Otari MX-5050 transoprt unit: what to do?

[vinyldavid]

I can get an Otari MX-5050 transport unit for the price of shipping. Perfect working and cosmetic condition...great heads.


Just no repro unit.



What do I do, tapeheads?

IDK whether it's 2tr or 4tr, but it has at least one 4tr head......

I know that I can probably get hold of a tube head pre, in the form of a Dynaco SCA-35 that works.....never could listen to it closely....

I sent an email to Otari asking the same thing. No idea what they'll say.


I'm broke, so cheap=better here :D

[vinyldavid]

No one????

There are a few of you with Otaris here....:-?

[Des-Lab]

David: I'll be perfectly frank with you.

Pass it up.

I know you think I'm a heretic for suggesting you pass up what might seem like a great bargain. But hear me out.

First, you say this is one of those older two-piece units, right? Kind of like that monstrosity that DoKorder once made where one part was just the reel tables, headtsack, etc. And the other is the transport controls.

And you can only get the 'main' piece, right?

What are you going to do with it? Sit there and stare at a non-useable machine that's just taking up room because it was 'a bargain'?

If you are broke, even if you could FIND the 'other half' (hopefully in working condition), how would you pay for it? Don't go wasting your time trying to get help from Otari on that [to them] prehistoric machine. I once waited almost two weeks for a response on an inquiry I made regarding a NEW machine.

You seem to have a talent for attracting a lot of low priced items otherwise slated for disposal. An Otari doesn't (currently) fit in anywhere with your system. especially a non-functioning one.

If you want some sage advice, I'd really pass that one up and wait until you can get a complete, more conventional unit. You are only a kid still and the last thing you want to do is fall into that habit of pack-ratting everything you can find. Remember that post I made at AK about discount chasing? Well I just re-posted it here. Don't start saying "I don't want it, I don't need it, but it's a score. I got to have it".

Better decks will come along. Imagine the angst you would feel if somehow you manage to scrape up enough $$$ to get the other piece, only to find out a couple of months later that for the same or less, you could've gotten a better deck that you REALLY want. But now can't because you're stuck with that thing. I know it might be hard to see and understand now, but trust me. You are better offgetting the machines you REALLY want later as opposed to getting stuck with 'whatever's available.'

And there is the whole home situation to contend with that you told me about.

[vinyldavid]

David: I'll be perfectly frank with you.

Pass it up.

I know you think I'm a heretic for suggesting you pass up what might seem like a great bargain. But hear me out.

First, you say this is one of those older two-piece units, right? Kind of like that monstrosity that DoKorder once made where one part was just the reel tables, headtsack, etc. And the other is the transport controls.

And you can only get the 'main' piece, right?

What are you going to do with it? Sit there and stare at a non-useable machine that's just taking up room because it was 'a bargain'?

If you are broke, even if you could FIND the 'other half' (hopefully in working condition), how would you pay for it? Don't go wasting your time trying to get help from Otari on that [to them] prehistoric machine. I once waited almost two weeks for a response on an inquiry I made regarding a NEW machine.

You seem to have a talent for attracting a lot of low priced items otherwise slated for disposal. An Otari doesn't (currently) fit in anywhere with your system. especially a non-functioning one.

If you want some sage advice, I'd really pass that one up and wait until you can get a complete, more conventional unit. You are only a kid still and the last thing you want to do is fall into that habit of pack-ratting everything you can find. Remember that post I made at AK about discount chasing? Well I just re-posted it here. Don't start saying "I don't want it, I don't need it, but it's a score. I got to have it".

Better decks will come along. Imagine the angst you would feel if somehow you manage to scrape up enough $$$ to get the other piece, only to find out a couple of months later that for the same or less, you could've gotten a better deck that you REALLY want. But now can't because you're stuck with that thing. I know it might be hard to see and understand now, but trust me. You are better offgetting the machines you REALLY want later as opposed to getting stuck with 'whatever's available.'

And there is the whole home situation to contend with that you told me about.

Des, I can do what joel did with his...and wire the heads directly to RCA plugs on the back, and output those to a tape head preamp.....that'd be about $5...

And the sucker CAN be used as a tape transport, there are just no repro electronics. all the transport controls are there and operational.....

And if I could find the repro unit, I could make some seriously insane recordings from live concerts at my school....(we have the greatest acoustics I have ever heard in my theater, and the orchestra uses it for concerts, and so do the marching band....

[Doug_Olitsky]

Late to jump in but I mirror what Des said. Hell I just missed out on a Revox PR99 today for under $100.

Kepp watching the right one will come to you.

[Des-Lab]

So David. You never filled us in. How is the Quantegy #457...excuse me...the Scotch Classic sounding?

[joeljoel1947]

Hi,
Sorry I'm late too! I'd pretty much pass on it as well. Keep in mind the (fully assembled) Bottlehead repro tape amp I bought was $670 so unless you are prepared for that expense on the back-end I'd keep looking.

[vinyldavid]

So David. You never filled us in. How is the Quantegy #457...excuse me...the Scotch Classic sounding?

I have not even looked at it yet :(
Heck, I have not even played a reel for 2 weeks.

Hi,
Sorry I'm late too! I'd pretty much pass on it as well. Keep in mind the (fully assembled) Bottlehead repro tape amp I bought was $670 so unless you are prepared for that expense on the back-end I'd keep looking.

But if I have a tube tape head amp available already......?

[joeljoel1947]

Then yeah, if you already have the amp then why not try it? Just make sure the capstan motor turns the capstan and make seru the direct drive reel motors RR and FF and that's all you need!

[vinyldavid]

Then yeah, if you already have the amp then why not try it? Just make sure the capstan motor turns the capstan and make seru the direct drive reel motors RR and FF and that's all you need!

That's what I wanted to hear....so how much do you think the shipping will be? I imagine very expensive.....

[joeljoel1947]

Yeah, well shipping is the issue. It's usually around $70-$100 but the odds are 3:1 that the deck arrives smashed to smitherenes even with this cost. If you haven't seen these posts yet, read them:
http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=182

[vinyldavid]

Yeah, well shipping is the issue. It's usually around $70-$100 but the odds are 3:1 that the deck arrives smashed to smitherenes even with this cost. If you haven't seen these posts yet, read them:
http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=182

The guy that will be shipping it KNOWS how to pack, and he can follow instructions (-:

But I am putting that on hold, because I am getting a Concept ELC, Pioneer quad receiver, and Miracord TT for $80...along with 2 other cassette decks.

[joeljoel1947]

Ok, well then, keep us posted!

[vinyldavid]

Ok, well then, keep us posted!

I definitely will, and I am pretty certain that the Otari is going NOWHERE...

[vinyldavid]

Otari just contacted me, and I seet up an appointment to talk to them at 1pm today......

And Des, you must have had a bad expierence.....Otari seems pretty good to me....

We'll see what becomes of it.....

I'm surprised at the quick response, but I did say that I am 16....that little fact usually helps speed things up a littleam especially when I told them about tube repro amps and such....

[joeljoel1947]

Otari is always VERY curteous and helpful when I call or email. Mitch Gibney (the guy who answers the phones and responds to emails) and I are on a 1st name basis now!!!!

[vinyldavid]

Otari is always VERY curteous and helpful when I call or email. Mitch Gibney (the guy who answers the phones and responds to emails) and I are on a 1st name basis now!!!!

That's who the email came from!!!!

[vinyldavid]

Just talked to Mitch, and apparently the parts are unavailable for this unit....pix

It's a four head unit, S/N: 17512059B
:
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h175/TigerSword/IMG_0503.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h175/TigerSword/IMG_0504.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h175/TigerSword/IMG_0506.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h175/TigerSword/IMG_0507.jpg