CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Curt Palme]

Nash, those Bells aren't really worth anything. There's a zillion 'plain' RTRs out there, Concord, Bell and Howell, etc, that aren't getting any type of bidding. Just check eBay. Even some of the lower end name brand sets like Sony are going for pennies, as they date from the late 60s and early 70s, when RTR was only really Hifi in the studios. Not that the specs of the earlier consumer decks were bad, but things like direct drive motors weren't really up to par, and you spend way more time rebuilding the decks than it's worth.

At minimum, you want something like the Akai 4000. Many versions out there, the 4000II is going for more money than the later cleaner looking 4000 for some reason. Mid 1970s Teacs are also OK, but the main drive belt usually needs changing. Akais used massive idlers on the 4000 which never wore out, then Akai went direct drive in the mid to late 70s.

To play with the big boys, you need Revox or a high end Akai, or a Technics 1500. Bigtime drool over the 1500 series. I have 3 or 4 of them

Best place to buy really is Craigslist, when someone lists an RTR that may only have dirty controls, that puts out a decent stereo signal, for $50. Spend 90 minutes cleaning it up, and it's back to showroom specs.

[Curt Palme]

Nash, those Bells aren't really worth anything. There's a zillion 'plain' RTRs out there, Concord, Bell and Howell, etc, that aren't getting any type of bidding. Just check eBay. Even some of the lower end name brand sets like Sony are going for pennies, as they date from the late 60s and early 70s, when RTR was only really Hifi in the studios. Not that the specs of the earlier consumer decks were bad, but things like direct drive motors weren't really up to par, and you spend way more time rebuilding the decks than it's worth.

At minimum, you want something like the Akai 4000. Many versions out there, the 4000II is going for more money than the later cleaner looking 4000 for some reason. Mid 1970s Teacs are also OK, but the main drive belt usually needs changing. Akais used massive idlers on the 4000 which never wore out, then Akai went direct drive in the mid to late 70s.

To play with the big boys, you need Revox or a high end Akai, or a Technics 1500. Bigtime drool over the 1500 series. I have 3 or 4 of them

Best place to buy really is Craigslist, when someone lists an RTR that may only have dirty controls, that puts out a decent stereo signal, for $50. Spend 90 minutes cleaning it up, and it's back to showroom specs.

[Nashou66]

What about that Teac tascam 80-8 i posted about earlier?

455 and it comes with a bunch of other stuff.

Nashou

[zaphod]

It's a nice vintage of teac, but what are you gonna do with eight channels?

I'd really look at a two channel system. That 80-8 is not compatible with the wealth of tapes out there on eBay and tapes you make won't be compatible with other people's decks.

You'll also get better sound from a deck with less channels as that makes your tracks wider.

[Nashou66]

[ecrabb]

[Nashou66]

here is the Sony

http://rochester.craigslist.org/ele/3490266299.html

And this 45 dollar 4 channel Akai !!

http://rochester.craigslist.org/ele/3624514275.html

Nashou

[CxTurbo]

Nash, There is a ReVox A77 in Toronto for $350. The add says he will post from NY as well. Might be worth a look for you.

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-Recording-Equipment-ReVox-A77-Vintage-Reel-to-Reel-Recorder-W0QQAdIdZ457994221


James

[Nashou66]

There is this Teak 1500 seers but its in a custom box with some other gear.

Weird.

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/ele/3547450819.html

Reel to Reel TEAC A-1500.
Sansui Tuner/Amp 1000A.
Garrard Turntable
Lab 80 MkII



Nashou

[zaphod]

A77 is a lovely machine. And that one is the high speed which is nice. Two track won't let you play prerecorded commercial stuff or 3 3/4" speed. But that is pretty dismal

There is Dolby on it which is pretty rare for revoxes.

[zaphod]

Ummm that's not a technics 1500.

[zaphod]

Steve. You're right 8 track 1/2" is the same width as 4 track 1/4".

I do all my recording in 2 track 1/4" and have somen1/4 tracks for prerecorded stuff. I looking at that machine as a recording beast.

[ecrabb]

You bastards. Now you have me looking at R2R's. Dammit. Too many toys, not enough time & money.

SC

[zaphod]

Apparently a pictures worth a 1000 dollars - to your WALLET

[Curt Palme]

Nash, $455 is pretty high priced on that 80-8, but if the heads are mint, you'd be OK... if you wanted to play with analog recording only. As Zap says, it's useless for consumer use.

The Teac 1500 is old and relatively low end, the Technics 1500 is $800+ typically.

Zap, I think the rare A77 does have Dolby, but I could be wrong as well.

In general, you need to be really careful with the A77s. They are now considered old (relatively speaking), and the trimpots on the boards go open all the time. They can be changed, but they are a large European type that you can't get at most electronics parts places. THe B77 is a newer better deck, but also $500-800 in really good shape, $250+ for a parts unit.

Like CRTs, you need to shop and keep an eagle eye on CL and pawnshops. I pick up 1/2 dozen RTRs off the local CL every year. Best score was a Realistic TR3000 for $50. That's based on the Teac X3 which is a good late model deck, solenoid control, etc. It looks kinda hokey with the large multicolor function buttons, but the specs are fine.

ONe guy listed an Akai GX650 for $350 under 'computers' on CL last year, and got no replies, so I talked him down to $275. A complete steal, as they go for $1000 or so in mint shape, which this one is pretty close to.

Overall, the pricing of all but the highest end RTRs is down due to the economy. The high end stuff still goes for insane money.

I plan on diving into my 12 or so RTRs that I've gotten over the last year shortly, and I'll post some pix. Maybe even make a sticky so others can post their RTR pix.

I will be selling some machines, although shipping is a bitch due to their fragile nature.

Overall, for starters, I'd look at Akais with the glass heads. Super reliable, and the heads NEVER wear out. Glass heads were the best thing about the Akais.

As for some insane prices on vintage audio, check these out, was surfing eBay with a wish list last night...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sansui-Integrated-Amplifier-BA-5000-Power-Amp-500-watts-/230910409880?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item35c3553c98

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sansui-AU20000-Integrated-Amplifier-/190798984853?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item2c6c817695

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-TC-880-2-Four-Reel-to-Reel-Tape-Recorder-Tape-Deck-Serviced-/261162156309?pt=UK_Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item3cce7a4115

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICS-RS-1700-AUTO-REVERSE-REEL-TO-REEL-TAPE-DECK-SERVICED-WORKS-GREAT-CLEAN-/121023545628?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item1c2d90c11c

[Curt Palme]

Nash, $455 is pretty high priced on that 80-8, but if the heads are mint, you'd be OK... if you wanted to play with analog recording only. As Zap says, it's useless for consumer use.

The Teac 1500 is old and relatively low end, the Technics 1500 is $800+ typically.

Zap, I think the rare A77 does have Dolby, but I could be wrong as well.

In general, you need to be really careful with the A77s. They are now considered old (relatively speaking), and the trimpots on the boards go open all the time. They can be changed, but they are a large European type that you can't get at most electronics parts places. THe B77 is a newer better deck, but also $500-800 in really good shape, $250+ for a parts unit.

Like CRTs, you need to shop and keep an eagle eye on CL and pawnshops. I pick up 1/2 dozen RTRs off the local CL every year. Best score was a Realistic TR3000 for $50. That's based on the Teac X3 which is a good late model deck, solenoid control, etc. It looks kinda hokey with the large multicolor function buttons, but the specs are fine.

ONe guy listed an Akai GX650 for $350 under 'computers' on CL last year, and got no replies, so I talked him down to $275. A complete steal, as they go for $1000 or so in mint shape, which this one is pretty close to.

Overall, the pricing of all but the highest end RTRs is down due to the economy. The high end stuff still goes for insane money.

I plan on diving into my 12 or so RTRs that I've gotten over the last year shortly, and I'll post some pix. Maybe even make a sticky so others can post their RTR pix.

I will be selling some machines, although shipping is a bitch due to their fragile nature.

Overall, for starters, I'd look at Akais with the glass heads. Super reliable, and the heads NEVER wear out. Glass heads were the best thing about the Akais.

As for some insane prices on vintage audio, check these out, was surfing eBay with a wish list last night...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sansui-Integrated-Amplifier-BA-5000-Power-Amp-500-watts-/230910409880?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item35c3553c98

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sansui-AU20000-Integrated-Amplifier-/190798984853?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item2c6c817695

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-TC-880-2-Four-Reel-to-Reel-Tape-Recorder-Tape-Deck-Serviced-/261162156309?pt=UK_Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item3cce7a4115

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICS-RS-1700-AUTO-REVERSE-REEL-TO-REEL-TAPE-DECK-SERVICED-WORKS-GREAT-CLEAN-/121023545628?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item1c2d90c11c

[Nashou66]

[zaphod]

Oh eff. I'm thinking of the 1700 series by technics. Much more interesting machine.

[Jeremy112]

Teac X-2000R, Revox A77, B77 (I have the A77 with the built in amp and speakers, love this little 10" R2R) Pioneer RT-909 (there is also the 901 which is identical without the auto reverse), all fine decks..

The RT1020, 2020, 1022, 2022 as well are some fine models of pioneer players. The best IMHO R2R released for the consumer market, is the Akai GX-747, which has the famous heart shaped clear dust cover.

Honestly though if you are REALLY into recording, I would go with one of those Tascam/Teac decks. The 1/2" and 1" stuff always interested me, but I dont need that kind of recording power

The Revox A77 and B77 are the best they ever produced for reel units. Theres a few different series of them, and I don't know which is more desirable, but I prefer my 80's (Still made in the 60s, just the 80s design and all)ghetto blaster style A77 R2R over the newer R2Rs. If only it had some D cell battery capabilities

[Jeremy112]

Here's my A77, got the red revox reels which cost more than the deck did (deck was free, reels weren't ) but the reels are mint, and have the storage cases. I bought them from a guy in Switzerland I know who purchased Revox's remaining stock. He even has a record lathe but I cant afford $100,000 to make my own vinyl

My A77 is currently on the bench being worked on, the photo below shows how it looked last summer (man do I wish summer was back)

[Curt Palme]

Jeremy, you know your RTRs! If I head back to Chicago this summer, I'm swinging by!

[Curt Palme]

Jeremy, you know your RTRs! If I head back to Chicago this summer, I'm swinging by!

[zaphod]

NICE!

and those reels look good.