Honest Reel to Reel tape recorder info needed

Stephen Karney · Post by **Stephen Karney** » 29 Dec 2009 4:59 pm

Hi folks,
I have a AKAI M-8 reel to reel tape recorder that I must sell for a friend. It is in beautiful shape and I am wondering if any of you know what something like this is worth. I saw the same model in worse shape and without the manual on EBAY for $100. I appreciate any help.

Karney

Larry Jamieson · Post by **Larry Jamieson** » 29 Dec 2009 7:48 pm

Stephen,
The problem with these machines is that they are obsolete... Nobody records with them anymore, and it is hard to find tape for them. Because of that, they have limited value. I bought a new Akai when I was in the service for around $300, circa 1970. It was state of the art at the time, but now people use palm size digital recorders, or record onto their computer.
I would guess you would be doing well to get $150 for it. Your mileage may vary...
Larry J.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Dec 2009 2:06 am

I purchased a very clean and fully functional Teac A-3300SX off of Craigslist earlier this year for $50, it came with 4 or 5 / 10 inch tapes and extra reels. Yes, it is big and heavy but it sure sounds good !

I used it to transfer all of my older reel tapes to MP3/Wave. For a few hours there I was back in the flower power mode !

$50 to $100 sounds right but the shipping is gonna kill ya.

t

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 30 Dec 2009 2:47 am

Is the M-8 the model with tube preamps? What condition is it in?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 30 Dec 2009 9:08 am

Ampex AX-50

Dianne Best · Post by **Dianne Best** » 30 Dec 2009 1:41 pm

Yes, unfortunately there isn't much demand for RtR tape any more - just a few of us dyed in the wool purists use them. I think I paid about $100 for my AMPEX 10 years ago. Still today, if you aren't working in digital, they are the best of the best.

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 30 Dec 2009 4:41 pm

I inherited a UHER reel to reel, when my wife's great aunt died a few years ago. I also have several reels of her playing, and singing. (This machine does sound on sound). Some of the rubber parts were rotten, but I finally found a source for parts and manuals in Germany.For $110, I got the recorder working again. $100 is probably the right price, if you can get that.

Stephen Karney · Post by **Stephen Karney** » 30 Dec 2009 6:30 pm

Thanks for all the help, I appreciate it.

Bryan - Yes, it has the tube preamps. Its 4 track, and you can record in stereo too. It is in near mint condition, I haven't played around with it much to try a recording, but what I have sounds amazing. I am tempted to buy it myself, I might have to.

I'll put a picture on here when I get a chance.

Thanks again

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 31 Dec 2009 4:18 am

You can do your recording in, say, Protools, then send your stereo mix to the tape deck. Then back to digital. Warms it up.

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 31 Dec 2009 7:33 am

Thanks for that tip, John!

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 31 Dec 2009 7:53 am

Stephen,
Great unit, I've owned a few over the years (2 right now)
Keep an eye out for speed variations.
The cap for the motor dries out causes the speed to change....then the motor draws more current.....then smoke.
We all know this stuff runs on smoke-if you let it out, it don't work no more.

Jay

PS The pre amp channels are great for other things...but I don't advise parting one out...

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 31 Dec 2009 9:27 am

I have an old Teac I brought back from overseas, and it has plastic? tubes that allow you to lubricate the motors! Maybe others do too.

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 3 Jan 2010 10:15 pm

Email sent

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 4 Jan 2010 7:43 am

John Billings wrote:You can do your recording in, say, Protools, then send your stereo mix to the tape deck. Then back to digital. Warms it up.

I saw Andy Bradly at Sugar hill studio in Houston do this to a new Bush, Price, Nelson album we are working on and it made a big time difference to "bounce" it to the tape and back.
Digital recordings can get a little "sterile" to me. Bouncing it to tape is the answer I like.