What to ask when buying Revox A77 Reel-to-Reel

[deniss]

a normal 4track deck can play a tape recorded on a 2track deck, one channel would be a tad lower on output level though.

The track layout is the reason for this.

Thanks for clearing that up. Shucks, so the plot thickens.

I will take a careful look at the packaging of the tapes to see if there's some information on whether they are 2-track or 4-track.

 

[LAB3]

Thanks for clearing that up. Shucks, so the plot thickens.

I will take a careful look at the packaging of the tapes to see if there's some information on whether they are 2-track or 4-track.

Most of all my 7" factory recorded music are 4 track at 3 3/4 ips. Most of Pop's home recordings on 7" were at 7 1/2 ips.

I see Akai GX-400D and other Akai 4000 series on flebay for about $250.00 or less if you just want to play back old family tapes. That is how I started

out as my older Borther got Pop's Revox when he passed then I traded a shotgun to Brother for the Revox that is being restored.

 

[Tinman]

"Really? ... That's your best price?"

HA! Good one....

 

[deniss]

I've seen a TASCAM 8-track recorder which was advertised to use 1/2" tape -- is that strictly studio application for recording and mixing?

I'm in no hurry, so I want wait for a good deck to come around at a price I can actually afford, and I will even settle for some tinkering with it to save the money. But to get a really good piece, which would give me near pro-quality, should I be generally looking in the direction of Revox and Otari?

 

[LAB3]

I've seen a TASCAM 8-track recorder which was advertised to use 1/2" tape -- is that strictly studio application for recording and mixing?

I'm in no hurry, so I want wait for a good deck to come around at a price I can actually afford, and I will even settle for some tinkering with it to save the money. But to get a really good piece, which would give me near pro-quality, should I be generally looking in the direction of Revox and Otari?

I thought you were looking for a less expensive R2R to play your parents 1/4 inch reels?? I sent you a PM showing you a Akai from a shop that had cleaned and checked the heads and serviced it(new belts, bulbs for less then $200.00 TYD. I can assure a Revox or Otari will not be cheep and will require a lot of time and money to restore them so they will sound like the Pro machines they are. Good luck buying 1/2 tape. Not being mean here but Google some of these questions as you have strayed off your orginal topic of looking for a cheep machine to play family 1/4" tapes on.

Yes a Revox and Otari are two of the best built machines...1/4" tape(for what you need) but all of them will need new caps etc that is very expensive. As I advised you this is not a cheep format as I have found out the hard way. But I like it so we all blow are money on something 1/2 tape machines were what you posted,and really too expensive for home use.

Best of Luck on you search

Louis

 

[jancumps]

Are you talking about the teac 80-8? I've owned such a beast. Truly amazing machine.

 

[deniss]

I thought you were looking for a less expensive R2R to play your parents 1/4 inch reels?? I sent you a PM showing you a Akai from a shop that had cleaned and checked the heads and serviced it(new belts, bulbs for less then $200.00 TYD. I can assure a Revox or Otari will not be cheep and will require a lot of time and money to restore them so they will sound like the Pro machines they are. Good luck buying 1/2 tape. Not being mean here but Google some of these questions as you have strayed off your orginal topic of looking for a cheep machine to play family 1/4" tapes on.

That Akai machine was good suggestion, and I gave it due consideration, but first I would like to learn as much as possible about what's out there before committing... I am also very reluctant to buy equipment through that auction site after several experiences. Most definitely, reel-to-reel world has a lot more intricacies in it than other media I've come into contact with so far. So this merits some further investigation.

Are you talking about the teac 80-8? I've owned such a beast. Truly amazing machine.

Yes, that's the kind of machine I was referring to. Of course, waiting for one of these at a good deal will take some patience.

I don't mind working on them either. I have several major recapping jobs behind me, which were successful, as well as some speaker projects, so I wouldn't mind getting a reel-to-reel that needs rehabilitation, given that it's a quality beast.