Realistic TR - 882 8 Track Stereo Tape Deck - PRO TECH SERVICED - VIDEO DEMO
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:51284818 | Model: TR-882 |
| Brand: Realistic | Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan |
Realistic TR-882 8 Track Stereo Tape Deck
NEAR MINT condition - Fully Functional
Includes 45 Day Warranty
Click on the window below to watch a HD stereo demo of this tape deck
Realistic TR-882 8 Track Stereo Tape Deck, for sale on eBay, January 17, 2021 - YouTubeVideo will open in a new window
Using the eBay App? Paste link into a browser window:[isdntekvideo]
A quick word about me...
I've serviced and sold more than 950 8 track tape decks here on eBa...y since 2007. I receive the highest seller rating eBay offers and I encourage you to check my feedback and read what my customers have said about me and the decks I sell.
I service every deck I sell and back each one up with my own 45-day money back warranty!
Please don't throw away your money on a Square Trade Warranty for a used/refurbished tape deck recommended by other sellers . If you read the fine print the warranty does not cover any problem in the first 45 days as it is considered an "existing condition" and "not covered."
Why don't they offer a real warranty? Could it be they don't have confidence in their work?
Without the benefit of "bricksand mortar" to see and touch the deck you're interested in, I include a highdefinition, stereo video demo of each and every deck I list. The video demo and the 12 pictures eBayallows me to include in my listing, provide you with a clear visual and auralbuying experience. If you thinkthat's important I encourage you to read on.
Tech Service and Repair
Little known fact...Realistic was just a "ghost" brand used by Radio Shack. Well respected Japanese companies like Toshiba and Shure actually made a lot of their gear and just slapped on the Realistic nameplate. So please don't dismiss this deck because of its name. That would be a mistake. Instead, make sure you watch the video demo to understand why this deck is one of the biggest "sleepers" on eBay. You won't get this sound quality in playback and record for this price anywhere else!
I put this TR-882through its paces during my servicing process. When I acquired this deck it had two common issues:
- The program change mechanism wasn't working properly
- Moderate crosstalk between programs
Each of these issues has been repaired.
I replace electronics such as capacitors and transistors when they are faulty. If they leak, are open or shorted, out they go and in come better thanoriginal replacements. Broken andworn out mechanical parts have been replaced with parts from my extensive used stock. Solder joints were inspected and redonewherever necessary. The chassis hasbeen completely cleaned of decades of dirt and debris. Moving parts were disassembled and cleaned of decades worth of dirt, debris and partially solidified lube. These parts were then relubed with professionalproducts. I use Deoxit to improve performance and reliability.
One of the reasons for the outstanding sound quality in playback and record mode is the condition of the play head. Take a look. You can see what it looks like today in picture #11 (any marks on the head in the pic are reflections of the metal chassis below it). If you're serious about buying a tape deck that'll sound the way it should after you set it all up don't waste your money on a tape deck from another seller who doesn't show you what the play head looks like.
I replaced the drive belt with properly sized new stock to ensureproper playback speed. Eachpotentiometer and switch has been cleaned of dust and dirt and then relubed to ensure properfunctioning. The motor has been lubed to ensure proper playback speed. The tape path is freshly demagnetizedfor optimal sound quality. Azimuth and headheight settings are now recalibrated to factory standards to prevent crosstalk(hearing two songs or channels at one time) on properly maintained tapes.
So What is a Properly Maintained or Reconditioned tape?
If you want toenjoy your 8 track listening experience to the fullest extent, please make sureyour tapes are properly reconditioned beforeyou play them in the deck in this listing! If you don't properly recondition your tapes as I describe below, you're notgoing to enjoy what you hear in any deck. 8 track tapes arevery old! They stopped making thembetween 1985 and 1990, so even the youngest ones are 30 years old! Unless you're a gambler, there are two partsthat you should replace before you play any tape. The first is the "pressure pad" that holds the tape properly against thehead as it passes by. The secondis the silver foil strip that holds the two ends of the tape together. There are two typesof pressure pads. The best oneshave two thin metal arms with felt pads on each flat end. Thesecond type, and the one used most often by manufacturers is a narrowpiece of foam topped with tape. I've found thefirst type holds up better although sometimes one or both of the feltpads will fall off and need replacing. The second type of pressure pad is the one that's almost always worthless when you get a new tape. Most of these foam padshave disintegrated in place! Touch 'em and they'llcrumble into dust. Play atape with a pad like this and you're likely to hear crosstalk, (two songs at once)because the tape isn't properly held against the head as it passes by. You can replaceeither type of pressure pad yourself or you can pay someone to fix your tapes. Search the Internet and you'llfind lots of folks selling the parts/service you need. Each tape deck has asensor built into the tape path. When the silver foil strip on your tape passes it, the program change mechanism switches tothe next program. The glue on the underside of that silver foilstrip is the only thing holding the two ends of your 8-track tape together. What happens to old glue? It dries up. When that happens the foil strip gives way and now you have a loose end of tape in your machine. I can tell you from experience when that happens it often leads to disaster. Imagine if this happens when you'replaying an extremely rare and valuable tape. You'll find the silver tapeyou need to make new foil splices where you find newpressure pads. Tapes that arestill in their original cellophane wrappers and have never been played sufferthe same fate! Remember, they're not really "new, " they are 30-50 year old "unused old stock. The pressure pad and foilsplice on tapes still in the wrapper will also need replacing, before you play them.
Cosmetic Condition
The unit looks even nicer in person. The faceplate is nearly devoid of blemishes. Same thing for the wood/vinyl veneer cabinet. You'll be very pleased with the cosmetic condition of this deck. Please review the pictures and make your own conclusions.
Realistic TR-882 features
- Stereo 8 trackplayback capability- Analog VU meters- Front mounted volume controls for record mode
- Rear panel mounted playback volume output controls
- Mode selector: play one program or continuous play
- Fast forward(about 2x)- Pause control- Left and Rightmicrophone inputs- RCA jacks for connecting to receiver/amplifier- Made with quality in Japan
Professionally serviced, January 2021
- Non-functional program change mechanism repaired, works like new today
- Moderate crosstalk between channels eliminated
- Brand new (notunused old stock) drive belt installed to ensure accurate tape speed - Mechanical tapepath components (play head, capstan, program change sensor) cleaned anddemagnetized for optimal sound reproduction - Program changemechanism disassembled, cleaned, and relubed with professional gradeelectronics lube for years of trouble free use - All switches andpotentiometers cleaned and conditioned with Deoxit, a professional gradecleaner/conditioner for optimal functionality - Play head heightand azimuth settings recalibrated to prevent crosstalk on properly maintainedtapes - Flywheel and DCmotor cleaned and lubed
- Chassis, solder joints and circuit boards cleaned and reconditioned
Shipping
I take a lot ofpride in the way I package these vintage tape decks. I pack 'em exactlythe same way I'd want to receive them...in a brand new, heavy duty shipping boxwith plenty of packing materials. Inthe US I always ship via FedEx Ground. FedEx willnot ship to P.O. Boxes so please make sure a real shipping address is availableat check out. Usethe eBay shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost. Your cost is based on the distance between my zip code, 53719, and yours! If you live in Canada or elsewhere, I ship via US Postal Service InternationalPriority Mail. I get a discount on shipping of nearly 20%. This discount is automatically passed on to you at check out. I do NOT chargehandling fees or packaging fees or any other kind of fees. Period! I offer a 45-dayrefund on tape decks that don't arrive to you in the condition I've describedthem in. Please read my return policy for more information. I monitor myauctions closely. That's good news for you. It means I answerquestions quickly, so don't hesitate to ask if something's on your mind. Please note: Any 8 track tapes, LP's, or other stereo components featured in my pictures orvideos are not included in this listing, only the item described. If you don't seethe brand or model you're looking for in my current offerings, please send mean email. Chances are I have it in stock and can offer it to you. If you're wondering if I service tape decks that I do not sell, the answer is yes! If you have a tape deck that needs servicing, pleasecontact me through eBay for details.
NEAR MINT condition - Fully Functional
Includes 45 Day Warranty
Click on the window below to watch a HD stereo demo of this tape deck
Realistic TR-882 8 Track Stereo Tape Deck, for sale on eBay, January 17, 2021 - YouTubeVideo will open in a new window
Using the eBay App? Paste link into a browser window:[isdntekvideo]
A quick word about me...
I've serviced and sold more than 950 8 track tape decks here on eBa...y since 2007. I receive the highest seller rating eBay offers and I encourage you to check my feedback and read what my customers have said about me and the decks I sell.
I service every deck I sell and back each one up with my own 45-day money back warranty!
Please don't throw away your money on a Square Trade Warranty for a used/refurbished tape deck recommended by other sellers . If you read the fine print the warranty does not cover any problem in the first 45 days as it is considered an "existing condition" and "not covered."
Why don't they offer a real warranty? Could it be they don't have confidence in their work?
Without the benefit of "bricksand mortar" to see and touch the deck you're interested in, I include a highdefinition, stereo video demo of each and every deck I list. The video demo and the 12 pictures eBayallows me to include in my listing, provide you with a clear visual and auralbuying experience. If you thinkthat's important I encourage you to read on.
Tech Service and Repair
Little known fact...Realistic was just a "ghost" brand used by Radio Shack. Well respected Japanese companies like Toshiba and Shure actually made a lot of their gear and just slapped on the Realistic nameplate. So please don't dismiss this deck because of its name. That would be a mistake. Instead, make sure you watch the video demo to understand why this deck is one of the biggest "sleepers" on eBay. You won't get this sound quality in playback and record for this price anywhere else!
I put this TR-882through its paces during my servicing process. When I acquired this deck it had two common issues:
- The program change mechanism wasn't working properly
- Moderate crosstalk between programs
Each of these issues has been repaired.
I replace electronics such as capacitors and transistors when they are faulty. If they leak, are open or shorted, out they go and in come better thanoriginal replacements. Broken andworn out mechanical parts have been replaced with parts from my extensive used stock. Solder joints were inspected and redonewherever necessary. The chassis hasbeen completely cleaned of decades of dirt and debris. Moving parts were disassembled and cleaned of decades worth of dirt, debris and partially solidified lube. These parts were then relubed with professionalproducts. I use Deoxit to improve performance and reliability.
One of the reasons for the outstanding sound quality in playback and record mode is the condition of the play head. Take a look. You can see what it looks like today in picture #11 (any marks on the head in the pic are reflections of the metal chassis below it). If you're serious about buying a tape deck that'll sound the way it should after you set it all up don't waste your money on a tape deck from another seller who doesn't show you what the play head looks like.
I replaced the drive belt with properly sized new stock to ensureproper playback speed. Eachpotentiometer and switch has been cleaned of dust and dirt and then relubed to ensure properfunctioning. The motor has been lubed to ensure proper playback speed. The tape path is freshly demagnetizedfor optimal sound quality. Azimuth and headheight settings are now recalibrated to factory standards to prevent crosstalk(hearing two songs or channels at one time) on properly maintained tapes.
So What is a Properly Maintained or Reconditioned tape?
If you want toenjoy your 8 track listening experience to the fullest extent, please make sureyour tapes are properly reconditioned beforeyou play them in the deck in this listing! If you don't properly recondition your tapes as I describe below, you're notgoing to enjoy what you hear in any deck. 8 track tapes arevery old! They stopped making thembetween 1985 and 1990, so even the youngest ones are 30 years old! Unless you're a gambler, there are two partsthat you should replace before you play any tape. The first is the "pressure pad" that holds the tape properly against thehead as it passes by. The secondis the silver foil strip that holds the two ends of the tape together. There are two typesof pressure pads. The best oneshave two thin metal arms with felt pads on each flat end. Thesecond type, and the one used most often by manufacturers is a narrowpiece of foam topped with tape. I've found thefirst type holds up better although sometimes one or both of the feltpads will fall off and need replacing. The second type of pressure pad is the one that's almost always worthless when you get a new tape. Most of these foam padshave disintegrated in place! Touch 'em and they'llcrumble into dust. Play atape with a pad like this and you're likely to hear crosstalk, (two songs at once)because the tape isn't properly held against the head as it passes by. You can replaceeither type of pressure pad yourself or you can pay someone to fix your tapes. Search the Internet and you'llfind lots of folks selling the parts/service you need. Each tape deck has asensor built into the tape path. When the silver foil strip on your tape passes it, the program change mechanism switches tothe next program. The glue on the underside of that silver foilstrip is the only thing holding the two ends of your 8-track tape together. What happens to old glue? It dries up. When that happens the foil strip gives way and now you have a loose end of tape in your machine. I can tell you from experience when that happens it often leads to disaster. Imagine if this happens when you'replaying an extremely rare and valuable tape. You'll find the silver tapeyou need to make new foil splices where you find newpressure pads. Tapes that arestill in their original cellophane wrappers and have never been played sufferthe same fate! Remember, they're not really "new, " they are 30-50 year old "unused old stock. The pressure pad and foilsplice on tapes still in the wrapper will also need replacing, before you play them.
Cosmetic Condition
The unit looks even nicer in person. The faceplate is nearly devoid of blemishes. Same thing for the wood/vinyl veneer cabinet. You'll be very pleased with the cosmetic condition of this deck. Please review the pictures and make your own conclusions.
Realistic TR-882 features
- Stereo 8 trackplayback capability- Analog VU meters- Front mounted volume controls for record mode
- Rear panel mounted playback volume output controls
- Mode selector: play one program or continuous play
- Fast forward(about 2x)- Pause control- Left and Rightmicrophone inputs- RCA jacks for connecting to receiver/amplifier- Made with quality in Japan
Professionally serviced, January 2021
- Non-functional program change mechanism repaired, works like new today
- Moderate crosstalk between channels eliminated
- Brand new (notunused old stock) drive belt installed to ensure accurate tape speed - Mechanical tapepath components (play head, capstan, program change sensor) cleaned anddemagnetized for optimal sound reproduction - Program changemechanism disassembled, cleaned, and relubed with professional gradeelectronics lube for years of trouble free use - All switches andpotentiometers cleaned and conditioned with Deoxit, a professional gradecleaner/conditioner for optimal functionality - Play head heightand azimuth settings recalibrated to prevent crosstalk on properly maintainedtapes - Flywheel and DCmotor cleaned and lubed
- Chassis, solder joints and circuit boards cleaned and reconditioned
Shipping
I take a lot ofpride in the way I package these vintage tape decks. I pack 'em exactlythe same way I'd want to receive them...in a brand new, heavy duty shipping boxwith plenty of packing materials. Inthe US I always ship via FedEx Ground. FedEx willnot ship to P.O. Boxes so please make sure a real shipping address is availableat check out. Usethe eBay shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost. Your cost is based on the distance between my zip code, 53719, and yours! If you live in Canada or elsewhere, I ship via US Postal Service InternationalPriority Mail. I get a discount on shipping of nearly 20%. This discount is automatically passed on to you at check out. I do NOT chargehandling fees or packaging fees or any other kind of fees. Period! I offer a 45-dayrefund on tape decks that don't arrive to you in the condition I've describedthem in. Please read my return policy for more information. I monitor myauctions closely. That's good news for you. It means I answerquestions quickly, so don't hesitate to ask if something's on your mind. Please note: Any 8 track tapes, LP's, or other stereo components featured in my pictures orvideos are not included in this listing, only the item described. If you don't seethe brand or model you're looking for in my current offerings, please send mean email. Chances are I have it in stock and can offer it to you. If you're wondering if I service tape decks that I do not sell, the answer is yes! If you have a tape deck that needs servicing, pleasecontact me through eBay for details.
