Disabling erase heads

[YooDooRight]

Does anyone know of an easy (and safe!) way of temporarily disabling the erase head on a reel to reel?

I want to create a basic tape echo set-up for building layers on a loop. i remember an old friend putting masking tape over the erase head to 'mute' it but for obvious reasons i don't want to tread this particular path.

Any tried and tested methods out there?

(btw: using an Akai 400DS)
YDR

 

[cjacek]

i remember an old friend putting masking tape over the erase head to 'mute' it but for obvious reasons i don't want to tread this particular path.

Why not? That seems the most easy way to do it. I'd of course recommend you peel the tape off after each recording session and thoroughly clean the heads.

 

[jpmorris]

I could be wrong, but don't you just hit the 'SOUND ON SOUND' button on the Akai 4000?

**EDIT**
It has to be the 'DS' version, apparently that's what the 'S' is for!