[sdiy] cheap and decent reel to reel recommendations?

[jbv]

> And sometimes you get really lucky - mine cost me $5.
>

True : last year I found a couple of Akai GX in mint
condition for 10 euros each at a junk sale in a nearby
village...

Actually the choice depends on what you want to do :
if you want to explore musique concrete techniques
only as a hobby and for your own education, then
any cheap gear like Akai GX or Teac will do the
trick.
OTOH if you want to explore these techniques for
prof. musical projects, then go for a Revox A77 or
B77.
Sometimes, prof. studios get rid of 2 trks Studer
tape decks which are wonderful beasts...

And don't forget that finding parts can be a problem :
AFAIK finding parts for a Revox is pretty easy...

JB