I'm currently searching Ebay and Craigslist for anything that is in the best of condition that has been tested to play/record, has good transport and has been recently serviced. So many times something pops up that is advertised as "Looks great but have no way of testing." So then all you find are these "as is" items.
So what has been catching my eye is the Taascam models 38, 48, and 58. I read that the best would be the 58 because they are more durable and that the 38 always has some issue popping up.
Also looking at the Tascam 80 though these are getting old.
Another one I am looking at is the Otari MX 5050 and from what I read this is the best choice over the Tascams because of reliability and fat sounding lows.
What I am having trouble considering when weighing one machine against the other is what kind of fidelity am I looking for? I definitely don't want low fi yet I don't want a pop sounding record either. The Black Keys have a fidelity I find bearable (yet not theit first album). I feel though i read a lot in forums to stay away from the Tascam 38 and hod off for MX5050. Yet, maybe I can work with the limitations of a 38.