Description: Since 1999 Thanks for viewing our listing, please read all the information given! We do our best to honestly and accurately describe all items, but we are only human and it is possible that we may make oversights or errors. If there is any doubt, or contradicting information, please ask first before buying or making an offer. We ask that all our buyers give us the chance to discuss any issues.~~~ By buying this item, or making a Best Offer, you agree to contact us before leaving less than positive feedback, any rating less than 5, or starting a return. ~~~CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS This listing is for a lightly-used, Tascam Portastudio 488 MKII High-speed 8-Track Cassette Recorder w/ 12-Channel Mixer made in Japan by TEAC! PROFESSIONALLY REFURBISHED, TESTED & GUARANTEED! ~ Includes FREE Allstate 1-Year Protection Plan! 60-DAY FREE RETURNS, FREE SHIPPING & SUPPORT!** ~~~ After selling over THREE HUNDRED of these great Portastudios, we have learned that they all seem to have similar issues. After 20+ years, the belts go bad, rubber parts deteriorate, lube turns to glue, and solder joints weaken. So it is inevitable, sooner or later they will all need service,no matter how little use they have had. In fact, this deck uses the same Tascam transport as several other decks, which has an issue with the "C Gear" aging badly and eventually cracking. So, we always replace this gear in any deck using this transport, whether or not it has cracked yet.Our tech has performed extensive service on this deck, ensuring you reliable service for years to come! See below for specific service performed. We are so confident of our work we have doubled our guarantee to a 60-day Free Return Policy! Don't forget, we also clean and de-mag all cassette decks when we give them one last test immediately before shipment. So your deck will be guaranteed to be ready to use right out of the box! ~~~See what our previous refurb customers had to say! NICE MACHINE!!!!! A+++++ 5 gold star e-bayer all the way Thanks Great seller! Brilliant refurbishing job on an old relic from the 1990s! Fantastic - Went above & beyond to make sure everything was right - yay! Arrived in time and well packed. Great condition and great sound, as described. Awesome amp, shipped very quickly! Also, EPIC packing! Great Ebay seller! WOW great company! Highly recommended. Great communication and service. well packed, arrived safely, works great, looks awesome. Thank you.The TASCAM Portastudio was the world's first four-track recorder based on a standard compact audio cassette tape. The 488 MKII is the pinnacle of this pre-MIDI generation, it's rarity makes it one of the most sought after of the "old school" analog Portastudios making them increasingly hard to come by.The term portastudio is exclusive to TASCAM however it is generally used to describe all self-contained cassette-based multitrack recorders dedicated to music production. The Model 488 MKII is the ultimate of the Portastudio line, the absolute maximum of features possible was packed into this final entry from Tascam. To increase the quality of the recording, the 488 MKII uses high-speed recording, 3-3/4 ips, twice the normal speed of a standard audio cassette. The recorder has 8 tracks while the mixer has 4 group outs; you can record a maximum of 4 tracks at one time. This is a 120V AC, 60 Hz unit with an attached power cord designed for US use. It weighs in at just over 15.5 lbs and measures 20 13/16" x 5 1/16" x 17 3/16" deep.By The Best, Ltd. policy this unit will ship double-boxed for secure shipment. The Free Shipping is for the Lower 48 only, HI & AK must select USPS Priority shipping at checkout! Insurance & Signature are covered on us! Paid items can be picked up in the Denver Metro area at no charge. Condition:This rare deck is in "Very Good" condition with minor signs of use and nice, bright display! Aside from the typical scratches to the base, there may be a few light scuffs or scratches to the cabinet too faint to make out well. All the original knobs are present & complete, and the door and display plexis are clear with minimal scuffing. The manual has gone missing but no worries, it can be found online or we will send you the PDF file directly on request. Sample pics, please see below for more info.** Service:As is common, this deck powered right up but the transport was unresponsive, so it went to our tech for the full treatment. As is common, the capstan belt needed replacement, and the "C Gear" was yellowed and cracked, so it was replaced with a real, injection-molded gear, not made on a 3-D printer in someone's basement. This deck also received the following service, performed by our qualified technician:Unit is dismantled and inspected to determine if any attempted amateur repairs exist that need to be corrected, or substandard parts that need replacementHeads are checked for flaws or excessive wear; highly worn heads indicates excessive wear to the entire transport so they are taken out of serviceThe exterior, all knobs & plexis are cleaned & detailedAll switches & pots can be cleaned internally with Specialist Contact Cleaner (proven superior to DeoxIT by our customers)While apart, all PC boards are inspected & questionable solder joints are re-flowed. To prevent future issues, all input/output jacks are re-flowed, whether or not they appear to need itAll faders treated with DeoxIT F5, specifically designed to both clean & lubricate fader controlsAny faulty components, such as jacks, LEDs, feet, etc., are replacedCassette transport mechanism is cleaned & lubed with non-petroleum based lube to assure long lifeThe capstan belt is replaced with a high-quality neoprene beltOther rubber components, such as idler wheels & pinch rollers, are inspected and either rejuvenated with Rubber Renue, or replaced if questionable.All electrolytic caps are inspected for bulging or leakage, any questionable components are replaced with overrated componentsAudio levels calibrated & balancedTape path is cleaned and heads demagnetizedTape Speed calibratedNOTE: It is common for the tape speed to drift a bit as the servicing and new components installed in the transport settle in. But don't worry, our Free Support is here for you even after your 60-Day Guarantee! Just give us a call and we will be glad to help you with any issues, including re-calibrating any other levels.Testing: Once serviced, this deck was set up on our test bench and all switches, functions and LED indicators work correctly, with all inputs and outputs confirmed as operational. Every knob was confirmed operational & distortion-free! The cassette deck also works correctly with a clear, steady playback at high-speed. We recorded a short test tape to all four tracks, using all channels, and played it back with no issues. An overdub, and mix-down was then performed successfully. There are a multitude of other features on this deck, so we can't test them all. But, if there is a particular function you would like tested just let us know before buying. What a great find on a quality piece of equipment! **FREE SUPPORT MUST BE UTILIZED BEFORE RETURN IS REQUESTED!Manufacture Product Information:(sample photos) TASCAM Portastudio 488 MKII 8-Track High-Speed Cassette Recorder Courtesy of homerecording.com: (original 424 text courtesy of Tom Roussell, who typed this all in from the owner's manual; edited/converted to 8-track specs by Dragon) The Tascam 488 MKII Portastudio is a 8-track "Multitrack Master" cassette tape recorder and a full-function mixer with 8 inputs/stereo outputs combined into a single workstation. The 488 MKII records on readily available standard (Philips) Compact Cassette tape, high bias Type II. The recorder has 8 tracks while the mixer has 4 group outs; you can record on up to 4 tracks at one time. The 488 MKII's dbx Noise Reduction virtually eliminates unwanted tape noise. A special SYNC feature turns off the dbx on track 8 separately, making it possible to record and play back the MIDI sync tones or SMPTE/EBU time code without being affected by the dbx encode/decode. This ensures that the sync tones/code are recorded and played back without unnecessary processing. With proper operating techniques, it is not necessary to leave a guard band between music and sync tone tracks because of the low crosstalk of the TASCAM heads. The transport controls of the 488 MKII are microprocessor operated, allowing highly reliable functions that make the unit easier to use: * A three-point autolocator (MEMO 1 and 2 and RTZ) lets the tape STOP or PAUSE at, or PLAY from preset points. * REPEAT allows a section to played over and over between the MEMO 1 and MEMO 2 points. * REHEARSAL programs the 488 MKII to repeat a punch-in/out sequence as many times as you wish, and AUTO IN/OUT actually executes it on tape exactly as you "previewed" in REHEARSAL. * The tape speed can be increased or decreased with the PITCH CONTROL dial in both playback and record, to match pitch or for special effects. This item has minimal wear consistent with very light use, please see pics. You will receive exactly what is pictured, no other accessories, test equipment or media are offered. MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS Tape: Compact Cassette (C-30 to 90), High-Bias (Type II, CrO2)Track Format: 8-track/8-channel, single direction record/playHead Configuration: 8-channel record/play (permalloy) x 18-channel erase (ferrite) x 1Motor: DC servo motor x 1DC reel motor x 1DC ancillary motor x 1Tape Speed: 9.5 cm/sec. (3-3/4 ips) +/- 1%Pitch Control: +/- 12% (approx.)Wow and Flutter: 0.04% WRMS , +/- 0.06% W. PeakFast Winding Time: 80 sec. (approx.) with C-60Dimensions (WxHxD): 528 x 128 x 437 mm (20 13/16" x 5 1/16" x 17 3/16")Weight: 7.1 kg (15 lbs. 10 oz.) ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS Mixer Section MIC/LINE INPUT (Ch.1, Ch.2) (XLR type connector x 2)Input Impedance: 2.8k ohmsNominal Input Level: -60 dBV (1mV) (MIC position)-20 dBV (0.1 V) (LINE position)Maximum Input Level: +5 dBV (1.8 V) at Trim Min.MIC/LINE INPUT, Ch.1-2 (1/4" phone jack x 2)Input Impedance: 5.8k ohmsNominal Input Level: -50 dBV (3mV) (MIC position)-10 dBV (0.3 V) (LINE position)Maximum Input Level: +5 dBV (1.8 V) at Trim Min.STEREO INPUT, Ch.9-12 (1/4" phone jack x 4)Input Impedance: 10k ohmsNominal Input Level: -10 dBV (0.3 V)Maximum Input Level: + 5 dBV (1.8 V) SUB INPUT (RCA jack x 2)Input Impedance: 47k ohmsNominal Input Level: -10 dBV (0.3 V)Maximum Input Level: + 5 dBV (1.8 V) LINE OUTPUT (RCA jack x 2)Output Impedance: 100 ohmsNominal Output Level: -10 dBV (0.3 V)Minimum Load Impedance: 2k ohms EFFECT 1+2 SEND (1/4" phone jack)Output Impedance: 100 ohmsNominal Output Level: -10 dBV (0.3 V)Minimum Load Impedance: 2k ohms CUE OUTPUT (RCA jack)Output Impedance: 100 ohmsNominal Output Level: -10 dBV (0.3 V)Minimum Load Impedance: 2k ohms MONITOR OUTPUT (RCA jack x 2)Output Impedance: 690 ohmsNominal Output Level: -10 dBV (0.3 V) PHONES (1/4" stereo phone jack x 1)Nominal Load Impedance: 30 ohmsMaximum Output Level: 100 mW (approx.) Equalizer HIGH (Shelving): 10 kHz, +/- 12 dBMID (Parametric): 250 Hz to 5 kHz, +/- 12 dBLOW (Shelving): 100 Hz, +/- 12 dB Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 22 kHz, +1/-2 dBSignal-to-Noise Ratio UNWTD (20 Hz to 20 kHz)/ IHF A WTD1 MIC INPUT to LINE OUTPUT: 65 dB / 68 dB4 MIC INPUTS to LINE OUTPUT: 60 dB / 63 dB1 LINE INPUT to LINE OUTPUT: 79 dB / 83 dB8 LINE INPUTS to LINE OUTPUT: 76 dB / 79 dB Distortion1 MIC INPUT to LINE OUTPUT: 0.05% (at 1 kHz, 20 dB above nominal input level with 30 kHz low-pass filter inserted)1 LINE INPUT to LINE OUTPUT: 0.05% (at 1 kHz)Crosstalk: 55 dB (at 1 kHz, nominal input level with 30 kHz low-pass filter inserted) Recorder Section Noise Reduction: dbx TYPE IIFrequency Response (overall): 40 Hz to 14 kHz, +/- 3 dB (without dbx)Signal-to-Noise Ratio (overall): UNWTD (20 Hz to 20 kHz)/IHF A WTD54 dB/58 dB (without dbx)90 dB/95 dB (with dbx) Total Harmonic Distortion: 1.3% (at 400 Hz, 0 dB level)Crosstalk (Channel Separation): 50 dB (without dbx at 1 kHz), 70 dB (with dbx at 1 kHz)Erasure: 65 dB (at 1 kHz, +10 dB level) Other Power Requirements USA/CANADA: 120 V AC, 60 HzEUROPE: 230 V AC, 50 HzU.K./AUSTRALIA: 240 V AC, 50 HzPower Consumption: 39 W In these specifications, 0 dBV is referenced to 1 Volt. Actual voltage levels are also given in parenthesis (0.316 V for -10 dBV rounded off to 0.3 V).** Please note: Our PortaStudios have become so very popular we found it impossible to continue taking individual pics for each listing. So the posted pics are samples, with your deck being fully guaranteed to meet or exceed the condition described! This means you can feel confident you will be happy with your purchase, if for any reason you are not, just make sure to use your Free Support first by contacting us directly, This way we can make sure you receive a pre-paid return label, making it easy to return it for repair, exchange or refund, at no cost to you whatsoever! NOTE: These units can require knowledge and expertise to set up and use. Please do independent research to make sure this is the right equipment for you before buying. While this 8-track deck will playback tapes recorded at high-speed on any other Tascam 8-track, it will not play commercial tapes or those recorded on 4-track or other brand 8-tracks. Please see the manual for more info on the Tascam head format. This item has minor wear consistent with light use, please see pics. You will receive exactly what is pictured, no other accessories, test equipment or media are offered. Please do not interpret our efforts as a thorough testing of all elements this equipment has to offer. If there is a particular test you would like performed please let us know before buying and we would be glad to accommodate any reasonable, detailed request.We do not have the equipment to do full calibration on high-end units like this, and cannot guarantee it is within manufacturer specs. So we do advise that you protect your investment with a professional tune-up before you put this deck into prolonged use. Internet State Sales Tax: In June 2018, The Supreme Court mandated that all States may charge & collect State Sales Tax on all internet purchases shipped into their state. Many states have begun the process and eBay now automatically charges this tax on checkout. Your seller has absolutely nothing to do with this process and receives none of these funds! As of Dec, 2020 the following states charge, or plan on charging, State Sales Tax on all orders shipped to their state. AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, and WY. More states will surely be added to the list. For questions or more info please contact eBay, or your local State Dept of Revenue. Important Information: This item is guaranteed to be as described! Only what is pictured is included, no other items are offered unless otherwise specified with "not pictured". The "Item specifics," "Detailed item description," and "Manufacture information" sections describe the item as it comes new from the manufacturer and may contain accessories or other features not offered in this listing. Remember that description terms can be subjective, so please rely on the pictures provided for actual condition. Buyer understands that there may be issues unknown to us at the time of testing or inspection, and accepts this possibility when buying.If our listed BIN price isn't within your budget please don't hesitate to send us a reasonable offer, no more than 20% below our current price, and we will get back to you right away! Please understand that any offer made & accepted is a binding agreement with the agreement that payment will be made immediately. Please also remember that we are not just flipping random finds, so we do not haggle. We offer thoughtfully sourced equipment that deserve the hours of specialized servicing and/or testing they have received, so please respect any "Best Price" offer you may receive as an effort to save both our time with a fair, final price.Buyer pays actual shipping cost as calculated by eBay.* If this is a Free Shipping listing then all offers also include that Free Shipping!*** * We package all items very carefully, which means the outer box can be very large. Because of this UPS bills us by "dimensional weight" instead of the actual weight! From our previous feedback you will find this care, and expense, is much appreciated. **Free Shipping it is for the lower 48 only and the shipping method may vary. We DO NOT guarantee compatibility or specific usage, please make sure this is what you need before buying! While we do have extensive experience in repair & refurbishing audio gear, we are not experts in the usage of this equipment or the various applications that exist. So we can only guarantee that this works as described and has what is pictured. If specific parts, devices, upgrades, software or expertise is required for use it is entirely the responsibility of the buyer. Please read our Policies below before buying. Any bidders, buyers, and offers, agree to the terms of these Policies. The Best, LtdThe internet's most trusted source for Professionally Refurbished Vintage Audio Equipment!By buying from The Best, Ltd., you agree to contact us directly before leaving less than positive feedback, any rating less than 5, or starting a return.All items ship within one business day of payment being processed!Payment Policy All buyers agree to make immediate payment, or contact us within 24 hours to arrange payment where we must receive payment within 3 days. All Best Offer sales are made or accepted with the understanding that payment will be made immediately. 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Price: 986.36 USD
Location: Aurora, Colorado
End Time: 2024-11-23T21:57:41.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: 15%
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 60 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Brand: TASCAM
Form Factor: Console/Tabletop
Type: Analog Mixer/Cassette Recorder
Protection Plan: FREE Allstate 1-Year Protection Plan!
Model: Portastudio
MPN: 488MKII, 488 MKII, 488 MK2, 488MK2, 488 Mark 2
FREE SHIPPING: LOWER 48 ONLY. HI&AK must use USPS Priority
Suitable For: Home Recording, Recording & Live Sound
FREE SUPPORT: MUST BE UTILIZED BEFORE RETURN IS REQUESTED