Tascam 38 advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter famous beagle
  • Start date Start date
famous beagle

famous beagle

Well-known member
Hey y'all,

I'm thinking about making an offer on a 38, but the owner says "Track 3 has a relay that sometimes fails to work. The heads have appr. 40 hours on them."

Is this relay problem fixable? I'm pretty handy with fixing things, and I'm confident I could fix it if the part is available and all that, but I don't know how big of a hangup this is.

He hasn't listed a price --- just said "make offer." The item has been listed for over a month. How much should I offer him?

Thanks!
 
The relays are available...Mouser, Digikey, etc. They are on the amp card...pull the card, desolder the relay cover (if present), desolder the relay, solder the new one in place and resolder the cover back on. We can help if you need more specific direction, but if you are handy with a soldering iron it is a relatively easy job. BUT FIRST:

Try spraying DeoxIT in the relay...my 58 had LOTS of weird inconsistent level and response issues...pulled all the cards and desoldered all the relay covers, popped the little plastic covers off the relays, squirt DeoxIT in, gently work it in with a soft toothbrush and then tip the card upside-down to let the excess drain...leave it sit until its dry. Works like a CHARM.

How much to offer? If its just the deck, no accessories, and it looks good, I dunno...$100?
 
sweetbeats said:
The relays are available...Mouser, Digikey, etc. They are on the amp card...pull the card, desolder the relay cover (if present), desolder the relay, solder the new one in place and resolder the cover back on. We can help if you need more specific direction, but if you are handy with a soldering iron it is a relatively easy job. BUT FIRST:

Try spraying DeoxIT in the relay...my 58 had LOTS of weird inconsistent level and response issues...pulled all the cards and desoldered all the relay covers, popped the little plastic covers off the relays, squirt DeoxIT in, gently work it in with a soft toothbrush and then tip the card upside-down to let the excess drain...leave it sit until its dry. Works like a CHARM.

How much to offer? If its just the deck, no accessories, and it looks good, I dunno...$100?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help! I forgot to mention it comes with 8 channels of DBX, but he didn't mention any take-up reels or anything else.
 
sweetbeats said:
The relays are available...Mouser, Digikey, etc. They are on the amp card...pull the card, desolder the relay cover (if present), desolder the relay, solder the new one in place and resolder the cover back on. We can help if you need more specific direction, but if you are handy with a soldering iron it is a relatively easy job. BUT FIRST:

Try spraying DeoxIT in the relay...my 58 had LOTS of weird inconsistent level and response issues...pulled all the cards and desoldered all the relay covers, popped the little plastic covers off the relays, squirt DeoxIT in, gently work it in with a soft toothbrush and then tip the card upside-down to let the excess drain...leave it sit until its dry. Works like a CHARM.

How much to offer? If its just the deck, no accessories, and it looks good, I dunno...$100?
Click to expand...

Also ... how much is the relay if I have to buy one?
 
Make sure you see for yourself and confirm the hours quoted by this seller. If the tape path, heads, indeed look unused [40 hrs is nothing] then you probably have a machine which needs a bit of TLC just from sitting unused.

Like Cory mentioned that it may not be anything other than it needing a booster shot of Deoxit. Check the machine over good so that you get no surprises when you bring it home.

I'd say your biggest bargaining chip is the 'relay problem' mentioned by the seller and that this recorder needs servicing. Use that as a way to grab the machine cheap. Yeah, start it out at $100 as Cory said and maybe go as high as $200 / $250 if it's indeed 'mint' and virtually unused. That still would be a bargain, despite the problem, as this in fact may be a low low use machine but do check it yourself and never take the seller's word for it.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I've offered $100, so we'll see what happens.
 
If it is the channel card relay on the 38 its on the bottom of the machine.
The dbx units are worth 100 bucks alone.
And if it is just a channel card relay and you have trouble fixing it or what ever there is a guy on this board that will fix you up with a complete card for just the shipping cost. And that way all you would need to do is unplug the bad one and plug in the good one.;)
 
+1 to all above. $100 would be a steal with the dbx units...my recommendation was based on the "bad relay bargaining chip" and the fact it has been sitting for a month without selling.

Keep us "posted"! :p

Oh, BTW, the realys are like maybe a couple bucks each give or take? Relatively cheap...
 
Well, he ended up selling it to someone who offered him $300 if he threw in a few rolls of tape. Oh well.
 
I didnt think you were gonna get it for just 100.00. Oh well. Its probably for the best. Its always when one slips thru your fingers that another better machine pops up for an even better deal in even better condition...
 
poopchute said:
I didnt think you were gonna get it for just 100.00. Oh well. Its probably for the best. Its always when one slips thru your fingers that another better machine pops up for an even better deal in even better condition...
Click to expand...

You were more right than you know! I just scored one on craigslist for $300 purportedly in mint condition! :) I'm going to pick it up this weekend.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top