Brand New Technics RS-1500-US
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masterlu said:
:jawdrop:
Ivan.....
You may have stumbled on THE best R2R ever made. The only other unit I've seen in person was a parts unit with a missing reel motor.
Value? well, let's see. There's supposedly a guy who specializes in restoring them for something like $8k, so i would suppose one that has never been opened is probably worth more than 3 times that. I would love to hear one with brand new heads!
goldear
Certifiable Audio Junkie
I'll agree that these have the best transports of any consumer machines ever made. But the best machine ever made? :headscrat I wouldn't go that far... There are at least a dozen more serious contenders for that title.jpdylon said:
I would also disagree with your valuation. A restored unit is actually more valuable than is one that has been sitting for 25 years. Despite how pretty it may look on the outside, it will need to be restored internally, or it simply won't run for very long. But it could still be worth as much a a couple of grand, I would guess.
goldear said:
You have a good point Goldear. I should have said best consumer-level R2R. My valuation was based on the fact that they are terribly rare, and the fact it has new heads - but probably a little steep like you suggest. You never know what a collector will pay for a out-of the box unit. Most things in that machine can be fixed with effort, but if the heads are trashed its not worth much at all.
goldear
Certifiable Audio Junkie
Definitely the best prosumer transport; no question about that. :thmbsp: But I still think that the question of best performing machine is arguable, as there were some other mighty fine performing Prosumer machines, (such as the Sony TC-880-2) which I would put head to head against the technics any day for both performance and sound quality.jpdylon said:
And I certainly agree that the condition of the heads is critical. But machines without excessive head-wear can be easily brought back to something approsching new status by simply relapping the heads.
masterlu said:
Ya really know how to kill a guy! New in the box SEALED
Curious if you are going to add this to your stable?
Sure would look spectacular next to all those pretty blue lights, but then again spectacular you already have nailed --- tenfold plus!
Richard
Celadon said:Ya really know how to kill a guy! New in the box SEALED
Curious if you are going to add this to your stable?
Sure would look spectacular next to all those pretty blue lights, but then again spectacular you already have nailed --- tenfold plus!
Richard
Thanks! I guess I have to buy it based on the fact there are none around. The big question is; Will I Ever Take it out of the Box???
P.S> Think it's worth $3K?
yamahammer
mikiesmadness continues
no and p.s yes
Oops...
As to the value, $3k seems close, maybe $2500. I do know Bottlehead is working with the RS1500 series doing mods etc, and they are commanding top dollar for theirs .... Let me see if I can find a link. and post it for you. Of course theirs aren't NIB.
NIB - I can't believe it! WOW
Richard
EDIT: Here is a link http://www.tapeproject.com/machines/machines.htm
Note: not affiliated with Bottlehead, nor promoting their product/services.
~R
As to the value, $3k seems close, maybe $2500. I do know Bottlehead is working with the RS1500 series doing mods etc, and they are commanding top dollar for theirs .... Let me see if I can find a link. and post it for you. Of course theirs aren't NIB.
NIB - I can't believe it! WOW
Richard
EDIT: Here is a link http://www.tapeproject.com/machines/machines.htm
Note: not affiliated with Bottlehead, nor promoting their product/services.
~R
Let's be honest here. First, if the owner has absolutely no intention whatsoever of selling the deck, then its worth is irrelevant. I might even go so far as to say that it is a zero worth item since it will not be sold or traded. Monetary worth (whether for buying/selling or insurance purposes) is one thing. SENTIMENTAL value is another. And the latter is next to impossible to quantify in terms of money. So to that degree, arguing over whether it should be taken out of the box and used or else left there never to be touched by human hands is kind of a moot point.
Which takes me to the next issue that someone already touched upon (so to speak). A high fidelity audio component-such as a reel to reel isn't necessarily most desireable being literally new in box.
Before the owner gets New Old Stock dollar sign greed and does something stupid, let's just point something out here. If he decides to sell it straight in the box and takes some buyer to the cleaners, he could end up with a little more than he wanted in the form of a very PO'd and very angry buyer (buyer beware issues aside for a moment here). And likewise, he could find his wide eyes and soaring elation brought back to earth REAL quick if he decides to plug it in.
As was mentioned, because of the presence of belts, oil and lubrication, and so forth, short of finding a radio station throwaway, such a find (again we're not talking sentimental or 'foaming at the mouth' value here) can actually be the worst possible thing to come across.
As we all know, these decks are twenty, maybe even thirty years old. And have never been taken out of their original containers-let alone plugged in and ran? What kind of condition do you think the belt(s) are in after remaining in an idle and fixed position since the Carter Administration? The oil, I'm sure withered away aeons ago. And being that they've never been activated, how are the curcuit boards and various transistors and such?
A NIB deck might be pretty to look at. Few would deny that. But chances are, the real worth would end there. Chances are the deck will need at least some kind of service (if not an outright overhaul) before it could be used. I'm not saying that WILL be the case here. Who knows, maybe the deck will perform to spec right out of the box after all this time. That would indeed be nothing short of striking gold. But I wouldn't bet on it, no matter what make and model the machine.
Having to rebuild a never used deck?
What kind of treasure is that?
In my humble tiny brained opinion. Nowadays, the best deck you could hope to find is not one that's been sitting in Public Storage (through umpteem cycles of summer/winter) for three decades. The best deck you can find is one that was babied and used sparingly since new in someones den or 'studio room'. A deck that's been active, but in full 'health' (that could've and should've been maintained as needed all along) is the way to go.
Just my two cents.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DL-Which tastes better? Gravel or shoe leather?
Which takes me to the next issue that someone already touched upon (so to speak). A high fidelity audio component-such as a reel to reel isn't necessarily most desireable being literally new in box.
Before the owner gets New Old Stock dollar sign greed and does something stupid, let's just point something out here. If he decides to sell it straight in the box and takes some buyer to the cleaners, he could end up with a little more than he wanted in the form of a very PO'd and very angry buyer (buyer beware issues aside for a moment here). And likewise, he could find his wide eyes and soaring elation brought back to earth REAL quick if he decides to plug it in.
As was mentioned, because of the presence of belts, oil and lubrication, and so forth, short of finding a radio station throwaway, such a find (again we're not talking sentimental or 'foaming at the mouth' value here) can actually be the worst possible thing to come across.
As we all know, these decks are twenty, maybe even thirty years old. And have never been taken out of their original containers-let alone plugged in and ran? What kind of condition do you think the belt(s) are in after remaining in an idle and fixed position since the Carter Administration? The oil, I'm sure withered away aeons ago. And being that they've never been activated, how are the curcuit boards and various transistors and such?
A NIB deck might be pretty to look at. Few would deny that. But chances are, the real worth would end there. Chances are the deck will need at least some kind of service (if not an outright overhaul) before it could be used. I'm not saying that WILL be the case here. Who knows, maybe the deck will perform to spec right out of the box after all this time. That would indeed be nothing short of striking gold. But I wouldn't bet on it, no matter what make and model the machine.
Having to rebuild a never used deck?
What kind of treasure is that?
In my humble tiny brained opinion. Nowadays, the best deck you could hope to find is not one that's been sitting in Public Storage (through umpteem cycles of summer/winter) for three decades. The best deck you can find is one that was babied and used sparingly since new in someones den or 'studio room'. A deck that's been active, but in full 'health' (that could've and should've been maintained as needed all along) is the way to go.
Just my two cents.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DL-Which tastes better? Gravel or shoe leather?
dnewma04
The Healer
I have seen them in very nice condition sell for upwards of 1500.00 to as low as 500.00 for similar looking units. I have one in the original box with the plastic dustcover and a pair of 10" metal reels that an AKer gave me as a reward for finding him some equally nice SPEC gear in it's original boxes. It was in storage 20+ years and it works good as new. No hint of noise.
beemer
Vintage Graduate
Here's what they don't tell you about the RS15xx series.
The good:
Heads were sourced from Otari. Same heads Otari used in the MX5050BI, MX5050BII. So, there's an easy source for new heads if you need them, Otari is viable and heads are available.
The bad:
Good luck finding replacement parts for an RS15xx. They don't exist. You can possibly be stuck with a high-dollar doorstop.
I had an RS1500US. 1/2 track record, 4 track playback model for many years.
About 5 years ago it went the Ebay route. If I recall it brought about $800 as it was mint.
I do not miss it at all.
Best,
Paul :thmbsp:
The good:
Heads were sourced from Otari. Same heads Otari used in the MX5050BI, MX5050BII. So, there's an easy source for new heads if you need them, Otari is viable and heads are available.
The bad:
Good luck finding replacement parts for an RS15xx. They don't exist. You can possibly be stuck with a high-dollar doorstop.
I had an RS1500US. 1/2 track record, 4 track playback model for many years.
About 5 years ago it went the Ebay route. If I recall it brought about $800 as it was mint.
I do not miss it at all.
Best,
Paul :thmbsp:
