
heatmiser
mr. green christmas
hey,
I've been reading threads on 688's for years on here (including moog's current one) and am feeling pretty overwhelmed.
I've had a second hand 688 for about 4 years now and I absolutely love the thing for so many reasons, but am getting so frustrated by the varying speed of the transport. I bought it at a local regional chain and already had them send it back for "transport issues" under warranty a few years ago and it worked fine for a few months. The last couple of years have seen a gradual decline in reliability.
It used to be that the pitch would vary from one project to the next. Now it has progressed to the point where during one take, the speed will suddenly and dramatically change. Pretty much unusable in its current state. So frustrating in fact that I actually placed a losing bid on a roland vs 2000 today
eek
close call with digital there...but I'm just so sick of tape speed issues.
Is it even reasonable to consider packing it up and shipping it off to tascam in california? I might be able to bring it back to the store in portland maine where I bought as they have an "authorized tascam service center" in new hampshire and might be willing to look at it, although their prior repairs didn't last.
You guys on this forum are so tech oriented I find it amazing. I just don't have that bent...I once replaced a worn out belt on a fostex x-15 with my daughter's elastic hair tie and it worked great for months afterward. That is how lame I am when it comes to repairs.
Are severe pitch issues likely motor related, or possibly just rubber belts/rollers? The pinch roller is cleaned with a wet q-tip regularly and I consistantly get gray/black film from it. It has a shiny-ish strip on the surface about the same width as the tape.
One odd thing I noticed tonight is that the metal pin that the pinch roller presses against is spinning constantly when powered up...not normal is it? None of my other decks do that.
Sorry for the long post and for the vague questions...just looking for any general encouragement and/or guidance...
Thanks,
Peter
I've been reading threads on 688's for years on here (including moog's current one) and am feeling pretty overwhelmed.
I've had a second hand 688 for about 4 years now and I absolutely love the thing for so many reasons, but am getting so frustrated by the varying speed of the transport. I bought it at a local regional chain and already had them send it back for "transport issues" under warranty a few years ago and it worked fine for a few months. The last couple of years have seen a gradual decline in reliability.
It used to be that the pitch would vary from one project to the next. Now it has progressed to the point where during one take, the speed will suddenly and dramatically change. Pretty much unusable in its current state. So frustrating in fact that I actually placed a losing bid on a roland vs 2000 today


Is it even reasonable to consider packing it up and shipping it off to tascam in california? I might be able to bring it back to the store in portland maine where I bought as they have an "authorized tascam service center" in new hampshire and might be willing to look at it, although their prior repairs didn't last.
You guys on this forum are so tech oriented I find it amazing. I just don't have that bent...I once replaced a worn out belt on a fostex x-15 with my daughter's elastic hair tie and it worked great for months afterward. That is how lame I am when it comes to repairs.
Are severe pitch issues likely motor related, or possibly just rubber belts/rollers? The pinch roller is cleaned with a wet q-tip regularly and I consistantly get gray/black film from it. It has a shiny-ish strip on the surface about the same width as the tape.
One odd thing I noticed tonight is that the metal pin that the pinch roller presses against is spinning constantly when powered up...not normal is it? None of my other decks do that.
Sorry for the long post and for the vague questions...just looking for any general encouragement and/or guidance...
Thanks,
Peter