Completely Restored Otari Mx-5050 Dual Speed Mastering 1/4" mastering tape machine with Remote!

Not only a beautifully flawless and refurbished Otari BII2 mastering reel to reel deck, but also a once in a lifetime chance to own a New York City piece of music history.
This tape machine has lived its life in three different top tier New York City Recording Studios. Having spent its life in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, it has been used on some very influential records.

Remote and custom built wooden rack case on casters are all included! Fully restored and refurbished from head to toe by two techs over two years (2020-2022). Trades welcome too ~

This unit looks and sounds identical to the MKII I own, I cannot find a difference. Both have advanced logic control, an auto locator and electronic braking. The audio amp is identical from the MKII, BIII to the BII as well. These are far superior to the B2HD and the 5050MKI (which are generally avoided by studio professionals).
Also comes with a super rare CR705A plug and play remote control unit and proprietary 15 foot cable that I just found on eBay and have added to the listing. It did not come with the tape machine originally but has been procured and added. The only one on the internet that comes with a remote too.

Very cool little unit, ready to be your new workhorse. Packs tape very flat and smoothly (shafts are straight as a laser beam). Transport is very quick and stops on a dime. No issues at all. All LED's and functions work which is apparently very rare for these old birds, especially the varispeed, which works great here now after refurbishment.

RESTORATION DETAILS:

- Fully restored from head to toe, new LED bulbs, new VU meters etc. New rubber pinch rollers March 2022. Fully gone through, caps replaced, too many parts to list.

- The front metal panel under the splicing block was taken off, sanded and repainted (what I’m pointing at in the last 3 pictures). Machine was debugged and deep cleaned at that time too.

- The transport was completely rebuilt: new capacitors, new wiring, custom-made Custom built Birch wooden cart on locking castor wheels, new rubber pinch rollers, new springs, serviced motors, you name it… It’s been serviced.

- Comes with upgraded NAB adapters and an IEC power cable. OEM Otari NAB Adapters included. My ATR mastering tape is not included.

- Comes with remote control

PRICING:

The last restored unit I sold went for $3800 running perfectly, and this one is mint so this is priced at a really good deal for someone who wants the best: a perfect machine… with quite a studio legacy behind her as well.

Any questions please ask, open to trades of any kind. In absolutely no rush to sell. Price is firm. I also have a meter-over-bridge unit that was just completely restored early 2022 for sale/trade if interested. Reels not included (my music is on them).

PS - I recently hired a 70 year old local tech upstate NY named Steve to fix a couple of these 5050’s for our shop. He’s on here pedaling Otari mx-5050’s that he “restores” to sell out of his upstate home. He “fixed” things I told him not to and then charges me extra for stuff I specifically asked him to leave alone. He then gave my pair of MX-5050’s back to me with new problems and charged me quite a bit (transport didn’t work anymore even tho it worked fine prior to delivering them to him). He refused to stand by his promise to get them working perfectly. If you’re buying a tape machine from NY, be careful to avoid him. He soaks the pads, pots, switches and buttons in contact cleaner and says he fixed your machine for $600 (contact cleaner destroys carbon pads, buttons, switches and pots btw and is ONLY safe on I/O contacts like xlr and trs jacks… a noob electric engineering mistake and a sign of an amateur). I had to pay someone else to fix this machine twice because of him fyi. Be careful out there, lots of charlatans. Buy safe y’all!

Shipping to the United States only due to weight, size and delicacy. Sold as-is. Reels not included.

Come try it out at JML Studios if you’re on the east coast 15 min from downtown Manhattan)
Thanks for looking.

Cheers ~ JML