batterista
New member
I got a few reels by accident (I know it's supposed to run w/ only 1 mil tape). Load/RTZ functionality aside, will using this tape thickness damage the 388? Burn out the motors quickly...or over time if I keep using them?
Wow, I've never even heard of 3 mil tape. Maybe its instrumentation tape or something?
That's not 3mil tape, it is +3 1.5mil tape. The 3 relates to the "output level" of the tape, or more accurately stated it relates to how much signal over "0" the tape can handle before reaching 12% distortion, "0" being an industry standard flux or magnetic energy level (250nwb/m equates to +3 right guys?).
It should be fine, but I still would prefer 1mil 457 or LPR35 if it was my deck.
1.5 mm tape, like 406, won't kill your 388. It will technically wear all of the parts faster, but many people use 456 on the 388 (which is also a 1.5 mm tape) and it's not a big deal.
The 1 mm equivalent of 406 is 407. The one thing I would implore you to do first is check the sticky shed thread that is posted in this forum. Some Quantegy tape is no good and can cause problems for your deck, but there is a way to check against this by the date stamped on the tape's box.
This is the aforementioned thread:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=228067
-MD