Teac A-1500W Reel-to-Reel Tape Deck — Powers On - Needs Service

Teac A-1500W "Automatic Reverse" — 4-track stereo reel-to-reel tape deck. Solid-state, 7-1/2 and 3-3/4 IPS, 7" reel max. The "W" denotes Teac's auto-reverse playback (the deck flips direction at end-of-tape automatically without flipping the reels). Late 1960s / early 1970s production, made in Japan by Teac Corporation, Musashino Tokyo. Notable features carried over from Teac's pro/semi-pro line: - **Auto-reverse** playback (continuous play through both tape sides) - **Sound-on-sound recording** via the ADD-1 / ADD-2 record selectors, plus a SAFETY record-lockout position to prevent accidental erasures - Dual-needle VU meter (CHAN A + CHAN B in one window) - Tape counter, pause/lock lever, monitor source/tape switch - A/B record selector for stereo or stereo-mono modes **Sold AS-IS as a tech-special. Read this before bidding.** **What works (verified on the bench):** - Powers on, no smoke or odor - Transport is functional - **Left channel (CHAN A) signal verified** — input signal registers and moves the CHAN A needle on the dual VU meter - All transport, record-selector, and source-switch buttons engage; every knob and switch is present and intact on the front panel - Heads, capstan, pinch roller, and pause lever all visible and present inside the head door (the protective head cover is still installed) - Tape counter advances during transport movement **What is NOT confirmed working:** - **Right channel (CHAN B) does not register on its VU meter needle.** When signal is fed to the inputs, the CHAN A needle responds correctly but the CHAN B needle stays at rest. This could be: - A dead right preamp (signal not reaching the meter at all), OR - A dirty monitor/source switch on the right side (signal blocked at the switch), OR - A mechanical fault in the CHAN B needle assembly inside the meter. - The buyer should plan to **diagnose which of the three** before deciding on a repair. None of them are exotic — all common 50-year-old failures on this generation of Teac, all routinely fixable. - **Important:** this is NOT a lamp/bulb issue. A burnt pilot lamp would affect illumination only, not needle movement. The CHAN B needle is not moving — that points to signal or mechanical, not lighting. **What was NOT tested:** - Record function (only playback signal-pass through the meters was tested). - Auto-reverse engagement at end-of-tape. - Sound-on-sound (ADD-1 / ADD-2) functions. - Right-channel audio out the line outputs (only the meter response was observed, not the line-out signal — possible the audio passes the meter problem and is fine downstream, but I did not verify). **Cosmetics:** Honest age-appropriate condition. Brushed metal faceplate shows the kind of light surface scratches you'd expect from 50+ years of careful use. Walnut cabinet is in nice shape — no major dings, no veneer separation visible. All knobs and switches are present and look correct. Head cover (the smoked plastic shield over the heads) is intact — none missing, unlike many decks of this vintage. See photos for accurate representation. **Pricing context:** Working/serviced A-1500Ws: $200-325 on Reverb and eBay. Pure parts / fully-dead units: $50-130. This unit at $169 sits in the middle because the deck powers on, the transport works, and at least one channel of the audio path is verified — but the right-channel question mark needs to be resolved before this is a fully-working deck. **Local pickup welcome in Nashville, TN — free.** Saves you the $75 shipping. Heavy unit, packed securely for shipping with head area and transport protected. --- A note about vintage/used electronics: All electronics are tested. Any known issues are listed in the description above. Your item will not be sent DOA unless explicitly specified. Sometimes issues do arise in transit and can be caused by rough handling, old/brittle wiring, or a component failing under the rigors of shipping. Major issues are covered by insurance — that's why every package ships fully insured. Many issues are minor and fall under normal user maintenance. These are things any buyer of vintage/used electronics should be comfortable handling: - Pots can be scratchy or develop a flat spot from use. DeoxIT solves most of these. - Switches occasionally need to be cleaned or adjusted to make better contact. - Belts, lubricants, and rubber components have a service life — vintage gear may need preventive service. Shipping: Listed shipping is for the continental 48 USA. International buyers — please send your full address so I can calculate exact shipping. Returns: This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. Returns must be in original, as-shipped condition with all original packaging.