I have not heard an 8-track tape since the 1970s, and I have no more desire to now than I did then, which was about zero (cassettes were so much better, except the pre-recorded ones).

Well, I do still have the AM/FM/8-track deck I removed from my 1974 GMC motorhome; it would be fun to get it working and find a tape to play on it. Probably needs to be Fleetwood Mac or The Eagles, or something similar.

TOTL means "Top Of The Line". An eight-track deck with Dolby noise reduction is definitely high-end for that format.

Just stumbled on another kind, surprises abound. An Akai CR-80D-SS. Perhaps it's the same kind you have. I still prefer the Technics unit though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Akai-CR-80D-...51279629683%26

I've enjoyed reading this thread, I still have my Superscope Marantz TDR-820, 8Track play / record tape deck! :-) I bought it new in 1977, and I have kept it going all these years, and have kept my 8Track cartridges repaired, as well. It's still fun to play them, I have replaced the Capstan drive belt about 4 times over the years, because they stretch, have replaced illumination lamps, and cleaned and degaused the head several times over the years. I also enjoy listening to, and recording on stereo reel to reel, too!

Cool! Where do you get your belts, and what do you use to demagnetize the head?

A Marantz 8-track deck, its mere existence must have the hard-core audio snobs fuming, haha.

Today @ salvation Army I got one!! -- Its GLEN MILLER (2 albums on it) - 1974 (I think its Mono) 29 cents

I dont have a player but I wanna see if i can play 1 track anyway on either my VCR or my Cassette player.. (I like to experiment) -- I know there isnt a track changer on either but hearing 1 would be awesome!! (Maybe ill wait and see if I can find a player there)


I dunno if i have EVER HAD AN 8 TRACK!! (I have seen other ppl with them but I dont think I ever owned one)

I recently got back into 8-tracks just for the nostalgic element. With a decent player adjusted correctly, they can sound quite good. I have an AKAI CR-81 for recording, and also installed a NOS AM/FM/8-Track player in my '79 Cadillac. Most of the time, I just buy old tapes off Ebay that I don't care about, erase the music, and re-record w/new labels. Here's a pic of one of my homemade tapes (CCR "Cosmo's Factory"):

http://imageshack.us/a/img593/6169/rpvr.jpg

Wow, you're pretty hardcore, even I wouldn't go as far as to create labels. I prefer the tapes that were made for recording to begin with. The drawback to recording over pre-recorded tapes is the varying program lengths.

8-tracks were long gone from store shelves by the time I got my first (crappy) stereo with a bunch of them.

8 Track recorder for car is news to me.I have a Chrysler car cassette recorder like the one in the photos.

The insides look like it was made by Norelco Philips .

I could not imagine what the wow/flutter would be in one of those car cassette or 8track recorders would be as you drive over a bumpy road as you record some tunes or voice .