Reel to Reel buyers guide

[Erockrazor]

I am now in the market for a tascam 32 at a nice price of 100 dollars. I will be able to pick it up and check it out before spending my money on it.

I want to know what your guidelines are for checking the product out before buying it. I would like to formulate some sort of mental checklist so I can be confident enough when I buy it that it will work with little to no repair.

I am new to the analog world so talk to me like I'm a 4 year old. please.

[A Reel Person]

Make sure there are no major signs of scratches, dents or dings, or that it wasn't "dropped off" by UPS any time previously.

Check the heads and tape lifters, that they're not utterly flat or worn out looking.

Check the pinch roller that it's not sticky, gooey or deformed.

It's nice when the NAB hub adapters are included, and they were standard so they should be. Likewise for the Tascam takeup reel,... should be included.

Throw a reel of tape on it and watch the concentricity of the spinning reels. They should not wobble or rub on the face of the unit.

Look at the metal parts & RCA connectors. They should hopefully be clean and metallic, not dirty or rusty looking.

Look at the VU meter lamps and knobs, that they are working and in good shape.

Tape motion in Play/FF/RW should be effortless, without grinding or dragging.

[Erockrazor]

Thank you very much reel. Ill have to look at some sort of diagrams or something to get all the parts straightened out so i can refer to them a little easier. I feel so naive when trying to talk about a reel to reel recorder.


Thanks for your consistent and useful help. I can't thank you enough.

[A Reel Person]

Also make sure the rollers and caps are on all such items as the tension arms, on the pinchwheel assy & the idler rollers,... and that they spin freely.

Good luck!

[A Reel Person]

.............

[Beck]

Do what any smart 4-year-old would do... bring somebody older with you.

Seriously, rack your brain for anyone you may know with some background that could look at it with you.

On the other hand even a non-functional 32 might be worth $100.00.