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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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22nd Jan 2008, 5:06 pm | #1 |
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teac A3340s
hi,
i'm looking for a good reel to reel four track; multitrack, not quadrophonic machine. i'm considering a teac 3340s or 2340s, but have also come across the dokorder 1140, a 60's stephens, an ampex 440, akai gX400d, toshiba pt884 ( i think these last two are 'fourtrack' machines not a quad machines ) on my travels around the internet. does anyone have a four track for sale? i'm in the uk. or does anyone have any thoughts on the above machines? – any to avoid? any guidance much appreciated. background is - fed up with modern digital gadgets, like the look, feel and sound of old machines and i get more done when i can see reels turning! i'd also be interested in a teac 2a mixer. thanks, tim |
22nd Jan 2008, 6:48 pm | #2 |
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Re: teac A3340s
Are you after a four channel or four track machine, there is a vast difference?
Colin |
22nd Jan 2008, 6:53 pm | #3 |
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Re: teac A3340s
hi colin,
i may be using the wrong term! i'm looking for a machine which functions along the lines of the eighties multitracks i grew up with (x15, porta two, etc) though obviously without a mixer function, but i'd prefer a reel to reel to a cassette based machine, as i have a b77 and love the sound. i just can't overdub with it, of course. what should i call what i'm looking for? thanks, tim |
22nd Jan 2008, 8:22 pm | #4 |
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Re: teac A3340s
So, a multitrack tape recorder... we run a couple of Fostex Model 80 eight-track machines which are good to use. But beware that Fostex machines are impossible to get spare parts for - you'll just end up buying a second machine for spares, which is why we have two!
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22nd Jan 2008, 10:06 pm | #5 |
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Re: teac A3340s
hi james,
maybe i should be in the market for two teacs! do you know if the teacs are any better for spares? i don't suppose anyone makes a new reel to reel four track machine. or do they? tim |
23rd Jan 2008, 6:00 am | #6 |
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Re: teac A3340s
I don't think any companies do make new multitrack tape machines anymore.
Something like a Tascam TSR-8 would probably suit you well - 8 tracks on half-inch tape, and should be reasonable to get parts for if needed. |
23rd Jan 2008, 10:39 am | #7 |
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Re: teac A3340s
Just because they say a machine is four track does not realy mean what you thing it means.
4 track in a lot of 60's machine's just means stereo recording and then you turn the tape over which gives 4. There is a special feature like whith akai around that time where you can record 4 mono tracks independentaly, to make the most out of the tape, and this involves actual movement of playback head and turning tape over to get all 4 tracks. When you want a 4 tack recorder like portastudio, you want to be able to record all 4 tracks and over-dub some tracks individualy. Just like the portastudio you need one whith a 4 track head that will record or play all 4 one direction, no turning of tape over. You could record on a quad unit, but you would not be able to over-dub on individual tracks. You could even go for an 8 track even more. You can even get an 8 track cassette. The wider the tape the more expensive it becomes or the more tracks on tape and the thinner the sound is? Anyway, I think there are more 70's/80's Teac or Tascam ones made and I think they were also the most afordable too. Fostex are quite good but not too good for parts? There is a 16 track Fostex on 1/4 inch tape? I think Fostex was one of the last entrants in reel-to-reel in the 80"s. --- |
23rd Jan 2008, 12:53 pm | #8 | |
Octode
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Re: teac A3340s
Quote:
There are a few multitrack machines advertised at http://www.soundonsound.com/readersads?Cat=9 - keep an eye on that page as I've seen A3340's and A3440's on there fairly regularly. Cheers James. |
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23rd Jan 2008, 6:47 pm | #9 |
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Re: teac A3340s
Ebay is a good place to get machines, but I'd recommend you go to pick it up rather than getting it posted. That way you can maybe see it working if the seller allows.
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23rd Jan 2008, 7:41 pm | #10 |
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Re: teac A3340s
hi james, james and electric hair
thanks, v much appreciated. does anyone know of any companies that sell these? it would be reassuring to get one from a reel to reel specialist. even if it means paying a bit more. i've found some in the US, but they are 110v and i guess won't work in the UK. will keep an eye on s.o.s and ebay too. maybe i ought to look at eight tracks. thanks for all the advice. those 827's look fantastic. nice and big. my girlfriend will kill me. tim |
24th Jan 2008, 3:28 pm | #11 | |
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Re: teac A3340s
Quote:
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24th Jan 2008, 6:06 pm | #12 |
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Re: teac A3340s
I would suggest you stick with a Teac machine, an A3440 is a nice deck, why Teac, mainly because you have a better chance of getting parts, parts for other makes are very difficult if not impossible to get. I have approx 30 decks but the one that I use in the house is a Pioneer 909, nice compact and it looks and sounds great. It's your choice but take heed of previous advice, have it demonstrated before you buy.
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24th Jan 2008, 7:46 pm | #13 |
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Re: teac A3340s
thanks zooterman,
i'll keep my eye out for a teac then, i think. thanks for the advice. you don't know anywhere that sells teac machines do you? where i can go and look and test things out? i suppose these things are all done over ebay now. maybe i'll do some phoning around secondhand music shops at the weekend. tim |
25th Jan 2008, 1:08 am | #14 |
Heptode
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Re: teac A3340s
You might also like to consider Revox machines. Reliable .Quality M/cs
Have a look at http://www.taperecorder.co.uk Based in Ipswich I think. Not cheap but then nor are Teac.. Sony. Pioneer.are others you might consider. It will depend on your budget as with most things Very unlikely you will find a good machine from a secondhand music store. But you never know.. Hope this helps. Peter W ............Reelguy PS, No connection with above mentioned firm . |
25th Jan 2008, 9:24 am | #15 | ||
Dekatron
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Re: teac A3340s
Quote:
I'm pretty sure they didn't get quite that high in track density! Fostex had a range of 8 track 1/4" machines, but watch for parts availability. They also did a 1/2" 16 track. Tascam did one 1/4" 8 track, only at 7.5ips and in a 'portastudio' format, the 388 (and from all accounts they are not that 'porta'ble!). Tascam also did the MSR-16 which I have a soft spot for - 16 tracks on 1/2" tape with dbx (or Dolby S on the MSR-16S). I engineered an album for a friend on one in 1993! All of these recorders are getting on. Some Tascam parts are available, but I understand the heads aren't, so if they are beyond a relap you'll just have a big heap of parts. Quote:
If 4 track will do the job I'd look for something like a Teac A3440 or a Tascam 34, preferably the latter if you can afford one. If you need 8 track you could try one of the wee 1/4" Fostex recorders but a better bet would be the TRS-8. The Tascam 38 may also be worth looking at, a bit older technology but you might get one quite cheaply. |
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25th Jan 2008, 3:01 pm | #16 |
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Re: teac A3340s
Fostex E8 8track (1/4 inch tape)
http://www.40watt.co.uk/images/e8.jpg Teac 80-8 8track (1/2 inch tape) http://www.40watt.co.uk/images/teac80-8.jpg Fostex B16 16track (1/2 inch tape) http://www.40watt.co.uk/images/b16.jpg Otari MTR 90 24track (2 inch tape) http://www.40watt.co.uk/images/mtr90.jpg enjoy |
25th Jan 2008, 4:11 pm | #17 | |
Octode
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Re: teac A3340s
Quote:
If you want something that works then the best bet is to find someone that regularly restores these machines and sells them on ebay. Oh - I just did a quick search amongst a few pro-audio web sites and found a Teac at http://www.larking.com/summer_jumble_sale.htm Cheers James. |
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26th Jan 2008, 10:47 am | #18 |
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Re: teac A3340s
Here is a good page on the teac A3340s
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2...acA-3340S.html nice picture http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...A-3340S033.jpg --- |
1st Feb 2008, 12:01 am | #19 |
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Re: teac A3340s
thanks everyone, very much appreciated; links, advice, etc.
tim |