Messages

1

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: technics rs-1500 maintenance help

« on: December 23, 2015, 05:40:04 PM »

Another common issue is the tape counter. The 2 tiny belts that operate it often become hard and the counter itself can get noisy (screechy to be precise).
Personally, I don't use the counter very much so I've simply cut the old belts off. Replacing the belts (if you can find them) is not a trivial matter and requires the removal of the capstan motor and reversing roller.

I actually fiddled a little and managed to change the belt that goes onto the capstan without removing the capstan assembly at all, all you need is patience and looping the belt over the capstan, a thin piece of metal with a tiny l-shaped hook made from a straitened paper clip ought to do it. I used a piece of metal I had lying around anyway. A similar piece with plastic on it, usually used for keeping cables organised should work too.
In my opinion the less parts you disturb during any process of restoring the better, so I did not want to unmount any prt I did not absolutely have to.

Other than that, just check to be sure the brakes, pinch roller pressure and tape tensions are all at spec (I usually adjust the brake tension lower than the factory spec since I play lots of really old acetate tapes which are very fragile) and take care of issues as if they come up.
If you plan to use the machines for use with important tapes, I suggest taking it to a professional shop at least once, to have everything checked over, adjusted and cleaned. That will give you a baseline for the machines performance.
The investment of a couple of hundred bucks will go a long way to protect high dollar tapes or ones that contain your creative output.

A good mod for the tape path, which depending on your exact needs with fragile tape may be a good investment, is to make the fixed tape guides movable, by installing smaller rollers in their place. That includes the two arms pulling tape off the heads when play or record are not engaged.
This will lessen the tapes contact with fixed objects.
While one of the most easy and cheap ways to start is to push the lever on the right of the headblock pulling in the arms that keep the tape off the heads when winding (old style programme search when winding), this will mean more wear to the heads, but while the heads are less prone to pick up debris or scrape the surface it is actually just the slightly lesser of two evils - wear the heads or have the tape scrape the arms.
When I wind a fragile tape I either play at 38cm/s (15IPS) in the U-loop, or I let the tape go straight from supply to take-up reel and hold down the two upper tension arms, to engage the transport modes for fast forward or fast reverse.

-Mikkel

2

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: One Rare Miles Davis Tape?

« on: September 16, 2011, 06:09:56 AM »

I sold one on ebay a few years ago for about $300. ...
In the thousands of two tracks that have gone through my hands in the last 25 years, I've only had 3 copies of KOB. It was only available for one or two years before Columbia remaindered two tracks around 1961.

I still have the tape you sold me, I like it a lot. I have 3 4 tracks and a CBS safety master dated 1986. So I'm good :)
Would be a killer to have TTP do KOB.

Both the 2 track and 4 track sound the same. The speed anomaly is only found on side one of the original album, so only one track is speed correct on the 2 track tape.
But the album made it a be a favourite of many people pbeofre the speed was corrected. And you can turn the pitch a half tone on your deck/turntable if you really want to. I have KOB on several formats. Even Armed Forces 16'' mono issues. it was not the entire album that went out on 16'' disc for the armed forced, but 3 or 4 tunes. One was misspelled. I forget which.

-Mikkel

3

General Discussion / Re: technics rs 1500 speed problem and tape lifter problem

« on: January 21, 2011, 08:06:13 PM »

Hello all,

I picked up a cherry 1500 (at least cosmetically), that runs slow on all speeds.  I can adjust the speed manually and it locks-in pretty well with just a bit of drift when 1st turned on.  If I leave the machine on and the capstan motor running for a couple of hours (use a rubber band to hold down the idlers) it will lock-in manually with virtually no drift - when I take it off manual, it runs slow at all speeds.  Any ideas?

Also, the tape lifters do not operate when tape is loaded (fast forward and rewind).  If I remove the tape and cheat the system by holding the idler down, the lifters work, but intermittently.  There seems to be dirty contacts in the right-hand idler assembly as sometimes I have to work it up and down to stop FF or reverse when I have things cheated (no tape loaded).  Also, any ideas?

I'd listen go for all the solenoid switches. Could be simple corrosion and build-up on switches and contacts. Also the tape lifters should engage, listen to the sounds when you engage play. Softly put a finger on the back of the tape on the tape lifter and engage play, do you feel anything? If there is sound of engagement from the mechanism it may be the lubrication dried up in storage, you'll have to take the mechanisms apart and clean them out and replace the lubricant. I cannot tell what to use but no doubt the regulars can recommend a suitable lubricant common where you are. I never had this type of problem. But you never know with units from storage, the time it was stored and under what conditions.

The machine had been unused but otherwise well cared for.  Pots were noisy but worked them all manually 25 - 30 times as well as all of the front panel switches.  Sounds great on phones and operates well otherwise.  Tape transport controls and tape handling is otherwise excellent.  Brakes seem fine.  I have degaussed the heads, cleaned everything in the tape path with alcohol well, washed the rubber idlers rollers down with water - they seem to make good contact and do not appear to be slipping.  The heads are in excellent shape.   

I have not pulled it apart yet or used Deoxit on contacts or switches but probably will, given age of the machine and fact it saw little use.

Rubber parts made it so the rest of the deck could also have escaped storage fairly well. But sometimes a little moisture can wreck an electrical item, while rubber parts are usable.

Your mileage will probably vary based on your preliminary findings. But unless you find odd smells, tons of rusty parts, signs of tampering - like cable ties undone but done redone or loose screws - I'd say it is worth keeping and working on it.

Long term and periodic storage doesn't really matter. It is what happens in storage that counts the most. If you do not know aboutthe actul storage, you can hope for minimal damage and have accept some mor ethan that. If you expected maximum damage you should not have invested in it other than for visibly usable parts. Various states of repairs will be OK provided the cost of acquisition is matching the work expected to be done. One should always make thoughts for repairs of worst case when buying an old electrical item. At some point it is no longer economically feasible.
Short periods of freezing is not good, and so is heat, moisture, spills, but if you spilled something and you did everything to remove it there could years later be an issue where you could not clean up or missed liquid.

I do not think electronics of that age are more resilient I think that as technology comes in smaller and smaller packages a single drop of water is more deadly to an iPhone circuit than a 70s tape deck. Chances are the drop would not even short anything out, let alone leave a desposit nearly a component. On a pcb in a mobile phone several components are touching the space a single drop of water will cover.

Also the iPod was not made capable of lasting as long as your tape deck. Not even with maintenance. Modern electronics is not designed for maintenance only for cheap repairs (read: pcb swapping) under warranty.

-Mikkel

4

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Technics RS1520

« on: January 20, 2011, 05:15:41 AM »

My 1500 will produce a flat frequency response to 19khtz @7.5ips the 1520 will go flat to 10k then drops of sharply. Any adjustment to the bias or eq will extend the response to 16khz but with a 7db lift between 2khz to 12khz or worse, and it sounds nasty. I have tried all the headblocks i have including a new 4 track record but they all produce similar results. Is there something that i dont know or understand that is causing this problem
or must there be an electronic fault. The problem is affecting both channels.
Fred

My first suspect is the BIAS circuit as it happens on both channels at the same time.

Normally I'd trace the signals past switches and cables to see if the deterioration happens at a certain location on a pcb or at a component which is then replaced. But with two channels acting up simultaneously I'd start with stuff that can affect both channels right off, or you are perhaps having both channels fail on the same components in both channels.
Repro of source is identical to source itself right? It is only the signal off the tape that is bad?

Is a tape just recorded on this deck ok playing on the other deck? If yes, then recording (and BIAS) is ok and you're looking at something in the repro path.

If you have not noticed any differences when playing back a tape made on the 1500, then I'd suspect the BIAS.

-Mikkel

5

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: TECHNICS RS-1500 side panels needed

« on: January 20, 2011, 05:00:04 AM »

Did you get a set of side panels or are you still in need of a set?

-Mikkel

6

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Location of External Pre

« on: January 19, 2011, 07:27:34 AM »

My pre is located in a wood rack to the right of the deck.

-Mikkel

7

Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: Technics 1500/1506

« on: January 19, 2011, 06:36:19 AM »

Can anyone help me with  or know where to find a little plastic end piece that fits on the end of the monitor/source switch??

Fred

If you are referring to the plastic levers that are slightly longer than the BIAS /EQ and Record switch levers, then you must realize that these are longer on the 1500 and the 1506 and possible the 1520, but not on any other model, and not used on anything but tape decks.
This means that if you want to keep your decks cosmetic with a retro look and your levers are missing or broken, as they often do due to turning brittle and have the metal spring push them into pieces, then every single time a parts deck is up ask or check that seller for auctions of the levers seperately.
This also goes if you need a set of knobs or any other cosmetic part.
If you are bothered by visible marks on the faceplate from bent reels, just mount a gorgeous reel to spice it up when not in use.
I am not familiar with TapeProject offerings, but perhaps you could get two take-up reels in that design or just buy one and put one flange on another reel so they both face outward - you will never need to show the other side, as TapeProject tapes are not playing in reverse. They are mounted to the right, wound to the left and played to the original reel ready for hold-down tape and storage.

I just grabbed a set of levers on eBay from England. Both the two long ones are present as well as the 4 normal length levers. All in usable condition, with one of thm showing signs of deformation and perhaps imminent cracking due to stress fro mthe built-in metal spring.

Search often and be rewarded.

-Mikkel

8

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Reader fav tapes...

« on: April 23, 2010, 04:00:09 AM »

Gkar,

The yahoogroup is "Reel_Tapes".  List is in the files section - just checked. Sorry if I may not have been clear.

Charles

The file name is tapeindex07.xls for the newest one I could find.

-Mikkel

9

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: trading tapes/reels

« on: April 23, 2010, 03:54:31 AM »

Not sure if this is allowed here or where to discuss this, but I was wondering about setting up a trade area for trading tapes and reels, in particular, I have some tapes with one good side and/or are on a bad/warped reel and would like to get/trade, etc. for another tape that had the other side in good shape or a reel that was not warped beyond use, also I am accumulating a number of reels and boxes in nice shape that I dumped the tape from as the tape was beyond hope, I am guessing I am not the only one having a bunch of boxes, reels, etc. that would be more useful to someone in need...

I believe I have a number of 7'' reels in boxes by Scotch, from which I have scrapped the tape - some boxes are plastic and some are cardboard.  qty and style to be determined if there is interest; I will go look in the basement.

I may also have 20+ round plastic boxes where the bottom is gray and the top is see-through old BASF style. I bought a lot of 7'' white setup boxes and moved the reels but I did not throw these out in case I or someone else might find a use for them. I find they pile well and it is quick to see what is inside wo opening up the box. I think most if not near all are wo any writing. I may also have a pile of the round paper inserts for those who like the original BASF / AGFA style content sheets.


-Mikkel

10

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: unusual Columbia tape...

« on: April 23, 2010, 03:04:39 AM »

Has anyone seen Columbia tapes with a typical dull brown front side coating combined with a dull black backside coating?  Looks like the 406/407 tapes except the front side is dull brown, like all other tapes I have.  The reel is a bit different as well, typical grey color but just a single slot on each side, and minimalist label.  This one is Mahler's 9th with Walter, stereo disc M2S 676, thanks...

To me it appears to be backcoated, so someone probably replaced the tape with the sound of a CD. If you are lucky, of the same performance.

They had reels with a very small area for label, I have Miles Davis KOB issued in both that and the more conventional half moon label. Of all my 4 KOB tapes two have glue undone and one is missing the sticker entirely, the other still has it in the box stiff and dry of glue. Both of them are with the large half moon sticker, the last one is ok, and the one with the small sticker is also adhering well after all these years (knock on wood).

-Mikkel

11

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: One Rare Miles Davis Tape?

« on: April 23, 2010, 02:59:45 AM »

I sold one on ebay a few years ago for about $300. ... In the thousands of two tracks that have gone through my hands in the last 25 years, I've only had 3 copies of KOB. It was only available for one or two years before Columbia remaindered two tracks around 1961.

The one I won from you went for $164 if my memory is correct. I have 3 4track tapes of it as well. And a safety Master dub at 15ips.  ...The latter sounds the nicest... Yours is 2nd place, the 4t I paid $82 for is the best of them, I have two others one of which is defect with the start of side 1 missing and a drop out after 1 minute,. only So What is affected though.. They can't all be perfect you know, it's eBay.

The 2 track version is missing Freddie Freeloader and Flamenco Sketches, and you really only miss Freddie Freeloader, as Flamenco Sketches is more like the Sketches of Spain album.

Did you guys catch the AFTRS 16'' transcription discs of this album on the Bay?

-Mikkel