I bought an Akai GX 635D that was in the original box, and looks brand new. The right side reel motor was shorted internally. The innards look brand new, too. No roaches, bugs, corrosion at all. I think the motor went out early in the life of this deck and it got pigeon-holed. The grease is still grease, and nylon/plastic stuff is still white with no yellowing. I replaced the motor stator assembly and it is now up and running, played through a PL 700b. Anyone have advice on tape? I know about sticky shed syndrome and seems NOS Maxell does not have that problem and therefore gtg. What about new tape from ATR?
Akai GX 635D
- Thread starter Ronnie_B
- Start date
The new stuff is good tape. If yer using anything older than the drawers yer wearing, get rid of it. I've tried many of the new tape and it's great. The RTM stuff is the cat's meow....
https://www.recordingthemasters.com/
https://www.recordingthemasters.com/
Yep Akai is good stuff. I had a 747 not long ago
https://forums.phxaudiotape.com/thr...747-for-rtm-sm-911-tape-new.8639/#post-231109
https://forums.phxaudiotape.com/thr...747-for-rtm-sm-911-tape-new.8639/#post-231109
Dammitall, here you go getting me interested again. That's a really nice Akai, Kyle. You done good.
As to tape, yes, for my money - and a lot of it - ATR is the best but you have to be able to bias the deck to it. I think the later decks - like this one - may have the circuitry it takes to do so. My B77 was set for ATR and it was incredible. I also used a lot of RTM back when it was whatever it was before RTM and found it excellent as well. But ATR could be flogged like a rented mule if the deck is set up for it.
Given that the only NOS tape worth owning these days is non-backcoated Maxell and it's as, or more, expensive than new ATR, just get new tape and support your friendly local or not so local dealer. I can suggest Adam Dalton at Nashville Recording Supply (https://nashvillerecordingsupply.com) who ships ATR and RTM everywhere and is a helluva nice guy. His prices match most everyone's and he has lava lamps in stock so there's that.
As to tape, yes, for my money - and a lot of it - ATR is the best but you have to be able to bias the deck to it. I think the later decks - like this one - may have the circuitry it takes to do so. My B77 was set for ATR and it was incredible. I also used a lot of RTM back when it was whatever it was before RTM and found it excellent as well. But ATR could be flogged like a rented mule if the deck is set up for it.
Given that the only NOS tape worth owning these days is non-backcoated Maxell and it's as, or more, expensive than new ATR, just get new tape and support your friendly local or not so local dealer. I can suggest Adam Dalton at Nashville Recording Supply (https://nashvillerecordingsupply.com) who ships ATR and RTM everywhere and is a helluva nice guy. His prices match most everyone's and he has lava lamps in stock so there's that.
Glad to know that, Perry. Adam has been as helpful as he could be over all those years I had that little vintage studio in the other house. He'd even meet me at Nakdoc's place - or drop tapes off there - if we were going to otherwise miss each other on any of my Nashville trips. And I'm not talking about big orders, either. He'd just throw my stuff in the car with whatever he was delivering to his studio clients that day and I could get it from Tom when I got to his place.
