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!!