Sad TASCAM day...

  • Thread starter Thread starter miroslav
  • Start date Start date
bachelorb said:
For you, is recapping mostly preventative maintenance for future problems, or fixing a known problem?
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I saw some QC labels on the strips marked '90...so I assume that's when they were assembled and put in the console.
So it's a 26 year old console...the old caps were most likely well out of spec...they don't last forever.
The problem is...you don't notice it easily when you just use a console, as your ears slowly adjust the degradation, and you forget what it sounded like when you bought it new. So you have to compare a channel with old caps against one with new to hear the difference.

While I heard no problems with them...when I finished recapping, it was pretty obvious. The console came to life, the sound is open and crisp, the low end tight and punchy. I'm sure the change in in chips also adds to that, as I did compare channels with the original stock chips and the upgraded ones...and it was noticeable.
Plus...rechipping without doing the recap would be kinda dumb...especially since the new chips would run the caps harder.
Sorta like putting new tires on a car, but not replacing the worn out ball joints and old brakes.

So it was kind of preventative...but really, it was more about getting it back to spec, and better, since it was most likely already out of spec with the old caps.
The new caps are high temp caps, and they will last longer without degrading...and hold up better to the demands of the new chips. The console will now be at good to go for at least another 25 years. :)
 
Even new stuff isn't holding on well. I was looking at SSL Nucleus consoles the other day and saw new ones just under $6k...several on eBay were running under $3k. Half price just because you open the box?
 
I think a lot of the issue is shipping. I see a lot of larger stuff selling more locally on Craigslist, not for big prices, but more than $200. It's a real hassle to ship a M3700 and if it's not drive-able there aren't a lot of options. I sourced my M3500 and M3700 within a 3 hour radius by using automated Craigslist searches, but it took a long time to find them.. and a day to go get them.

When I see stuff go up on eBay, I just assume it's not going to sell and I make a note to contact the seller after the auction to see if they'll ship me bits. There is an M3500 on eBay now with two sets of stereo channels. (M3X00 series consoles have each channel on a separate PCB but they are loaded in groups of 4) When the auction ends, I'll get in touch and see if they'll send me those, and perhaps the power supply...

Guy in Canada sold me just his M3700 Power supply a couple years ago...I hate to see that happen to his console but at least some part of that will live on and keep mine working.

Supply and demand. We're a small pool of people. We're willing to spend money to buy something we know won't work right until we've invested a lot more time and money. The cost of parts is often more than the price of the console.. and let's not even consider the labor :)

Companies like Vintage King can charge a premium for consoles because they are doing the hard work for the buyer. The console comes clean and fully working... at least on day one :)
 
Yeah...I my be putting my 3500 up this weekend or next. I'm moving things around a bit in the studio, and the 3500 is just sitting there against the wall, and I'm going to move it out of there...so I don't want to juts stick it in another room and forget about it.

I do have the extra PS and lots of other spare parts...spare channels, faders, short meter bridge, and even the almost mythical balance conversion cards (which I never installed)...so I'm hoping there's enough there to entice someone to come and get it.
I want to clear out everything associated with the 3500 in one swoop...I don't want to get into parting things out...etc.
 
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