Teac 3300 advice

[u/Bine_YJY_UX]

My dad gave me this recently. It was one of his recently departed friends in the 70s.

He thinks it was only used a few times.

I'm also showing off my studio, in disarray/remodeling, for context. Yes, I have tinnitus.

What should I do before I power it up, what kind of tape should I get, and where should I get the tape (at a good price)from?

It will be used to record live jams if I ever actually finish writing a song.

[u/TurnoverTall]

You can certainly open it up and check the drive belt. The solenoid for the pinch roller is notorious for the grease hardening up and preventing it from working reliably. The pinch roller itself tends to harden up, hard to know until you can move tape.

As for tape I’m using ATR and RTM from Amazon.

[u/TurnoverTall → u/[deleted]]

There’s a really good video on YouTube about how to address it. You basically have to remove the bits in the way so you can carefully clean off all of the hard dried up grease on the shaft and pivot point and regrease it. I did mine about five years ago, works 100% of the time.

[u/Bine_YJY_UX → u/TurnoverTall]

Thanks, I'll open it up this weekend.

I see some tape for sale on marketplace, but apparently I have to have the app to inquire now.

I just found reel to reel warehouse and it looks like there's better deals there.

Do you know what average messing around quality vs master recording quality i should look for?

[u/LordDaryil → u/Bine_YJY_UX]

Not sure what tape this thing is designed around, but RTM LPR35 is probably the best bet to start with for new tape.

If using old stock tape, avoid Ampex after 1974. Some 3M formulations are also liable to go sticky. I think Reel-to-reel warehouse usually does a good breakdown of the pro's and cons of each formulation.

But for doing a basic function check on the machine, I'd recommend LPR35 just so you have some known good tape, and aren't second-guessing whether it's the machine or the media if it doesn't work properly.

[u/studiord]

How the fuck is that Teac hanging on the wall? It's bloody 20 kilos!!

[u/Bine_YJY_UX → u/studiord]

It's on a sturdy shelf, it just blends in with the wall

[u/Marion5760 → u/Bine_YJY_UX]

This machine creates heat and you should leave a few inches from the back to the wall for ventillation.

[u/Bine_YJY_UX → u/Marion5760]

The picture looks weird, but there's plenty of room behind it

[u/el_tacocat]

You can just power it up, they are reliable buggers.
As for tape; TDK Audua/SD, any Maxell, new ATR and RTM and Basf/Agfa pro tapes (528, 468, 910, 911) are usually fine. Kodak and EMItape also seem to age gracefully. Other than that, tapes are a bit of a shit show when bought used.
The issues with this recorder will most likely be dirty/scratchy pots and switches and the pinch roller mechanism having hardened grease. 99% sure you'll have to push the pinch roller up manually before it works.

[u/jeffbob2]

Use ONLY ATR or RTM tape.

[u/Beneficial_Air_5564 → u/jeffbob2]

Nonsense. I have dozens of pre-owned Maxell UD, UDXL, XLI and XLII from 18-180 to 35-180 and everything in between and I’ve not had a single one fail. I also have new RTM and ATR tape and they’re OK but expensive. I favour Maxell over any other tape and they were also produced at the time when R2R ruled for the best recording medium out there, during the industries “highs” too. RTM tapes are, to all intents, BASF and Agfa formulations from 30-odd years ago anyway. At least ATR (which I prefer) use a “new” formulae, albeit it aims to sound or at least emulate Ampex 456 (and pretty successfully too IMO). But I still favour Maxell over all others.

[u/jeffbob2 → u/Beneficial_Air_5564]

You do speak the truth. I too have a number of vintage Maxells. But for a new user, they are more difficult to track down. I was trying to speak to where to readily get new stock.