Question for TSR-8 and MSR-16/24 Owners

[Beck]

Looking at the head assembly, how many have a machine with the rec/repro head in the conventional center position and the erase head to the left in the conventional erase head position… and how many have the rec/repro head in the far right replay head position and the erase head in the middle?

I’ve seen this both ways, but I don’t know which came first and which was the “improvement.” Since playback heads tend to wear more unevenly than sync heads I would think it would be better to have the rec/pro head in the center, but I don’t know for sure with this machine if there is some other reason behind the change if that was the change.

If anyone has the inside scoop on this, it would be interesting to know.

The pic below has the erase head center and the rec/repro (sync) far right. I've seen this more than the other way.

 

[themaddog]

My MSR-16 rec/playback head is in the center. I'll have to check my (non-working) TSR-8 when I get the chance, as it's off-site.

Supposedly, my MSR-16 was purchased new in 1997, so it's likely that mine is the later version. If you'd like me to check the serial number on it, let me know.

-MD

 

[jpmorris]

Mine has the erase head in the centre. I'm not sure when it was made although if someone knows how to tell from the serial I could provide it.

**EDIT**
Make that "all three of mine"...

 

[BRDTS]

Msr24 here has from l-r..erase..rec/play...large roller. All inside the headstack. Tsr8 here has the previously mentioned erase in center, rec/play to the right.

Don't know for sure, but in looking at the entire tape path on both machines, and being that one of them here is 1/2" and the other 1", the heads seem to be placed in an ideal way on both recorders to make for a natural balance on the tape load, stability of the path, best centering of the rolling tape in relation to contact with the heads. In fact, when I look at the roller next to the rec/play head on the 24 track, it almost looks like Tascam wanted to keep the option open for adding a third head in there instead of that roller(probably repro) without having to deal with future design changes in the parts.

 

[Beck]

Thanks for the replys so far.

The date on these is a 3-digit number after the serial number. The first two digits should represent the year. I’m pretty sure they did it that way throughout the series, but not all TASCAM/TEAC dates are that straight forward, so I can only be about 98.6% sure.

My TSR-8 is 891 (1989). I know of another that is 902 (1990). I’m not sure what the third digit is.

 

[jpmorris]

The date on these is a 3-digit number after the serial number

Bizarre. All of mine have just a six-digit serial number.

 

[The Ghost of FM]

I’m not sure what the third digit is.

I thought the third number related to the quarter of the year it was made in?

At least, I've read previous urban legends to that effect.

Cheers!

 

[themaddog]

It looks like my MSR-16 is from 1993 (931). It might be possible that the original owner purchased it in 1997 then...

-MD