As part of a retirement ‘downsizing’ exercise, I am selling off another of my Akai Reel to Reel collection. (See elsewhere for the All-Black GX 747 which is in mint condition.)  

This time it is one of my two treasured Akai GX-4000D recorders that I am selling.  This one is completely original.  The one I am keeping (for sentimental reasons) is one I rebuilt with new hand crafted end panels after the original end panels had been damaged.

This machine up for auction (90150-16388) has been fully serviced and is in exceptional condition and full working order.
 
It runs beautifully and, for those who can appreciate such matters, it produces that rich analog sound which has almost been forgotten in these days of the ubiquitous iPod.
 
The walnut side panels, silver front metalwork, VU meters and pinch roller are all completely immaculate! I will include two pristine metal spools. (The rare Akai spools seen in some of the photos are not included - they come from the other GX-4000D I intend to keep!)

There are a few faint marks on the head cover (see photo) but you have to look hard to see them and they do not distract from the beauty of the machine.  Forgive the dust and finger marks on the deck - the camera flash shows up my poor dusting!  There are no marks or  scratches on the silver front metalwork!
 
This model superseded the 4000DS range in the early 1980's and offered a much improved technical specification including the glass crystal ferrite recording heads......the manufacturers claimed that the heads would never wear out and indeed they are not showing signs of wear!
 
All the mechanical and electronic operations work perfectly including the VU meter illumination. The Play, Record, Fast Forward & Rewind functions - all run smoothly without noise.
 
The quality gained from using the 7.5 ips speed with professional tape is truly amazing. It is another example of Akai’s  outstanding reel to reel machines!

It could make a fantastic Christmas gift if anyone in your family has kept a library of tapes from years back but no longer has the means to play them.  Revive old memories - just a thought.  
 
 
 
The recording format is 4-track / 2 channel stereo/mono.

Inputs can either be from line-in phono sockets or 5-pin Din connectors on the rear of the machine.
Stereo microphone quarter inch jack sockets are located on the front right of the recorder.
 
The sound-on-sound facility is a useful feature and can be used for creativity to layer a number of recordings resulting in a multi-master track - if you are into that sort of thing.

There is also a stereo adjustable headphone socket on the front of the machine for off tape monitoring.
 

• Track System: 4 track, 2 channel stereo/mono system
• Reel Size: Up to 7’’ spool
• Tape Speed: 7.5 and 3.75 ips (the capstan sleeve is housed inside the head cover)
• Wow and Flutter: Less than 0.08% WRMS
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Better than 60dB
• Erase Ratio: Better than 70dB
• Bias Frequency: 100 kHz
• Heads: (3): 1 GX playback head, 1 GX recording head, 1 erase head
• Fast Forward and Rewind Time: 200 seconds using a 1200 ft. tape
• Power Requirement: 220-240V, 50Hz
• Dimensions: 440(W) × 315(H) × 230(D) mm (17.3 × 12.4 × 9.1’’)
• Weight: 13.2 kg (29.1lbs).
  

 


The deck comes with 2 mint condition Realistic metal spools, one filled with Maxell professional tape and the other empty.
 
A copy of the original manufacturers instruction book, will be included and I will also include a phono lead for connection to an amplifier, along with the detachable mains lead.
 
This exceptionally clean tape recorder is fully serviced and will give first class service just as it did 30 years ago!
 
Please write if you have questions.
 

The deck will be packed and freighted with great care and I will send it with a recognized UK courier.

There will be fixed a charge of £25 for that service.

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On 31-Oct-09 at 22:31:46 GMT, seller added the following information:

 

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On 31-Oct-09 at 22:47:07 GMT, seller added the following information:

  PLEASE NOTE - A correction.  I see I had put the wrong serial number down for this machine - a senior moment!

 The correct serial number for this machine is 40344-10648. 

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On 07-Nov-09 at 22:12:33 GMT, seller added the following information:

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On 08-Nov-09 at 09:36:07 GMT, seller added the following information:

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On 08-Nov-09 at 09:44:25 GMT, seller added the following information: