Akai M-10 reel to reel

[Rockhouse]

Ok guys newbie here with a question.

A friend recently GAVE me an Akai M-10 which was made back around 1969. I have been able to purchase a users manul and parts book which are original. My questions are as follows.

1. It appears this machine may need some work to be a really solid machine, would it be worth the expense?
2. Let's say we get it up to great shape, would this paticular Model of reel to reel have the capability of good to great analog sound? Given the equation good Room-Good Mics-good performance and the tough one part Newbie engineer?
3. If the answer is yes could someone please steer me onto a shop that could handle refurbishing this old Akai.

As always thanks in advance for tolerating us Newbies.

 

[Dr ZEE]

short answer to all the questions: I don't know.
*********
longer rant:
imo these are not so easy to answer questions. too many if(s) and "it depends".
But since you've asked "...would it be worth the expense?", I would take a risk to give you a negative answer to that one. Actually a technician who can do a complete check through and repair if needed of the machine will more likely tell you that it is not worth of fixing, simply because the expense mostly for labour will easilly run over the 'cost' of the unit times-X-few-times.
From point of view of "worthiness" in a sense of $$$, I'd say it's all great if you do deal with all the technical issues yourslf and loving doind it. If you need somebody's assistance every step and move around and/or actually somebody to do it all for you, then it's a "hobby for the filthy rich"
Now, about the question whether or not to expect a good or great analog recording from a such machine (assuming it's in great operational order) , - I simply can not answer this. Nowdays it's a 'no-answer' question as I see it. It all depends on what you compare with and how you compare things, what your demands, expectations and past experiences and what your ear is like and your brain is like and all the things that are consequentially associated with all the above. Unanswerable question.
You have to try and listen for yourself. No more no less than that, There's no other way around it.
/respects

 

[Rockhouse]

Akai M-10

Thanks for your reply, your answer was exactly what I was looking for. Out of respect for the friend that Gave it to me, I will just keep it around as a control room dust bunny. Thanks again

 

[Dr ZEE]

Does it run at all? If does, then clean the heads and around, get a reel of tape and record something. It's easy
If the machine has specific issues, then post here, describe what's going on and some guys may help you out how to deal with it, well it depends too

 

[Vintage Texas]

If the Akai is in mint condition maybe worth keeping, but the M-9 and M-10 + M-11 compare to the M-8 (tubes) is a difference like day and night.
For a nice center-piece and enjoy the sound the M-10 is OK, but recording. njaa there was better models.