setting up a 388 after shipped

  • Thread starter Thread starter shedshrine
  • Start date Start date
shedshrine said:
And unless the shipment weighs 125 lbs, it won't go freight.

The 388 weighs around 90 lbs and with the wooden crate, it would be way over 125lbs. The crate alone would weigh 50 - 75 lbs.

Again, does the seller have the original 388 box and factory packing ?
 
cjacek said:
Having this crated and shipped freight would probably cost about $300 total. WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Btw, does the 388 come in its original box with original packing ? If yes, then you can just place it into a tightly fitting wooden crate and if there are any void spaces, you can fill those with styro panels so that no shifting of the original box inside the crate occurs.


whoops, yeah, negatori on the original box.

So seller takes 388 to ups store to oversee the styrofoam panelling and double boxing of it, takes it to bob the crab trap builder to make a crate for it, and seller then resubmits the now over 125 lb package to ups store and has it sent freight.

I lllllike it.

Got to ask if anyone has had experience with anvil cases and the like. Are they so tough as to withstand ground travel?? They are pricy, but the above shipping scenario aint exactly cheap either. And of course I get to keep the case.

Thanks gracias and arigato
 
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shedshrine said:
whoops, yeah, negatori on the original box.

So seller takes 388 to ups store to oversee the double foam, peanut and boxing of it, takes it to bob the crab trap builder to make a crate for it, and seller then resubmits the now over 125 lb package to ups store and has it sent freight.

I lllllike it.

Got to ask if anyone has had experience with anvil cases and the like. Are they so tough as to withstand ground travel?? They are pricy, but the above shipping scenario aint exactly cheap either. And of course I get to keep the case.

Thanks gracias and arigato

Great news on the 388 and crating! :)

Personally, I'd not ship anything in an anvil case because there is not enough shock absorbers in it. It's typically just 1/4 - 1/2" wood and an inch or two of soft foam. Drop that from 5 feet and your machine internals are fucked. Crating with internal packing is much cheaper and better for transport.

Hey, you also get to keep the custom crate! :D ;)
 
While on the topic of set up, wanted to know if there's any problem to having the 388 set up at a slanted angle. I had had my first one set up on one of those adjustable rack systems that way, and it made access easier. Any stress on motors and such?

And just for giggles, how about if you mounted it nearly flush on a steel lattice so you could save space and have room around back for cables. Sure stand alones are built to sit that way, but not sure in the case of the 388. Okay, maybe was dumb to question the rugged goodness of the 388. Better safe than sorry, eh? Going to be a little space challenged I'm afraid...
 
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shedshrine said:
In any case, the purpose of this (my first) post is to find out what precautions or steps should one take before firing it up. I will definitely take off the back and make sure nothing's been jarred loose. I have read somewhere that with 388's the heads are pretty much bolted in place and good to go, that re-alignment might not necesarilly be a requirement here. Scarcity of heads for these really makes me want to check that idea out.


TECHNOPLAYER said:
Once you get it, check the card and you should be set to go.......

and in the event my previous post about tilting and angles of repose is completely bogus, perhaps this one will have some redeeming quality. I don't want to put words in anyones mouth, but being that the recorder is 17 years "new", I just need to check the card, replace the belt and that, yes, 388 alignment is pretty indestructo, and if the tracks record and playback at a similar volume, i am indeed good to go?
 
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Well, really, after nearly two decades of non-use and a cross country shipment, at least:

> Do a complete visual check for any VISIBLE damage or "misalignment"
> Open the top cover and check that all the cards are seated.
> make sure you have a can of Caig De-Oxit to clean what will surely be some scratchy pots.
> Maybe some fader lube as well.
> I think somebody already suggested the capstan belt may be goo. Try running a tape but dont be surprised if it dont go......

I presume the shipper powered it up already, so any cautions about bringing it up slowly with a Variac are unnecessary...presuming it didnt blow up when HE turned it on.

ADJUST NOTHING!!!
READ THE MANUAL FIRST!!!!
USE IT A LOT BEFORE YOU TRY TO TWEAK ANY POT OR TRIMMER OR ETC!!

I'm no expert, and have only futzed with my 388's a little bit, but if you have a cherry unit, use it and see if the sound is good to you.

And I dont see why you cant angle it....
 
I thank all of you for the fine advice. :) The crating idea was what I was hoping to achieve, but seller's health, lack of car, and remote location precluded it. However, I was able to communicate both to him and to the UPS store in the tiny Florida keys town not to skimp on the foam planking in the double box prep of the 388's shipment. It will go out either today or Monday. Also, I am having it sent 2 day air to minimize road rash. Fingers in fully crossed mode.
 
shedshrine said:
I thank all of you for the fine advice. :) The crating idea was what I was hoping to achieve, but seller's health, lack of car, and remote location precluded it. However, I was able to communicate both to him and to the UPS store in the tiny Florida keys town not to skimp on the foam planking in the double box prep of the 388's shipment. It will go out either today or Monday. Also, I am having it sent 2 day air to minimize road rash. Fingers in fully crossed mode.

Too bad about the crate thing falling through but you did your best, considering the circumstances. Fingers crossed indeed. Update us.
 
Foam blocking on the corners is one of the most important things,...

as well as the strength of the box and amount of bubble wrap. Block each corner about 2"~3" of block styrofoam, bubble wrap the rest with maybe a little extra cardboard to cover the mixer and tape panel, you don't have much to worry about.

Lining the sides of the with styro does roughly the same thing as blocking the corners, but blocking the corners is essential. Any sort of blocking, padding, wrapping, etc, you can get, the better, and the box should be spec'd a bit oversized to accommodate it.

Most people who have or sell this type of equipment don't think in terms of what makes a good package or not. Remember, the UPS/Fedex system has conveyors that plop your box around a fair amount. You want your item to be oversized, sturdily boxed and padded. Anything that's super oversized is quite expensive to ship properly, and the buyer should take that into account.

Anyway, buy you guys lots more gear,... all of you. Just be cautious about Ebaying stuff like this, and the bottom line is that shipping is always a risk. I've personally gotten lots of great stuff shipped to me in fine condition. I've also had a few costly UPS smashers, giving me unexpected fixit projects that I've still not dealt with many years later, i.e., the gear could be considered a loss. Getting gear DOA or broken is not a good thing, no matter what or how often. It's a gamble you take to own certain unique gear like this. (I wish people would be smarter about packing, though! I've seen some atroucious packing jobs. Things you probably wouldn't believe.

Anyway, Good luck!
......... :eek:
 
Maybe I got lucky with the Revox. it was wadded in large bubble-wrap and newspapers. Arrived perfectly intact, though. I can't remember which courier it was now..
 
Newspaper is surprisingly a decent packing material,...

if it's wadded up it's very resilient. ;)

You get lucky on deals, and occasionally you get unlucky. You never know. :eek: ;) No doubt, there are other sensible ways to pack besides the specific ones I've mentioned. I've seen lots of decent packing jobs, and a few really bad ones. :eek: ;)
 
Man, what a supportive bunch! I'm really liking this site. :)

Of course, hopefully, I won't be needing your sympathy. I've requested really heavy duty newspaper be used, only from the thick advertising section pages...

Looking forward to asking questions about actually recording on the damn thing!! Discussing the benefits and pitfalls of hotter tape, if there is such an 1800" 1-mil animal.

Most importantly, After market 388 bling cosmetic acoutrements (faux fur siding, iPod diamonds on the plexiglass reel to reel lid, chrome replacement knobs for the mixer section) Anything to further the creative process.... :cool: :D
 
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Yeah,... accessories!

You could use a Fostex MR8 to prop the back end of the 388 up at an angle a couple inches. :eek: :eek: :eek: ;)
 
shedshrine said:
Looking forward to asking questions about actually recording on the damn thing!! Discussing the benefits and pitfalls of hotter tape, if there is such an 1800" 1-mil animal.

With the 388 manual, it should be a pretty easy setup and recording process.

Just get brand new Quantegy 407 and forget about it. Don't sweat it. Really.

One other thing I'd like to add to technoplayer's good advice .... There may be some scratchy pots on the mixer section but rather than using contact cleaner, such as the one from caig, turn the pots from side to side until the scratchiness goes away. You really can't get any of the contact spray in there, to do any good, so just manually work them for about a minute. You may, however, if need be, use a single short spray of the caig deoxit on the in and out connectors (inside them) and then insert the appropriate cable in each to further work the cleaner in. Mind you that this is a good idea even if you don't have any problems. Well, at least put it on your "to do list" for the near future.

Also, and this is very important, you need to revitalize the rubber pinch roller with caig's rbr rubber cleaner and a lint free cloth or find a replacement (although recently it was posted by a user here that TASCAM seems to be sold out of those). As an alternative you can try terry's rubber pinch rollers. Of course the capstan belt should be replaced as well. You must do those 2 things or your 388 will have problems with excessive wow and flutter. Rubber pinch rollers and belts, ideally, should be replaced every several years.
 
just ordered the capstan drive belt ($8.00) and new pinchroller ($35.97)

I guess that means they still stock the pinchrollers!! :)





(for a mere two of your finest 20 dollar bills :D )
 
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shedshrine said:
just ordered the capstan drive belt ($8.00) and new pinchroller ($35.97)

I guess that means they still stock the pinchrollers!! :)





(for a mere two of your finest 20 dollar bills :D )

The best money you'll spend, trust me. :) ;)

Anyway, I wrote this in another recent thread (about the availability of the pinch roller):

Well, it seems the pinch roller part number 5014175100 is not only attached to the 388 but also to the following machines:

TEAC 22-2, 22-4, 30-4, 32-2B, 388, 3030, 40-4,Early Model 44, A-1230, A-1250, A-1400, A-2100, A-2300, A-2300S, A-2300SR, A-2300SX, A-2340, A-2340SX, A-2420, A-2500, A-2520, A-3300, A-3300S, A-3300SX, A-3340, A-3340S, A-3440, A-4300, A-4300SX, A-6100, A-6100MK2, A-6300, A-6300MK2, X-10, X-10M, X-10MK2, X-10R, X-10RMK2, X-1000, X-1000M, X-1000R, X-20R, X-2000, X-2000M, X-2000R, X-3, X-7R, X-7RMK2, X-700R

Source is: http://www.openreel.net/parts_3.html

If this is the case then it seems the pinch roller in question is not really an exclusive 388 part number and it would be very odd if TASCAM is all out, for all those machines. If that's the case then it's pretty bad. However, there is not a day that goes by that I don't see new pinch rollers, for many of the above machines, being sold on eBay and other online places!

As I was planning to buy a new pinch roller for my 3440, I can now buy a couple, one being able to fit my 388 as well!

Good news ? I think so!!​

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=217396
 
Yeah, I knew it was unlikely TASCAM was out of the pinch roller, as the part # is shared by so many TASCAM & TEAC machines and is not an exclusive 388 item. Thanks for confirming the availability. :)
 
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