmero (sp?) was the lead tech for Teac and can make it sing like new.

I would NOT send it to Teac for repair and would use Skywave exclusively unless you have a tech you trust implicitly.

New 10.5 reels are produced in the US and I buy blank 10.5 pancakes as I have plenty of metal reels and they are very cost effective.  You can buy brand new unused blank tape with a 10.5 metal reel for 50-70 dollars from ATR.

Fun to play with and I still enjoy taping and playing around with it.  A definite blast from the past.

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
lalitk2,243 posts

Like I said I have 20 - 30 that are pretty good. I didn't just start, it was maybe 35 years ago.  I changed to new formats, cassette, and the early CD. I sold a lot of the tapes I had, BUT kept the vinyl.

20 years ago I stored everything. KIDS, were getting into Dads, stereo..
(early teens). My RtR, tapes and vinyl ALL went into storage.. All the Mac gear, my TT, RtR, phono pres, Tube crossovers, EVERYTHING....

I set the kids up with Adcoms,  Sony ES SACD,  Server,  Mac C22
and a pair of VMPS Tower II SEs. BOOM BOOM in the room room..

Kids left I retired, I go to look for my stuff, it been nicked, oh yes. ALL my Mac gear. TT, (my friggin' fairchild 750), RtRs, and a footlocker FULL of vintage valves, just packed. The hand made tube XO, My C20s a pair of seq SN MC240, la te da....  I'm floored. I call the insurance man, guess what I have replacement insurance, no idea what it was. I just wanted my gear back.. They paid me 56K for the gear. I came out ok...BUT I had to replace it or loose up to 90% of the value.

You got it, I made them and (I helped), find every piece I wanted, and even did some bidding for me...

I'm just now at a point, two more pieces of Equipment, a special phonostage/tape preamp and a SUT (not the biggest fan).

Clear a room and the transition begins, just took 37 years. All set up though, for good RtR and TT use and PARTY a bit...without foul....

Built in bass traps, a few things 2 ft x 3ft x 16 foot foundation for EQ foundation.. It don't move at ALL... Traps can vary easy, slide the traps open or closed...

All that to say, it was all part of the plan, 37 years ago when I built the room, RtR, TT, and anything else I like.. or dislike for that matter..

Retirement is FUN, don't let anyone say otherwise....

Fun Fun  Fun Fun, better than eatin' bugs... Yup...

Regards
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