Otari Mx5050 8 SHD vs. Mk1

[999imw]

I'm thinking of buying an Otari mx5050 8 SHD off someone but I want to make sure I can find parts for it easily. Does anyone know how this model compares to the mk1 model? Is it the same machine? I know it will need a new pinch roller and guide roller... Will any Mx5050 parts fit this machine or does it have to be specifically for the 8 SHD.

 

[sweetbeats]

The 8 SHD will be the hardest machine for which to find parts. Have you contacted Otari about this? Rubber rollers can always be rebuilt by somebody like Terry Witt of Terry's Rubber Rollers, but as far as other parts, I expect there is a low degree of compatibility between the 8 SHD and the later 5050 models...anybody else know more about those earlier Otari machines?

 

[999imw]

I haven't contacted Otari directly but I will tomorrow. I'm going to go look at the machine in the morning but I won't be able to test it since there's no rubber left on the rollers. I'm a little hesitant since you say it is an older model. I'd want to buy a locator for it and I suspect that a newer 5050 locator wouldn't be compatible..... If this doesn't work out im considering a Tascam TSR-8 thats supposedly in great condition.

 

[999imw]

Just checked out the 8SHD.... It appears in great shape. All the lights work. Ffwd Rwd and Play/Record work. The heads appear to be in decent shape. All inputs work but the rollers are gone and there's no way to test if the thing actually records. The guy's asking 400$ but my gut is telling me to pass on it and wait for something that has been tested and works. It's been sitting in a basement for 20years.
Any suggestions?

 

[toddyjoe]

I have an early Otari MX-5050 2SH, the silver-faced two-track 1/4" model, that I acquired about two years ago. I did not have too hard of a time tracking down parts for it with on-line third-party vendors and Ebay, but I recall contacting Otari once or twice and they could provide no help for such an old model. My model has a lot of obvious differences with the later models in terms of cosmetics and also mechanics and electronics (for example, the electronics on the 2SH are all discrete and the capstan is belt-driven), but depending on the particular part you need there is some crossover and compatibility with heads, guides, etc. Not sure off the top of my head if the one you are looking at is more similar to the later models than mine but thankfully there are a lot of Otari parts floating around out there for fixer-uppers regardless of whether they are older or newer. Mine had been sitting in a repairman's basement as well when I got it so it took some maintenance to bring it back to life, but I paid less than $50 for it in a package sale so it was no big deal. $400 for the one you are looking at sounds high, as I know of newer 8-track Otaris in fully-functional condition currently going for $500 or less even the Midwestern U.S. You are probably going to have to buy new rubber rollers and maybe install new electrolytic capacitors throughout if the one you are looking at has been sitting that long (and maybe new rubber belts if that model is belt-driven), so I would keep those costs in mind when considering the purchase.

On a side note, the mechanical specifications on my older model may not be quite as good as the newer ones Otari put out but it still performs very well compared to other machines I have. Mine also sounded a little different from a later Otari two-track I compared it to once upon a time... not really better or worse but just different.

 

[999imw]

I ended up passing on the 5050.... I'm probably going to pick up a Tascam TSR-8 instead off ebay. I could probably get it for 600$ which seems a bit much but I really want to have a machine to start tracking with asap and this seems to be in good shape. There's a tascam m308 console for sale in the city as well .....