Reel to Reel Question

[TheRoz]

I have an old Webcor reel to reel tape recorder, circa 1963, which has a bunch of tubes in it. It is by no means a piece of professional recording gear, and I don't use it for anything, but...

I was wondering if I could run a signal through there to get the benefit of some "tube warming" as it were. The unit has a microphone in (RCA plug) jack and an "ext. speaker output" jack right next to it. I think the answer is "no" because I tried to put this unit between a guitar and an amp, as a guitar preamp or "effects pedal" but all I got was a bunch of loud noise.

I read in some recording book that you could use old reel to reel tape recorders in this way, but I don't think the speaker out is a line out such that I could patch this thing between a mic and my 4-track. I don't want to try it until I get some advise because I don't want to damage anything.

Thanks.

[matty_boy]

You could damage your amp by putting a speaker (amplified) output into it.

Matty

[TheRoz]

Do you think I could have the reel to reel rewired at minimal expense so as to permit me to pass a signal through it?

thanks.

Roz