388 track won't record...

[mumble]

I have a 388 that has been idle for awhile, gave it acleaning, demagged, etc.

Track 8 won't record. It gets levels in, eq is fine and all, and I can buss the signal to any other track npr. Tried with the dbx defeat both in and out, checked the fuses and how the PCB's were seated.

That's about as far as my tech savvy will go.

Any ideas/experience out there?

Thanks y'all

 

[A Reel Person]

Record a test tone on all 8 tracks, simultaneously.

Then flip the tape and play it backwards.

If the 388 is not recording on track 8, then the defect will show up on track 1 when you flip the tape, and 8 should play back fine.

If, by chance, the 388 is recording on 8 but not playing back, you would have good signal on 1, and the defect would seem to stay with track 8, when you reverse the tape.

This is the first step to determine if it's actually a track 8 record problem, or perhaps a playback problem.

That's just to start. More later.