I Now Have 2 RTRs. What Are They Good For?

apprpaul

apprpaul

Member
I don't mean to sound asinine. Let me explain.

I picked up a stereo console from 1964 that has the original horizontal Sony RTR (no model number until I pull it out).

It also came with a TEAC R-1000 which was installed a year or so after it was built.

Way back when, if you had a good stereo system, a RTR was up on top. Even if you never used it, it looked like you had the makings of a radio station and that was very cool.

Now I have two of them, and thirty years later, I don't know if I can use them at all. If I were to record myself playing a song, I would use digital stuff now, right?

So I can't think of what I would use the RTRs for. Am I missing something?
 
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If you were recording a song..you might want to record to tape...fairly sought after option these days by many.
Beyond that, its enjoyable for those of us that dig it, giving spectacular sound and long playing times, but you have to enjoy fiddling around with things to a certain extent.
If that doesnt appeal, then turn them loose, someone will love them.
 
Reel-to-reel still serves a purpose to some. However, it is not the right answer for most.

If you have old reel-to-reel tapes that you'd like to listen to, then you need a deck.

If you like to listen to music that can only be found on old reel-to-reel tapes, then you need a deck.

If you like experimenting with different kinds of audio equipment from different eras, then you will want a deck.

If you just find old tech like this fascinating, you'll want a deck.

Other than that, reel-to-reel no longer fills a niche that is left unfilled by other, more modern, tech.

I have, and love, my reel-to-reel decks. But they fascinate me and I like to play with them.
 
I find it the most fun way to play music, but I have more advanced decks to play with than what you have there. I got into it after finding some live reel tapes of dead family members, and needed something to play them with. I also always enjoyed recording on cassettes, so this appealed to that also. I enjoy recording with them, as the big VU meters are entertaining, as is the big reels spinning.
 
My favorite aspect of reel to reel's is the physical part. You handle the tapes and thread them. You can watch the meters and the reels move. There's a slight element of danger when they hit max speed in rewind. Back in the seventies I liked tape because I was horrible at handling and keeping records without slowly destroying them. I'm much better with my records now. So the niche that I use tape for is time-shifting the college jazz station while I sleep and playing back on my schedule. With 10 1/2 reels I get 90 minutes at 7.5ips. Of course I could digitally record but what's the fun in that?
 
I'm with Mr. Wigwam on this. I just put my Teac RTR back in service. His list is spot on.
 
Reel to reel is cool funk.

I've picked up a couple and turned them over to some guys that love 'em and know how to service them. (I'll have one some day and will use it for large get togethers or long listening periods with the whole nostalgia thing going on. (If I had the space for a "wall bank".....some of these guys are top notch,drop dead and scream for just one placement spot in a collection.)

I didn't have one back in the day but really appreciated them when at a big event...and was one of the guys to help keep the tunes going! So many great memories of big parties are flooding back to me right now because of this post. BIG THANKS for that! Growing up back then WAS an event!
 
I have 2 consoles with r2rs. One console is being brought back up to snuff and it has the Sony. Depending on what model yours is, I may be able to use some parts.

The other is a Magnecord M30 that I use more than the phonograph.
 
Sat. while out motorcycling w/my brother, I got a call from the Pgm. Mgr @ the community station I volunteer at. She needed a last minute sub for Sun from 2-3:30.
I got home & fired up the X2000 w/a virgin 3,600' pancake of 642 and laid down a 90 minutes mix. Sunday, while I was playing it back (MX5050B II 2), HALF of the class that was in for training came in the studio and JUST STARED! It was REEL fun to answer all their questions:yes::music::thmbsp:
CAN'T do THAT w/ipods or laptops or even DATs.
Sorry that I forgot to post at TOOT YOUR OWN HORN. It IS listed at spinitron.com scroll down to WMPG, click on Sunday's date & look for eddisc.
 
I forgot another thing those older decks are good for. If you have rear-wheel drive and it snows where you live, they're great in the winter for ballast in the trunk. :)
 
Why does it have to be useful? Can't someone want something because it's neat or cool, or dare I say, even beautiful? Yes, I think all those things about certain R2Rs, my RT 707 and the RT 909 for example. Something doesn't have to be useful to be appreciated. Is art useful? Is an old car that's been restored useful? No! But they are desirable and old R2Rs are desirable, even beautiful.
 
eddisc said:
Sat. while out motorcycling w/my brother, I got a call from the Pgm. Mgr @ the community station I volunteer at. She needed a last minute sub for Sun from 2-3:30.
I got home & fired up the X2000 w/a virgin 3,600' pancake of 642 and laid down a 90 minutes mix. Sunday, while I was playing it back (MX5050B II 2), HALF of the class that was in for training came in the studio and JUST STARED! It was REEL fun to answer all their questions:yes::music::thmbsp:
CAN'T do THAT w/ipods or laptops or even DATs.
Sorry that I forgot to post at TOOT YOUR OWN HORN. It IS listed at spinitron.com scroll down to WMPG, click on Sunday's date & look for eddisc.
Click to expand...

:thmbsp:
 
My uncle told me he used to record a bunch of albums to tape, and use them for parties. Hours of music without having to swap records every 20 minutes. The machines are just generally interesting, and visually they are a lot more impressive than a cassette deck (IMO).
 
BartJY said:
Why does it have to be useful? Can't someone want something because it's neat or cool, or dare I say, even beautiful? Yes, I think all those things about certain R2Rs, my RT 707 and the RT 909 for example. Something doesn't have to be useful to be appreciated. Is art useful? Is an old car that's been restored useful? No! But they are desirable and old R2Rs are desirable, even beautiful.
Click to expand...

Yep. An open-reel deck is good at being awesome, if nothing else.

I've managed to build a pretty decent collection of pre-recorded tapes, so my Tandberg is around for sound quality. :music:
 
BartJY said:
Why does it have to be useful? Can't someone want something because it's neat or cool, or dare I say, even beautiful? Yes, I think all those things about certain R2Rs, my RT 707 and the RT 909 for example. Something doesn't have to be useful to be appreciated. Is art useful? Is an old car that's been restored useful? No! But they are desirable and old R2Rs are desirable, even beautiful.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. That's why I have four R2R's and nine vintage bicycles.

I make tapes from Pandora One. It would be easier to just play Pandora One, but a Network tuner doesn't have the visual impact the R2R's, especially the ones with the big reels.
 
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