Studer A812 1/4-inch 2-Track Tape Recorder with VU Meter Bridge & Rolling Console

PHOTO NOTE

Selected overview photos have been edited to remove background distractions for a cleaner presentation. Unedited originals appear later in the gallery. Please refer to the originals and the unretouched tape-head close-ups when assessing the machine’s cosmetic condition.

Studer A812 — 1/4-inch, two-track stereo analog tape recorder

For the hi-fi enthusiast or working recording studio, this professional Studer A812 includes its illuminated VU meter bridge and rolling console with wood side panels.

FEATURES & CONFIGURATION

• 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) open-reel tape; two-track stereo.

• Speed markings: 7.5 / 15 / 30 ips.

• NAB / CCIR equalization controls.

• Calibrated for 456 and 499 tape formulations: Tape A = 456; Tape B = 499, as shown on the photographed calibration label.

• Play, stop, record, fast wind, locator, shuttle and library-wind controls.

• Illuminated VU meter bridge and rolling console.

HISTORY & CONDITION

This machine came from a recording studio, where it had been purchased and serviced to bring it up to working standards for studio use around 2010. It saw very light use before the studio owner passed away, then remained dormant and unused for approximately ten years. It has since been dusted off and checked; all functions are reported working.

Sold as-is / as-described. No maintenance records are available. There is visible cosmetic wear, including scratches and wear to the working surfaces and wood trim. Please inspect the photographs, especially the detailed tape-head close-ups, for condition. No claim is made about remaining head life or measured performance.

The machine is believed to have previously come from a large television studio in the Chicagoland area; that earlier history is unconfirmed.

PICKUP & FREIGHT

Local pickup is strongly encouraged. The machine is located in the northern Chicagoland area, near the Illinois–Wisconsin border. I’m also happy to meet the buyer for a personal handoff within 100 miles of the machine’s location, by prior arrangement.

This is an approximately 40-year-old vintage analog tape machine in working condition. At the time of sale, before pickup or release to a freight company, I will record a time-stamped video demonstrating its operating functions and audio playback.

If freight transport is requested, I will deliver the machine in its documented working condition to a mutually agreed freight company. The buyer will work directly with that company to arrange and pay for professional packing or crating, freight transportation, and insurance. Packing should follow applicable manufacturer shipping guidance where available, with the packing method and coverage agreed upon before shipment.

Vintage tape machines are sensitive to the vibration, shock, repeated handling, and loading involved in freight transport. These stresses can disturb internal connections or mechanical adjustments and may result in a need for service after delivery, even without visible exterior damage. Professional packing reduces these risks but cannot eliminate them.

The buyer is responsible for arranging the freight service and its associated packing, shipping, and insurance costs. Any allocation of transit risk or liability remains subject to applicable law and Reverb’s policies; these terms do not waive Reverb Buyer Protection. Please contact me through Reverb before purchasing to confirm the complete arrangements.

For planning purposes only, U.S. freight is estimated at $800–$1,200 and may be higher. Packing or crating, insurance, and additional freight fees must be quoted by the provider. Estimated insurance is $2 per $100 of coverage—approximately $170 for $8,500. These figures are not a binding shipping quote.