Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorders, The Preferred Choice For Six Decades

Open-reel tape recorders were the standard for recording for decades until digital media took over sometime in the 1990's. Unfortunately, they are not being commercially produced these days, so finding a used machine is the only option. However, buying a used recorder can be a gamble so it's worth investing time in a little research first. This will pay you back with dividends when it comes time to purchase.

Many people today still prefer the natural, warm sound of analogue tape compared to the sterile sound of a digital recording. If this includes you there are several places to look.

Ebay.
Ebay is the number one site to get practically anything. There are numerous vendors auctioning off vintage reel-to-reel tape recorders, and you can pick the brand, quality and price you want.

The internet
You will find pages and pages of recorders to peruse. If you are in the market for a particular recorder, just search for it and you will find numerous sites where you can compare their products, prices and presentations of the reel-to-reel recorders. You can learn a lot by researching these sites and may be able to determine the right make and model for you. Online classifieds such as Craigslist and Sell.com might be of use also. Check in the musical instruments or electronics categories or just type it into the search tool.

Local shops.
Pawn shops are always great places to find what you are after. Most of the time, you can call ahead and the purveyor will know whether they have some old reel to reels, but sometimes you just have to get in there and find them yourself. Music stores that buy and sell used equipment are probably even better to find reel to reel recorders. You'll find them with the audio equipment and usually you'll be able to test them out be before buying.

Garage sales
Try places like garage sales or jumble sales. You may find a nice reel-to-reel tape recorder that someone donated after finding it in their attic during a spring cleaning.

Repair shops
Tape recorder repair shops are a good source of used machines and you will be able to obtain all the information you require before buying.

Classified Ads
Read the classifieds in the newspaper or specialist magazines. Someone may be selling a reel-to-reel recorder. Call them and ask about the brand, age, condition and price.

Music studios
Almost every music studio has changed their recording equipment from analogue to digital and they may have some old, obsolete equipment lying around.

The quality of these reel to reel recorders can seldom be duplicated by the smaller recorders and their cassette tapes and for some they are the ultimate machine with the added advantages of superior recordings and the fact that the tapes can be easily edited.

If you are looking to get into the world of Reel to Reel Tape Recorders check out Reel-2-Reel.com and witness how popular Analogue Reel to Reel Tape Recorders are.