How to record with a Teac A-2060

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eluhrmann

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Hi, I'm new here, and I checked the stickies and searched but couldn't really find what I was looking for.

A few years back I inherited a Teac A-2060 reel to reel recorder. I tried to figure it out on my own, didn't have much luck and put it away. I decided I really want to figure this thing out but I'm kind of starting from square one.

I was able record my roomate playing his guitar well enough the other night, but when I was rewinding the reels, one popped off and I haven't been able to repeat the recording success since. Either whatever I record is inaudible or what was already on the tape is much much louder.

Is there any way to erase the tape on this machine? Am I better off new tapes (can you even buy new tapes?). Basically I'm looking for any tips on how to record on this. I have pictures of everything right here (edit: I can't add a link until I have more posts, so it might take a bit), so let me know if the tape is threaded wrong, dials are off or what. I'd really appreciate anything I can get. Thanks.
 
If you have a place where you are hosting the pictures, put the links to the pictures up on your next post but leave off the "http://www" part.

What kind of tape are you using?

Tape is most certainly still available.

Do you have the manual?
 
Pictures are here:
good-times.webshots.com/album/568369848UjxAzj
I don't have a manual for it, I found one for sale online, but I was hoping I could get enough here where I wouldn't have to shell out money for it. The reels say Scotch, so I assume that's what the tape is.
 
That's the album. If it's not Scotch, I have no idea what it is. It came on the reel to reel, no box or anything.
 
mmmmm...

Any way you can add to that album and put a picture of the heads (the face of the heads that the tape rubs across) and a picture the whole face of the deck while it is playing so we can see how you have the tape threaded when it is playing?
 
Were those pictures taken with the transport in "PLAY" mode??? :eek:

And that pinch roller needs some serios cleaning... :eek:

You can use a lint-free cloth and some window cleaner for that. Should be nice and black.

Have you cleaned the tape guides and heads so they are shiny-shiny-shiny?

That is an important first step to resolving just about any problem with an analog deck...
 
They were, but that wasn't how I was trying to record. Does it change the position of the tape (i.e. do you need new photos)?
 
I'm not familiar with the 2060, but something doesn't look right, unless...is it an auto-reversing deck? In other words, can you PLAY in both directions?
 
Okay.

First of all, and sorry to ask you to do this, but can you also take some pictures of it playing in the reverse direction and put them up.

And the recent pictures you put up of it playing in the forward direction...look at picture #14...you've got the tap going under those two little fingers that are in between the right-most guide and the erase head. I think the tape should be going above those two fingers...the other thing is that those two pads...there is one that is under each head...both erase heads and both record/reproduce heads. They should be applying pressure to the tape so that there is proper tape to head contact. I don't know if the pads are missing or what, but if those things aren't touching the tape it will definitely effect your record and reproduce response/quality...

Again, take a picture like #14 but of the left side of the tape path when playing in reverse direction.

And please note...I don't think I've ever seen a 2060, so take my advice with a boulder of salt...
 
I uploaded the pictures. I also noticed that the tape shifts off the center of the black wheel. Should the glossy side of the tape be up or down? Currently it's the glossy side. Is that what's causing it to slide?
 
Okay...Let's start with this...try making sure the tape is above the little fingers that are shown in the red circles (I already mentioned the one on the right, and I think it looked like you did that in one of the pictures...) rather than below as pictured here...and also, notice that there is a pad missing in the green circled area. That will effect record and reproduce quality when in the reverse direction. Look at the other pads. You can use little pieces of thick felt glued to the platforms. Should be able to find something suitable at a craft store.

A-2060%20helps%20%231.jpg


Try that and see what happens.

I also noticed that the tape shifts off the center of the black wheel.
Click to expand...

As far as the tape slipping off the pinch roller (the "black wheel"), start by adjusting the tape threading as suggested above and let's see how that does...the tape is supposed to sit in the tape guides (marked with bright blue dots in the picture), but the way you have it threaded the tape doesn't do that. Ideally the capstan shaft (the metal spinning shaft above the pinch roller) and pinch roller should be able to pull the tape straight, but there's a reason why we need tape guides. :) And clean that pinch roller!!! :p That could actually contribute to the problem.

Should the glossy side of the tape be up or down?
Click to expand...

Glossy side up.
 
Thanks a ton for all your help so far. It'll be safe to clean the pitch roller with just soap and water, right? And do you mean glossy side up on the reel or on the pitch roller? Right now the glossy side rubs against the pitch roller.
 
Glass cleaner is a good product to use on the pinch roller. Keep water away from your deck (yes, there is water in glass cleaner, but the other ingredients help it to evaporate quickly). Get a scrap of t-shirt or something and get it favorably moist with glass cleaner and rub the roller unitl it is nice and matte black looking.

The glossy side of the tape should go against the heads and guides...non-glossy side against the pinch roller.
 
I threaded it over the fingers on both sides and there's no slippage and it's recording correctly. Thanks for everything.
 
Very cool. Glad I could help. Get that pressure pad replaced and cleancleanclean. ;)

You can get 100% cotton makeup remover pads (the quilty lookin' kind) at your local pharmacy or department store for cheap. They work really well for cleaning heads and guides...getting in the nooks and crannies...like the ones on the left:

cotton%20pkg%20both.jpg


You can use denatured alcohol from your local hardware store or isopropyl alcohol (and get the "anhydrous" variety...that means "no water content"...it'll say "anhydrous" on the bottle and double-check the ingredients to see if it says "water"...if so look for something else). If you go the iso alcohol route look for at 91% purity...99% is better but harder to find.

Have fun! :)
 
Holy cow that's a rare model you got there:)
Only two models were made with one single operated transport control
similar to Sony's auto-reverse and belt-driven.
I am surprised it works as most are having problems if you find one.
The earlier version A-2050 made 1971, had a amp-section close to 4010 models.
Have you noticed it records in both directions by the way ?
Great advice Sweetbeats, you nailed every point.:rolleyes:
 
Wow...thanks Tex...that's a huge compliment coming from you...I've learned from you of course. :)

Also, I'm really glad you posted as it makes me feel more comfortable with the advice I gave, and leave it to you to know about the model...I'd never heard of it. Really interesting!

I noticed that the little fingers I told him to put the tape over on the left don't look like the same element on the right...like there is a part missing. Do you know anything about that? The part that lifts the tape up into the guides on each side...on the left it is those two little fingers, but on the right it is a single round post...I wondered if a part was missing on the left keeping the tape from properly seating up into the guides...
 
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