head cleaning

[moo]

I JUST GOT A 488 MKII AND WHEN READING ABOUT CLEANING THE HEADS AND PINCH ROLLER, I SEE THAT TASCAM HAS A DIFFERENT CLEANER FOR EACH. WHAT IS RUBBER CLEANER, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN HEAD CLEANER

[ledhed]

Head cleaner is an alcohol-based cleaner specifically made for the heads themselves and other components in the tape path EXCEPT the pinch roller. The rubber cleaner is some really nasty-smelling stuff, probably more of a solvent, that is designed for cleaning the pinch roller only. The only place I've found the rubber cleaner is from AMS (American Musical Supply, www.americanmusical.com) but I'm sure it's available elsewhere too.