Hi
I have a Sony minidisc recorder which I use for rehersals recording both voice and guitar. After trying many different tape rcorders,including a TEAC reel to reel, with reasonable microphones, I find the minidisc surpasses tapes.Minidisc is the only affordable recorder that gives anything remotely near to a half decent guitar repro. I wouldn't expect a dictaphone type of recorder to have a good enough mike let alone wide enough frequency response to handle more than talking. With regard to mikes, with the Sony minidisc, I use a small stereo mike that is the sole surviving part of an Akai cassette recorder.