Tascam 38 buyer's dilemma

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paperhatrecords

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Hello my analog freak friends,

I started out my recording career as a Portastudio cassetter, and have moved to digital for the past five years and am ready to finally return to more serious analog. I want to start with a Tascam 38, and there are two offers I'm seriously debating right now. I need a response by tomorrow if possible because one of the offers is a few hundred miles from my house and I'm going near that city anyway tomorrow.

This first offer is for a whole setup, including a TASCAM 38, two 4-track dbx units, a Ramsa 8210 mixing board (10 tracks), remote and a large assortment of mics (SM57, SM58, Audio Technica 41, Altec Lansing condensers), test tape, adapters and cables (including 100' six channel snake). He's asking $1400 and I'm going to try to bargain down a few hundred from my internet valuation of the individual parts.

The second offer is local, a Tascam 38 (no dbx or mixer), a TEAC X-10, free tape/takeup reels and remote control, all for $400. Seems like a great deal, but the 38 is missing a capstan sleeve, and I can't seem to find anywhere on the net where I could purchase a replacement. Don't know if this piece would prevent testing - don't want to purchase anything for this much if I can't test first.

The former offer has the convenience of having a full setup pretty much ready to go, the latter I'd still need to buy a few things to get it working properly (dbx, mixer, cords, capstan sleeve) but is far cheaper and comes with a second reel-to-reel. Apparently the former has low hours (only a few songs recorded, guy's selling because he doesn't have the space) - the latter might have more, thinking about the missing capstan sleeve. Don't know why it's missing - perhaps it wore down over years of use?

If I could negotiate the former offer down to $1100 for a low-use 38, I'd prefer the convenience of having everything ready to go. Then again, if getting a capstan sleeve is easy and servicing can be done and comparable dbx units, cables, mics and mixing board could be bought for under $700, perhaps the latter offer is the better deal?

If I don't hear back from the first offer guy by tomorrow, I think I'll pursue the latter option (not interested in driving the long distance). But from the info I have now, which would you guys choose?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Tough call. The full studio sounds good if you have the money. The second, well, I'd be a little Leary about that one.
 
I saw the first one (Dallas/Fort Worth) system pop up in my list. If I had the money right now, I'd jump on it. A turn key system usually can't be beat, considering how hard it is to come across some of this stuff.
 
Thanks guys! I think that's probably what I'm going to go with. I'll let you know how it works out...
 
songs

First, let me say that any machine no matter how guaranteed can and will need something at some point maintenance-wise. Even the one you are getting that isnt missing any parts might still be a fixer upper any day and without warning. That being said though, id go with the one thats not missing any pieces and comes with all that other stuff.

Second, i went to your band pages and listened to some of your tunes. I think you will excel artistically no matter what you record on because of your classic approach to good songwriting. I think whether you are doing it on a 300 dollar digital portastudio or 1400 worth of all analog youll still be coming up with stuff people are going to find interesting.
 
Another thing

I remember when i went from cassette to a 38... it was nice. Its not easy to tell right away whats so great about 1/2" tape recorder when you just record like an acoustic guitar or something by itself. But once you add the bass, drums, piano etc... it starts to sound really huge and 3 dimensional compared to cassette. Its like, once all the tracks are there you really start to hear what 1/2" 15ips analog is all about.

But sadly my 38 broke and i sold it. Here was the setup for awhile:
 

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paperhatrecords: Not sure what you mean by "capstan sleeve". Perhaps rubber pinch roller? :confused:

If you're near that city tomorrow, for the first all-inclusive offer, then by all means check it out. It is a good deal but only if the deck is not worn out, especially check the heads. Here's a quick guide:
http://www.analogrules.com/badheads.html

Whatever you decide, check it thoroughly as you would a used 20 year old car and by all means make an offer.
 
Some of hte pieces in the "turnkey" are otherwise difficult and expensive to come by, e.g. the alignment tape. Also, having a few microphones isn't bad either. I'd say if the 38 is in good shape, go for it. A board with more than 8 channels is helpful too in doing 8 track. Also, dbx really does eliminate tape hiss.
 
- a guitar case used as table -

now I've seen e'thing!:eek:;)
 
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