kriss Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 So, Mellie's mom was doing some attic cleaning and found her dad's reel to reel deck and mailed it to us. It's beautiful and it looks like it's in top shelf condition. Problem is, while it looks good, and will make a great conversation point when people come over to hang out - I'd like to figure out how to use it. Anyone here know anything about these? It's an Akai GX-747. From what Mellie's mom was telling me, this thing doesn't need a tune up or anything as it had maintenance the last time it was used (early to mid 2000's). Looked online and maaaan, these things definitely aren't cheap, so if nothing else, it's rad that something like this just fell into our laps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseydave77 Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 That is quite a set up you have there man. If I had that kind of space I would never sell or trade anything. I know nothing of this model Kris but with your love of VHS it feels like it found the right home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamover Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 don't know anything about it, but i want to come over and hang out. kriss 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I was meaning to post something about reel to reels as well. I am going to buy one pretty soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
000000 Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I've used reel decks for the past two years at my job, but I haven't seen one like that. Look up some stuff on how to thread the tape for that particular machine, I can't really tell how it works just from that picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kriss Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 Dreamover, the door is always open! Dave - I feel like our house is turning into some weird analog palace! Bronchitis, what you have you been looking at? I'll be honest, this format is totally foreign to me - but when it was offered, I jumped on it. Roman - I've been going through the manual off an on this afternoon, gonna try to thread it now. We'll see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
000000 Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Based on what I found in pictures, shouldn't be anything too tough. http://i.imgur.com/FI8fJso.jpg (not embedding because it's a big picture) These are the ones I have at work, so its kinda similar. As long as the tape to be played on the left side is coming from the far left of the reel and being looped to the empty reel on the right, tape coming to the right of the spool you should be good. I screwed it up my first few times learning it but you catch on fast. Also make sure it doesn't get twisted when you put it on the new reel, 'cause that's a pain in the ass to fix once everything is on the other reel, haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 I had an Akai 77 reel to reel. Wasn't a fan. Too much of a hassle, and sound quality wasn't as great as an LP. Better than a cassette, but you know, 10x bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isavedlatin54 Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 I had one of these for a while, not sure How I got it, but it came with a recording of the very first radio broadcast of the news of JFK's assassination ......a friend of a family members friend offer me like $800 for the player and tape... so naturally I took it. cool story, bro. i remember having to run the tape manually through the gear things on the the other spool. if that helps at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidamnesiac Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Make sure you track down a copy of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moodydan Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Service and Owner's Manuals available at HiFi Engine: http://www.hifiengine.com/library/akai/gx-747.shtml If that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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