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Tape Recorders
As everyone knows Analogue Multi-Track Recorders are at an
all time low in price.... making them great buys now.
it's a buyer's market, bargain hard!
Also... there are a lot of machines out there for sale in "As-Is" condition
without head reports, and where the seller says things like... "it's been stored
for the past couple years", or "I no longer have a studio in which to test the machine"
or "was working fine when last used...a few years ago." Basically this means
you are buying a machine in unknown condition - and it likely needs repairs !!!
Do NOT buy a machine that you have not personally seen or had a trustworthy tech look at !!!
I see too many machines come into my shop that have been sold as 'AS-IS good condition' units
where the actual true condition is poor or worse - needing costly repairs....
and where the seller refuses to make good on his statement or help pay for those repairs.
A multi-track with bad heads is worthless !!!
Heads cost thousands of dollars. A new Ampex MM 1200 24 trk Repro head is $ 2,000
Otari and Studer heads are far more expensive.... Bad Heads = bad deals
The seller who says "it was working before I put it into storage..." is telling
you that the machine is in totally unknown condition.
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current Market STREET SALES PRICES for Various Tape Recorders...
as reported to me from various folks who bought these machines...
2013
Otari 5050 mkIII 8 track
bought in Germany for 150 euro ($200us)
buyer says it needed a new pinch roller
and is in very good condition... great deal !!
Ampex ATR 104 4 track 1/2 inch
Buyer says the heads are almost brand new
Some minor tech work required on her, new Capstan tach needed
Bought for $ 1,000 very good deal !!
Ampex MM1200 24 track
Well used, heads worn to about 20% life left.
Has Constant take-up Tension Card, buyer says it's in fair condition
with worn pinch roller and some bad audio cards
Bought for $ 3,500 So-So deal
Studer A-827 24 track
Bought from a seller who said it was in fine condition
but actually had two blown Power Supply transformers
and the third one ready to blow..... unit could not even turn On !!
Sold for $ 9,000. Very bad deal at any price !!!
Seller refuses to refund any money, and says since it's 'Vintage' he doesn't
have to do anything, even though seller said it was checked by his tech ,
and it only needed power caps replaced !!! That's a bad tech and a really bad Seller !!
As I keep saying --
NEVER BUY A MACHINE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN AND RUN YOURSELF
Ampex ATR 102 1/4 inch two track
Buyer says it needed repairs...
Well used condition. Bought for $ 700 !!
Great deal if the repairs are minor.
Ampex MM1200 24 track with Constant Take-up Tension card
Machine in well used good condition....Heads with about 20-25% life left.
with Manual, Transport card Extender, spare Repro Card, Remote Cable and Transport Only Remote.
Completely gone thru by a good tech.... all electrolytic caps replaced.
Sold for $ 3,250 very good deal
Otari MX-80 24 track
Buyer says it's in very good condition
Bought for 2600 eruo ( $3400 US ) including taxes
Not a great deal, but these are rare in Europe
Otari MTR-90 mkIII in very good condition
With remote and autolocator
Bought in Australia for $1900 AUD ( $2,000 US dollars )
2012
Studer A-800 24 track with Autolocator
Heads worn: only 15% life left, but that is still 2K+ hours
Bought for $ 800 - GREAT deal
AMPEX ATR 102 1/4 inch 2 track
Good well used condition. Has brand new heads and new Capstan unit.
Minor dings and scratches. Aligned fine.
$ 3,500 Good deal (over 1,500 in new parts installed for sale)
AMPEX MM1200 24 track
Buyer says it needed $500 in work, plus a new pinch roller
Bought for $ 2,000 OK Deal
Studer A-800 16 track with spare headstack
Buyer said it needed just minor work, and is in good condition.
Bought in England for 500 pounds ($800.00 us) Great deal!
Ampex ATR 102 with 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch 2 track headstacks
Has been completely rebuilt by PMI - superb condition
2 speed Padnets, heads in almost brand new condition
Cosmetically very nice. Sold for $ 8,000 Good Deal
Ampex MM1200 24 track with Take-up Tension Card
Does not run... Unit is missing Control Box
and has a non-repairable capstan motor
Sold for $ 1,900 - BAD DEAL !!!
Ampex MM1200 24 track
Buyer says it is in good condition
Sold for $ 3,200 OK Deal
Ampex MM1200 24 track
Needs work, transport does not function
Heads in unknown condition
Sold for $ 2,500
MCI JH-24 24 track
Came with AL III and some spare parts
Buyer says it is in very good condition
Bought for 1130 euro ($ 1,400 US dollars)
TEAC 85-16 semi-pro one inch 16 track
Buyer says it's in good condition
Bought for $1,000 So-So deal
MCI JH-16 Sixteen track 2 inch
Has bad Repro head - many tracks open
Blown Power Supply, bad audio caps, Needs work
Bought for $1,300 "As-Is" BAD DEAL
Studer A-827 'Gold' edition with only 105 hours of total use !!!
24 track, with Autolocator, remote, cables, some spares.
Sold for only $ 13,000 Great Deal !!!
Studer A-80 with both 24 and 16 track headstacks and Autolocator and Remote
I saw this machine after the purchase and alas it's in very bad condition...
10 tracks don't work, the transport is corroded internally and externally,
motors need new bearings... lots of work needed.
Buyers paid $3,000 from a Seller who said it was in good running condition!
VERY VERY BAD DEAL
Never buy a machine that you have not seen and run
yourself or had a tech check out for you..
Otari 5050 mkII 1/2 inch 8 track
Buyer says it's in good condition, just needs a new pinch roller
Bought for $ 200 very good deal !!
Studer A-800 24 track mkI machine with 316 heads
Recapped audio cards, with Remote and Autolocator.
Buyer says it's in very good condition
$ 4,200 OK deal
Otari MX80 24 track
Needs repairs. Bought for $1,500
Ampex MM1200 24 track
Needs repairs. Unknown Head life.
Sold for $1,000
2011
MCI JH 24 24 track
Good condition - I saw this machines myself
sold for $ 2,000 Ok deal
Otari MX80 24 track
Newly relapped heads - but needed a new pinch roller
and has one bad Audio card
Bought for $ 2,200 So-So deal
Ampex ATR 104 Four Track 1/2 inch
with extra 1/4 inch two track headstack and guides
Buyer says it's in fine condition
Bought for $ 900.00 great price - great deal
MCI JH-24 24 track - in good condition
Buyer says it was fully recapped and has no dreaded 'Red Sockets'
Bought for $ 2,000 good deal
Otari MTR 90 mkII 24 track
with Remote and Autolocator
Fair condition, needs some work
Bought for $ 1,500 good deal
Studer A-827 24 track good condition
with Remote and Autolocator
Bought for $ 5,000 good deal !
Ampex 440B 1/2 inch 2 track with Flux Magnetics heads
Very Good condition says buyer bought for $600
Studer A-810 1/4 inch two track
great condition, like new... $850
MCI JH110C 1 inch 8 track
Good condition - was given away for FREE !!!!
to current user.... GREAT DEAL
Ampex ATR 102 half-inch 2 track
Good condition $2,500
Very good deal !
Studer A-827 24 TRACK, well worn but good running condition
only $ 2,700 on eBay GREAT DEAL !!!
With Autolocator, remote, remote stand, everything...
Ampex ATR 102 quarter-inch in near unused condition
Buyer says it's got a new Capstan, nearly new heads.
Bought in Canada for $ 350 US dollars !! Wow ! GREAT DEAL !!!!
Ampex ATR 102 quarter inch in fair condition
Buyer says it's worn but good condition
Bought for $ 2,300
Otari 5050 2 track
Buyer says it's in good condition, needed some cleaning.
$50.00 !!! very good deal!!
Otari MX-70 one inch 8 track
Buyer says in near 'mint' condition, low hours
Bought in Spain for 400 Euros (about $500 us) Good deal !
Studer A-827 24 track
Good condition deck with new Pinch Roller
$ 5,500 good deal !
Ampex MM1200 24 track
Head life about 60% no remote
Audio Caps replaced recently. $ 2,500 very good deal
Ampex MM 1000 16 track
75% head life left on heads !!
No remote, good condition says buyer
came with an extra 1 inch 8 track headstack, plus extra parts
$ 800
2010
Otari MX 70 one inch 16 track
Fair Condition $ 1,000
Tascam 85-16 one inch 16 track
had bad heads - gaps opening up
Buyer paid $ 500 for the machine and the
seller told him it was in good condition...
The machine is in reality WORTHLESS
MCI JH24 24 track
buyer says it's in good condition with AL III
$ 1,800 very good deal
yet another Studer A-827 24 track
with Auto-Locator good condition
$ 5,000US (bought in Sweden) good deal !!
Studer A-827 24 track
with Auto-Locator
Good condition
$ 5,000 Good Deal !!
Studer A-820 24 track
with Auto-locator
Good used condition, needs pinch roller
$ 6,000 good deal
Ampex MM1200 24 track
with the Take-Up Tension Control system
Buyer says it's in fair condition
$ 2,750 good deal
24 track Otari MX80
with Remote and Auto-Locator
Buyer says it's in great condition
3,200 Austrialian dollars
Studer A-827 24 track
Buyer says it's in great condition
Did NOT come with Auto-Locator
Bought for $ 5,000 good deal
Otari MX7300 one-inch 8 track
unknown condition - was in storage for many years
Was given to current owner by a friend of his - for FREE !
Studer A-827 24 track 9,000 hours on heads
with Autolocator, AND a full 24 track Dolby SR package
$ 6,000 Very Good deal !!
Studer A-800 1 inch 8 track
buyer says it's in great condition
Bought for $ 2,700 not a good deal
Otari MX-80 24 track, buyer says it's in great condition
with almost no wear on the heads
bought for $ 1,500 Good deal
Otari MTR-90 24 track, needs two new replacement pucks (at $350us each !)
unknown operating condtion, unknown head life, pics look good though.
sold for 1,000 euro
Tascam 48 half-inch 8 track
Heads OK, needed 3 audio cards repaired (I repaired this machine)
sold for $300 without repairs
Otari MX 5050 mkIII half-inch 8 track
very good condition (I aligned the deck for the buyer)
sold for $350
Lyrec 'TR532' two inch 16 track
with spare headstack, TPC Autolocator, manual and Extender Cards
Bought in England for 1,025 English Pounds (about $ 1,500 US dollars)
Ampex MM1200 one inch 8 track
with Manual, nothing else. Had 5 wrong speed Record EQ inserts,
needs most Caps replaced and other work is needed.
Bought from a Broker for $ 4,500 !!! VERY BAD DEAL !!!!
Always try and avoid brokers !!!
Most Brokers almost NEVER actually see a machine, or really know
ANYTHING about it, they are trying to sell the machine and make money,
not help you find a good one !!!
Otari MX55 1/4 inch two track
Good Condition, with roll-around stand.
Sold for $ 350.00
2009
Studer A-810 2 track in very good condition
Bought for $ 1,500.00 OK deal
Ampex ATR 124 16 track - VERY RARE
in very good condition with Remote AND a parts machine as well !!!
bought for $ 8,000.00
Ampex ATR 102 1/2 inch 2 track with remote and cable plus
a Multi-point Search to Cue unit and with the Auria Electronics
and not the standard Ampex electronics. Very good condition
bought for $9,000 not a good deal
MCI JH110-C 2 track
with 1/2 inch heads, extra 1/4 inch headstack, good condition
Bought for $ 700.00 great deal !!!
MCI JH24 with AL III
Buyer says it's in good condition and came
with some spare cards Bought for $ 1,300 great deal !
(This machine ended up needing about $1,500 worth of
repairs and upgrades... making this just an 'OK deal in the end.)
Otari MTR 10 2 track
the guy who got this was GIVEN it for free
from a radio station! GREAT DEAL !!!
Ampex MM1100 16 track in non-working condition
Bought for $1,000 - NOT a good deal, needs costly repair work
Otari MX50 2 track with stand
Buyer says in's in great condtion
Bought for $ 300 OK deal
Otari MTR 90 MKII 24 track
No Autolocator came with Sync system
Needs new tach and capstan rollers (about 700 bucks)
and 2 audio cards repaired
Also needs a complete transport re-alignment
Heads look Ok with about 50% life left
Bought for $ 1,500 an 'OK' deal (I saw this machine myself)
Otari MTR 90 MK III 24 track
Good heads with about 75% life Good new rollers
with Sync cards and sync system plus Display
came with Auto-Locator. Overall in good condition
Bought for $ 1,500 very good deal !!! (I saw this machine in my shop)
Otari MTR 90 mk II 16 track
with Auto-Locator and Remote almost new condition
bought in France for 500 Euros (about $ 600.00 US) GREAT DEAL !!!
Scully 280 1/2 inch 2 track with spare 1/4 inch headstack
unknown condition sold for 200 bucks Great Deal!
Ampex MM1200 24 track, with 16 channels of PURC cards
good condition with 90% left on the heads! $ 50
yep - the guy bought it for only fifty dollars - WOW !!!
Studer A-827 24 track great condition, very low hours
Sold for $ 8,000 a little high, but still an OK price
3M M-56 2 inch 16 track - unknown condition
guy was given it for FREE !!! - that's a great deal if the heads still work !
Otari MX 50 1/2 inch 2 track, good condition
guy paid $ 100.00 !!!! great deal!
Ampex MM1100 24 track - unknown condition
with remote and cable $ 400.00 - great deal
Ampex MM1100 16 track with 1 inch 8 track spare head assembly and guides
Good Condition $ 1,000 OK price
Otari MX-80 in great condition (I've seen this machine)
$ 1,500 a great deal !! 65 % life on good heads.
Ampex ATR 102 1/2 inch 2 track
$4,000 needs Capstan unit, needs other repairs
NOT a good deal !
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2008
Otari MTR 90 mk III 24 track
needs some tech work and 2 new Idler Rollers (about 350 each)
$ 2,000 good deal !
Ampex MM1200 24 track on eBay
with Remote Cable, VSO. Needs work $1,326.00
Otari MTR-100 24 track good condition with Dolby SR cards
a STEAL at only $200.00 yep, that's TWO HUNDRED Dollars !!!
sometimes the Recording Studio Gods hands you a gift !
Studer A80 2 tracks (2) $ 200.00 each
unknown condition
Otari MTR-10 2 track a steal at $180.00 !!!
Ampex AG-440B in roll-around cabinet, good heads, aligned, good condition
with balanced input transformers, reel holders. checked by a good tech $ 350.00
Otari MX-80 24 track, good condition local eBay sale to a local buyer
$ 1,526.00 a VERY VERY good deal !
MCI JH 24 - 24 track with MRL Test Tape fair condition $ 2,000
Studer A-827 24 track Unknown condition $ 6,000
Otari MTR 100 24 track with BAD heads! needs work $ 1,000
Otari MX80 24 track in 32 track frame - with all 32 track audio cards
and other spare parts, tapes and a test tape $ 1,000 a GREAT deal
Studer A-827 24 track, low hours $ 11,000 a very BAD deal
Studer - BRAND NEW Gold Edition A-827's sold by Studer in LA with warantee !!
only $ 20,000 !! these were the very last of the new machines
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2007
Ampex MM 1000 16 track good heads no remote with Capstan Servo !!
FREE ! needed $ 1,000 worth of minor repairs and parts.
MX-70 16 track fair condition 320 euros
Otari MX 80 24 track with a 24 channel Dolby SR unit
$ 2,500 a GREAT deal !!!
Ampex ATR 104 with BOTH 4 track and 2 track 1/2 inch heads !!!
Sold for $ 3,500 a GREAT DEAL !!!!
Studer A800mkIII 24 track - at the Sony Auction in NYC 9/10: $2,000
another A800 24 track, same auction: $ 4,600
another A 800 same auction, without remote: $ 900
same auction - Ampex ATR 102 1/2 inch - $ 2,600
same auction - 2 each Studer A827 24 track $,4000 each
note all the above auction machines are in unknown condition !
Studer A-827 24 track - very good condition, with remote and manual.
I checked this machine out myself for a client - about 50% head life $ 8,500 7/07
Studer A-827 24 track - minor repairs needed. No remote but with Serial Control Card.
I also checked this machine for a client who bought the above machine. asking $ 6,500
Studer A-820 24 track. Unknown condition. $ 5,000 5/07
Scully 100 16 track does not work $500.00 05/07
MCI JH16 (later version) 16 track
Buyer was misled by seller - told he was buying a machine with good heads !!
Has open repro head, needs lots of other work $900 05/07
Studer A-827 24 track Gold Edition BRAND NEW !! from Studer in LA $ 17,500
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2006
Otari MX-70 1 inch 16 track : very good condition
$ 2,950 (11/06)
MCI JH-24 24 track in Great Condition checked out by Me...
$ 4,500 (09/06)
Ampex ATR-800 2 track in not-good condition
$ 600 not a good deal - needs too much work !!!
Studer A-827 24 track, Gold Edition - brand new -
rumored to have sold on ebay by Studer LA for $ 13,500
not verified
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2005
Studer A-827 24 track with only 140 hours use!!!
$ 11,000 !!! (9/05)
Studer A-827 24 track BRAND NEW from Studer
$ 18,500 !!! (9/05)
AMPEX MM 1200 1 inch 8 track
Looks good, but unknown actual condition
$ 1,000 (no remote cable) (7/05)
AMPEX MM 1200 24 track with 16 track headstack, remote cable, some parts
In very good condition. $ 5,500 (07/05)
Ampex 440B 2 track 7.5/15 ips excellent condition!
$ 350
MCI JH 110B 1/2 inch 2 track $ 250 GREAT deal !! (3/05)
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