CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[Nashou66]

[Curt Palme]

Pointer 1:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MRL-Magnetic-Reference-Laboratory-1-4-Calibration-Tape-/150999228085?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2328415eb5

[Curt Palme]

Pointer 1:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MRL-Magnetic-Reference-Laboratory-1-4-Calibration-Tape-/150999228085?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2328415eb5

[Nashou66]

[Curt Palme]

Nah, you don't want mine. They shed, even the NOS one I bought locally. Called Mag Ref Labs, and they said yeah, it happens. No warranty.

I baked one of mine, and that improved it significantly. I haven't opened the other one yet. They are about $150 for a new one from Mag Ref Labs.

BTW, sad thing about that Fostex 24 track 1" machine. Transport is perfect, heads are decent, but leaky caps on every board. I'm only getting audio out of about 4 channels, the rest are dead. The thing looks like a board out of an NEC PG, with green electrolyte oozing out of many caps, and desoldering the caps gives that distinct leaky cap smell as the electrolyte evaporates. Those that have worked on NECs know what I mean.

I need to quote this guy about $2K. About 20-30 caps per board, an about an hour per board. Times 24 boards. Damnnnnnn!

[Curt Palme]

Nah, you don't want mine. They shed, even the NOS one I bought locally. Called Mag Ref Labs, and they said yeah, it happens. No warranty.

I baked one of mine, and that improved it significantly. I haven't opened the other one yet. They are about $150 for a new one from Mag Ref Labs.

BTW, sad thing about that Fostex 24 track 1" machine. Transport is perfect, heads are decent, but leaky caps on every board. I'm only getting audio out of about 4 channels, the rest are dead. The thing looks like a board out of an NEC PG, with green electrolyte oozing out of many caps, and desoldering the caps gives that distinct leaky cap smell as the electrolyte evaporates. Those that have worked on NECs know what I mean.

I need to quote this guy about $2K. About 20-30 caps per board, an about an hour per board. Times 24 boards. Damnnnnnn!

[Jeremy112]

[Curt Palme]

He gave me the goahead to repair 10 channels for $1000, so I'm ordering caps on Monday. I'll probably repair 12, as he's a repeat customer, and I'm taking in a B77 as partial trade that appears to be in decent shape.

[Curt Palme]

He gave me the goahead to repair 10 channels for $1000, so I'm ordering caps on Monday. I'll probably repair 12, as he's a repeat customer, and I'm taking in a B77 as partial trade that appears to be in decent shape.

[Jeremy112]

[Curt Palme]

B77 is a much nicer machine overall, but beware, the toggle switches that snap all the time are $50-100 each now on the used market!

The other 12 channels will be spares I guess. I may pull the leaking caps off to prevent further damage to the PC board traces.

[Curt Palme]

B77 is a much nicer machine overall, but beware, the toggle switches that snap all the time are $50-100 each now on the used market!

The other 12 channels will be spares I guess. I may pull the leaking caps off to prevent further damage to the PC board traces.

[zaphod]

gonna tell him which 12?

teh A77 had some advantages over the B77, but i do love my B77. Gotta get you over to spin some reels.

[Curt Palme]

Probably not tracks 1 and 24 to keep away from the edges of the head.

What advantages did the A77 have over the B? Now I'm curious. THe B77 is typically about 10 years newer, as I think the A came out in the late 60s, but was continued into what, the mid 70s? Various versions of the deck. I've had some in great shape, and others that were ridden hard and put away wet.

[Curt Palme]

Probably not tracks 1 and 24 to keep away from the edges of the head.

What advantages did the A77 have over the B? Now I'm curious. THe B77 is typically about 10 years newer, as I think the A came out in the late 60s, but was continued into what, the mid 70s? Various versions of the deck. I've had some in great shape, and others that were ridden hard and put away wet.

[Nashou66]

[zaphod]

[Jeremy112]

[Curt Palme]

Been working on three Akai GX-400DSS RTRs yesterday and today. It's interesting that the right side shutoff lever is known to break on these, due to the plastic insert in the metal shaft going under the chassis being made of cheap plastic, and not resin or something that doesn't shatter over time. Two of the three have this issue, and yes, there's a guy cranking out new ones to the tune of $300 for a pair on eBay.

He custom machines them, and the owner of the deck has ordered two of them. My personal GX400 2 channel deck also has the same issue, but I was able to repair mine. Nice seller, I called him and he knows the decks inside and out. Pricey parts, but considering they are hand made...

Frequency response is flat to way past 20K at 7 1/2 IPS, gotta love those glass heads! The only issue with two of the decks is an intermittent channel 2 Simul-sync switch, causing the record level to drop 10db. Caig DeOxIt won't clean it up. Still, if the user isn't recording much (I don't think he will be), they are nice decks.

[Curt Palme]

Been working on three Akai GX-400DSS RTRs yesterday and today. It's interesting that the right side shutoff lever is known to break on these, due to the plastic insert in the metal shaft going under the chassis being made of cheap plastic, and not resin or something that doesn't shatter over time. Two of the three have this issue, and yes, there's a guy cranking out new ones to the tune of $300 for a pair on eBay.

He custom machines them, and the owner of the deck has ordered two of them. My personal GX400 2 channel deck also has the same issue, but I was able to repair mine. Nice seller, I called him and he knows the decks inside and out. Pricey parts, but considering they are hand made...

Frequency response is flat to way past 20K at 7 1/2 IPS, gotta love those glass heads! The only issue with two of the decks is an intermittent channel 2 Simul-sync switch, causing the record level to drop 10db. Caig DeOxIt won't clean it up. Still, if the user isn't recording much (I don't think he will be), they are nice decks.

[zaphod]

My GX 400 needs a new drive belt, and yes the right side shutoff lever has a broken plastic sleeve and I bought it (unknowingly) used in 1992 or so. funny thing is that it never affected the use of the deck. you can pull the lever right off, but if you leave it be, it works just as it should.

[Curt Palme]

That's true indeed. THing is, there's a weighted lever behind that lever that triggers the shutoff microswitch. I did the same thing to one I was working on, and of course once I'd reassembled the deck, that stupid weight decided to rest right on the switch, and shut down the mechanism. I had to pull the deck all apart again and I used duct tape to secure the lever. Got really good at taking the deck apart though.

My new favorite deck is the Otari MX55. Feels like a Revox, all trimpots are accessible without taking the deck apart, and the transport is smoove like butta. Next time you're out this way, give me a shout. I'm slowly setting up a 2 channel RTR room.... been moving decks into the room today...

[Curt Palme]

That's true indeed. THing is, there's a weighted lever behind that lever that triggers the shutoff microswitch. I did the same thing to one I was working on, and of course once I'd reassembled the deck, that stupid weight decided to rest right on the switch, and shut down the mechanism. I had to pull the deck all apart again and I used duct tape to secure the lever. Got really good at taking the deck apart though.

My new favorite deck is the Otari MX55. Feels like a Revox, all trimpots are accessible without taking the deck apart, and the transport is smoove like butta. Next time you're out this way, give me a shout. I'm slowly setting up a 2 channel RTR room.... been moving decks into the room today...

[zaphod]

do you still have the Martin Logan speakers? get some solid amps behind them and they'd be great with the reels.

[Curt Palme]

Yup, one woofer is open. I'm going to dig them out and put them in the 2 channel room.

[Curt Palme]

Yup, one woofer is open. I'm going to dig them out and put them in the 2 channel room.

[Nashou66]

Have you guys heard of "The Tape Project"?
http://www.tapeproject.com/brochure/CESbrochure.pdf

http://www.tapeproject.com/

I can't seem to find where to buy these and how much they are. i bet very expensive.

http://www.tapeproject.com/catalog/catalog.htm

Athanasios

[zaphod]

yep, i've been on their board for a few years. they release series of tapes. a series is 10 tapes. theyare mid way through series 3.

you can buy an individual album for $500 or a set of 6 "pick and choose" for 1800, or a complete series of 10 for $3000.

the real kicker is that you need to be able to play 2 track, 15ips and IEC equalization, not NAB as are/were most consumer decks. some decks run both - Otari 5050, Tascam BR-20, some Revox A77. Some decks can be converted - Tascam 32.

For other decks there are converters that sit between the RTR adn teh preamp which applies an equalization to counter the NAB from the deck and then apply IEC.

What many people do is use the transport and heads to pull directly from the heads into an IEC preamp - often a tube based one ($400 to $700 for the cheap ones). If you do this, then you are looking for quality transport and heads. the Technics 1700 series and Otari 5050 are often used to do this (yes, even though the otari and one of the 1700 varients will play IEC stock).

you should check out tapeheads.net - cool board for all things tape.