Can anyone recommend a decent shipping company that's not going break the bank for a 1/2" 8 track, a tascam 8 channel mixer, and a 1/4" 2 track from Florida to New York?

Should I even bother attempting to ship this stuff?

If you are able to pack and load the stuff yourself, or have someone do it for you, you might be able to get a good rate through www.upack.com
When my girlfriend and I moved from Miami to Atlanta this past June, that was the least expensive solution we could find and was a great deal cheaper than other freight-type transporation... I am pretty sure they charge by the linear ft. and only charge for the amount of space you use. So if you got an estimate on say, 5ft. and you only used 3, then you only get charged what is actually used, the 3 ft. for example. You have to be able to load, secure and unload all the stuff, so if you, or someone else who is trustworthy can't do it for you then it wouldn't work out anyway.

As far as the question of should you even bother... ? I would say it depends on your attachment to the equipment and possibly more importantly how functional it is. If it works and you like it and don't want to go through the hassle of trying to sell, search and re-buy the stuff then keep it and figure a way to transport it.
What kind of 8-track and 2-track are they? You might be able to ship them FedEx Ground for a decent price.

If you do ship, regardless of the means of transportation; Pack well!
Sorry if this was a long-winded post providing no help at all.

-Darrill

I don't own it, I'm buying. The big x factor here - even more than the shipping - is the quality of the equipment. I would buy it sight unseen (sound unheard?) from the seller. I was hoping for someone to write "here's this great company and it'll only cost you $150." I'm getting the impression I might as well be asking for someone to bring me the head of a unicorn.

Perhaps the deal is too good to be true, or prices for Tascam 38s are just inflated where I live. I don't know. I may just say fuck it and buy an iMac and Logic Express, but I really don't like the idea of paying $1500 for something that's going to be a doorstop in five years.

Thinking about this is giving me a headache.

Thanks for your help.

Oh, I understand. Sorry. I read too much into it and assumed you already owned the stuff and were trying to figure out the next step.

hope it all gets worked out.

-Darrill