Tascam M-512 for $200

  • Thread starter Thread starter lo.fi.love
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lo.fi.love

lo.fi.love

Functionally obsessed.
Should I do it? It's for sale in my local Craigslist.

Now, before anyone asks, "Are you sure that this is what you need?", I just want to make this clear: I'm just trying to figure out if this is a bargain for this mixer. If it is, I might get it, despite whether I actually *need* it :)

(Wait, isn't this how I got in trouble in the first place? Buying things that I didn't *need* but that I lusted for?)
 
Wow...Jeff...you're presently using an M-30 right? Well, the M-512 is leaps and bounds ahead of the M-30. For 8-track work it is a gem IMHO...all the features of the M-520 without the dreaded fear of the missing PSU umbilical (since the PSU is onboard).

Can you PM me a link to the listing so I can have a look?

I think that's a good price IF everything works and it hasn't been beaten. You'll be able to go check it out since its local and that's a big plus. Keep in mind that, unless you get a good road case for this thing you're not going to be toting it around...not like the M-30 which you can sort of tuck under your arm, but its leaps and bounds beyond the M-30 feature-wise...all that and bag of chips.

Does it have the manual with it?

Don't worry if meter lamps are out...

sheesh...you've got a nice little 8-track studio going with the 48 and the M-512 would sure be a nice companion...it has enough flexibility for sure too if ever you got a synchronizer for the 48 and the 34 the M-512 would easily handle driving both decks AND a mixdown deck so...

Condition pending I call $200 a good price.

Do ask the question though if it something you are needing. :o
 
Okay...

I saw the listing...I'd be asking for pictures and details about its condition cosmetically and functionally and scheduling a site visit.
 
It's a bargain even if it needs a bit of work. Plus++++ to everything Cory said.:)
 
I'm waiting for the guy to email me back. I asked for pictures and an overall summary of the mixer and its condition. A buddy of mine will drive me down if it gets to that point.

I think I should do this. It's more mixer than I need *right now* but it will be a welcome upgrade when I'm ready for it (i.e., when I have a dedicated studio space).

Plus, it'd be nice to use the M-30 for on-site live recording or tracking, only. Spread the risk, so to say, so if something goes wrong, I'm not totally out of the game.
 
While I'm here, can anyone who owns a M-512 tell me what its physical dimensions are? Or does anyone know its rough dimensions?

If I thought I was going to need a bigger desk before, I'll definitely need one if I get this guy...
 
I can tell you everything/anything you need to know about it...

31 9/16" x 9 7/16" x 31 7/16" (W x H x D), just under 84lbs.
 
lo.fi... don't wait too long 'cause someone's gonna snap it up.:eek:

Seriously, I would just make an appointment with the seller to view the console, if it's not too long a distance. Photos won't tell the whole story and neither will the seller's words. Trust only yourself and your senses, especially when dealing with someone you don't know.
 
Just got an email from the seller. He's motivated to just get rid of it. He says his bandmates are complaining that it takes up too much space :)

He mentioned that many of the pots are dirty, so I asked him if there's anything else that he's aware of. I'll see what he says. I don't mind giving it a good cleaning... that's no sweat at all, all things considered.

He's going to take pictures of it this weekend and send them to me. He also said that something like "If you're still interested..." so I reassured him that I want to buy it from him if it all checks out.

I'm curious to see how this turns out! I'll report back.
 
I should just arrange to see it this weekend. It's a little tricky because it's at the other end of the Bay Area, but my room mate owes me a favor and in his words, he'll "drive me to some weird city" so I can "pick up something offa Craigslist" :)
 
Clearly the present owner does not respect the desk...:(

I won't be surprised if it is a bit beat up and neglected, but it is a lot of mixer for $200...I've got spares of just about everything for that board so PM me down the road if you end up with it...

I say if there's no manual and it is neglected (but functional) see if he'll take $150...

Unless you are familiar with the board its gonna take some time to go through it and test its functions...hmm...trying to think of a string of tests that will cover most of its functions in an efficient amount of time...

If you are going to test it before you take it (and clearly I've never done that because I'm an idiot and I only seem to buy mixers that have no power supplies when I buy them...I guess the M-308B powered up but it was $50 and I was in a rush...:rolleyes::o), you can technically test everything out on it with a condenser mic, two mic cables, and two RCA cables, and of course a pair of headphones. If you want to make it easier on yourself you can bring an 8-channel RCA-RCA snake.

Sheesh...wish I was closer...I'd check it out with you, but then again its a whole lotta mixer for $200 if its in any decent shape and works...

mumble-mumble
 
I've owned two 520s in the past and they worked great. If it is presentable offer $150 like sweet said. Its a lot of board. perfect for 8 track.
 
Update

The guy sold it to his buddy, who wants to sell it together with his M-520. The (original) seller said that I should contact this other guy if I want to buy BOTH and M-512 AND a M-520.

Who the @$%^ would want to do that? That's ridiculous.

I'm pretty bummed about it. What a weird thing to do.

I emailed him back and said that I want to buy only one mixer.

Who knows what will happen now, but it's probably time for me to move on and look for another deal.
 
It looks like that guy's friend is selling his M-520, alone. I wonder what's going on. I don't feel the need for that big of an upgrade, although I like the idea of owning a M-520. He's also selling it for $600, which is more than I can afford right now.

Hopefully I will find a good mixer soon, from someone who is more communicative.
 
RAW DEAL. Fishy. I felt itchy when I read the description as well as your account of his email response to you. I think the situation may have saved you on this one.

Just wait for the right deal to come along. It will happen eventually, and in the meantime your M-30 is taking care of you. Waiting is a good thing...sometimes you realize it was silly to go looking in the first place if you have to wait. I clearly don't follow my own advice.
 
Another follow-up.

I posted a "Want To Buy" ad on Craigslist. "WTB: Tascam M-512"

Someone responded, offering a M-520 for $450. He says it's in good shape. I double-checked to make sure it wasn't the guy involved in the shady situation that I wrote about here. It's not the same guy.

STILL... more mixer than I need, or can use in the near future. But, I always like to plan ahead and maybe this could be a good deal for me. I'm going to follow this and see what happens. He says, "I recorded a bunch of bands with this but I need to sell it because I'm moving."

This sounds like a better deal. As always, I'll write back as the situation develops.

To Sweetbeats: A good, old friend of mine said that he would gladly go in on leasing out and building a space with me if I still lived in Portland. And, I'd have you close by, so we could look at Craigslist finds together. I'm missing my home country... I recently watched the Ken Burns documentary on the Lewis & Clark expedition and I'm really missing my home. I think I need soggy trees and ferns. When I get a car, I might stop by Dallas just to say hello :)
 
Cool!

DEFINITELY soggy here this week! :p

Hey if you were up this way in the future you just might see a craigslist posting for an M-520 in EXCELLENT condition...totally gone through, super clean and complete, recapped PSU, manual, custom cover, spares...great after sale support...:D:D:D:D:D:D
 
Well, if I could find a way to earn a decent income in/near Olympia, I'd think about moving back up North. The great thing about living in the Bay Area is that you can get a high-paying job and make strategic lifestyle choices in order to minimize your cost of living, and then spend the rest on recording gear :)

... And, the thing about the Puget Sound area (excluding Seattle and Tacoma) is that there's just not any money to be made :(
 
I spent a week in Olympia in November and I swear I heard the mist whispering to me.... "Coooommmeee bacckkkk.... yoouuu beeellooooong heeerreeee" :)

If I move away from the Bay Area, I'm sure I'd go semi-rural or small-town. I grew up in the 'burbs around Portland and then lived in the city for six years. I think that living in Oakland for the past two years has given me enough of a taste of big-city living. Maybe I take the "nice" weather for granted, but I really enjoyed Olympia and the weather there, even though it's soggier than what I grew up with in Oregon.

But, if I become a wildly-successful record producer or engineer, I might move to a hundred-plus acre farm north of Santa Barbara :D
 
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