New Reel to reel purchase, Hopefully worth it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter samth3mancgp
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As westgate points out that full disclosure and honesty is best, not only for your customer but for yourself. I try to live by the creed: "treat others as you would like to be treated". Also, greed is not such a good thing.;)

As for "ideal" decks.... Don't be too picky. You're currently in a rare position to potentially score a nice half track (2 track) deck (I believe the 32 also has sync capability - as in overdubbing) and, seriously, appreciate the fact that it's local. If in good condition, the asking price is a bargain. Be aware that the pinch roller / capstan belt may need changing but that's not a deal breaker and can be done easy / cheap. The support for this model is large. Don't forget to put it through its paces and check the heads carefully.

Yes, while a 2 channel interface / digital may seem more ideal, you've really been soured by your recent analogue purchases. You need to have realistic expectations when buying into 20 - 30 year old analogue gear. It's not plug & play, maintenance free, throw away digital technology but one which will serve you well if you find something in good condition and learn to maintain it in the proper way. You'll need to discern your purchases and be educated on what to look for, be a smart buyer.

The best motto I've heard someone say is KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. After that, it's a piece of cake.:)
 
Alright, sounds good man. I'll spend a while getting the Dokorder put back together. Probably have it listed on eBay sometime next week?

I have a pretty good idea of the problems with it. And I'm technically able enough to solder capacitors. I just don't know a whole lot about electronics and I don't want to screw it up more than I already have. I like technical things Part of recording is very technical and almost like a science, but theres also a large portion of creativity and art. Right now, I just feel like recording some songs. I've been getting into my gear too much, and a deck with as many problems as that Dokorder I would definitely not be helping myself out of gear obsession. I'm sure everybody here has gone through phases like that. I just feel burnt out.

After I sell the Dokorder and a few other things I'm going for the Tascam 32. I didnt know it had sync capability! :) I have a better idea of what I am "getting myself into" now. I've read about and messed around with these reel to reels enough to know that It can be harder to set up and care for, but the results are amazing. Acoustic instruments sound so full and clear coming from tape. However, If I cannot get the Tascam or the Otari I think I might take a break from looking for a good deck for at school. I'll probably focus on getting my 80-8 working properly since it's almost there. I need to record something though. I think i'm going to be recording a local band and they're willing to pay me with new gear instead of money. probably some good pres. Anybody ever heard of these? http://www.seventhcircleaudio.com/

Probably a new mic for vocals. Too bad I will be forced to do it digital. They definitely do not want analog. :( I'm still excited for it though. Sorry for the large ramble haha.
 
Today I started to put back together everything I took apart on the Dokorder. As I was working on it I noticed that there were 3 wires (Red, Black, and white) coming from the board for the solenoids.. I Am almost certain that It is somehow connected to the power for them. The black one looked like a ground, while the red and white were attached to a socket where an all metal part was connected. It reads "Toshiba 2SC793". I unscrewed it and took it out to see what it was.

I think it is a Transistor. It looks just like the all metal one in the picture here! Is this a component that usually goes bad?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor

I also found this thread related to people trying to find these transistors?

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-52745.html


As I continue to put this thing back together I keep finding more potential fixes and more reasons to tear it apart again! agh!
 
I've been done getting the dokorder back together for a while now. I am just not in a hurry to get it listed.

So.. since it is the holiday season, I thought maybe I might bring back my idea of getting another recorder to use at school. I came upon this today.

TEAC A 3340S

The fact that he has tested it with voice recordings and test tones successfully makes this one much more promising to me. (And since it's a TEAC 4 track it will be much more serviceable and just a better deck all around.) He even said that the heads were re lapped in 2005? :) I know I should be trying to buy locally, but this looks like a good deal? If it is not a good idea, please try to discourage me ;) because I'm entranced by these old recorders :o

I just found the service manual for it for free in an old AK thread!
 
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If it was me I'd stay away...it sounds like a high mileage unit, and if the seller is only charging 50 bucks for shipping it won't be packed right.

Don't do it. That's my advice.

BTW, can you link where you found that service manual?
 
3340 S service manual

There ya go and it was at this thread

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-105738.html

What exactly does high mileage mean? I personally would rather have one that was used regularly and is kept in any enough working orderto playback and record than one that has barely been used but has sat and rotted for who knows how many years. Like the auctions that say "New in box!" but it has sat in that box for 20 years and all the motors are seized up, the belts crumbled, and half the caps are shot. And I will be able to get much more support from you guys here with a unit that is still used by many people and has support from the company too. (I also love how solid the TEAC decks are. The 80-8 is big, heavy, powerful and sounds darn good.)

I must say that I am soooo jealous of what you were able to pick up for $300 :D <--- green with envy haha. You'll never need another multitrack!
 
THANK YOU for the link. That is awesome. ;)

The fact that it has been relapped, the fact that the trident is worn off of one table and some other bits in the description leads me to feel that this deck was not cared for and has seen a lot of tape. Then you couple that with the seller thinking they can safely ship it for $50 tells me it is one to pass on. IMHO it would caost at least $100= to safely ship it. I'd be waiting for a Sunday driver that is local. i like the 3340 too, but I'd pass on that one. Let others weight in. I'm just one opinion.
 
The price on it has jumped quite a bit. I'm probably going to leave it.. I don't want to pay a crap ton for a 4 track. The price is approaching what I paid for the 80-8 with all the extras. It was worth it to me until it went past about $150. Local is probably the only way that I can get deck that works for a good deal, but I'd probably wait for 2 track 2 channel like the Tascam 32 or a 4 track. the 2 track 4 channel ones are not what i'm looking for.

It was just 1 simple google search to find that service manual. Do you have a 3340? or are you keeping it for when somebody else comes looking for a manual?

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/ele/1511219937.html

That's the only thing on craigslist that might be worth it to me right now. I've heard Revox stuff is awesome.
 
+1 to everything sweetbeats said. I too would stay away. You're pretty much doing everything that shouldn't be done when buying a tape deck.
 
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