Help a greenhorn out

  • Thread starter Thread starter famous beagle
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famous beagle

famous beagle

Well-known member
Ok, so I've got my hands on a Tascam 42B that was sitting in the storage room at my work.
It's not mine, per se, but it's pretty much mine as long as I'm working there, because no one's used it for years.

I'm pretty sure it's in good working order, but here's the deal:

It has one HUB adapter, and that's it. So I'm trying to find out how much it's gonna cost me to try it out.

A reel of tape will be $50 I'm guessing.

The cheapest I've seen a HUB adapter is $28, so that'll be about $35 I'm guessing with shipping.

A take-up reel will be ... $25?

So ... that would be all I'd need to try it out, correct? The heads look as though they have some life left in them, but I'm not an expert.

So here's my question: Is it worth dropping the $110 to see what happens (unless I'm missing something), or should I not even bother if I can't afford an alignment tape and all of that right now too?

Why is analog so expensive! :(
 
No, wait a minute. The 42 can also take the normal [and cheap] 7" reels for which you don't need any adapters. Just order a reel of SM911 and a plastic take-up and you're all done, all for under $20, with shipping.

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Oh wow, really? I didn't know you didn't need adapters for the smaller plastic reels.

That's great! I'll do that.

That's why I come here. Thanks so much! :)
 
Yeah-yeah...+1 to cjacek.

Pull that other reel adapter off and those metal posts that are left behind with the three little wingies on them are what fit the small reels, and IIRC because the 42 was designed with small or large reels in mind if you pull on the nose of that little post it should be spring-loaded and able to turn independent of the reel table...put your plastic reel on there, pull and turn the nose of the post and when you release the little wingies will hold the reel onto the table.
 
sweetbeats said:
Yeah-yeah...+1 to cjacek.

Pull that other reel adapter off and those metal posts that are left behind with the three little wingies on them are what fit the small reels, and IIRC because the 42 was designed with small or large reels in mind if you pull on the nose of that little post it should be spring-loaded and able to turn independent of the reel table...put your plastic reel on there, pull and turn the nose of the post and when you release the little wingies will hold the reel onto the table.
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Sounds good, thanks! :)
 
...and +1 to what sweets said..;)

Also, there should be a switch for large / small reel, on the front panel of the 42. Make sure you switch to 'small', when using the 7" reels, which will give the appropriate tension. :)

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cjacek said:
...and +1 to what sweets said..;)

Also, there should be a switch for large / small reel, on the front panel of the 42. Make sure you switch to 'small', when using the 7" reels, which will give the appropriate tension. :)

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Will do, thanks!
 
And test all the functions before buying, recording, playback and bring some headphones + mic

Good luck:)
 
Vintage Texas said:
And test all the functions before buying, recording, playback and bring some headphones + mic

Good luck:)
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Thanks for the info (I grew up in Houston and lived there until I was 18 ... the Spring area)

I don't know if I wasn't clear in my OP, but I'm not really thinking of buying this machine. I'm kind of the "keeper" of it until my company needs it again (which is highly unlikely) or I quit and/or move. So it's basically mine to use for free until one of those things happens. Depending on how the test goes, if one of those things does happen, I may look into purchasing it.
 
cjacek said:
From http://www.splicit.com/rmgi_tape.html you'll want:

1/4" x 1200' SM911 on 7" Plastic Reel
+
1/4" x 7" Plastic Reel /small hub

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Have ever ordered from them? If so, do they usually take a while to respond to their emails? I submitted an order via email to them yesterday morning (they don't have a credit card online option), and I still haven't heard back from them.
 
They have a good reputation around these parts...

US Recording Media is also a popular and well reputed option. I've used them several times and they've been great to work with. Just giving you options.
 
sweetbeats said:
They have a good reputation around these parts...

US Recording Media is also a popular and well reputed option. I've used them several times and they've been great to work with. Just giving you options.
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Ok cool. Splicit seems like a cool company, and I'm down with their whole "low tech ordering system in an effort to keep overhead down" ... just as long as they do take my order! :)
 
I think you will enjoy that machine.... did you ever find a manual for it? I still haven't been able to scan my manual (mouse pee can tear up a scanner did you know?) but now that I have a new scanner/printer combo I could make a pdf if you needed.


AK
 
analogkid said:
I think you will enjoy that machine.... did you ever find a manual for it? I still haven't been able to scan my manual (mouse pee can tear up a scanner did you know?) but now that I have a new scanner/printer combo I could make a pdf if you needed.


AK
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Yeah I just sent you a PM regarding the manual a few nights ago. That would be awesome if you could do that. :)
 
famous beagle said:
I submitted an order via email to them yesterday morning (they don't have a credit card online option), and I still haven't heard back from them.
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Give it until tomorrow. If they don't answer, hit 'em again with an follow-up. They're usually very good at customer service.
 
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