Question for 388 Owners

[MULEFAN]

Hey- It looks like I'm getting a used, well cared-for 388 from a friend of mine. He has moved on to computer recording.(I love new technology,it causes people to hand over the good stuff cheap!) My question is: how does the reel to reel section in a 388 compare to other 1/4" 8-track decks? Is it in the same league as stand-alone Tascam 8-track decks? Tape speed seems to be one concern, no 15 ips on the 388. Is it possible to replace the motors on a 388 to get the higher tape speed? Any comments or advice on the 388 would be appreciated. I did search 388 on here and read some of the threads. Thanks, Steve Z.

[technoplayer]

The 388 is a great machine as it is. To answer in no particular order:

--No, there is no practical way to "upgrade" the 388 to run at 15ips. It involves a lot more than tape speed. Forget it. If you are totally focused on 15ips, sell the 388 and buy a 15" machine. That will let you waste tape twice as fast.

--I cant compare the sound quality to any other 1/4" 8track, because I have no experience with these. The 388, as it is, is IMO the pinnacle of 1/4" 8 track analog technology. If you want to get "better" analog quality, you would need to step up to a 1/2" or 1" machine of a reputable brand. I would daresay that once you use the 388 with the proper tape and push the machine to its limits, you probably won't find the need to spend the money to go with the wider/fasters. Give the 388 a chance as it is...you will be pleasantly surprised. This was a $4K machine new, and is a quality unit.

--

[Herm]

I agree! Its a great machine just the way it is. I hope to be posting a tune I have been working on in a couple of days that is done on the 388. That is if I can get the darn keyboard player in gear.

[A Reel Person]

So, it's kinda hard to compare the 388 to anything else. All other Tascam reel 8-tracks were 1/2"-15-ips machines. There's no comparison between the two, with 1/2"-15-ips delivering more raw, stark fidelity, by far.

In it's own right, the 388, with it's 1/4"-8-tracks @ 7.5 ips & dbx, delivers a very nice hifi sound, plus the mixer section itself is worth the price of admission.

The only other 1/4" 8-tracks were Fostex units (A8, Model 80, R8, E8), and they ran 15 ips & Dolby C. I dunno if the Fostex sound is superior to the Tascam 388, but it surely is different. It depends on who you ask. Some people are die hard Fostex fans, but I'm not, so take that for what it's worth. On the other hand, I do own the Fostex units and the 388, and that's what I base my opinions on,... not just some pie-in-the-sky estimation on what I "think" they sound like. I've always favored the 388. Honestly, despite the 7.5 ips speed (vs 15 ips), with dbx the 388 delivers a nice warm hifi sound. I never liked any Dolby C machine as much as a dbx machine, and that's partly why I'm such a huge Tascam fan.

You're right, that all this new tech causes people to give up their older equipment silly-cheap, or sometimes even free, and you can't help but to love that.

That's my biased opinion. Now it's time for some other heads to hop on this board and tell me I suck, and I dunno what I'm talkin' about.

C'ya, and congratulations!

[MULEFAN]

Thanks to everyone who replied. I will let you know when I take posession of the 388.The info I have found has been extremely positive (from owners). Sounds like just what I need to move up to the next level.