Looks like the price of 3440s has gone up

[EDAN]

Heck, I'm lucky if I could find half of my manuals whether they came with something I bought fifteen years ago or last week! Most people interested in something like this are going to ask questions if details aren't listed in the auction, if they don't that's on them. I just feel with well over 1500 positive feedbacks the chances this guy is trying to scam bidders are next to nothing. The high price set if anything makes me think he thinks it's really worth it.

 

[Dr ZEE]

...but getting into an analog vs. digital argument is not what this particular thread is all about or, has it degraded to that already?
...

I thought that this particular thread was primarily about "coffee running through your nose effect" ... or have I missed something?
Now, how, how on earth!, a 'coffe nose run' discussion can degrade to anything?
********
then, if one would say: "any laughter has got a serious bone in it", then. fine, so be it so.
Nop. I'm not ranting about analog vs. digital, I'm ranting about value vs. "value", and what else can better demonstrate value vs. "value" if not analog vs. digital?

...what should be a fair price for his unit which he claims to be in excellent condition ...

The way I see it is this. You can do research the open market place and find out what are the values of the current bottom, top and common prices are for a specific item, but then it is all up to you to decide whether or not those values are fair.
I would not sell any of my r-t-r machine simply because there is no way to sell it for a fair price (fair price, as I see it!). Nor I am going to buy any r-t-r machine on today's open market if the price is fair (fair as I see it), simply because thare are similar machines available on today's open market for unfairly low price.

The dark days when those machines will be all priced fairly may come rather soon, and then we are all screwed! ... so act now, before it's too late...

hope this makes sense

 

[MANALOG]

Yeah. Up up & away!...Look! Up in the sky!!! That price!!!!!

This seller is full of it. $1500???? If it was serviced properly, meaning new belts, the usual cleanout & lube, everything working the way it should I would go $450, $500. Maybe even more. I don't see the word 'serviced' here. I love when these sellers start rattling off specs from the manual that these 30 year old decks are probably operating well short of. I've amassed 9 reel to reel decks so far & at some point they're all going to the Tascam Service Center in NJ for serious overhaul & servicing even if I have to do them one at a time. On the bigger ones (8 tracks), if required, I'l get the heads relapped at JRF Magnetics or even replaced. I paid about 350 for my Teac 3440. A complete service & alignment will leave me with a 3440 brought up to like new specs for well under 1500. Like buying a car. Of course I try to find the best one, but I know I'm gonna have to plunk down 2-3k fixing all the surprises & hidden problems the seller was too cheap to deal with. When I get a deck working up to snuff, I know I'll have something I can be proud of. That I can rely on & have profound fun multitracking with. By the way, I bought a Tascam MS-16 1" 16 track in great condition for $1650. Who's this seller kidding? 1500 for a 3440!! He's either off his f**kin' rocker, or just being a smartass f**king wiseguy, or flatout doesn't know any better. Either way, we can enjoy watching it not sell.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Doctorow Zee!

I know what you mean by the "fair" price ideal. There's the emotional factor, the scientific-logical factor and then there's the market factor to all be considered when deciding what's "fair".

I guess for me, (a guy who once bought a used 3340S, second hand from a retailer who offered a 90 day full warranty back in 1985 for $650 Canadian dollars), I find deals like the one in question here a bit on the outrageous side considering that the seller is asking for brand new in the box, retail pricing and once I see that level of greed being displayed, I'll do near anything to discredit him as a Charlatan and outright crook.

Cheers!

 

[A Reel Person]

I bought an MS-16 in May for $700 that included over 70 reels of used 1" 3M 996 tape!

... and a 1" MRL tape!!! That lot of goods was worth a lot more than what I paid for it!!

 

[Dr ZEE]

... I'll do near anything to discredit him as a Charlatan and outright crook.

Cheers!

heh heh
You do that! (as public service or simply for pleasure). We DO need to keep the price of those marvelous machines at the chicken crap level. It's in our best interest.

/respects

 

[Dr ZEE]

ah, i forgot,...

Doctorow Zee!

...

Ghost, are you sure you wanna' play hard ball (and I don't mean this kind) ? It can be so much fun, you know...
********

 

[The Ghost of FM]

... and a 1" MRL tape!!! That lot of goods was worth a lot more than what I paid for it!!

Nice score, Dave!

I haven't been around here much to be up on your latest "hostile takeovers!"

How's it run?

Have you even played with it yet or is this going to be part of the Museum that I have vowed to come and see one day, when I retire.

Cheers!

 

[The Ghost of FM]

ah, i forgot,...

Ghost, are you sure you wanna' play hard ball (and I don't mean this kind) ? It can be so much fun, you know...
********

The only thing I'm sure of is that I'm going to Andover Connecticut this year for Jamfest.

After that, who knows?

For now, I'm working on fumes to get there to meet a bunch of really cool people from this site.

Cheers!

 

[A Reel Person]

I've vowed to record something new some day soon,...

to dispell the rumours that my studio is a "museum"!

I've not had time to hook up the MS-16/M-520 & put it through it's paces. I'll admit that my life is in disarray!! There was a minimum of smoking around this equipment, and the last month & a half have been a thorough "airing out" period! Yeah,... but the (MS16/M520) deck and mixer are in v-good condition. I'll hook it up & do some sessions,... hopefully soon! I have no excuses! I'm a slacker!

Remember our conversation about 9 months ago, that I said my studio work has ground to a halt by virtue of having too much gear? Well, it's true, & I'm still somewhat stuck in the middle of it. It's like,... too many decisions that it's stifling.

... Time to record? Fine. Will it be cassette, 1/4", 1/2" or 1" format? Will it be a porta-format recorder or a reel/mixer system? Will it be my tried and true analog, or more quirky experimental digital? Can I get to my desired recorder/mixer without digging it out from half-dozen other recorders and mixers?

Yes,... my life is like that!!! Aaaagggghhhh!!! SO MUCH GEAR AND SO LITTLE TIME!!!

Back when I had ONE Portastudio and ONE reel recorder/mixer setup, I produced MY ASS OFF,... day & night, 7/24/365,... for years on end. Now that I have MEGA-GEAR setup, I'm stifled and can barely record the most insignificant scratch tracks. That's pure irony,... but I'll admit my life is in disarray,... complete with a house-move and odd work hours. Not to mention a fully developed partying habit. 'Nuff said!!

I must admit that I've become overly fascinated with acquiring all available vintage recording gear, somewhat at the expense of actually "producing" something! It's a common trap to fall into, isn't it? I do, however, have in mind to make an effort to change things for the better, & for once & all prove that... my studio is not a museum!

You're welcome to make an exploratory pilgrimage to my site, whether you seek a "studio" or "museum" attraction,... it's all the same to me!! But, if you keep calling it a "museum",... I'm gonna have to hurt you!!!

 

[superbeatballer]

My grandpa said, “NO!” to the spirit floating near his bedroom door, beckoning him to follow her down the stairs.

Grandpas… ya gotta love em.

I love my late grandpa. He's magnetic polar food now though.....god rest his soul.

 

[cjacek]

I find deals like the one in question here a bit on the outrageous side considering that the seller is asking for brand new in the box, retail pricing

...and that is the bottom line 'cause the 3440 is approaching 3 decades when it was first introduced and machines of this age need major servicing, including replacement of electronics, in order to be put at or close to factory spec.

I would have no problem paying 1500 or 2000 bucks for a brand new, recently factory made 3440, as I know it to be a quality recorder, but a deck approaching 30 years is a ridiculous price to pay. There is no such thing as a "mint", "low use" or "new in box" unit of this age. Cosmetically, perhaps, but mechanically and electronically no way.

 

[cjacek]

... Time to record? Fine. Will it be cassette, 1/4", 1/2" or 1" format? Will it be a porta-format recorder or a reel/mixer system? Will it be my tried and true analog, or more quirky experimental digital? Can I get to my desired recorder/mixer without digging it out from half-dozen other recorders and mixers?

Somone once told me that it's good to not have too many choices. Otherwise one might not get anything done!

 

[A Reel Person]

Yeah, "too much" gear has stifled my creativity!

Aaaaggggghhh!!!!

But, the good thing is that I've not given up on my higher aspirations!
...(which involves playing music & recording for pleasure, no matter how basic or horrid my chops are by now!)

 

[cjacek]

Yeah, "too much" gear has stifled my creativity!

..... but not your passion (for analog gear and music). As long as you have that, nothing is lost!

 

[cjacek]

Despite our best efforts to state otherwise, I think there's definitely a downside to dirt-cheap gear!

 

[A Reel Person]

Yeah,...

..... but not your passion (for analog gear and music). As long as you have that, nothing is lost!

I keep telling myself that it's like riding a bike,... once you learn you never forget how,... except for the practice-thing!

 

[A Reel Person]

Well,...

Despite our best efforts to state otherwise, I think there's definitely a downside to dirt-cheap gear!

Cheap gear (analog) has become severely de-valued in a very short time, mostly for the "masses" who traditionally knew very little about traditional analog recording. For those of us with a thorough background & knowledge of analog, the de-valuing of analog gear in the general marketplace has only made analog more valuable to the few who still want it. That's how someone like me has amassed an incredible base of recording technology on-the-cheap that I never would have been able to afford before. Every time I acquire a new piece of (used analog) gear, I thank my lucky stars for the success of digital!

Back in the day, the moderately outfitted analog home recording studio was somewhat of a unique thing. Nowadays, 'puter recording is as ubiquitous as the home-computer itself,... which is all-pervasive. I'd venture to say that nearly every modern (US) household has a home computer of some sort, and the home computer has become as commonplace as the toaster! That's why "early" home recording felt like a small & exclusive club, but today home ('puter) recording is everywhere,... and I mean everywhere!!!

Time changes e'thing!
(Sorry to sound like an old fart, but maybe that's what I am!)

 

[cjacek]

True, but I just meant that if analog still commanded factory new prices, we'd pick out maybe 1 or 2 pieces, max out our credit card in the process and focus on recording more..

 

[A Reel Person]

Hmmmmmmmmmm!

Yeah! Exactly what I did in 1983!.............