Mystery Deck
- Thread starter BlazeES
- Start date
870s and 890s have a median price of about $300, spanning at least 8 years from my research.
That doesn't mean you can't find stellar ones for much less or, others selling for much more.
If any of the ES rigs pre-dating the KA3 have their side panels in prestine shape, show clears signs
of low usage in the transport and if by chance the owner has held onto the original box - $400+ is not uncommon.
I know I've said this before, over THere, but the beauty of the post K555 platform is the transport and the head/block.
They last seemingly forever if properly cared for...
That doesn't mean you can't find stellar ones for much less or, others selling for much more.
If any of the ES rigs pre-dating the KA3 have their side panels in prestine shape, show clears signs
of low usage in the transport and if by chance the owner has held onto the original box - $400+ is not uncommon.
I know I've said this before, over THere, but the beauty of the post K555 platform is the transport and the head/block.
They last seemingly forever if properly cared for...
Spent a good part of today running through the functions and cleaning up the Mystery Deck.
Under close inspection is appears the previous owner primarily used the thing for playing back prerecorded, store bought tapes.
The reason I suspect this is because of the color of the oxide deposits, especially on the shafts and guide. Oxide deposit can change color
over time, especially on a deck that has sat for decades, but I've never come across a deck with oxide near orange in color from anything other
than low grade prerecords or perhaps, basic blank Type I's. The darker pigments of the most popular Type II's and Metals of the era are almost
always very dark in hue. They can certainly lighten in appearance over time but never to a level resembling orange, in my experience anyhow.
Anyway, from all outward appearance, this deck most certainly sat in someones stereo cabinet as a result of a complete system purchase.
I have a knack for stumbling on decks that were under utilized like this; I guess you could say I have an eye for them.
Spent nearly 30 minutes carefully polishing the capstans, guide and rollers with iso 99%.
Everything came back looking like new.
Further thoughts:
Back on the topic of longevity.
I'm thoroughly convinced, yet again, that high end record capable cassette decks were this transient "thing" that only a subset of enthusiasts used with any degree of regularity.
Decks purchased as part of systems or decks purchased as stand alone items with buyers realizing only after the fact that the process of making tapes, however
automated things were made to be, still required lots of dedication to time and attention. It is why, in this vein, that I believe so many solid, under utilized decks
can be had - even now - assuming they've been stored in safe places. Same goes for NOS tape. There seems to be this never ending supply that just keeps
flowing around the planet - even as the naysayers claim their imminent extinction. I laugh. Because there simply seems to be no proof of such a pattern.
Then I think to myself, I bet the folks that enjoy the whole tape scene now are probably the same group of cats who have always enjoyed it.
I suppose my point is this, if compact cassette tape is your gig - no matter what your age - and with the exception of this ultra rare Tandberg or that elusive Akai -
pretty much most any "blast-from-the-past" deck experience can be obtained with some degree of patience and with minimal disappointment.
I find that totally cool!
You have to admit, committing mixes to tape isn't some convenient - robotic process...much less actually going through the motions of playing them after the fact...
Most owners simply weren't patient enough which translates to, a plethora of decks not even being broken in and still floating around in the ether.
No real unicorns in this world of analog tape; just lots of orphaned and under-appreciated gems, bordering on mint!
Under close inspection is appears the previous owner primarily used the thing for playing back prerecorded, store bought tapes.
The reason I suspect this is because of the color of the oxide deposits, especially on the shafts and guide. Oxide deposit can change color
over time, especially on a deck that has sat for decades, but I've never come across a deck with oxide near orange in color from anything other
than low grade prerecords or perhaps, basic blank Type I's. The darker pigments of the most popular Type II's and Metals of the era are almost
always very dark in hue. They can certainly lighten in appearance over time but never to a level resembling orange, in my experience anyhow.
Anyway, from all outward appearance, this deck most certainly sat in someones stereo cabinet as a result of a complete system purchase.
I have a knack for stumbling on decks that were under utilized like this; I guess you could say I have an eye for them.
Spent nearly 30 minutes carefully polishing the capstans, guide and rollers with iso 99%.
Everything came back looking like new.
Further thoughts:
Back on the topic of longevity.
I'm thoroughly convinced, yet again, that high end record capable cassette decks were this transient "thing" that only a subset of enthusiasts used with any degree of regularity.
Decks purchased as part of systems or decks purchased as stand alone items with buyers realizing only after the fact that the process of making tapes, however
automated things were made to be, still required lots of dedication to time and attention. It is why, in this vein, that I believe so many solid, under utilized decks
can be had - even now - assuming they've been stored in safe places. Same goes for NOS tape. There seems to be this never ending supply that just keeps
flowing around the planet - even as the naysayers claim their imminent extinction. I laugh. Because there simply seems to be no proof of such a pattern.
Then I think to myself, I bet the folks that enjoy the whole tape scene now are probably the same group of cats who have always enjoyed it.
I suppose my point is this, if compact cassette tape is your gig - no matter what your age - and with the exception of this ultra rare Tandberg or that elusive Akai -
pretty much most any "blast-from-the-past" deck experience can be obtained with some degree of patience and with minimal disappointment.
I find that totally cool!
You have to admit, committing mixes to tape isn't some convenient - robotic process...much less actually going through the motions of playing them after the fact...
Most owners simply weren't patient enough which translates to, a plethora of decks not even being broken in and still floating around in the ether.
No real unicorns in this world of analog tape; just lots of orphaned and under-appreciated gems, bordering on mint!
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