OTARI MX5050 Bii2 -- 2TR or 4TR, 2-CH Pro R2R Tape Deck -Pro Refurb/ Stunning Near-Mint++ Condition!

Before viewing the information below, I would like to start off by acknowledging that this description is quite lengthy, and I want to apologize if it is a difficult or cumbersome read for anyone. It is never my intention to ramble on or throw out meaningless information and fancy words to try to impress potential customers. I believe this information to be absolutely critical when searching for the perfect reel to reel tape recorder. If it would be more convenient for you to receive this information in the form of a conversation, or if you have ANY questions about THIS unit or any other, please shoot me a message or give me a call (SEE CONTACT INFO AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THIS DESCRIPTION), and we can go from there!! Regardless of if one of MY machines is a good fit for you or not, I’m always happy to answer any questions or help someone in any way that I can…….

In the description below, I go into great detail about every part of the process, including: 

• details of the specific make and model of this particular listing
• what accessories/ extras come with the deck
• my refurbishing process/ services completed on the unit
• how I come up with my pricing/ what to look for when comparing pricing from other sellers
• shipping details and timetables
• warranty information
• my technical background/ skills

I sincerely hope that the majority of people who see this listing will appreciate the highly detailed nature of the description. There will also no doubt be some who might be slightly turned off by the amount of reading that is required to get through it. Also there may be those who are just browsing, or even just starting to think about POSSIBLY adding an open-reel tape deck to their setup. So let me just try my best to squeeze an extremely GENERALIZED overview description into 2 paragraphs……If you’re in a hurry or just want to know the MOST BASIC information about this listing, then please read the following section that is sandwiched in between the 2 rows of stars…….

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Finding and purchasing the perfect reel-to-reel deck can be time consuming, confusing, and EXTREMELY costly, if the wrong machine (that doesn’t fit the customer’s needs) is purchased. Even just deciding which make and model is right for you is an important decision and can take a lot of research. Then you set out to find the perfect deck, and that's when it really gets tricky. You see 10 or so of the exact same machine, with 10 COMPLETELY different prices, and to make things even more difficult most of the descriptions are almost identical. So……..What to do?........Open-reel tape decks are quite complicated machines, and there are only a small handful of techs who even know how to properly service these units, and far fewer even who can even come close to COMPLETELY refurbishing them!!! I go into MUCH greater detail on this topic towards the very end of this description, but the quickest way that I can convey THIS particular point is: I’ve bought, refurbished, and sold somewhere very close to 300 machines over the past 15 or so years……And out of those, I’d guess that I’ve purchased around 150 of them online, WITHOUT being able to see them in person. And out of those 150, I’d guess that somewhere around 100 of them have included (in the descriptions) words like: “Fully Serviced”, “Just Serviced”, “Professionally Serviced”, “Mint Condition”, “Near-Mint Condition”, “Immaculate”, “Tested”, “Fully Tested”, “Brand New”, “Like New”, “Low Hours”, “Museum Quality”, “Audiophile”, “Studio Ready”, and a multitude of combinations of those phrases. I can honestly say that I can count on 1 hand, the number of machines that have showed up on my doorstep EVEN CLOSE to fitting those descriptions! I’ve come to realize after all these years, that even just finding a WORKING machine really is a complete crap-shoot, UNLESS you actually get lucky enough to find one of the very few of us remaining techs, who specialize in open-reel tape recorders. And I’m NOT trying to put anybody else down or say that all of the other sellers are lying. Most of them probably have good intentions, but the fact of the matter is that I can also count on 1 hand, the amount of techs out there who really ARE still capable of COMPLETELY refurbishing one of these machines. That is where I come in! I am 1 of only a very select few remaining FACTORY AUTHORIZED Teac/ Tascam and Otari technicians in the world (and I also specialize in Technics, Fostex, Revox/ Studer and Ampex). I take the guess-work out of the equation, and offer competitively priced decks that you can be SURE will last for years to come!    

With that said, if you have advanced-level knowledge of mechanical skills and circuit design/ trouble-shooting, have the tools and test equipment needed, know what parts you’ll need and where to find them, and have a whole lot of time and patience, then it MIGHT actually make sense to try to find an “untested” machine and give it a go yourself. And again should you choose to go this route, I’m more than happy to give as much advice as I can. But if you just want to be 100% confident that you can purchase a 100% PERFECTLY functioning, near-mint condition, reel-to-reel unit from someone who’s knows what they’re doing and will go out of their way to treat you like family, then you’ve come to the right place!! I ONLY sell 100% COMPLETELY refurbished machines. Every unit is COMPLETELY disassembled, cleaned, re-oiled and re-lubed, refitted with any replacement parts, and then meticulously tested, aligned, calibrated, and biased for the tape formula of the buyer's choice!! I let the quality of my work, and the final results of the machines speak for themselves. I’m also of the opinion that the value in a COMPLETELY refurbished machine FAR outweighs trying to find the same deck at a SLIGHTLY lower price point, only to discover that it will require hundreds of dollars in parts, and a couple thousand dollars in labor just to get the unit back to operating at original factory specs!! I take that entire part out of the equation, so instead of spending a little less up front, you can be sure that the machine you receive will be ready to roll tape immediately. There are a number of mods and customized options, which allow me to custom tailor each machine to fit perfectly with the customer’s existing gear. Then once the customer receives the machine, I always set time aside to help walk them through setup, and answer ANY questions that they may have. I can be involved as much OR as little as the customer would like!! Every machine that I sell comes with free lifetime tech support, and I get A MINIMUM of 2 or 3 calls a week from past customers that either need advice about the machines or have questions about other gear……Some of my customers have even become close friends over the years! That’s not the case with ALL of my customers obviously, but one thing that you can be certain of is that I will always go out off my way to treat my customers like family!!

Ok, thank you for sticking with me this far…….Now let’s talk about the machine!!

Item Description:

      This is one of the finest examples of a Bii2 (or any other OTARI model) that I have ever seen, and I've seen hundreds of them!! If you've been looking for a showroom quality Otari deck that is set up to roll tape IMMEDIATELY, and is ready to be your main workhorse machine for years to come, then this is your chance!!         

     Up for sale is a stunning, nearly perfect Otari MX5050 Bii2 - 2-track or 4-track/ 2-channel Professional, Mastering Tape Recorder!! This professionally restored unit was just tested, serviced and calibrated, and is in Pristine, Near-Mint Condition and Perfect Working Order!!

I’ll include some blank tapes and metal take-up reels with this unit, so that the buyer can get started right away. Right now the deck is set up for SM911, but I can adjust the bias for any formula after the order is made. The tape formulas that I have extra stock of right now (that happen to have the same biasing level as SM911) are TDK S-3600, OR Maxell 35, so that's what I'll include. OR if you'd like brand new SM911, I could do ONE 7' roll, and ONE 10.5" roll, INSTEAD OF TWO rolls of each of the other TWO options. Just let me know what you'd prefer......

 This unit has a ton of amazing features, but 4 of my favorites are: 1) That it is a true 3-speed deck....The unit can easily be set to either operate at 3.75ips, 7.5ips, and 15ips........2) The 2-track and 4-track playback functions are a MASSIVE bonus......Those 2 features basically make it like having 2 completely different machines, all rolled into 1.........3) The built-in test tone generator (1kHz and 10kHz) is a game-changer! It allows you to adjust for bias of different tape formulas on the fly, without needing a test tape every time.........and lastly.......4) Switchable EQ....This deck can switch between NAB or IEC equalization!........Also, just the unbelievable craftsmanship on this machine. These are professional decks that are built like a tanks, and as long as they are taken care of, these Otari's (this model in particular) are known to last forever!!! This is a fairly easy to use machine, but it has a monster sound!! And whether you want to use it in as your main means of recording, or to breathe a little analog life into your stagnant digital recordings, or even if you're an audiophile who wants to use it in your Hi-Fi system, this is your chance to own an IMMACULATE, Professional Otari deck, that is fully tested, serviced, and calibrated, and is in Near-Mint+ (Pretty damn close to perfect) condition!!!  

**Included in this listing:**

-Otari MX5050 Bii2 - 2-track or 4-track/ 2-channel Professional, Mastering Tape Recorder

-(2x) Otari KWOH009 - Original 10.5" NAB Hub Adapters 

--(2x) Rolls of "Single Pass" 10.5" TDK S-3600 Tape (OR choice of Maxell 35, or ONE roll of brand-new SM911)

-(2x) Rolls of "Single Pass" 7" TDK S-3600 Tape (OR choice of Maxell 35, or ONE roll of brand-new SM911)

-Empty 10.5" Metal Take-Up Reel

-Empty 7" Metal Take-Up Reel 

-Otari MX5050 Bii2 Owner's Manual (PDF) 

-Otari MX5050 Bii2 Service Manual (PDF)

-Otari MX5050 Bii2 Schematics (PDF) 

Service Info - *The following services have been performed on this unit (along with most every other unit that I ship)*:

-Complete internal and external disassembly, with condition assessment/ diagnosis of repairs needed

-Sourcing and installation of any missing parts (including all original hardware, knobs, buttons, faders, switches, trim, etc., unless indicated otherwise)

-Complete disassembly, cleaning, and re-lubrication of ALL  mechanical parts

-Replacement of all belts (except on direct-drive machines that don’t have belts)

-Assessment of brake pads, and replacement if necessary

-Pinch roller refurbishing (or replacement if not 100% perfect)

-Polishing of all metal tape-path surfaces using buffing wheel and buffing compound

-Cleaning of all switches, connectors, trim pots, plugs, and receptacles with DeOxit D5

-Cleaning of all potentiometers and faders with DeOxit FaderLube F5

-Cleaning of all old grease and reapplication of Lubriplate No.105

-Cleaning of all damping grease and reapplication of extremely "hard-to-find" damping grease

-Replacement and re-soldering of any failed, suspicious, or "known to be troublesome" connections and/ or components (*Complete recapping available: Please read below)

-Precise adjustment of reel table height

-Measurement and adjustment of pinch roller pressure

-Measurement and adjustment of brake torque

-Measurement and adjustment of take-up torque

-Measurement and adjustment of back tension

-Measurement and adjustment of FF and RW torque

-Adjustment of L and R tension arms (if needed)

-Test and repair (if necessary) of stop sensor/ auto shutoff assembly

-Wow and Flutter check and adjustment (if necessary)

-Alignment of all heads

-Demagnetization of heads and tape path

-Complete calibration/ measurements and adjustments of the following: Line input level, mic circuit check, output level, VU meters, playback head azimuth, frequency response (playback), signal-to-noise ratio (playback), monitor level, headphone output level, bias trap, record bias, record level, frequency response (record), signal-to-noise ratio (record), optimum erasure, channel separation, bias leakage, distortion check, and all sync functions (if applicable) ***Bias adjustment can be made for the tape formula of buyers' choice, at no additional charge...Please message me with your preferred tape formula after purchase.

-Last but not least is THE MOST IMPORTANT, yet least known-about or completed repair on this entire list.....And this is specific to some Otari machines, including all versions of the MX5050 and MX-50.....This is the rebuilding of the capstan motor.....Basically (in the shortest and most generalized description possible), whatever type of glue that Otari used on some of their motors did not hold up over time....It was used to fasten the coils down inside the motor housing, and is now slowly turning into a dust-like substance......And when the coils come loose they get ground up in the motor and basically cause immediate failure and permanent destruction of the capstan motor......I have personally seen this happen to AT LEAST 10 of the MX5050's (and a couple of the MX-50's), and USED capstan motors for this particular model are pretty much impossible to find. Even if you were able to find one, you'd be looking at close to a thousand dollar price tag, because of their rarity......So with that said, I rebuild the capstan motor in EVERY SINGLE MX-50 or MX5050 that I either repair or refurbish, because if this repair IS NOT done, then the motor WILL FAIL....It's not a matter of IF it will fail, it's a matter of WHEN it will fail, and I obviously refurbish my machines so that they will last!!

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**90-Day Warranty Option, with Purchase of Complete Recapping**:

     There is an extremely important topic that I want to bring to light regarding these machines, and this directly ties in with my decision to start offering an option for a warranty on every deck that I refurbish. This topic involves that of electrolytic capacitors; What they are and what their purpose is (for those who don’t already know), whether or not I recap my machines, your options as a buyer, and what they have to do with my warranty offer…..I will try to explain this both in terms that an average consumer will understand, and also as briefly as possible….As many who are reading this are already aware, and some undoubtedly are not, the circuit boards inside of all reel to reel decks contain many small electronic components, one type of which are called electrolytic capacitors (side note: There are many types of capacitors, not just electrolytic, but since electrolytic are the variety of capacitors that are known to cause the most problems, they are what I’m referring to here). In simple terms, the job of a capacitor is to store energy. When speaking of electrolytic capacitors, they are able to have very large capacitance values, which make them particularly suitable for a variety of uses, such as: storing large amounts of energy, passing or bypassing low-frequency signals, noise filtering in power supplies, and coupling signals between amplifier stages. The problem is that “caps”, as we’ll refer to them going forward, were/ are only designed to function for a specific “LIFETIME”, which means that at some point they will (AND DO) fail……When they do fail they cause a number of different problems that range anywhere from a noisy channel, to going out with a bang and damaging other components and/ or other parts in the circuit path, to complete failure of the entire machine……..The general consensus among the people who know these machines the most is that any of the machines that were made 30+ years ago really SHOULD BE recapped (replacing all of the old caps for new ones). Now does that mean that I can’t get great results on a refurbish without doing a complete recap? No it doesn’t. If a buyer elects to go with a refurb without the unit being recapped, I still go through the entire machine and test every single capacitor, and then only replace the ones that have either totally failed or have started to show signs of possible trouble. I’d say on average I find somewhere between 2 and 5 caps (per machine) that NEED TO be replaced. So I’ll replace them and carry out the rest of my repairs, move on to the testing phase before finishing with alignment and calibration. In the end we have a completed, fully refurbished unit that, more than likely, will be functioning perfectly for years to come……..BUT, in all honesty, neither me nor my customer ever really know when another one of these caps will fail. It could be that they all last for 10-20 more years and the deck functions perfectly for that entire time (and that would obviously be a best case scenario). OR it could be that a couple weeks after the new owner receives the machine 2 of the caps fail, including 1 that pops and takes a bunch of components out on the main control board. Now you’d be looking at around a $500 repair cost AND the issue of aging caps would STILL BE THERE (and that would be an absolute worst case scenario)!!….Now these are best and worst case scenarios, but more often than not what I see is that only changing out the “suspect” caps (the between 2 and 5 that I referred to in my example), will yield great results that will last for a year….2….maybe 3, and then at some point the caps WILL start causing issues……

 So with all of that said, why don’t I just recap every single 30+ year old machine that comes through my shop (either for repair or for refurbishing and resale)? Well, it really comes down to cost and labor…..When you’re talking about 100-200 caps PER UNIT, the cost really adds up. I only use audio grade Nichicon caps (and film caps in small uF applications) unless the buyer has a special request, in which case I can use any brand of caps that they prefer. And the labor is extensive and time-consuming. I am extremely proficient in the art (and trust me when I say that it DEFINITELY IS an art form) of soldering and desoldering, and even at a highly advanced level, while using the best equipment that money can buy, it still takes me a minimum of between 5 and 10 hours to completely recap an entire machine. Basically it’s like this; when a customer brings a deck into my shop for a repair, I ALMOST ALWAYS at least recommend a complete recapping. The reason that I do this is because I KNOW FOR A FACT that EVENTUALLY the deck WILL need it, so why not get it out of the way. Most of the time they opt for me to go ahead and do it, but sometimes they chose not to because of budget reasons. In an online setting it’s different because I usually don’t get a chance to speak with the buyer before they've purchased the machine, so usually it’s a situation where I either list a deck that HAS BEEN recapped or list a deck that HASN"T BEEN recapped………So all of this brings me to the fact that I want to offer an OPTION for my buyers to be able to feel even more protected and confident in their investment……..Truth is, I have been wanting to offer some kind of a warranty for a long time now! I’ve been thinking that if I really want to claim to be THE BEST (in respect to my refurbishing skills and the finished-product, open-reel tape recorders that I offer to my customers) then I need to “put my money where my mouth is”!! And what better way to address any potential buyer concerns, then to offer them a GUARANTEE!! The ONLY reason why I haven’t offered one up until this point is because I know from experience that it is hard enough to guarantee a 30….40…..and sometimes even 50 year old machine without doing EVERYTHING that I can to give it the best chance of withstanding the test of time!

 ***Lastly, I just want to again point out the fact that every single machine that I offer will be functioning perfectly, even without having the recapping done!! This is an upgrade that is done for preventative measures, and the machine will function up to factory spec or better, whether you decide to have me install the new caps or not! Another question that I get a lot is: Can the recapping improve the sound quality? Yes, it absolutely CAN…..Keep in mind that the capacitors that are manufactured in modern times are of significantly greater quality than the caps made 30-50 years ago! BUT I just don’t want any buyer who opts against the recapping to think that they are not going to receive a machine of the absolute highest quality and functionality……Because either way the deck that I ship you will GREATLY surpass even your highest expectations!

 So with all of that said (and I do apologize that my descriptions have a tendency to get “long-winded” at times) HERE IS MY OFFER: It is an option that I will call the “WHITE GLOVE/ VIP EXPERIENCE”. I’m well aware that this won’t be for everybody, and I’m totally fine with that….I’ve been offering my machines for A LONG TIME now, and things have worked out FAR and ABOVE better than what I ever thought was possible, without offering a warranty option on a single machine and only offering recapping jobs verbally, after the purchase had already been made……I am confident that my refurb/repair skills speak for themselves, and AGAIN, I HAVE 100% CONFIDENCE IN EVERY DECK THAT I SHIP, regardless of if it has been completely recapped or if only the problem caps have been replaced…….I realize that money is tight right now for a lot of people out there! And it’s not like I’m giving these decks away for free. I most definitely realize that it is ALREADY a good size investment, even without paying more for this recapping…..That being said I want to offer this to the buyer who: 1) CAN afford it, 2) Would rather just pay for the recap job now, than have to wonder when the time will come that it WILL become an issue, and 3) Knows how valuable a warranty is when dealing with a 30+ year old machine, that is this complex in nature.

**The Cost will be $1,000 (in addition to the listed price of the machine), and will include the following**: 

- COMPLETE Recapping on Your Purchased Unit: Your new deck will be completely recapped, using only the finest audio-grade capacitors (either Nichicon or your brand of choice).

- 90-Day Parts and Labor Warranty: If ANYTHING goes wrong with your machine, within the first 90 days from receipt of the shipment, I will either repair the machine at no cost (including a complete realignment and recalibration), or I will even give you a choice to exchange your deck for a different, fully restored deck of equal or similar value. This obviously excludes damages caused by buyer negligence, accidental damages such as drops or spills, or natural occurrences like fire or earthquake. 

- Free Lifetime Technical Support: Having an issue with your gear in the middle of a studio session? No problem……Bought a new mixer and can’t figure out how to route your cabling? I got you……Need help recalibrating your deck to a different tape formula? I’ll walk you through it, over a video conference call…….I will give you my personal cell number, and you can call me for help ANYTIME that you need it! Does this mean that if you don’t purchase the recap/warrantee, that I won’t be willing to help you out as much as I possibly can? Of course not!! To this day I hear from some of my customers that I sold decks to 5 or more years ago. Some of them I even consider to be close friends. What this part of the deal DOES MEAN, is that I will make 100% sure to return any and all inquiries from my VIP people within a day, or 2 at the very most!!

- ****THIS ONE IS HUGE!…….Access to my MASSIVE Library of Tapes:**** This is HUGE for all of the audiophiles!……I have a GIGANTIC library of all kinds of AMAZING music on tape! A huge part of my collection is half-track, 15ips, 1st and 2nd generation master tapes of some of the monsters of Rock (Hendrix, Zeppelin, Cream, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Santana, The Who, the Stones and TONS more), the j

Jazz greats (Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Brubeck etc….), a bunch of killer Blues and Soul/R&B Stuff (Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Stevie, Marvin Gaye, and a boatload more)……And other main part of my collection is of extremely rare live shows, a lot of which were originally aired on various radio shows like the King Biscuit Flower Hour, Columbia Records Radio Hour, and some BBC stuff……I’ve spent A TON of time and effort collecting this stuff! Some of it I just got lucky on, and some of it I got from some really cool people that I’ve met in my journey of working on tape decks! As of the time that I’m typing this listing out, I have only copied these tapes (and only some of them), for 3 or 4 of my BEST customers. But I would be happy to share some of this amazing music with some other people, so I’ve decided to open up the vaults to a select few!!!!

- Extra Tape (blanks) and/ or Extra Take-Up Reels with Shipment: I’m also lucky enough to have a large stockpile of blank tape as well…..I have tons of different formulas like SM911, LPR35, SM900, SM468, Maxell UD 35-180, TDK SA-35 and more on both 7” and 10.5” metal reels…..And I don’t mind sharing, with my White Glove/VIP customers!!

**I feel the need to be 100% clear about ONE MORE part of this warranty agreement, just so we are all on the same page. This is a warranty that I PERSONALLY AM OFFERING. It is not being offered as any part of an agreement between you (the buyer) and Reverb, eBay or PayPal. It will be a 100% legitimate and binding agreement between me as the seller and you as the buyer……I can and will provide a written statement to those who want one, and I can always email a signed copy over to you BEFORE you make your purchase if you want…..

Additional Mods and Extras That I offer:

Direct-from-Heads-Outputs Modification:

Ahhhhhh the age-old debate of using the stock repro (playback) electronics of the machine VS. wiring outputs straight from the repro head(s), and running the signal through a tape head preamp. There are definitely 2 schools of thought regarding this option: Ok so I'll try to break it down fairly quickly! So my 2 mentors are widely considered to be THE 2 BEST living, open-reel techs in the world!! One of them was the lead open-reel tech for Teac/ Tascam for over 30 years. And he is of the opinion that the many of the engineers who designed the amp circuitry inside of the high-end tape decks back in the day were literally geniuses. He said that a lot of the designs were "light-years" ahead of their time, and that he feels that external tape-head preamps don't really improve the sound in a drastic manner. He says that a great machine, that is properly calibrated, with heads that are in good condition and properly aligned, while playing back high-quality tape is already pretty damn near perfect as far as sound quality goes. And he is of the opinion that while bypassing the built-in circuitry of the machine can add color and brightness to the sound, he doesn't feel the need to "reinvent the wheel"........Now my other mentor takes a different approach. He says that he feels that most of the tape head preamps sound great! He talks about how much amplifier circuitry and the components used have improved over the last 30-50 years (since most of the tape decks that I sell were produced). And why not take advantage of this, if you can improve the sound noticeably......

 With all of that said.....I am the kind of person who LOVES getting advice and learning from the best-of-the-best.....I'm constantly asking questions, and trying to learn tips and tricks from the old-timers who know more about what I love to do than I do......BUT when it comes to topics that people have a lot of different opinions about (especially those that deal with what I do for a living), I like to form my own opinions through extensive research (and trial and error). So for the past couple years that’s exactly what I’ve done. I’ve modded at least 20 different models and played tape back through 5 or 6 different tape head preamps. I must say that my opinion is that they DO sound fantastic having been set up this way! They really do! Now it’s not even close to the amount of improvement in the gap between vinyl and open-reel tape in general. And I find some of the terms that some of the “audiophile snobs” use to be silly to be honest, but there definitely is an improvement in the soundstage, there is more of a black background, and just an overall more dynamic sound, when going straight from the heads into a tape head preamp!

 I’ll describe it this way: I’m a huge baseball fan, always have been always will be. I played semi-pro after high school, but eventually threw my arm out around 25 years ago. Die hard Angels fan, living here in Orange County, Southern California……If I were to describe the difference in sound quality between THE BEST 180g vinyl, being played back through a great system VS. the sound quality of the same exact source material that’s been recorded on good tape and a high-end, well calibrated machine and then played back on another good machine, through the same system as the vinyl was played back, it would be like this (and please excuse the somewhat corny comparison, but I think you’ll “catch my drift”): If the sound of the vinyl record and the turntable represented ME and the 15ips/ 2-track tape through the open-reel tape deck (un-modded/ through the stock playback electronics) represented Shohei Ohtani (who for those who don’t know is the Angels 2-way phenom that was just voted the unanimous MVP this past season), the difference in sound quality would be like comparing me trying to hit one of Shohei’s 100 mph fastball VS. what he could do to one of my 80 mph or so fastballs! It’s that big of a difference! That is why there is a market for what I do……Well that and the fact that analog tape still has by far the best sound for recording in a studio environment as well. But my point here is just that when talking about vinyl VS. tape, there is NO COMPARISON! Now with that said, the difference between a tape deck with the signal running through it’s stock electronics and the same deck modded for direct-from-head output and running through a tape head preamp is FAR LESS of an improvement. But there IS an improvement!

UPDATE: I really feel like I have this mod figured out perfectly finally!! And one really cool part about it, is that I've figured out how to complete the mod, while ALSO keeping the internal circuitry intact, so that the user is able to switch back and forth between using the tape head preamp, and just using the machine in it's regular stock form.......And the way that I do this is by installing a switch on the back of the machine that is able to toggle back and forth between the stock function and the bypass function. AND I also figured out how to male the VU meters work in both settings. The only feature that I had to get rid of in order for everything to function properly is the MIC inputs. The good news on that though is that very few people ever even use the MIC inputs so........Another cool option is that the direct-from-head outputs can be either balanced XLR OR semi-balanced RCA depending on the needs of the customer......Ya this is a very cool mod! It really is!! And I recommend it to ANYONE who will be using the deck for hi-fi/ home audio purposes......Even if you are unsure of whether you will ever decide to use an external tape head preamp, it's good to know that the option is already built-in, should you do so.......Lastly, I've included 2 images of what the back of the machine looks like after the mods of been completed.....The last 2 images show this in detail.......

These are the materials that I use to complete the modification:

-Cardas CM M XLR chassis mount connectors.......OR......Cardas GRFA RCA connectors 

-Cardas Golden Ratio Scaled Litz Copper Wire

-Mundorf Supreme Silver/Gold Solder

The Cost of this mod is $500

The materials that I use for this mod cost me right around $150, and it takes me about 3 hours in total (drilling out the chassis, installing the switch, all of the wiring, etc....) I CAN (by request) just use decent XLR or RCA jacks, decent wire, and decent solder and do the mod for $375…..Or if you want to go ultra high-end, I CAN use any type of materials that you want

…..In those cases, just let me know via a conversation after you place your order, and we can customize the mod in any way that you’d like!

3-speed Modification:

This mod allows the user to playback AND record at all 3 speeds (3¾ips, 7½ips, and 15ips), without having to open up the machine.....From the factory (without this mod), the decks are preset to either run at low-speed (3¾ips and 7½ips) OR high-speed (7 ½ips and 15ips).....The speed setting can be switched back and forth by accessing a switch that is mounted to the main control PCB board, which is located directly behind the back cover panel of the deck…..The way that I carry out this mod is to very neatly (and carefully) drill a 1” hole through the back panel, so that this switch can be easily accessed with a screwdriver, a chopstick, or a pencil, thus having easy access to all 3 speeds…..This is a very handy feature, because while it is rare for people to RECORD ar 3¾ips in this day and age, a lot of the factory record tapes from “back in the day” were recorded at this speed…..Those tapes sound great also btw….

The Cost of this mod is $50

Of course I CAN just walk you through how to do it yourself IF you’d like….But I recommend just having me do it, as I have the exact right tools, know EXACTLY where the hole needs to be drilled, have a method for sanding the sharp edge left after drilling, and I’ve done the mod 50 or so times already…..

So very quickly I’ll just recap, and list all the mods (including prices) that I offer in 1 place…..PS, if there are any other mods that you’d like done to the machine (ie: custom-made wood side panels, custom-colored trim or controls, mounting machine in a roll-around-cart, etc….), just ask and I’m sure that I can oblige:      

-COMPLETE Recapping - $1,000

-Direct-from-Heads-Outputs Modification - $500 (or $375 for standard materials)

-3-Speed Modification - $50

****And if you decide that you want all 3 mods I’ll knock off $200, and do all 3 mods for $1,350

**ALSO, the LAST 2 photos in the gallery are included to show what the end result of the mods look like....As the text states in the photos, these ARE NOT images of THIS EXACT unit. They are just photos of similar units (on which I've completed the mods), that I've shipped in the past.....The 1st photo shows the XLR/ balanced outputs option, and the 2nd shows the RCA/ unbalanced option and the 3-speed option.**

****Additional items that I offer with the purchase of a machine:****

I am an authorized dealer of Recording the Masters tapes and accessories, and as of right now, I’ve chosen to stock SM911 and LPR35 (the long-play version/ same formula as SM911), because I’ve personally had the best results on most of these machines with that formula…..

As I said previously I CAN and WILL calibrate the deck for any formula of tape that the buyer wants, but my suggestion/ personal favorite is SM911 .....As time goes by and the demand for new tape increases from my customers, hopefully I can stock a few other formulas also, but for now, I offer the following:

SM911 (¼ inch) on:

10.5” (2,500ft.) Pancake - $48

10.5” (2,500ft.) Plastic Reel with hinged-box - $56

10.5” (2,500ft.) Metal Reel with hinged box - $85

SM911 (½ inch) on:

10.5” (2,500ft.) Pancake - $92

10.5” (2,500ft.) Metal Reel with hinged box - $140

LPR35 (¼ inch) on:

10.5” (3,608ft.) Pancake - $45

10.5” (3,608ft.) Plastic Reel with hinged-box - $54

10.5” (3,608ft.) Metal Reel with hinged box - $80

¼“ Blue Splicing Tape (RTM brand) / 82ft. - $10  

½“ Blue Splicing Tape (RTM brand) / 82ft. - $15

¼“ White Leader Tape (RTM brand) / 820ft. - $23  

½“ White Leader Tape (RTM brand) / 820ft. - $35

¼“ SIlver/ Aluminum Splicing Block (RTM brand) - $35

*****How to place order, either with or without any of the modification options:***

If you want to order the machine as is, and opt not to add on the recapping/ warranty, or an of the other mods then you don't need to do anything special.....Just complete the order as you normally would......But if YOU DO want to take advantage of my modifications, you can either: 1) Complete your order first, and then let me know that you'd like to take me up on my offer....In this case you would just pay for the machine, and then I would tell you how to submit the other $$$ for the mods and we would be done..........or......2) You CAN let me know first (that you want to add some or all of the mods), and in this case I could just send you an invoice for the TOTAL amount.......Either way is totally fine!!......And I also should apologize if any of this part seems confusing....I tried to just set it up so I could have a drop-down menu with different options. That would have been nice and easy, but eBay/ Reverb only drop-downs for "certain categories", which of course is ridiculous, but hey whatcha gonna do right!! All good though, just let me know what you want to do, and I will make it nice and easy for you!!     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Shipping Info:

     **FREE Local Pickup is more than welcome on this item, or any other item:) The $150 for shipping in the U.S. will cover the shipping fees and supplies, plus insurance on the full value of the final price......And if you happen to live outside of the U.S., and you're interested, please let me know and I can give you a quote on the shipping charges.....

 **Currently Handling/ Packing time can be up to 40 business days.....I work as hard as I possibly can, to get my orders shipped out as fast as I possibly can.......But I am a one man show, and I sell A LOT of units......A lot of the time I AM able to ship the deck out a day or 2 after I receive the order, but sometimes I get bombarded with multiple orders on the same day.....EVERY machine that I sell is a fully customizable experience for the customer, and with all of the customized options and mods that I offer, naturally SOME OF the work on the machines needs to be completed AFTER the initial purchase date. I also do last minute tests on every single machine that I sell, and AGAIN I ONLY SHIP PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING UNITS, so sometimes a replacement part might need to be ordered last minute......So if this is going to be a problem for you, just please let me know before you make your purchase, and I can almost always figure out a way to accommodate.....I'd say probably 48 out of the approximately 50 times that I've taken a few extra days to ship, that it hasn't been any sort of an issue whatsoever. In fact, people are generally just so filled with joy when they open up the box and see how awesome their unit is, that they reach out to me right away to say thank you......But there was one time in particular when the machine was to be used in conjunction with studio time that had already been booked, but the buyer never told me that, and it got there a day late.....I could have gotten it there on time, if the buyer had just let me know.......My 2 main points are: 1) That if you need a machine in a hurry, let me know and I'll do my absolute best to make it happen!!......and........2) That while it might take me a little extra time to ship (in some cases, but not all), I more than make up for it with the quality of the decks that I ship, every single time!!

***Please read before bidding/ purchasing!!!*

I have tried my absolute best to give an honest and thorough description of the condition of this unit, and the included accessories......Please examine the photos carefully and/or ask me any questions that you may have, BEFORE deciding on whether or not to purchase/make an offer on this item. I have advanced-level knowledge of these machines, and I painstakingly test every unit, before they are shipped, to ensure that they are working perfectly. I WILL NOT accept returns on this item. Unfortunately there has been a lot of part swapping/ item swapping going on lately, and this makes it too risky to accept returns on vintage items. So this item is being sold as is.

Again, please let me know if you have any questions, and I will be happy to answer them......Thanks for stopping by!!!!

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My Reel to Reel background, knowledge, and qualifications: 

These next couple paragraphs aren't meant to be some kind of rambling manifesto, or a one-size-fits-all guide that is the only way that anyone can find a good reel to reel unit.........It is just information that I think will be extremely valuable for anyone who is thinking about purchasing a reel to reel deck.............If you already are familiar with me (as a seller), or if you already have a lot of experience in purchasing R2R units, you may already be aware of some of this information, but I think you'll find it to be a good read anyways!!...........        

       From now on I'm going to end every one of my listings with this quick introduction/ background, because I feel that this information is critical, when searching for the right reel to reel machine to purchase, and there is so much misinformation out there!!.....Regardless of whether you're interested in one of my machines or somebody else's, I hope that I can be of assistance to you, and I'm willing to answer any questions that you may have.....Reel to reel tape decks are my passion, and I love to see the joy that they can bring to others, when they are able to find a machine that actually does work properly, from a seller that knows what they're doing. I will go above and beyond to help you find the right unit, that will be the perfect fit for you............I keep a minimum of 50 decks on hand (for sale) at all times (usually a lot more though), and I have a large network of other sellers that I source decks from. So if this listing isn't THE EXACT DECK that you're looking for please let me know the exact make and model of the unit that you are looking for, and I can find you the perfect R2R machine!! Or if you aren't sure of the particular model that you want, but you at least know what you want to use it for, I can help to guide you towards a great unit that will be the best unit FOR YOU!!      

I did the math recently and figured out that I've bought, refurbished, and sold just under 250 reel to reel units in the past 10 or so years (at least 125 of which I have purchased online, blindly, without being able to see or test them out in person), and I can probably count on my 2 hands the number of times that I've actually received a perfect, fully-functional unit, even after the seller has described it as such.....I'd say at least 95% of the time that I've ordered a "Mint Condition" deck, when I received it there have been multiple significant problems with the unit.....Luckily FOR ME, I've been repairing and refurbishing them for years, but it used to piss me off so much when I was new to the hobby............I just remember how confusing and angry it would make me, when I would order and pay for what I thought was one thing, and something completely different would show up on my doorstep....Also, I would see what looked like 2 practically identical machines that were both described as "Mint Condition" or "Perfect Working Order", and one would be priced at $500 and the other at $5000. It just didn't make sense, but what I figured out is that these R2R decks are extremely complex machines, with a whole bunch of different things that can go wrong with them over time, rendering them virtually worthless or unusable, and unfortunately there are a lot of sellers out there who know very little (or nothing) about them at all....And when I started purchasing them, sometimes I would get super lucky and get a fantastic unit that worked perfectly for under $500, and then other times I would spend thousands on a supposedly "Mint Condition", high-end unit, only to find out when I received it, that it needed thousands more worth of repairs done, just in order to make it into a functioning unit...Then slowly over the years I started studying the decks while learning more and more through trail and error, and I joined some R2R forums and meet certain sellers who actually do sell working machines. Then I was mentored, and continue to be mentored by one of the finest, if not THE finest technician on the planet!!  I discovered the MAIN KEY to purchasing these reel to reel units!! THE MOST IMPORTANT question to ask yourself before making a purchase is this:.......IS THE SELLER A PROFESSIONAL? Do they really know these decks, inside and out?? BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY TO BE 100% CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY RECEIVE A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING DECK, IS TO PURCHASE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO TELL IF THE DECK IS EVEN FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY OR NOT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!.......PERIOD, END OF STORY!!!! And no offense to the casual seller either.....A lot of times they may have good intentions, but the fact is that there are wayyyyyyyyyyy more complicated factors in play when dealing in these machines, and good intentions just aren't enough to make sure that they are shipping good quality, high-functioning machines!! The knowledge has to be there too!!! And that isn't even factoring in all of the incredibly expensive and complicated equipment that it takes just to to test and calibrate these machines.....There are probably only 3 or 4 sellers (that specialize in reel to reel) on all of eBay, that have the necessary testing equipment, and actually care enough to take the time to use it....I am one of them, and I test and calibrate every single machine that I sell........I want to be clear that I'm not trying to claim to be the only honest and knowledgeable R2R seller in the marketplace......There are a few other sellers out there who are both honest and knowledgeable, but there are very few, and if I can give you one piece of advice it is that when it comes to reel to reel units, the seller makes ALL the difference.......I also don't mean to come off as a "know-it-all" either, because I definitely don't know everything......But one thing that I DO know a whole lot about is these amazing, complicated, beautiful machines!!        So yes when looking at my listings please keep all of this in mind when comparing prices on similar units from other sellers.....I try to price my units right around the middle of the spectrum, when it comes to how similar, GOOD CONDITION, FUNCTIONING units are priced, but most of all I use my experience and knowledge to set good deals for what I am providing to my customers.....For instance if I have a listing priced at $1000, and it happens to be a fairly common unit, you might see one of the same units priced at $500, and maybe another priced at $2000......If you decide to go with the $500 unit, just remember that you get what you pay for, and your chances of getting a working unit are extremely slim.....Even purchasing the $2000 unit doesn't guarantee you that you'll receive a working unit. That is the whole point that I'm trying to make.....I can get “parts decks” if a buyer has a specific request for some reason, but as far as my listings are concerned: I ONLY SELL FULLY FUNCTIONING, COMPLETELY TESTED AND CALIBRATED, EXCELLENT to MINT CONDITION DECKS!!  I don't want to ramble on forever about this, but my point is that I want you to know that when you purchase one of these units from me, you can be 100% confident that what I describe this unit to be, is exactly what I will ship you (or have ready for you if it is a pick up order)!! These machines are my passion, I know them inside and out, and I have many many years of experience in dealing with them!!....This is what I do!!....And most importantly, my word means everything to me! I am an honest guy, and I will always go the extra mile to make my customers happy!........Please see my feedback score of 100%, and please let me know if you would like some references.....That should signify how I run my shop....I do what is best for my customers, 100% of the time, whether it's hooking you up with one of my decks, or steering you in the right direction towards another honest seller!!! Thank you for your business, and I look forward to serving you!!

Sincerely,

Mikey Gee | Founder | One to One Hi-Fi/ Pro Audio Sales and Repair

Costa mesa, CA  NinefourNinesixSixsevenZerosevenTwofive | mikey1to1 at gmail 

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