I couldn't resist Sunday...234

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sweetbeats

sweetbeats

Reel deep thoughts...
Tascam 234 Story...

For sure I've got a mild case of ARP-itis...maybe even more than mild. That's A Reel Person-itis...

Won't have it until next week sometime. I've always wanted one...so...now I have one. Seemed like a good deal; $100 shipped. Needs new belt(s) but comes with the replacements...

Description from eBay:

HERE IS A NICE VINTAGE TASCAM 234 4-TRACK CASSETTE DECK IN VERY CLEAN SHAPE! COMES WITH NEW BELTS THAT NEED TO BE PUT ON, ALL LIGHTS WORK, THIS 4-TRACK HAS SPENT ITS LIFE IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED SETTING, NEVER HAD ANY ROAD OR PRO USE! VERY CLEAN PAINT AND GRAPHICS, ALL POTS TURN NICE AND FIRM WHEN TESTED WITH HEADPHONES I NOTICED NO DIRT OR NOISE IN POTS, OLD BELTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, ALSO COMES WITH 4 FACTORY HARD TO FIND MANUALS- OWNERS MANUAL, SERVICE MANUAL, SCHEMATIC MANUAL AND INFO FOLDER , ALL IN ALL A VERY CLEAN TASCAM 234!
 

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Nice! You're gonna have quite the rack of Tascam stuff! :)
 
Oh damn! That's sweet man! Nice score. I'd like to add to my 122b deck by having a 234, 238, and a 133.:D All in due time I suppose.
 
Quick question now that I think about it. Does the 234 run only at 3 3/8" ips or does it also go to the standard 1 7/8 ips? dbx NR?
 
Nice! You're gonna have quite the rack of Tascam stuff!
Click to expand...

Yeah...this makes 16U altogether including the PS-520 power supplies for the M-___ and M-520 mixers... :o

I'm pretty sure one of the PE-40 equalizers is going to be sold off. I don't have room for it all and I'm resisting making more room...I have too much already.

Quick question now that I think about it. Does the 234 run only at 3 3/8" ips or does it also go to the standard 1 7/8 ips? dbx NR?
Click to expand...

Huh...I'm actually not too sure about the tape speed...good question. :confused: The built-in n/r is dbx tho'.
 
It's a 2x speed recorder.

That's a clean machine!:eek:;)
 
The 234 was [and is still to some extent] a bit of an obsession with me. I always wanted to score one and combine it with a higher end mixer, for the ultimate in 4 track cassette but it never penned out, especially that I've got so many toys already. Cory, that's a great score, for little $ and it looks damn clean too! Also includes manuals and brochure, new belts etc.. I can just imagine the M___ or the M-520 + 234! WOW!! :eek::D;)
 
Dave, by "2x" do you mean it is double speed (one speed only at 3 3/4ips), or that it has two speeds (1 7/8ips and 3 3/4ips)?

I can just imagine the M___ or the M-520 + 234! WOW!!
Click to expand...

No-no-no...M-___ + M-520 + 234...now that's what I'm talking about... :rolleyes: :D

Hey, I think I'm going to change the name of the thread if I can...needs to be consistent, so I'm going to change it from the present "I couldn't resist Sunday...234", which was really a play on ARP's "I couldn't resist today" thread and my mild (???) case of ARP-itis, to "Tascam 234 Story..." :rolleyes::o:p

There's that OCD again...I'm becoming more and more like TV's "Monk". :eek:
 
Packing 101, and how does the 234 work anyway?

I sent the seller a link to the Packing 101 sticky and inquired what his packing plans are. Its not a 100# open-reel machine, but IIRC its still in the 30# range...what a shame it would be if that clean specimen got whacked...

Also:
  • Am right that the 234 essentially has a basic 4 x 2 mixer onboard? You can actually mix down to 2-track without an external mixer?
  • Any way to patch in external processors in the inputs?
  • I haven't been able to find a good picture of the jack panel to see all the gozintas and gozoutas...does it actually have mic pre's on the 1/4" jacks or are there just 1/4" and RCA -10dBu line-level inputs?
  • And I'm assuming there are direct outs for each of the 4 tracks?
  • The dbx is either on or off right? No track 4 defeat like on the 424?
 
No, tried to rename a few times in the past but there's no way to rename a thread, once a bit of time passed. :(

As for packing the 234. It's not as bad to ship it, as it weighs like 20lbs or so but first off I'd ask the seller to unscrew those rack mounting brackets and ship those along with the screws well bubble wrapped, somewhere away from the deck. OK, I would first bubble wrap the hell outta the 234, using the heavy duty large bubbles, in such a way that I literally roll several good inches per side so that the whole thing looks like a big sack of potatos afterward, a good 6 inches per side [no less] of tightly wrapped large bubble wrap around it. [Again, the side brackets must be removed and placed inside the box - also wrapped - after the main unit is wrapped]. Then a box is found to be somewhat tight fitting but if slightly larger, you want to cram as much crumpled paper or similar on each side to prevent movement in box. The seller should send it Fedex Ground or, Fedex Express [it does help when the item is less in transit]. Basically the recorder needs to be packed in such a fashion as to withstand a drop from 6 - 8 feet on any side. Also, I revised my take on an all styrofoam panel packing for regular shipping [crate / pallet is fine] 'cause there will be drops and tosses with that way of shipping and you want as much "give" and "spring" like behavior as you can, if you catch my drift. Ask the seller, prior to him shipping, to email you the photo(s) of the packing job. That way you can give him the green light or suggest additions before it is actually sent.

--
 
sweetbeats said:
I sent the seller a link to the Packing 101 sticky and inquired what his packing plans are. Its not a 100# open-reel machine, but IIRC its still in the 30# range...what a shame it would be if that clean specimen got whacked...
Click to expand...
It's pretty sturdy in shipment & built like a tank.
sweetbeats said:
Am right that the 234 essentially has a basic 4 x 2 mixer onboard?
Click to expand...
Yes.
sweetbeats said:
You can actually mix down to 2-track without an external mixer?]
Click to expand...
Yes
sweetbeats said:
Any way to patch in external processors in the inputs?]
Click to expand...
DI effects inline into the RCA inputs, such as MX80>PE-40>234.
sweetbeats said:
I haven't been able to find a good picture of the jack panel to see all the gozintas and gozoutas...]
Click to expand...
There are lots.
sweetbeats said:
does it actually have mic pre's on the 1/4" jacks ]
Click to expand...
Yes
sweetbeats said:
or are there just 1/4" and RCA -10dBu line-level inputs?]
Click to expand...
No
sweetbeats said:
And I'm assuming there are direct outs for each of the 4 tracks?]
Click to expand...
Yes
sweetbeats said:
The dbx is either on or off right?
Click to expand...
Yes
sweetbeats said:
No track 4 defeat like on the 424?
Click to expand...
No.:eek:;)
 
Dave, thanks for the plentiful and concise answers. ;)

Daniel, thank you for the input on packing/shipping. I haven't heard back from him yet regarding my initial plea to me mindful of the packing convention, but when I do hear back I'll use your input.
 
I had one back in the day. I used it with an m320. Best 4 track cassette recordings I ever made. Nice score.
 
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