Tape Project Forum
Tape Machines => Reel to Reel Tape Machines => Topic started by: sue22corc on July 01, 2008, 09:22:02 AM
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Sorry...I'm new to this group and original post was put in wrong spot I think (and may be still for all I know). I have a working Ampex 960 and want advice on how much it may be worth. Who would I take it to? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also have tapes recorded by previous owner (including interviews with Charles Parker from 1975, White Horse Jazz Festival 1978 and other unique recordings). Can these be sold as well? Thanks for your input.
Sue
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Ampex 960s were considered a high end home tape deck in the 60s and sold for a very high price. But today they aren't worth much, maybe $25-$50. You will see them quite often on ebay for this price range. The tube playback electronics sound very nice. The heads have limited high frequency response and the mechanical transport is good, but not great. A single stereo playback head is shifted vertically to switch from 1/4 track to two track playback, a clever if rather compromised way to play both types of tapes. It's a neat piece of history and I have restored a similar Ampex 934 in the past. To give an idea of their desirability I was given two more Ampex 960/1260 type decks to cannibalize for spares, free of charge, so the donor could make a little more space in his garage. My interest was mostly nostalgic, having used a 960 to make my first recording when I was about 14.
Charlie Parker died in 1955. I think the year of that interview must have been much earlier than 1975.
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The tubes in the machine could be worth more on eBay than the machine. I took a pair of RCA 12Au7 clearplates from one of these machines. I've been using that pair for about a year in my Foreplay 3 preamplifier.
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Thanks for the info. I saw one go for $169 on ebay so thought I had some hopes for more. You're correct, I messed up dates of tapes. The 1979 one is an Interview with Charlie Rose. The 1975 tape was the last show by Irv Shankler. Do you think Ebay is the best way to put this in the hands of someone who will enjoy it or is there somewhere specializing in this that might be more appropriate?
Sue
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If they are going for that much on ebay I would definitely list it there. Ampex collectors are mostly looking for professional machines like 300s, 350s, and 440s rather than the consumer machines.