Topic: Panasonic SV-3800 - just picked one up for $15

[RDunn]

As most of you have seen, you can pick up DAT recorders pretty cheap on the used market.  Since my Sony PCM-R500 has over 3000 hours on the heads, I've been on the lookout for another deck if the price was right.......

I got a call yesterday that the business school at UNC was sending a Panasonic SV-3800 over to UNC Surplus that had seen very little use.  I went by UNC Surplus today and picked it up for $15.  It plays fine and has just 69 hours on the heads!

Is that a good deal?   :^)
 

[THE NIZ BIAAAAACH!]

NO DUUUUUUUUH!

[danlynch]

I bought a like-new 3800 on ebay for like $115 about a year ago, to transfer all my old DATs via digital soundcard to the hard drive.

On ebay, the only DAT machines that sell for decent prices are the portables.  The rack units are essentially free.

[H₂O]

Sure that's a good deal!  On eBay 3800's go from between $100 - $250 in working condition and with the lower the hours and better physical condition the higher the price (among a few other ebay tactics).

[kskreider]

3800'S are great machines but they can be finicky as hell.