Reel to reel deck -Talk me in or out of buying

This is what scares me: A 7 1/2 IPS reel to reel tape of the Beatles Revolver on Ebay (link below) going for $113 and the bidding isn't over yet. Sheesh.

You guys are no help. I want a deck, then I don't want a deck. I want a deck, now I don't want a deck. I have no idea. I'm going to try to hold on until this passes or I break down and buy something in the middle of the night when no one can see me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEATLES-REVOLVER-REEL-TO-REEL-TAPE-JOHN-LENNON-HARRISON_W0QQitemZ4823552956QQcategoryZ618QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How about an 8 track unit? {OK, OK, don't barf! I'm just kidding!}

Kubla, A RtoR Deck can be a very nice item to have.
I have two, a bought new mint TEAC A3340S, and a mint TEAC A2340R. Both are 4 track, 4 channel decks, but either can be used for stereo playback-recording.

I've yet to hear a cassette deck to compare to a good reel deck. Nice decks would be a mint Revox A77, Tandberg, Fostex, and TEAC/ Something like a TEAC 3300 series with both 7-1/2, and 15 ips would be sweet.

There is a two track version in this 3300 series, but the downside will be it won't play 4-track tapes.
Many of these units had auto-reversing, using a piece of foil tape applied at the end, so it would reverse, and play the other side, without havinbg to get up.

At the slower speeds (7-1/2ips) with a 10" reel, they're great for parties, putting a mix of music on them (remember Pulp Fiction?) and also great for recording LPs. After you record LP's onto them, don't matter how loud you play them, or people dancing around jumping up, and down on the floor, you won't have to worry about acoustic feedback, or transmitted vibratrions. Mark

I too enjoy "obsolete" media. I have a Technics 1500 R2R. It makes awesome sounding recordings. A Wollensack 8075 8 track recorder. You have not heard the full potential of the 8 track cartrdige until you've made recordings on one of these. An Akai CR80DSS quad 8 track recorder for playing my Pink Floyd quad 8's. Wish You Were Here in discrete Quad on 8 track is simply amazing and the quad mix is a different edit on many songs as well. Tascam DA302 dual dat deck for my live tape trading. A Nakamichi Cassette 1 for cassette tape playback.

My video gear for "obsolete" media:

Betacam SP
Umatic
SVHS
Hi8
Betamax Hi Fi
Laserdisc

Still need to hunt down a CED player :)

Kubla,
Some tapes go for crazy money, it's the function of ego's and the bidding wars at EBAY.

However, during the last 48 hours the following reels closed at reasonable prices and long term searching will reward you.

Gershwin on Mercury Living Presence $9.00
Ella Fitzgerald "Sings Broadway" $7.01
Dave Brubeck "Time Changes" $11.51
Bob Dylan "Greatest Hits" $12.99
Mozart "Horn Concerto" London Blueback recording $17.00
Simon and Garfunkel $5.50
Rolling Stones "Greatest Hits" $8.99
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd "Jazz Samba" $8.90
Jack Teagarden $1.77

Some of these may appeal and some may not. The point is, there are thousands of new items every week and many at affordable prices. If your a software junkie and enjoy the sound of analog, this is another source.