Tape Trail

RE: Advice needed.....

12.73.206.59

In Reply to: RE: Reel 2 Reel Advice needed..... posted by joeljoel1947 on February 08, 2008 at 07:04:04

Chances are high that those tapes of your grandparents are 3 3/4 ips???Of the two you've looked at, the Otari MX5050 is still being sold new I believe by special order. It comes with two playback heads, both 1/2 track and 1/4 track. I'd look at Revox B77. You can still get heads for them. The other model that is good is the Tandberg TD20(Actilinear). The Sony TC758 is also a contender. You have to know the speeds and the track configuration. The wear on these used machines is the central issue. How many hours of use it's seen. Stay away from anything used in a radio station unless it's an Ampex AG440C or ATR102 in mint condition. Old Ampexes or Studers never die. They are infinitely repairable because there is alot of parts out there and everything on them is standard parts. Same goes for Studer. To restore a pro-Ampex or Studer is expensive ($1000+ just for heads) but then they are mastering machines. The Japanese and European semi pro or prosumer machines have special made parts and when the parts inventory dwindles then thats ALL! If you are gona collect pre-recorded tapes from the 50s and 60s then it needs to have 1/4 track heads. Stay away from 3 3/4 ips tapes. They are trash--sonic wise! Ray

"I take you as you are
And make of you what I will,
Skunk-bear, carcajou, bloodthirsty
non-survivor.
Lord, let me die but not die out." FOR THE LAST WOLVERINE by James Dickey

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