Tascam 38-8 or Teac 80-8?

[Heimcomputer]

Which is the better reel to reel? I found one of each on ebay- both in good condition and both come with two reels of 1/2 in. tape. The Teac 80-8 is 350$ and the Tascam 38-8 is 500$. I'm just looking for a good 8-track reel to reel for a basic recording set up. What are the pros and cons of each?
Thanx!

 

[lonewhitefly]

They are pretty similar ... I prefer the 80-8 because it has more of a 'vintage'/'70s flavor, while the 38 specs out a little better and sounds a little cleaner. I think the 80-8 is a bit more rugged, though the 38 is newer so examples are more likely to have less use ... which kind of balances out. If you want a little more character, I would go with the 80-8, if you want something cleaner, go with the 38.

 

[Beck]

The 38 is leaps ahead in every way… head design, tape handling, audio quality, etc. You may save a bit on initial cost with the 80-8, but you’ll likely spend much more in the long run getting it up to speed compared to the 38 and even at it’s best the 80-8 can’t match the performance and is much more problematic when it comes to maintenance and repair. In most cases you’ll want to skip the free tape unless its new and known good tape. That is, no sticky-shed.

If you want to get the best Tascam ½” 8-track look for the TSR-8 or 48. But whatever you do, sending hundreds of dollars to a zero feedback seller is asking for trouble. A listing for any analog deck should also be very detailed with plenty of photos, including the heads. None of this one-line description nonsense. That's not a description. If you have to email a seller for the most basic information that should be in the description in the first place, pass on it and keep looking. Assume the seller has a useless doorstop unless he makes some effort to describe the damn thing and prove otherwise.

All that being said, get whatever is in the best condition. A mint 80-8 is better than a ragged out 38.