How to make guitar amp from ANY tape recorder or cassette player (really easy)

This video shows how to make guitar amplifier from ANY tape recorder or ANY cassette player. Literally every device can be modified this way, it doesn't matter if it's old or new.
Original tape head, which reads the tape, is simply replaced with guitar input, so device is "thinking" that it's playing the tape, but actually it's playing a signal from the electric guitar. Rest of the device stays untouched, so this modification is easy to undo, if needed. With mono-device, it's easier with just 2 wires at the tape head, but with stereo there will be 3 or 4, but after all it's just about finding the ground and finding the positive signal..
Device I'm working on, is Tandberg Series 82 Reel-to-Reel tape recorder. Many old tape recorders like this one have been damaged by moisture and hits over the years and wood-casing is usually in a bad shape, so I'm going to make another video, where I'm making a custom casing for this guitar amp. I'm going to show how to remove all the parts that are not needed anymore and what modifications needs to be done to the electronics, so that those can be moved from original casing to the new custom casing, stay tuned!
Side note:
I'm a mechanical engineer, but what it comes to electronics, I'm mostly self-learned. Do not try to fix or build electronic devices if you're not sure what you're doing. If you handle electrical devices carelessly, you may get electrical shock or cause malfunction to the device.

[@bulkvanderhuge9006]

A Reel to Reel tape recorder was my first Guitar "Amp". I didn't have to take it apart though, I was able to plug right into the quarter inch jack on the front, and put it in record mode, and crank it

[@UmVtCg]

Doesn't really beat a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier, Marshall JCM800 or Fender Twin Reverb but it is interesting

[@Riihimasa]

I guess any "real" guitar amplifier or efect pedal is better than this😃 but interesting alternative use of electronic device

[@Kreln1221]

*_"But will it djent or chug?"_* 🤔

[@organfairy]

As a reel-to-reel user I am not happy with this destruction of a nice tape recorder. Apart from that the amplifier in a tape recorder is really not that suited as a guitar amplifier, because it is not linear. To compensate for the inductance in the magnetic head and the tape itself, and to reduce tape hiss as much as possible, the tone balance is altered both when recording and playing, and it also depends on the tape speed, which is the reason the sound of your guitar will probably change if you turn the speed controller to 3 3/4 instead of 1 7/8.

[@Riihimasa]

I'm also reel-to-reel user and also repair these devices frequently. This specific unit was moisture damaged, so wood case is ruined, inner metal parts rusted and rubber parts and friction pads were worn out, so no point to repair anymore. I will collect some spare parts to save other devices in the future, and decided to create something new and cool from this one.

[@organfairy]

@@Riihimasa That comforting to hear 🙂

[@atleengelstad5303]

Well..., yes and no...., I have used in the studio an exact tape recorder like this, as an amp..., but the easy and more suitable way is to plug the guitar in the mic, or line input, and then use it to get the tubes in the amp section of this tandberg really working....

[@Riihimasa]

Yeah, in this case the record-mode wasn't working, so here's alternative way😃

[@mrld3005]

I am more interested on the guitar

[@Riihimasa]

CNC-machined out of two acrylic plate and bolted together, electronics fitted inside without holes to the outside surfaces. Also remote controlled RGB-leds inside😃

[@UmVtCg]

@@Riihimasa Is that high quality tone acryilic?

[@Riihimasa]

Some generic and cheapest clear acrylic from the local hardwarestore😃

[@marccarter1350]

Prison tech :-)

[@Cjx0r]

super low volume

[@Riihimasa]

Thanks for telling me, I can adjust volume levels with next videos.

[@svenjansen2134]

What?