Old Reel to Reel Recorder - Any info?

[EduCat]

An architect I work with gave me this old reel-to-reel recorder, which seems like a pretty sweet piece of vintage technology. Unfortunately I don't have any reels to test it with, but it does power up and seems to be in working order? I look at E-bay and people are buying them for a decent amount.

So I am just wondering if anyone knows much about these, what they may be worth. I have a massive set of RCA's that go with it. lol

 

[Randy99CL]

I see that it's a Tascam but can't read the model number. Google it and see what you find.

It's an 8-track studio recorder. Takes 10.5" reels. Can't tell if the tape is 1/4" or larger.

I spent over $2500 for two high-end reel to reel machines in the '70s but newer technology has made them dinosaurs.
Even the best were noisy (hiss) and needed noise reduction (compression/expansion) for cleaner sound.
Dynamic range was somewhat limited.
Tapes were relatively expensive (now $50+), would bleed-through and wear out. At 7.5ips the tape held 90 minutes of music but sounded better at 15 or 30ips.
Rewinding to the beginning of a song could take 30 seconds or more, rewinding a whole tape would take minutes. Sometimes the tape would break.
The tape ran across the heads and wore them out. Hard to find and expensive to replace.

That's why he gave it to you for free.

Edit: I blew up your pics and it looks like a Tascam 38. Uses 1/2" wide tapes at around $100 each for 90, 45 or 22.5 minutes.

 

[EduCat]

I see that it's a Tascam but can't read the model number. Google it and see what you find.

It's an 8-track studio recorder. Takes 10.5" reels. Can't tell if the tape is 1/4" or larger.

I spent over $2500 for two high-end reel to reel machines in the '70s but newer technology has made them dinosaurs.
Even the best were noisy (hiss) and needed noise reduction (compression/expansion) for cleaner sound.
Dynamic range was somewhat limited.
Tapes were relatively expensive (now $50+), would bleed-through and wear out. At 7.5ips the tape held 90 minutes of music but sounded better at 15 or 30ips.
Rewinding to the beginning of a song could take 30 seconds or more, rewinding a whole tape would take minutes. Sometimes the tape would break.
The tape ran across the heads and wore them out. Hard to find and expensive to replace.

That's why he gave it to you for free.

Edit: I blew up your pics and it looks like a Tascam 38. Uses 1/2" wide tapes at around $100 each for 90, 45 or 22.5 minutes.

Nice! Thx for the info!

From my research this seems to be like a pretty solid model, people are asking a lot for them. You are basically saying it's worthless, though?

:edit: I am talking about worth in the vintage electronics market, not really actually using it to record music.

 

[Randy99CL]

I haven't been in a studio in decades and don't know what equipment they record with now but my musician friends use computers and MIDI.

Check ebay, and there are some vintage audio sites that may be able to help you out.

 

[Dude111]

Wow she is beautiful!!!!!

You should join us here also my friend and share that

www.tapeheads.net/forumdisplay.php?f=4

 

[Railgun]

They're definitely not worthless. For example, my dad has tons of reels from studio stuff and whatnot. Finding the right machine is becoming somewhat difficult. And replacing parts even more so.

Looks like a 38.

Specifications
Tape size: 1/2 inch, 1.5 mil, low noise high output tape.
Track format: 8-track, 8 channel,trackwidth 0.0039 inch (1mm)Reel Size: 10-1/2 Nab Hub adapators.
Tape speed: 15 + Pitch control variable 12 % + or -.
Speed accuracy: + -0.8 % devitation.,li.Wow and Flutter: +-0.06 % peak.
Fast Wind Time: 100 seconds for 10-1/2 reel 2400 feet.
Start time: Less than 0.8 sec to reach standard wow and flutter.
Reel motors: Slotless DC motors.
Head configuration: 3 heads: erase , record,/reproduce x 2.
Line Input Impedance: 50 k ohms, unbalanced.
Maximum source impedance: 2.5 k ohms.
Nominal Input level:-10dBV (0,3V)
Maximum Input level: + 18dBV (8.0V)
Line Output Impedance; 1 k ohms, unbalanced.
Minimum load impedance; 10k ohms.
Nominal load impedance: 50 k ohms.
Nominal output level: -10 dBV (o.3 volt)
Maximum output level:+18 dBV (8.0 volt)
Bias frequency: 150 kHz.
Record level calibration: 0 VU reference: 250 nWb/m tape flux level.
Frequency response: Record/Reproduce: 40Hz-20 kHz,+-3dB at 0 VU.
40 Hz-20kHz, 3+-dB at -10 VU.
Signal to noise ratio: at a reference of 1 kHz,at 13dB above 0 VU, 1000 Hz,250 nWb/m.
Headroom: recording amplifier-better than 25dB down at 1,000 Hz ,0 VU.
Connectors Line Input and Output: RCA jacks.
Extra option: Remote control RC -71. (multi-pin jack)
Punch in/out remote: RC-30 P. (phonejack)
DBX connection: Multi-Pin Jack.

 

[Randy99CL]

I was a serious audiophile in the '70s and owned two high-end tape machines: a Revox A77 and Technics RS-1506. Both were excellent, took 10.5 reels and I could dub from one to the other.
That Technics was incredible and probably the epitome of semi-pro RtoR technology. So good that they made it for about 10 years and sold them for $2500 in the mid-80s (over $5500 in 2015 dollars).

Then around '85 my wife bought me a Beta HiFi VCR for $600. It sounded better (zero hiss) and had better frequency response and specs than any RtoR. Blank tapes were a couple of bucks for three hours while 10.5" reels were $15+.
You couldn't easily edit the Beta tapes but if you were copying albums or making mix tapes they were great. And the HiFi movie soundtracks were incredible.
My expensive tape machines were dinosaurs when they were less than 10 years old.

But I'm not complaining.
Now I'm 63 with severe tinnitus and high-freq hearing loss. I have 700 CDs ripped into my laptop (at 320bps) and load thumb drives that sound great in my car and surround system. I don't miss the old technology.

BTW, I googled the Technics last night and saw that some have sold for as low as $150; if I were still into tape I'd jump on one.

And that Beta VCR was a dinosaur within a couple of years!

 

[eliminatehumans]

Test won too 3

 

[MongGrel]

Wow, now that is old school.

 

[eliminatehumans]

i found this in car trunk at junkyard $5..
ill take it cat. might find reels at 2nd hand stores.
randy tinitus is small price for hi fidelity. just upgrade as needed.
hiss and pop stems from analog, true sound. digital is not, digital s,,ks.
The Sony Model 230/230 W features a complete stereo music control center with integrated lid speakers as the TC-230, or with the Sony accessory Speaker System SS-23 as the TC-230W.
This compact, but incredibly powerful stereo music control center consists of an amplifier utilizing quality Sony silicon transistors, a precision 4-track stereo tape deck and high performance speaker systems.
Features include three pairs of stereo inputs; tuner, phonograph and microphone that correspond to the settings of the source selector on the front panel, a noise suppressor which removes undesired high-frequency noise, and line outputs and stereo headphone jack are provided for flexibility.
The horizontal styled 4-track stereo tape deck has three speeds, automatic sentinel shut-off switch and retractable pinch roller for easy tape threading.
Model 230 is mounted in handsome carrying case for portability and equipped with lid speakers.
Model 230W is mounted in walnut finish base.
Specifications

Track system: 4-track, 2-channel, stereo/monaural system
Heads: 1 x record/playback, 1 x erase
Reel size: up to 7 inch reel
Tape speeds: 1 7⁄8 3 3⁄4 7 1⁄2 ips
Wow and flutter: 0.1% (7 1⁄2 ips)
Frequency response: 30Hz to 18kHz (7 1⁄2 ips)
Total harmonic distortion: 3%
Input: 44mV (line), 0.14mV (mic)
Output: 1.1V (line)
Output power: 20 watts
Semiconductors: 24 x transistors, 4 x diodes
Dimensions: 17 x 9-5/8 x 14 inches
Weight: 39lbs

 

[Dude111]

Wow, now that is old school.

Indeed........It is awesome


Pure analog beauty!!

 

[Oyeve]

I had an old analog tube reel 2 reel system I stole from my old man when we got divorced in the early 70s. Took all of his reels as well. He had old recordings from radio shows from the 40s and 50s. I converted them to MP3s around 10 years ago and ditched the system. I regret it now as I still kept the tapes and would like to do a lossless encode as I did the MP3s in 128k.

 

[eliminatehumans]

I had an old analog tube reel 2 reel system I stole from my old man when we got divorced in the early 70s. Took all of his reels as well. He had old recordings from radio shows from the 40s and 50s. I converted them to MP3s around 10 years ago and ditched the system. I regret it now as I still kept the tapes and would like to do a lossless encode as I did the MP3s in 128k.

evil! take my sound an id hunt you down...