Updated: March 07, 2010
Of course if you NEED a machine right now, you're going to pay a lot
more
than if you can wait until a better deal happens....
Tape Recorders
As everyone knows Analogue Multi-Track Recorders are dropping in Price.
You should be able to purchase a recorder cheaper than the list below shows...
it's a buyer's market, bargain hard!
Also... there are a lot of machines out there for sale in "As-Is" condition
without head reports, and where the seller says things like... "it's been stored
for the past couple years", or "I no longer have a studio in which to test the machine"
or "was working fine when last used...a few years ago." Basically this means
you are buying a machine in unknown condition - and it likely needs repairs !!!
Do NOT buy a machine that you have not personally seen or had a trustworthy tech look at !!!
I see too many machines come into my shop that have been sold as 'good condition' units
where the actual true condition is poor or worse - needing costly repairs....
and where the seller refuses to make good on his statement or help pay for those repairs.
A multi-track with bad heads is worthless !!!
Heads cost thousands of dollars. A new Ampex MM 1200 24 trk Repro head is $ 2,000
Otari and Studer heads are far more expensive.... Bad Heads = bad deals
The seller who says "it was working before I put it into storage..." is telling
you that the machine is in totally unknown condition.
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current Market STREET PRICES for Various Tape Recorders...
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Studer A800mkIII 24 track - at the Sony Auction in NYC 9/10: $2,000
another A800 24 track, same auction: $ 4,600
another A 800 same auction, without remote: $ 900
same auction - Ampex ATR 102 1/2 inch - $ 2,600
same auction - 2 each Studer A827 24 track $,4000 each
note all the above auction machines are in unknown condition !
Studer A-827 24 track - very good condition, with remote and manual.
I checked this machine out myself for a client - about 50% head life $ 8,500 7/07
Studer A-827 24 track - minor repairs needed. No remote but with Serial Control Card.
I also checked this machine for a client who bought the above machine. asking $ 6,500
Studer A-820 24 track. Unknown condition. $ 5,000 5/07
Scully 100 16 track does not work $500.00 05/07
MCI JH16 (later version) 16 track
Buyer was misled by seller - told he was buying a machine with good heads !!
Has open repro head, needs lots of other work $900 05/07
Studer A-827 24 track Gold Edition BRAND NEW !! from Studer in LA $ 17,500
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Otari MX-70 1 inch 16 track : very good condition
$ 2,950 (11/06)
MCI JH-24 24 track in Great Condition checked out by Me...
$ 4,500 (09/06)
Ampex ATR-800 2 track in not-good condition
$ 600 not a good deal - needs too much work !!!
Studer A-827 24 track, Gold Edition - brand new -
rumored to have sold on ebay by Studer LA for $ 13,500
not verified
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Studer A-827 24 track with only 140 hours use!!!
$ 11,000 !!! (9/05)
Studer A-827 24 track BRAND NEW from Studer
$ 18,500 !!! (9/05)
AMPEX MM 1200 1 inch 8 track
Looks good, but unknown actual condition
$ 1,000 (no remote cable) (7/05)
AMPEX MM 1200 24 track with 16 track headstack, remote cable, some parts
In very good condition. $ 5,500 (07/05)
Ampex 440B 2 track 7.5/15 ips excellent condition!
$ 350
MCI JH 110B 1/2 inch 2 track $ 250 GREAT deal !! (3/05)
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MCI JH24 24 track 75% life on heads! $ 4,000
OTARI MTR-10 2 track $ 500 (10/04)
Otari MTR 100 24 track - eBay - $ 3,720 !!!!
Seller states that machine is in superb condition with the exception that track 1
is intermittant which could indicate a bad head ( $ 5,000 to replace)
Came with 7 day return policy !
Otari MX 70 one inch 16 track - eBay - $ 1,900 !!! 8/04
Seller (same as bove machine) states it's in superb condition. 7 day return policy.
Studer A-827 24 track in pristine condition, 700 hours of use.
$ 15,000 (08/04)
Ampex MM 1200 24 track in unknown condition (seller says good condition) on eBay
machine only, no remote cable or other items. $2,650 (07/04)
Ampex MM 1200 24 track, with extra 8 track headstack. Unknown condition.
Came with Remote Cable. $2,250 (04/04)
Ampex MM 1100 16 track First version: mechanical counter, stationary guides.
Had a completely stuck capstan motor which I got working, though it has high wow and flutter.
Needed other minor work $ 800 (04/04)
AMPEX MM 1200 16 track with Remote Cable, Ampex VSO, Transport Control Box, and extra cards.
Good shape - required some minor work and cleaning. $ 2,600 (04/04)
Listed on eBay 12/03: Studer A-827 24 track with low hours, all the bells and
whistles.
Listed for 14,000. man that's CHEAP !!!
Otari MX-7800 one inch 8 track, very clean, with remote, manual. $340 Great Deal !! 12/03
MCI JH-24 in near mint condition. With AL III, and all tuchel connectors. This machine is the closest thing to a 'new' one I've ever seen. Over 80% head life!! Perfect condition. Aligned and fully checked out. $6,000 9/02 Good deal since this mchine was in beautiful condition, fully checked out, aligned and had complete 30 day guarantee. One of the best used MCI's I've ever seen.
Ampex MM 1100 16 track. basic machine, no remote, no remote cable. Aligned
and fully gone through.
Great deal!!! $1,500.00 !!!! In good condition. 09/03
AMPEX MM 1200 24 track: Bought for $ 800 !!! Could be the machine listed below, since guy told me he bought it from a guy who got it at an auction. Apparently does not have the Channel Control Box, just the Transport-Only Control Box, and is missing one audio switcher card. Finding a full control box is going to be near impossible. Rest of the machine is in unknown condition. 03/03
Studer A-800 24 track - old model heads with about 60% - 50% life - says
machine looks perfect with Remote and Autolocator $ 15,000
01/03 Good deal.
=== Note that old model heads are NOT the ones
you really want with a A-800.... ===
Studer A-800 24 track Reportedly for Sale - San Francisco - Studer A-800 24 track in fair condition with NEW model heads with about 90% head life, Autolocator and Remote. Was used on recent Neil Young sessions, REM and other top sessions. Needs some minor work. Listed at 18K (currently at Audio Images in SF). good deal, and if you bargan could be a very good deal !! Don't call me!, call Audio Images !! 01/03
MCI JH-110B One-inch 8 track. Buyer says in its' in good condition. Bought from a TV station by someone for $100 (yep, that's one hundred bucks!!!). 12/02 GREAT DEAL !!
Ampex original issue MM 1200 / MM 1100 Remote cable $ 450. These are very
rare to find !!!
(I have ONE for sale at $500 as of 2/03)
12/02
Ampex MM 1200 24 track, with 20 point Autolocator, 24 and 16 track headstacks, AND remote cable with remote Control Box. Very good condition. $ 5,500 7/02 good deal
AMPEX MM 1200 24 track. fair condition no remote cable, but with reel-sensor type remote counter. Sold for $ 5,000 9/02
Ampex MM1200 in good condition (some minor work needed) with 24 and 16 track
headstacks, with 20 point Autolocator, and Remote Cable and the extra Transport
Only Control Box.
Sold in November 1999 for $ 5,000 (great deal)
Deal of the Year!! A Poor to Fair condition Ampex MM1200 24 track recorder
sold at a Studio Auction for $ 800.
I don't know if the heads are any good,
and assume that the machine needs work.
Ampex MM1200 24 track, no heads, missing some cards and parts. No remote cable. Sold for $ 800 in LA.
Ampex MM1200 24 track, with Multi-Point Search to Cue, remote cable and remote transport control box, AND 24 channels of Dolby "A" noise reduction, very good heads $ 6,500 US (was sold in Canada) Dec. 2000
Ampex MM1200 16 track, pre-wired for 24 track upgrade (has 24 meters, all cables for 8 more tracks) has 24 channel Control Box, Remote Cable. Good condition. Sold for 3,500 February 2001 SF
Ampex MM1200 24 track with 16 track heads, remote cable, single-point locator, take-up tension controler card. Sold in LA for $ 6,000 In good condition. March 2001
MCI JH16 24 track in very worn condition, with AL II. Sold As-Is for $ 2,800. Needed lots of work. Feb 2001 good deal!!!
MCI JH-24 24 track,with less than 50% life on the heads. 24 track heads only. AL III. Required work to bring it up to spec. Sold for $4,000. 12/00
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Ampex ATR 800 2 track. Good shape. $150 (1/04)
Otari MX 55 Great Shape $175 Good deal 12/03
Ampex AG-440B 2 or 4 track - w both headstacks in console. $300 Great Deal !! 12/03
AMPEX ATR 102 -- in fair condition, good heads. 1/4 inch 2 track. With neopreme capstan, runs and sounds great! Missing armrest rubber side-caps, and unit face-plate is worn, but this seems to be a very good unit.... tested, gone through by tech, aligned. Well under market price for a good tested machine! Sold "As-Is". $ 2,250 09/03
Otari 5050 MkII 2 track, unknown condition. $ 100 bucks! great deal! 02/03
MCI JH 110B 1/4 inch 2 track, fine condition, aligned and checked out, in MCI
roll-around cabinet, good heads.
$450 02/03
Ampex AG 440B in fine condition, with Roll-around cabinet. Good heads, checked out and aligned. $ 350 01/03
AMPEX 440-B 2 track, 1/4 inch. 15/7.5 ips machine, in custom built cabinet, aligned and checked out. Good shape, GREAT SOUND! $ 350.00 10/02
Ampex ATR 100 1/4 inch heads: very good condition. Sold for $2,400 January 2000 (in LA)
Ampex ATR 102 1/4 inch heads: very good condition, relapped heads.
Sold for 2650. June 2000 (in LA)
Ampex 440B 1/2 inch 4 track w/ 1/4 inch 2 track and mono headstacks, in console with some spare parts and manual $650.00 (fair deal for the time... 1999)
MCI JH 110B with NEW repro head, 1/4 inch, with remote, all in very good
condition.
Sold for $700 in November 1999
Studer / Revox PR-99 2 track 7.5/15 ips rack mount fair condition. sold for $200.00 in December 1999 (great deal !!)
MCI JH 110B 2 track recorder with 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch heads Sold for $1,500 November 1999 (a great deal !!)
Ampex ATR 102 1/4 inch heads in very used fair condition. Sold for $ 2,500 in November 1999
Ampex ATR 102 1/4 inch heads: this machine turned out to be in only fair/poor shape... somewhat worn heads, lots of work had been done on the electronics. I rejected this machine for a client, though it ran OK. It was offered for $2,000 in As-Is condition. I felt it would take at LEAST $200 - $500 in work, thus rejected it... December 1999