setting up a 388 after shipped

  • Thread starter Thread starter shedshrine
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If I were in your position I would sprint on over to PayPal (hopefully you paid that way) and make a claim against the seller. You have a very win-able case. You basically are seeking the entire amount you sent (item ending price + shipping). Most likely you'd have to ship the recorder back, either to PayPal, seller or some other option. You'd send it back in the exact packing you got it in and ship it via Fedex Ground. It wouldn't cost much, certainly much, much less than you paid. You'd then, ideally, chock it up to a "bad experience", forget the word "shipping" in your vocabulary and look for local deals. My advice is to NOT go in trying to self service this 388 'cause I have a strong feeling it's just the beginning of a multitude of potential problems and general headaches for you. This 388 was severely misrepresented. It is chock full of smoke chemical residue, oxidation and other potential mechanical / electrical problems and the seller would have to be a blind idiot (or thief) to not disclose it. Period.
 
The reel-servo tension arm position is an electrical adjustment.

I meant you should adjust the tension arm position electronically so the geometry of the rollers lines up during play mode. Putting it in a certain position by hand doesn't accomplish anything. :eek: :eek:

Servos are electronic circuits that constantly try to balance themselves on a set point. If the tension arm's out of place, it would strike me as needing a slight electronic adjustment. Electronically adjusting the tension arm position will affect the overall efficiency of all the tape motion functions. Adjust it up and miraculously stuff like sluggish FF/RW gets better too. (Hint: It's a SERVO). :eek: ;)

You'll have to consult the manual for specifics. Don't just go in there turning pots, or you'll have a real problem on your hands. :eek: ;)

There is something to be said about a supposedly fine machine having several problems right out of the box, and what ultimately should be done about it, but it's a difficult situation on the face of it. Good luck.:eek: ;)
 
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You guys are great. Appreciate the input, even if it is somewhat painful :D

I'm going to stick with this thing. I don't think the old guy intentionally misled me. He wouldn't have seen the cumulative effect of the smoke on the contacts until it was moved from the wall. And in many ways this is an unused item. The motors are strong, the heads are brand new, the mixer knobs are as tight as day one without scratchiness,the vu's work, the pinchroller was great,and if it just needs a little servo adjustment I'm not going to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If it had been in use it would have probably been serviced from time to time, but as it was it was just a livingroom ornament in a humid climate with a smoker. :rolleyes:

I've got the rca contacts clean enough to be smooth and 97 percent shiny chrome, and the 1/4" inputs are internal so endured less and cleaned up nicely. I've ordered new face plate screws to replace the rusted ones. Only the screws rusted on the mixer plate. The stench of smoke will dissipate as I've taken off the top panel to let it air out. There is a thin film across some of the circuitry, but no real oxidation on the inside of the unit. I live in a fairly dry area, so there won't be any significant moisture to interact with and move things further.

I'll zero in on the one servo that adjusts the right tension arm. (Yes, I looked up "servo", thank you Dave, thank you Wikipedia :D )If that doesn't prove fruitful, I have located a tech in the east bay who has worked on these and I'll take it in and be done with it. chalk it up to experience.

I just want to make some music!!!! Follow your bliss, whahoo!!!
 
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you should for sure change the oil and fan belts
speaking of belts.the capstan belt is onlt 15$ why don;t you put a new one on
 
Man, goaded by someone who didn't even think enough of their 388 to keep it. :D

As for the capstan belt,Way ahead of you partner, and by the way, they are only $8.00 currently.

I have replaced the control panel hex bolts, mixer plate and fader screws and she has cleaned up nicely. I have a box of baking soda in the tape compartment under the plexiglass, and another on the vu bridge covered with saran wrap :eek:

will keep you posted...
 
Thanks Dave,

Got an original copy with the unit, and had already saved a copy of the one this nice French lady was kind enough to post online... :)
 
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The heads do look really good.

............. :eek: :rolleyes:
 
No, you're four as in you ARE four.

No your as in four 388s belong to you.
 
Sorry, my intention was to deflect your age joke referring to my daughter as me the tech.. :D I guess the tongue sticking out smilie didn't do it. :rolleyes: .

Se la vie. :D

Speaking of good looking heads, what is the estimated head life assuming regular cleaning and demagging? With the lighter guage tape and the slower speed, it must be pretty good for these, no?
 
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a thousand words regarding unseemly 388 odor.

IMG_6876crop_1_1.jpg


Arm N Hammer's got three forms now, the original cooking box with the push in side flap, the smoke alarm shaped closet hanger, and the side peeling box that reveals a thin breathable membrane. (ooooo, aaaaaah)

It's been 3 days, and it's getting better all the time. :D
 
shedshrine said:
Speaking of good looking heads, what is the estimated head life assuming regular cleaning and demagging? With the lighter guage tape and the slower speed, it must be pretty good for these, no?
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I recall having this same conversation with A Reel Person sometime ago and we established that, starting from "0" or very, very low hours, the 388's heads should outlive the typical recordist, provided all is maintained correctly.

To give you a better estimate, they should last about 6000 (six thousand) hours of actual tape to head contact with an additional thousand or more with a relap. :eek:
 
cjacek said:
I recall having this same conversation with A Reel Person sometime ago and we established that, starting from "0" or very, very low hours, the 388's heads should outlive the typical recordist, provided all is maintained correctly.

To give you a better estimate, they should last about 6000 (six thousand) hours of actual tape to head contact with an additional thousand or more with a relap.
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ahem ...YAHOOOOO!!!


cjacek said:
That has to be the cutest "tech" I've ever seen working on the 'ol 388. ;) :D
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..really loves her job. She was humming the whole time. Worked for cheap too: a yogurt cup and a bath.
 
Hehe :) :D

Btw, thanks for posting the picts. The heads indeed look pretty much unused.

I applaud you for sticking with the 388 and restoring it. :)
 
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