Anyone into Reel to Reel tape players?
Discussion
The loft is probably the best place for them for the moment - there isn't much of a market for them at the minute.
Tape is getting harder to come by and priced accordingly. If you get some spares of the perishables (pinch wheels,belts,brakes)
and some tape, then in a few years there will be demand, both from people who need to replay a tape from 'back in the day' and
collectors of retro kit.
Tape is getting harder to come by and priced accordingly. If you get some spares of the perishables (pinch wheels,belts,brakes)
and some tape, then in a few years there will be demand, both from people who need to replay a tape from 'back in the day' and
collectors of retro kit.
I have an Akai reel-to-reel in the garage which has a built-in 8-track player as well. I'm hanging on to it just in case I ever get a car with an 8-track player in to go with it. I bought it for three pounds at a village fete years ago, but mainly for the lovely 1970s JBL speakers that came with it (included in the £3 and still my everyday speakers).
I bought my father one of these a few years ago.
When he first came to this country he worked for Philps and built these. He opted to sacrifice some of his salary to buy one for his brother and one for his brothers father in law.
One machine was lost in a house fire, the other is treated with kid gloves.
I thought that my dad deserved one of his own, so i shelled out £70 for a machine. He is slowly repairing/restoring it and it keeps him busy as he approaches retirement.
Library picture. I will get pictures (as promised) of my machines this weekend.
When he first came to this country he worked for Philps and built these. He opted to sacrifice some of his salary to buy one for his brother and one for his brothers father in law.
One machine was lost in a house fire, the other is treated with kid gloves.
I thought that my dad deserved one of his own, so i shelled out £70 for a machine. He is slowly repairing/restoring it and it keeps him busy as he approaches retirement.
Library picture. I will get pictures (as promised) of my machines this weekend.
That's a Studer A827 multitrack with remote. (The machine would normally live in a separate machine room). Very serious bit of kit which, in it's day, cost an arm and a leg. As did the 2 inch tape it uses. The tape never seemed to have dropped in price, and I'd hate to think what a 'new' reel would cost today.
A while back, someone was trying to sell an 827 on ebay, it started at £15k and dropped, and dropped and dropped. Don't know if it sold in the end but I last saw it advertised at £5k.
They are HUGE, take some looking after and lining up, but are beautifully (swiss) made.
A while back, someone was trying to sell an 827 on ebay, it started at £15k and dropped, and dropped and dropped. Don't know if it sold in the end but I last saw it advertised at £5k.
They are HUGE, take some looking after and lining up, but are beautifully (swiss) made.
The Nagra is a thing of joy...I had a quick peek at ebay prices and was shocked.
The setup in the picture above looks excellent - some nice pieces there.
Right, after starting this thread a few weeks ago, i had better post some of mine. Please excuse the poor photos as these have just been taken in the loft using a flash and a angle poise lamp.
First up:
Civic - Dont really know much about it. Can anyone tell me more?
and a bit closer
Next:
A Grundig TK14 rescued from my unlces house minutes before the bin men took it.
Next:
The stylish Akai 4000D - bought for me by my father when i was a young lad.
and last up:
I give you the Akai 1710 complete within its solid wood box. You just dont get this level of detail any more....
and a sneaky close up
The setup in the picture above looks excellent - some nice pieces there.
Right, after starting this thread a few weeks ago, i had better post some of mine. Please excuse the poor photos as these have just been taken in the loft using a flash and a angle poise lamp.
First up:
Civic - Dont really know much about it. Can anyone tell me more?
and a bit closer
Next:
A Grundig TK14 rescued from my unlces house minutes before the bin men took it.
Next:
The stylish Akai 4000D - bought for me by my father when i was a young lad.
and last up:
I give you the Akai 1710 complete within its solid wood box. You just dont get this level of detail any more....
and a sneaky close up
I have a friend who licences the odd studio master tape- and makes copies on reel to reel.
The sound quality is astonishing - makes vinyl pale into comparison.
Too much maintenance and money for my blood though.
Worth a looksee.
http://www.tapeproject.com
The sound quality is astonishing - makes vinyl pale into comparison.
Too much maintenance and money for my blood though.
Worth a looksee.
http://www.tapeproject.com
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