reel to reels
- Thread starter rmunson
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bigcaddy64
Super Member
I have a few RTR's and prefer them over records. All of the quality without any of the hiss or popping. I don't record on them but use it to play tapes that i find randomly at estate/garage sales. You never know what you're going to find recorded and thats part of the fun.
If you have had one refurbished you would understand the high prices. I have my Tandberg 10X in the cue for refurb and the entry price is $300. However tape is the media of choice for me on a properly calibrated deck. I have 2 decks by the way.
Regards,
Jim
Regards,
Jim
bigcaddy64
Super Member
This is also true. I've rebuilt both of mine (the RT-909 awaits work) and its very expensive to refurbish/restore one. Tons of lube points/disassembly, lots of capacitors/relays, belts, calibration, etc. The list goes on and the list of people that can work on them is dwindling
Tube Sound
Super Member
Almost ditto to Sancho. I picked up an RT-909 with over 30 ten inch metal reels at an auction, for cheap. Had it serviced, a beautiful machine. Also have a Teac A2340-RS, awaiting a tuneup. I love the sound of tape and convenience of a big reel of music. Also love LP’s, certainly a place for both. Prices on nice gear are soaring, reels are tagging along.
I can understand the love for R2Rs, It was my media of choice in the '70s and early '80s, ... what I can't understand is the love (and prices) for old R2R pre-recorded media. That stuff would have such low fidelity, and so much crosstalk after being left on the reel for decades, ... I remember how mine sounded when I tried to play some that were in storage for only ten years.
I was lucky so far - almost every reel I got sounds good
Some old pre-recoded stuff I bought off of eBay also sounds pretty good
I slam have cassettes which were improperly stored by my mother in law- despite that they all sound terrific (recorded 30 years ago on TDK and Maxell)
Some old pre-recoded stuff I bought off of eBay also sounds pretty good
I slam have cassettes which were improperly stored by my mother in law- despite that they all sound terrific (recorded 30 years ago on TDK and Maxell)
Bone Yard
Super Member
Your not kidding, some of those are going for silly money. At the end of the day most sell for under $100 except for the TOTL models, at least that's what I see.
If you do get into the little tapes check out the AIWA TP-1003, it's one of the first stereo portable RTRs, they look cool but they use rim drive so speed can be an issue with dried out rollers.
If you do get into the little tapes check out the AIWA TP-1003, it's one of the first stereo portable RTRs, they look cool but they use rim drive so speed can be an issue with dried out rollers.
I have been downsizing my reel to reel collection the past year. My asking prices have not been extravagant, but fair. Buyers have run the gamut from 20-somethings getting into reel to reel for the first time to older folks who like the sound of tape and/or love to tinker. Sadly, I sold my two Crowns in the last few months. I loved the look and sound of them, but they needed work and I needed the room. I suspect that they were both headed for the Asia market. Increasing demand and decreasing supply...as sixthday noted.
bobdod
Super Member
I've been unsuccessfully trying to find one for about a year. The nicer models sit with crazy price tags that make no sense. They all need work, and the cost and tech backlogs make it an impossibility. I could understand paying $1k for a nice restored machine, but $1500 for something with trashed heads and needing an $800 rebuild on top of it? And then add a few hundred for shipping. Yeah... R2R is a rich eccentric's game at this point unless you already have one (or 12).
markpilk
Active Member
I’ve found things to sell slowly in the Nashville area, unless you have a cheap price tag. I’ve had a deck trashed when shipped and didn’t offer shipping. Even though the decks I’ve packed arrived without issue...”don’t trust FedEx to pack”! I could not sale a really nice Revox A77 for $650.00 and finally moved it around the $500 range. I had a couple Otari mx5050 bii decks and sold one I considered a working parts deck for $500, but couldn’t move a really nice one with heads that were just relapped by JRF mag, NOS remote and other nice extras at the $1700 range. Now I’ve decided to keep it and see how local demand changes. I enjoy reel to reel and never purchase to flip...I have a hard time letting go! Only time I sale is when I upgrade to a better deck.
Don Lubin
Active Member
I've got 5 open reel tape decks although I only purchased one, a Sony TC-355 that I got new in 1970. In the late 70s, I received my Dad's Tandberg 64 after he passed. I used it up until the 90s but now it needs belts, pinch roller, and a recap. In the 90s, my brother picked up a Teac A-1500 deck at a garage sale for $5. It did not work so he gave it to me, Turned out it was just the lubricant in the tension arms getting gummed up so an easy fix. Shortly after, my brother picked up a Pioneer RT-1011L for $15 at another garage sale with the same gummed up tension arm problem so I ended up with it. In the 90s, I believe many RTR decks could be found at garage sales being sold for their scrap iron value. Not so much anymore. My final deck is a Tandberg 3300X that my brother bought new in the 70s. My niece gave it to me after he passed along with about 200 rolls of tape. I just got done restoring it and it sounds great. For playback, I mostly used the A-1500 and the RT-1011L.