IIRC tape has foibles like print through and the need for carefully aligned heads. We used to make reference speech intelligibility tapes using 1/2" tape at 15 IPS with Ampex 350s. Getting a clean recording took a lot of care. You never fast forwarded or rewound anything, because it could compact the tape. As a post-doc I got reamed by a tech for casually releasing the cover on heads that had he had previously been carefully aligned. But that was in the 1960s.
Advice Regarding Reel-to-Reel
I went to a neighbor’s home to look at some records they were selling. While I was there, the husband tried to interest me in buying his Teac a-6300 deck. He said he bought it new in the 1970’s while stationed in Europe, as his music options were limited. He doesn’t use it anymore and they are trying to reduce clutter. He asked for $300.
I said I would get back with him. Looking on-line, I see much higher prices for those decks. They are described as semi-professional decks with good capabilities. I also read that such an old deck should be gone over by a qualified tech to be lubricated, have belts replaced and have the electronics checked for possible replacement. This work could easily come to $500 or more, and that is if I can locate a person with the knowledge and equipment to do a quality job while hopefully avoiding shipping it.
I told the people I would pass on their deck, but I keep reading and thinking about it. The price is good, but the expense and hassle of restoration, and not knowing how much I might use it (playing mostly records, CD’s and radio now), give me pause. It does look really cool though with those 10.5 inch reels! And if I needed to sell it on for a profit, that might not be too difficult? And thoughts?
I said I would get back with him. Looking on-line, I see much higher prices for those decks. They are described as semi-professional decks with good capabilities. I also read that such an old deck should be gone over by a qualified tech to be lubricated, have belts replaced and have the electronics checked for possible replacement. This work could easily come to $500 or more, and that is if I can locate a person with the knowledge and equipment to do a quality job while hopefully avoiding shipping it.
I told the people I would pass on their deck, but I keep reading and thinking about it. The price is good, but the expense and hassle of restoration, and not knowing how much I might use it (playing mostly records, CD’s and radio now), give me pause. It does look really cool though with those 10.5 inch reels! And if I needed to sell it on for a profit, that might not be too difficult? And thoughts?