Were the 12 band ones the most exspensive?
Not necessarily. Quality of the unit was important. The most important issue is that you have to use all analog equalizers sparingly, as the resonant tuning circuits really affect sound quality. So judicious use is the word.
For what I think you are using it for a ten band will be plenty.
To make tape hiss less intrusive, then pulling down the 5 kHz slider helps.
If you are trying to brighten a tape, this just about never works or you get unacceptable hiss.
The problem with tape recorders is they go out of adjustment. Also a decent cassette or reel to reel machine was an expensive proposition if you wanted decent wow and flutter and frequency response.
If you try and use Eq to compensate for a poor, or poorly adjusted machine it dose not work.
To set a machine up, requires the correct alignment tapes, a really good amplified meter, that is accurate in the mv ranges, a signal generator and a frequency counter/wow and flutter meter. A two channel scope is also an asset.
Setting up a tape recorder is a skill and an art and becoming lost.
If you really want to get into magnetic tape and make it a long term interest, you need to invest in this type of equipment and study and preferably be taught how to set up tape machines.
I have set up tape machines since I was in my teens. I would imagine owning tape machines is very frustrating if you don't own the right equipment and have the skills, especially now the machines are getting to advanced age.
I don't know if your interest is a passing fad, or if you intend to have it a serious hobby. Preserving tape machines in good working condition is much more complex than preserving turntables by many orders of magnitude.
If machines are to survive then the knowledge must be passed on to the younger generation.
