Akai Reel to Reel Decks

[JoeMae416]

Anyone still Using Reel to Reel Decks?…..
I recently picked up this Akai GX-636B in New condition…. The sound quality is unbelievable!

Looking for (New or Used) Maxell UD 35-180 Tape….

 

[TLS Guy]

Anyone still Using Reel to Reel Decks?…..
I recently picked up this Akai GX-636B in New condition…. The sound quality is unbelievable!

Looking for (New or Used) Maxell UD 35-180 Tape….

Sorry for the late reply. Welcome. I think I'm the only guy here who uses reel to real tape machines.

I have four hooked up in the rig at present. I have a Revox A700, a Brenell MK 6 a late model with parabolic tape path and a couple of Revox A 77 a MK III and a MK IV.

I also have dbx 1, dbx II, and Dolby B decoders, that are free standing.

If you have any particular questions please ask. When you take delivery of an older machine, you should have it professionally set up, to adjust EQ, bias and head azimuth alignments. Those parameters tend to drift. Record bias should be set for a particular brand of tape, and then stick to it. Every brand and each of their various offerings all have unique bias characteristics. So that is why you bias for one particular tape.

What are you intending to use that machine for?

 

[Bernie Williams]

Have been a reel to reel enthusiast since my early teens. Have my first (sony tc 366) and teac x700r and a teac x2000r. Should be taking delivery of a teac x10r in a month or so. Old virgin tape such as maxell is increasingly hard to find, I have found some new unopened on EBAY. Can also check the site "reverb". Probably a better option is newly manufactured tape such as ATR or recording the masters. As TLS Guy mentioned having your machine properly biased and set up for a particular tape is very important. I have started using my decks to record from Amazon's HD music. It's a nostalgia/emotional thing for me.

 

[Verdinut]

Sorry for the late reply. Welcome. I think I'm the only guy here who uses reel to real tape machines.

I have four hooked up in the rig at present. I have a Revox A700, a Brenell MK 6 a late model with parabolic tape path and a couple of Revox A 77 a MK III and a MK IV.

I also have dbx 1, dbx II, and Dolby B decoders, that are free standing.

If you have any particular questions please ask. When you take delivery of an older machine, you should have it professionally set up, to adjust EQ, bias and head azimuth alignments. Those parameters tend to drift. Record bias should be set for a particular brand of tape, and then stick to it. Every brand and each of their various offerings all have unique bias characteristics. So that is why you bias for one particular tape.

What are you intending to use that machine for?

Greetings Mark,

No, you are not the only guy who uses a reel to reel tape deck.

I own a Revox B-77 but it's been defective for awhile and I have been waiting for Covid to be under control to get it fixed. The problem is an intermittent function of the right reel motor in both playing and fast forward modes. Would that be caused by an intermittent capacitor? I have the service manual for it.

Since I've owned it, I took it to two technicians who did not fix the problem. I know that there aren't many good repair technicians for such machine. However, In Montreal there are two other technicians who, I believe can fix it. I got it for a good price about 8 years ago but it might have been sold for that intermittent problem. I know you could fix it but, unfortunately we are too distant from each other.

 

[TLS Guy]

Greetings Mark,

No, you are not the only guy who uses a reel to reel tape deck.

I own a Revox B-77 but it's been defective for awhile and I have been waiting for Covid to be under control to get it fixed. The problem is an intermittent function of the right reel motor in both playing and fast forward modes. Would that be caused by an intermittent capacitor? I have the service manual for it.

Since I've owned it, I took it to two technicians who did not fix the problem. I know that there aren't many good repair technicians for such machine. However, In Montreal there are two other technicians who, I believe can fix it. I got it for a good price about 8 years ago but it might have been sold for that intermittent problem. I know you could fix it but, unfortunately we are too distant from each other.

I really can't say. I also have a B77 that I bought before I retired for hardly any money. I have never got round to restoring it. I do have an original Revox service manual, that I obtained before the Internet downloading era. That is as far as I progressed with the restoration. I probably have had the unit 20 years or so. I have heard those B77s are prone to trouble in the switching/transport control.

Maybe you have tempted me to schedule restoration of that B77.

 

[JoeMae416]

Sorry for the late reply. Welcome. I think I'm the only guy here who uses reel to real tape machines.

I have four hooked up in the rig at present. I have a Revox A700, a Brenell MK 6 a late model with parabolic tape path and a couple of Revox A 77 a MK III and a MK IV.

I also have dbx 1, dbx II, and Dolby B decoders, that are free standing.

If you have any particular questions please ask. When you take delivery of an older machine, you should have it professionally set up, to adjust EQ, bias and head azimuth alignments. Those parameters tend to drift. Record bias should be set for a particular brand of tape, and then stick to it. Every brand and each of their various offerings all have unique bias characteristics. So that is why you bias for one particular tape.

What are you intending to use that machine for?

Recording music for playback….
Mine runs great as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been recording and playing back music and enjoying it. Eventually I will have it serviced after I get my Aiwa AD-M800B Cassette Deck back from being fully serviced. Love audio in all formats…. Edison Cylinders, 78’s, Albums, Reel to Reels, Cassettes, CD’s, SACD’s.

I purchase two different Reel to Reel Tapes.
TDK Audua L 35-3600 and Maxell UD 35-180
Those are recommended in my owners manual. There are others too but I only buy these two Brands and model tapes….

I also run DBX:
20/10
4dbx
224x
400x
120x
I’m having the 224x and 400x serviced right now also…..

 

[Jeepers]

I purchased a Pioneer RT-1011L in December 1977.
I used it a lot the first 10 years and it was a lot of fun; I still have it but I don't use it anymore.

The tapes I have (since more than 40 years) are :
Sony SLH-7-550-BL
Maxell UD 35-180B (x2)
Scotch Classic
Revox

 

[JoeMae416]

If your selling tape, I’d be interested in the Maxell UD 35-180B(2)….
Let me know….

 

[JoeMae416]

Sorry for the late reply. Welcome. I think I'm the only guy here who uses reel to real tape machines.

I have four hooked up in the rig at present. I have a Revox A700, a Brenell MK 6 a late model with parabolic tape path and a couple of Revox A 77 a MK III and a MK IV.

I also have dbx 1, dbx II, and Dolby B decoders, that are free standing.

If you have any particular questions please ask. When you take delivery of an older machine, you should have it professionally set up, to adjust EQ, bias and head azimuth alignments. Those parameters tend to drift. Record bias should be set for a particular brand of tape, and then stick to it. Every brand and each of their various offerings all have unique bias characteristics. So that is why you bias for one particular tape.

What are you intending to use that machine for?

Recording music from Vinyl or CD’s. I too have DBX equipment. I have the following: 10/20 - 4bx - 224x - 120x - 400x I buy two brands of reel tape and only two models of tape refered by my owners manual. TDK Audua L & Maxell UD. Having purchased these tapes online, they certainly don’t give them away no matter how old they are…..