4 Track RTR?

[can-man]

Considering a 4 track Teac that is for sale near me. Price is good but wondering is this a problem as long as I do not buy prerecorded tapes unless 4 track.

It is a TEAC A-2340SX model and looks nice.

Any thoughts please?

[mhardy6647]

A quarter-inch, four track machine can play most anything, including "quarter-track stereo" (tracks 1/3 and 2/4). It's a versatile configuration (if the reel size and speed capabilities fit your needs).

My 'daily driver' is a 4-track TASCAM 22-4. Just wish it would take 10" reels...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/mhardy6647/taping100806.jpg

[Fred Longworth]

Most reel-to-reels are "4 track." This just means "stereo in forward play, stereo in reverse play."

The A-2340SX is a gem of a machine. The main thing to look at closely is the heads. If they are highly worn, record and playback fidelity will be compromised, and replacing them would cost major money.

Don't be surprised if the pinch roller arm assembly is sticky. This malfunction afflicts a majority of Teacs from that era.

Fred

[mhardy6647]

Most reel-to-reels are "4 track."
Well, yeah, but you know as well as I that there were "quad" four track, "four track" (for simul-sync, a la "Sgt. Pepper" and other early 'multitrack mono' recordings), and "quarter track" stereo (1 and 3, 2 and 4). Possibly not a trivial distinction for someone not used to reel to reel tape ('specially since stereo two-sided cassettes are 1-2 and 3-4).

If google's to be believed, the TEAC deck in question is indeed a four-track deck...

http://retrothing.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/teac4track.jpg

This is a nice resource for tape formats:
http://www.richardhess.com/notes/formats/magnetic-media/magnetic-tapes/analog-audio/025-cartridges/

[automojo]

Most reel-to-reels are "4 track." This just means "stereo in forward play, stereo in reverse play."

The A-2340SX is a gem of a machine. The main thing to look at closely is the heads. If they are highly worn, record and playback fidelity will be compromised, and replacing them would cost major money.

Don't be surprised if the pinch roller arm assembly is sticky. This malfunction afflicts a majority of Teacs from that era.

Fred

Check for head wear as well. A lot of Teac 1/4 machines seem to have premature head wear. A GX Akai might be a better choice. Glass and Xtal heads wear like iron, and have a great frequency response.

[stereofisher]

Have a 3340. Beena after a 2340. Great sounding deck. Check the heads. Like Fred said the pinch roller is probably sticky. Not a hard fix. A good one is a keeper,

Eric

[KentTeffeteller]

Hi,

Akais are a major pain in the rear to perform electronic service on. The Teac is easier to work on and find parts for. I have seen many Akais with bum transistors as they were stressed hard in the record/reproduce electronics. They are reliable once these are replaced and electrolytics are replaced.

[automojo]

Hi,

Akais are a major pain in the rear to perform electronic service on. The Teac is easier to work on and find parts for. I have seen many Akais with bum transistors as they were stressed hard in the record/reproduce electronics. They are reliable once these are replaced and electrolytics are replaced.

I can imagine they are. I was speaking from strictly a consumer standpoint.
I currently have a GX 4000d I bought new from Allied Electronics in '78. It has served me well, great frequency response. I have made lot's of live recordings from it that sound great, but it is strictly a consumer deck, as I think most Akia's were, except for the top models.
My point is (was) unless your are doing lot's of studio recordings, it's a option, and the head wear issue is pretty much moot. Most of us here I would imagine aren't putting studi use to theri decks.

[Sansui Louie]

Hmmm. Oddly coincidental, I stumbled upon an opportunity to own a Teac A-3440 today. Mulling it over... what do you guys think?

[vinyldavid]

Hmmm. Oddly coincidental, I stumbled upon an opportunity to own a Teac A-3440 today. Mulling it over... what do you guys think?

Just see avatar.

I love mine!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Sansui Louie]

Well, then that settles it! :D Getting it for <$100....

[Sansui Louie]

Picked mine up yesterday. For a mere $150, I came home with a box containing 2 reels of Scotch Pro Pack 250, one Maxell UD and 2 Ampex 406 10.5 in reels of tape, a DBX II 124 noise reduction unit and a Teac A-3440. :D

http://i32.tinypic.com/9k7679.jpg

[Sansui Louie]

So does anyone have any info on this deck or the DBX 124 unit?

[Sansui Louie]

Bump on the DBX unit. The info I'm looking for are things like what to watch out for, tips and tricks, things that need cleaning, a manual, etc.

The reel deck has been cleaned of years of nicotine scuzz and is working nicely. Wow, you can really pack a bunch of tunes on a 10.5 reel, if you run at 7 1/2 ips! And the sound quality is amazing. I made a 'Best of Beatles' tape using my vinyl as source, as a test.

You kids out there that run across a 4 track deck (as used by musician-types), remember that you want to work with tracks 1 and 3, that's your Stereo L & R.

I also inherited a couple 'bad' Ampex tapes... 406's. I can see the black goo on the tape already, never even loaded them up. I think I'll either buy pancakes and shitcan them, or a splicing block and tape and recycle some smaller reels...

[SaSi]

First try and bake those tapes. I have succesfully baked a couple of those in the kitchen oven set at 50 degrees (Celcious) and with the front door a bit open. I have kept one of those tapes in a room environment to see how long before it starts shedding again.

I did it because I *had* to rescue whatever music was on that tape.

BTW, one can fit a whole lot more music on a 10.5" 7200 feet reel at 1 7/8. About 12 hours of music, each side. (!!!). Not quite HiFi though...