Putting tape in a Tascam 38

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johnbilben

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so i just bought my tape and im very new to this so i don't know exactly how to put the tape in the machine. the manual instructs me on how to put it through each tension thing and through the heads and you know. but what do i do for the tape to get in the empty reel? scotch tape or what? thanks
 
Yeah, John, you don't "adhere" the tape to the takeup reel with adhesive tape or anything. Like the video shows, you just hold the tape on the hub with your finger and wind it about one time around on itself and when you pull your finger out there is enough friction in the wrap to hold it there.
 
alright, i see. the guy i bought it from always taped the tape to the take up reel. amateur i guess. do you know anything about why the tape wouldn't play back when he had the tape all spooled up? here was the situation: he had it adhered with scotch tape to the take up reel like i mentioned and he was able to wind it up with fast forward and rewind but there were two issues: 1. when he pressed PLAY to play it back the arm on the right side would just drop as if he hit stop.
2. fast forward seemed much slower than it was supposed to be. it couldn't be the motors or anything because when i brought it home i tested it without tape you know, by just lifting the right arm and fast forward hauled ass and the play button worked fine. any help would be great
 
Is the capstan shaft spinning (that's the little steel shaft that sticks out to the right of the heads...the big rubber "pinch" roller clamps down on it when you press PLAY)? It should be spinning when the deck is powered up.
 
well i looked at the steel shaft to the right of the heads that the big rubber pinch roller clamps down to and its not spinning. i can turn it a bit with my fingers but it doesnt move on its own when in any mode. is this bad? what do i do?
 
When you lift both tension arms (the rollers that are closest to each reel) does it spin (the capstan shaft)?

If not, I'm guessing you've got a broken capstan belt. Don't worry. Pretty common for it to happen eventually on your vintage machine. The belts are readily available direct from Tascam (probably the best price too), and it is not a real hairy repair job. I haven't done it myself, but others here will chime in if that is indeed the case (that you need a new belt)

I second the welcome to the Analog Only forum, and second the congratulations on your purchase. It sounds like you got the better end of the deal. :)

And yes, this is a "sick-ass" forum. :D
 
well shit thats a bit of a drag now isnt it. well yes i held both arms up, pressed play and the capstan shaft isnt spinning. i appreciate it tho. i'll give tascam a call.
 
Yes. Just call Tascam Parts (323) 727-4840 M-F 8-5 PST.

You still got a great deal, and the reality is an analog deck must be loved and treated right...and it will expect upkeep from you because it is 20 +/- years old. Expect you're going to have bugaboos to iron out, but we can help, and you still got a sweet deal. ;)
 
im also a newb running a 38, im happy i got into this machine because it seems to be pretty common, so hopefully easy to learn on.

but I am also having problems feeding tapes through it, everything seems to be in working order, but what is freaking me out is that I got some used tapes to play around with, just to make sure everything is cool and so far i just can't get it right.

take for instance the youtube video that dr. zee posted, right off the bat the guy puts the reels on his deck and then he locks them in place somehow. the 38 has this same function obviously, but these tapes that I'm running (quantegy 499) seem like they are too WIDE to let you lock them in place. whats up with that? i thought this type of tape is supposed to work with this machine? anybody know what im talking about?
 
the reels are 3/4" wide, but are just a hair too wide to be able to lock them in place on this machine.
 
If the reel is 3/4" from flange to flange that sounds like 3/4" umatic video tape.

Good luck clamping that down. :D

Does the tape itself fit in the guides on the 38?
 
Any chance that you could snap a photo of that mysterious tape and post it here?:confused:
 
Yeah...I second that. I was thinking it might be a reel of 3/4" umatic tape with a 499 flange on it...kinda wondering if the tape is actually 3/4" or if it is actually 3/4" flange-to-flange...might be 5/8" flange-to-flange which is normal for 1/2" tape and he rounded up to 3/4". Its all in the details...
 
absolutely, i am going to the studio tonight and i will take a pic and put it up here later tonight, thanks for your interest!
 
sweetbeats said:
If the reel is 3/4" from flange to flange that sounds like 3/4" umatic video tape.

Good luck clamping that down. :D

Does the tape itself fit in the guides on the 38?
Click to expand...

it is 1/2" tape and i've already played it through and recorded on the tape, so its working quite well through this machine, but the reels don't clamp down, weird!!
 
cjacek said:
Any chance that you could snap a photo of that mysterious tape and post it here?:confused:
Click to expand...


sorry this took me so long, and i also apologize for the quality, measuring tapes are tough to photograph and my camera sucks.

space110.jpg


the tapes have been working fine, its just frustrating that they don't clamp down, so, is all 1/2" quantegy 499 like this or were these transferred to some weird reels or something?
 
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Those don't appear to be stock 499 reels...they are plastic. I'm pretty sure 499 always came on aluminum reels. If it were me I'd be getting some empty 1/2" aluminum flanged reels and transferring the tape...keep the plastic ones for storing pancakes. To be honest I'd be wondering if it is actually 499...do you know for sure? Sorry if this has already been addressed and I'm not questioning you, its just something that happens far too often I think (people getting duped on tape).

BTW, is that an Ampeg bass cab in the background?
 
Those reels do look like they may be a little large but my fisrt thought was did the reel tables get pushed in from being shipped or something.
Could you send a pic of the front of the machine with out the Reels on it?
Take the shot at a angle so we can see if that is the case.
 
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