Tandberg model 64 demonstration

Demonstration of the Tandberg model 64 stereo reel-to-reel tape deck from the 1960's. This particular machine was probably manufactured in 1963 or 1964, with the entire model 6 series being introduced in 1960. Most functions and features are demonstrated with the exception of the sound-on-sound and remote pause functions.

[@mattdiaz9360]

Thanks man , excellent video!

[@hipofalcon]

Excellent video of this machine. Very well done!

[@dogdive]

Excellent video! I have one of these my dad bought new. Thank for the informative video.

[@sherlythemental9380]

Thank you very much for this video! Its really helpful for a young digital generation girl like me , cause noone had ever explained that to me. x

[@rolfjohansen5376]

My mother used that thing to record her guitar/singing , we also had Tandberg television and radio models, amplifiers, and later on computers. Tandberg was Norway's Elon Musk back in the day, but he ended his own life after his electronic plant failed in 1978, the competition from the Asian marked became too influential.

[@joedeegan3870]

I bought mine in 1969 for $549.00, No longer have it . Only problem was the reel tension. If I still had it I would buy a new belt as I think now that was why I couldn't get it adjusted after a few years of use.. What I do have is some tapes I made and they really sound good. Recording Wagner Opera broadcasts from Bayreuth off the Bavarian Radio in Germany, I used the middle speed and got amazing sound. At 3-3/4 ips I got an hour and a half per side which was what about one act of Wagner ran. Great Machine.

[@muzboz]

Hello! Any idea where one would go about getting a replacement belt for a unit like this these days? I have a Tandberg Model 64, but no idea where to get a replacement belt. :)

[@philipmatuszak9743]

I just got one of these, in box at a neighborhood garage sale for $20, it's beautiful!!! Its a model 64

[@ricardlupus]

Good find!

[@Sjobeck7]

Thanks! I suspected as much. Here is the price guide from 1963 Tandberg 6-4 = 499.50 Pound. Tandberg 7-4B = 449.50 Pound. Microphone TM 2 H 8.00 Pound. Carrying case 14.50 Pound (:which I own:) Foot control 14.50 Pound. The speakers on the 74B sound surprisingly good!!! Of course I run them through a 1968 Custom PA to better effect. The heads are still fine on mine, however my rubber pinch roller is shot!!! I gotta get one of those soon, or make one myself. Thanks again. I love my TANDBERG! :)

[@Sjobeck7]

I enjoy all your Tandberg Videos very much, as they have great detail and invaluable information. I'll be getting a 74B tomorrow and I'm hoping it's very similar to this deck! I've read that was also manufactured in 1963/1964 with tubes. It is in extraordinary condition but I'm not entirely sure how much tape-hiss I'll be getting on 7 1/2... Or how much life the heads still have> I wonder, does it also have the option for tape delay on various speeds! I love that sound!!! :) Thank you~!

[@Konstantin_Terletskiy]

As for cross-field biasing, AKAI also used this approach on some of their recorders, but then it never got to be used anywhere else, since the advantage of it was not worth the additional complexity of the recorder, the necessity to have bias head and all the mechanics to drive it. But I like Tandberg recorders for their original design and good sound quality. I had once Tandberg 3051X, I liked how it sounds. I had fixed it by myself (head replacement and alignment using Soviet GOST test tape, I had to buy donor with good heads to get spare heads)

[@perolavlien2096]

Well AKAI licensed the Cross Field technology from Tandberg since it was there invention.I don't think Tandberg was to interested in to that to many.It's not much mechanics just the extra bias head conected to the capstan pulley assembley on Tandberg machines.They used it on almost all machines exept a few small 5 inch whel recorders and the last TD 20 A.That came with the Actilinear tecnology that in the ultimate edition TD 20 A SE(special equlation) were capable of a signal to noise value of 80 dB on 15 IPS 2 track without the use of a noise reduction system.

[@Konstantin_Terletskiy]

@@perolavlien2096 Thanks, very interesting information. Actually I had repaired Tandberg 3051X (if I correctly recall the model), which had record and playback heads totally worn out. I was able to get a donor with something mechanically broken, but good heads, so I had replaced the heads and justified it using Soviet GOST 19 cm/s Measurement Tape. So I know how the bias head was installed in it. As for my ear, this Tandberg had more soft and full bass in comparison to AKAI GX210 or UHER Royal DeLuxe 9500, which I had got by that time. Maybe also due to cross-field technology.

[@ricardlupus]

The model 74B only has two heads (erase and record/playback) so it's not capable of any echo effects. The 64 has the upper edge on sound quality, but the 74B was also a respectable machine in its day.

[@coupe662]

Oops I deleted the mesage.! anyhow I beleieve your right, The one I got was the Tandberg model 823 two tracks. would be cool having a three + track version getting that echo going. For now Im just amazed plugging in a guitar and start recording some stuff, great Fun!! thanks for posting very helpful man!!

[@ricardlupus]

The echo thing has to do with if the machine has separate record and playback heads, not the number of tracks. Of the these older Tandberg machines with the dark gray top cover, the model 6/6X (62, 64, 62X, 64X) is the only one that has this. Going for 1970s machines, the 3000, 4000X, 6000X as well as all Tandbergs with push button control would be appropriate.

[@coupe662]

ricardlupus Thanks for clearing that out, makes a lot of sence;)

[@coupe662]

Will a Tandberg series 1200x , a 1241X to be exact, be able to get that echo going?

[@ricardlupus]

No, sorry. While the 1200X does have three heads, it does not have separate record and playback heads, rather, there is an erase head, a combined record/playback head and finally a bias head (part of the cross-field system, hence the X in the model name). The Tandbergs which have separate record/playback heads are the 62/64/62X/64X, 2000, 3000X, 3300X, 3400X, 3500X, 3600XD, 4000X, 6000X, 9000X, 9100X, 9200XD, 10X, 10XD, TD20A.

[@ricardlupus]

The one with black knobs and no free position would be the first version of the 64. It's the only machine with that color scheme; I guess it was a bit of an experiment and Tandberg gave it up and started using chrome knobs instead.

[@leviszendro]

Great video! I wish mine was working like this....lot of work to do at my end. Are you using the 5pin DIN for connecting to IN/OUT or the RCA IN/OUT on the unit? Did you have blown caps/tubes on this recorder? Thank you!

[@ricardlupus]

I'm pretty sure I used the RCA connectors, not even sure if this particular (fairly early) version of the model 6 even had DIN connectors. As for repairs, I replaced all the Rifa caps in the machine as they were leaky and caused low audio and bad frequency response (surprisingly enough). The tubes were ok.

[@leviszendro]

Thanks man. Really appreciate it. I will open it up and have a look on them....have you replaced those Rifa caps with the same type of Rifa's? Or with something else? I found these available: Evox Rifa Metallized Paper X2.

[@ricardlupus]

leviszendro No, I used mylar capacitors (and not Rifa). X2 capacitors are not really intended for audio, they are used for mains filtering. Paper has no advantage, especially in hi-fi equipement, except (at the time) for price. Today mylar is cheaper and better for this application.

[@leviszendro]

Thank you. How did you remove the equalization arm off the electrical panel? That arm and where the eqalization spring is seems firmly attached...? Other wise no access to the pcb....hmmm

[@ricardlupus]

I left the arm connected to the equalization switches (it's riveted to the contact assembly so any disassembly there needs to be destructive), but removed the whole arm from the shaft on the chassis instead. You need to be careful as the whole arm will be flopping about when you lift the PCBs, and you don't want to snap the contact assembly. It seems fairly resiliant though.

[@AAAZ2A]

Very good video! ... Sadly there's no HD quality I have a Tandberg Model 6 4-track, it looks exactly the same, but I have black plastic knobs, instead of chrome. (And I don't have a "free" mode!) ... It needs to be repaired. There's loud humming on the second channel, the condensators needs to be replaced. I also have a Tandberg 3600XD, that's a newer model, probably from the late 60's or 70's.

[@olariuljas2399]

How connect that reel to reel tape whit receiver? I dont understand

[@ricardlupus]

For playback, use the two lower RCA connectors on the back, and connect to the AUX input on a receiver or amplifier using a standard RCA-RCA cable.

[@tomwillaert3363]

Hello, can you hook up an external speaker to this recorder? With an 1/4 inch plug so you could play guitar on these?

[@ricardlupus]

The model 64 doesn't have a power amplifier, so you can't connect a speaker directly to it. However, there are other Tandberg models such as the model 8 which do have a power amplifier and speaker output.

[@tomwillaert3363]

@@ricardlupus thank you for the info! So you could use it is a pedal, a guitareffect? As an echoplex...

[@ricardlupus]

@@tomwillaert3363 You could fathomably use it as an echo pedal, although the range of echo times is limited to the three speeds available on the machine. But with tape compression etc it might be kind of cool. Beware though that you need a tape machine like the one in this video which has separate playback and record heads in order to get echo.

[@christianmani1730]

The Model 64 is very nostalgic to me. I have a unit inherited from my father but it’s non functioning. I can’t seem to find anyone to who still works in them. Do you still have yours and do you maintain it yourself?

[@ricardlupus]

I eventually sold the specific machine shown here, but I have a small collection of Tandberg recorders that I do maintain myself. I would suggest trying to find a radio or vintage electronics society somewhere in the vicinity of where you live who might have connections to someone with the right knowledge.

[@MiSoRetro.]

Just got one a few days ago. I’m Not getting a signal or sound when recording. Any suggestions

[@ricardlupus]

The first order of the day is to replace the Rifa capacitors that are all over the amplifiers. As they age the effects are not subtle, and complete loss of sound is one outcome.

[@MiSoRetro.]

@@ricardlupus kept messing with it. Finally got sound. Not getting a signal when recording but I hear it playing. Thank you!

[@animalcorvair]

friend of mine found two reel to reels in the trash one was a teac a-4010sl...that i now have working // an this model 64..does not work ..i suspect bad belts as it looks like new

[@animalcorvair]

ok it may play i moved the tape switch an it took off thanks for the vid

[@animalcorvair]

got it playing could use a better pinch roller

[@animalcorvair]

ok found on ebay the parts i need belts an pinch roller from germany

[@perolavlien2096]

Have you ever had a 62x?

[@ricardlupus]

No, never. I've got a model 72B though.

[@RudiKelle1]

I have a Tandberg 74B 4-Track if anyone wants to buy it .

[@AustinSpace20]

My grandfather had this deck on his stereo I kick my self now for not taking it when we cleaned the house out.

[@daviddrake7003]

Austin Moore Heard one of these in Rancho Sante Fe CA connected to McIntosh preamp and Amps through customized Bozak Concert Grands on each side of an 8 foot fireplace. Sounded real good. Native dances and instruments from Africa.

[@nichtimmer9134]

Sorry but it was not a "consumer" deck!!! It was a "kleinstudiotonbandgerät" its german and meen "lidl-studio-maschine" (known as semi-professionell, but i dount like that word, its not right! It give only pro or not! And this is pro) ...it was used by broadcast, military, scientist, and flysecurity and that say alot about it! Its like a revox! A studio maschine who rich man have can buy back at the day!!!

[@ricardlupus]

Yes, the German language has excellent ways of capturing a concept with a single (albeit long) word. In modern parlance I'd stretch myself to calling it 'prosumer', I just can't bring myself to calling a single motor machine with mechanical controls professional or even semi-professional, no matter how much Tandberg was convinced of the drive mechanism's superiority. The electronics certainly was though.