3 head open reel multitrack recorders other than tascam-Teac?

[tedsorvino]

Hi everyone. New in here. Glad I join this fine community. Diy musician - “record” maker - audio devices-instruments builder-repairer from Athens, Greece, here.

I’m about to re-enter the analog multitrack recording “game”. So far I’m in a semi analog phase, after my cassette multitrack young phase. By semi, I mean outboard recording gear, computer editing, minimal plug in use for editing only or as a timing -syncing interface between external and “in the box” worlds, my trustworthy Revox b77 mk2 HS 2 track in there as well and a lot of back and forth between tape and computer.

My electronics skills are good. Many repair - maintenance jobs and builds. I made all the mods from 4 track to 2 and from NS 7 1/2 to 15 ips myself, according to Revox specs. So I’m not scared of “faulty” machines.

The max amount of tracks I need are 8. 15ips, 1/2’’ for 8 or 1/4’’ for 4 (impossible to find affordable 1/2’’ 4 track), a deck capable to accommodate 10’’ reels and i do prefer 3 heads since I do maintenance and calibration myself.

So as far as I’m concerned, according to the “standards” I’ve set, Teac has the classics 3440 and 40-4 or 80-8 (i don’t include 3340 or 70-8 since they are very very old and inferior to the next generations- of course I wouldn’t say no to a super bargain) and then there are the tascams 34,38,58 and 48.

I have to admit that 58 (but also 48) can be found usually on the expensive side for me since I wouldn’t like to go that high. Otaris are expensive and heavy.
Other tascam models are very large format or just 2 heads and very late 80s plastic and Dolby things (not my thing at all). The same for the “good” Fostex models. I embrace “noise” and “hiss”.

Do I miss any models up to my standards from other makers? Any suggestions more than welcome.
Teac 3440, 40-4 or tascam 34? Teac 80-8 or Tascam 38?

Thanks in advance

 

[rob aylestone]

There are a few studers popping up from time to time and other higher price studio machines like of course ampex. Sony had a 4ch version of the 377 intended for quadraphonic systems, plus another of a different design. I think there was a Philips one too but very plasticky. This would have been in the late 70s when I sold video and hifi

 

[tedsorvino]

There are a few studers popping up from time to time and other higher price studio machines like of course ampex. Sony had a 4ch version of the 377 intended for quadraphonic systems, plus another of a different design. I think there was a Philips one too but very plasticky. This would have been in the late 70s when I sold video and hifi

Thanks for the reply Rob.
I had a normal black plastic stereo 4 track Philips (1975). It was just plastic and the insides were all on one board. No cards. Nothing “pro”. Nothing too bad. Gave it away.
Studers and ampex are quite expensive for me. Akai (I know they have a couple quadrophonic ones) and Sony may be quadrophonic and not true multitrack 4 tracks. I will check for the Sony one.

Ps. The sony ones are TC 854-4 and TC 788-4. They look very nice, but because they are quite rare, they usually are quite expensive (for what they really are).
I also found out that Akai had the Gx-400D SS. Good looking machine.Very expensive nowadays. Maybe overpriced,

 

[rob aylestone]

Yep the one I remember was the 388. Very reliable and easy to lace up. No 15ips version though. It couldn’t do sync though so not too useful for our sort of stuff