Reel to reel tape recorders

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I usually collect Bang & Olufsen stuff from as old as I can get to around the early '80’s as it’s often not working and cheap to repair, and once working you end up with some very nice stuff (cue the duff electrolytic capacitors)

Anyhoo, in the course of collecting, I’ve come across their reel to reels, which were very expensive, but gave very good results, and this got me to thinking and maybe hankering after something from the later end of reel to reel era.

I’ve been looking around EBAY, and you see the usual suspects, lots of AKAI 4000D’s etc.

I’m not sure about these, they were fairly common and reliable, but I’d like to find something a bit more interesting.

I tend to divide things into groups,

group 1, average consumer stuff -such as the AKAI 4000s, anything below this standard I would not begin to consider unless it was really interesting such as the mid 60’s stereo Ferrographs.

group 2, possibly the Akai 265 range, higher end consumer, maiunly the GX series with the glass xtal type heads which are almost immune to wear.

group 3 semi pro high end such as the Revox B77, Akai 747, TEAC A3440.

So, has anyone any recommendations and which group should they be in, I’d prefer something that can run the 7.5 inch, possibly the 3.75 inch, as these are the formats that commercial and collectable tapes operate, but I’m not averse to the idea of 15inc NAB versions, though the standard 7 inch spools are preferred to the 10 inch ones.

Must run 2 track stereo record, preferably switchable 2+4 format

2

Um, I have a reel to reel - Phillips from what I can gather - was my dad’s. Still have it - got some reels playing mexican mariachi bands which I would still like to hear but can’t figure out how to play. When you push play, the light comes on but I think no one’s home.

It’s gotta be circa '60’s however not sure. He’s had it as long as I remember (I’m 46).

If you have any info, I’d appreciate it.

3

Lots of reel to reels from this period could be used as in PA mode, so you could connect a set of speakers and have, say, a radio input, and you have a mini system.
This facility was worked so that the drive motor was not running, perhaps that’s what is happening here.

The motor switch often set a couple of differant speeds and turned on the tape recorder section, so it was not unusual to have to turn the unit on, and also turn the motor speed setting on also.

The only other likely thing is that the drive belts, or the pinch wheel roller are worn, perhaps the pause mechanism is on ?

4

For any old electronics I’ve found the high end user catagory is the only good choice. The equipment is dirt cheap and likely to be usable with a little reconditioning, where as the other’s are shot. I got a high end phonograph for $20, and it’s something that would have been $700 or more new. The turn table is a direct drive and a couple pounds of metal. It has the timing stobe marks built in. Only the albums played by my brothers on a Winni the Poo kids player make any amount of noise.

5

Snagged an Akai GX630DB 7/10" Dolby deck on eBay just before Christmas-got it for $75. Those decks were close to $700 back in the 1970’s. The 747s are sweet decks, but everybody on eBay drives the price through the roof. Other than the 747 having LED display instead of analog meters, it’s very close to the 630D and DB-both are excellent machines.

6

Got a 1963 Sony TC-500 that works like a champ. Was susppose dto be portable Bawahahaha well, you can fold it closed but you got to be a horse to haul it one handed. About 44 years old and looks and plays great.

I still have tapes I made in 63 and they do just fine.

7

I have an old Ferguson from the mid-60s which is very reluctant to play, especially when it’s been a while.
I press Play and physically rotate the right-hand take-up spool with my finger at about the speed it should be going (maybe a bit slower).
Eventually, the machine is encouraged enough to do it itself!

One day, I’m sure, this won’t work but it’s done the trick until now…

8

Gus…I have a Sony TC-280 in good condition. I mainly use it to play old 4-track cartridge Tapes (Pre 8-track) since I no longer have a 4-track or 4+8 track player.
Problem is, I have to take the tape wheel out of the cartridge and the reel player will only play one side. Most of the music has been re-released on C.D. but I still have a few favorites not reissued. I’ve also found reel-to-reel tapes at 2nd-hand stores of 2-bits.

9

Audiogon has an Akai GX-635D, but she ain’t cheap:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?misccass&1142813469

  • Tamerlane
10

TC-500 is a reel to reel. I never had much to do with 8 track. Got a friend that collects it.

I should have downloaded a bunch of stuff back before it got all wild and illegal… Can’t find much now without $$$

11

I’ve been looking at the Revox PR99, superb machine by all accounts, pity its a 1/2 track.

This seems to rule out the B77 for the same reason.

Looking seriously at the Sony TC765 as it is 1/4 track and was originally intended for the home user, albeit the very rich one…

How about the Akai GX630DB ? To be honest, I probably wouldn’t use the noise reduction. I think that would be a nice option.

Anyone know anything about the Tascm range, the 34 to be more specific ?

12

Here’s a GX630DB on eBay for $375, but you have to pick it up-the seller won’t ship (can’t blame him-I drove 300 miles round trip to pick up mine).

13

It would be something of a much longer drive for me, and would have to include a flight too, since that location is over the trench.

Shipping costs would be horrendous.

It is rather nice, but not a 6000 mile round trip nice.

Something I have found is that all the later ones that are closed loop speed control can work on 50Hz(Europe) and 60Hz (US) whereas all the earlier ones, pre 1972ish rely on mains frequency for their speed control and so you end up needing differant idler wheels and the like.

14

Ah-my bad for not noting your location. You should really check out eBay-there was a seller on there from the UK when I checked earlier.