Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.marjorie-plastille.com/downloads/Tascam_388_Manual.pdf

hey, no sorry - the 388 is a self-contained unit. What I am looking for info on is the 38-8 reel-to-reel, which is 8 tracks on 1/2 inch tape.

Thanks!

OOps, I realized that as soon as I walked away.

All I've found on the 38-8 are forum posts, nothing in the way of a manual, etc.
I'm sure, given time, that someone here has working knowledge of that machine!

Oh, and I found quite a few adware sites, go figure. :roll:

Time to run CrapCleaner!

I believe that the unit was called the Tascam 38...period. If you research that, you'll get some info. I worked in a studio back then that would get tapes from clients who used that machine at home to cut demoes, then they would want me to overdub and mix them. It was a nightmare, because the 38, like you said, had no NR built-in. And although there was a 4-channel dbx unit offered (and recommended) for it, many were too cheap to pop for it. Big mistake. It was a noisey recorder, even for those days. I had an 80-8 at the time, and the 38 was no 80-8. People these days refer to ITB recording studios as being "CD quality". The 38 was barely "cassette quality". Anyway, there are usually some of those dbx outboard 4-channel boxes on e-Bay. If you go through with this, you'll want a couple of them.
There were a lot of issues with the 38 besides the sound quality. I think that the reliability and alignability of that unit were constantly in question.
If you are so hellbent on not buying a nice digital unit (and there are plenty to choose from), you might look at an Otari MX5050 1/2" 8-track. Or a TSR-8. Something that won't fight you so much. And that has replacement parts available. Good luck!

ok, excellent - I appreciate the candid advice!! I am not willing to invest in crappy recordings!!

ps - I lived in Jax during the 70's and 80's - LOVE that place!! 8)
Where else can you bass fish and surf on a daily basis during the summer??

... and you have to love the music scene!

Thanks!

Sorry, I do tend to rant some. I have had my good share of analog recorders, and only the best from that era are worth keeping around these days. I hate to see people invest in the cheap stuff from the past and have it never work. Anyway, there are good bargains on e-Bay for the better Tascams, Otari's, and dbx units, if you really want to go analog.
You're right about the weather, but you'll never convince Cucco from RO. He was down here in AUGUST when it was in the upper 90s, 95% humidity. Not happy! These days if you want to hear a decent live band, you go to... church :(

I sold my 38 about two years ago. It worked flawlessly until one day a couple of years before that....and then it required dinner and a movie before it would %&*king work. I had the dbx units with mine. The sync cards were constantly going out....or so I thought. So I racked it up with the bottom plate off of it so I could manually manipulate the cards and make em work. It was a decent sounding deck....contrary to some of my friends thoughts on this (YER NOT ALONE MOON!!!) I had the good fortune to be able to use it as a vocals and guitars only recorder syncing it up to sequencers and keys for everything else. Then I got my digital machine and I used it for drums every now and then...still not bad but a nightmare to fix. It must have had a zillion hours on it and the heads were still at 90%..........

However. If you are simply wanting the analog tape sound and you dont mind spending $85 bucks for less than thirty minutes of record time...(thats two reels for a short record....) by all means find an Otari 5050. One of the finest transport systems on earth....easy to align...channel amps were really really good....you could drive em just like the big machines and they simply got that smokey sound NOT distortion.... I wish I had NEVER sold my 5050. I even had a two track that went with it......

crap.

Thanks guys... lots of "reality" to be had, which is good... I was looking on some big box music sites and see that I can go digital and get a 2488mkII for $800, or an AW1600 for $1K... may not be a bad direction to go.

Maybe they need to make digital equipment with simulated reels that turn... plugging a mixer into a PC doesn't seem the same as watching 10.5" reels go around while playing, or watching VU's bounce... is that "old school" or what??

But, everything we do ends up digital anyway, so I guess I need to move on.

Thanks!!
8-)

Try to go with the Yamaha. Tascam has, over the years, developed a rep for poor customer service and several of their products seem to get dissed on this forum. My experience with a pair of DM24 digital mixers was less than ideal, but I still use them (when I have to). On the other hand, Yamaha seems to have the inside track on digital audio, and the people I know who use their studio-in-the-lap boxes are quite content with them.
Dave: You must be REAL nice to your gear if that 38 lasted that long !
Kudos to you!!!