Reel to Reel Question?

Shhhh. Decent tapes are hard enough to find!

No shhh! where are they,eBay?

I've had TEAC R2R in my system since 1968 and now have about 800 reels. Initially I'd buy an LP, record it immediately, and play the tape from then on. While it started as a defensive mechanism for parties - visitors would grab LPs and scratch the heck out of them but would never dream of threading a tape - it turned into a surprising way of listening to CDs. For a while I'd borrow CDs from the library and tape them (no flames, please). After a while when the rest of my gear improved I started noticing that some of the CDs actually sounded better coming off of the tape! While you may find a scarcity of prerecorded R2R out there (has there been *anything* released in R2R for the last 30 years?), it is still an excellent medium for dubbing.

There is no question but that R to R is a great format. However, there is one thing which you have to be careful of. That is, never fast-wind the tape through when you're finished with it. Let it run through the machine on normal play. You have to allow for a smooth, tight tape pack. Otherwise, in time the tape will become physically distorted, from the uneven tensions, and will be ruined. That is why professional tapes are always recorded "tails out" (i.e., you have to rewind it in order to play it, so that as you play it the tapeup is smooth and the tension is even).

Hey David99,

I see a lot of R2R's going for decent prices on ebay -- some are even auctioned with tape collections. Garage sales are also a source of tapes. You can probably get into it (find a decent machine plus some tapes) for under $500. I'd go with a machine that is reported in excellent working condition or one that was recently serviced since they can be expensive to tune up or overhaul. I'd also look for one with either Dolby B or DBX, because these would indicate newer low-noise models. Two-speeds (71/2 & 33/4 ips) and 7 to 10.5" reel capability was desireable for me. I like the more recent Teac decks, but there are other good companies to consider, like Tandberg, Revox, Pioneer, and maybe some models from Sony and Akai and others. Good Luck!