Tape screech 1/4" 8 track

[oode]

I have an older Tascam 388 that uses 1/4" reel to reel and i have been using it for a while, but it has sat a lot for the last 2 years. I am moving some stuff off it to digital, and during playback, I have been having problems with the tape screeching on the guides(kind of sounds like a loud version of what you hear when you over tighten the reel of tape). The tape is some older Sony stuff I got a while ago, and that my be the main problem. I keep cleaning the transport but nothing I do gets rid of it.

I am at my wits end trying to get this tape transferred. I got one song moved over by holding the tape off the guide with a q-tip, but I don't know that my hand steadiness is good enough to keep the alignment consistent.

ANY help much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Wil Davis]

The tape is getting old and is starting to shed oxide. There is a thread on how to deal with this problem in the "analog only" section - it involves "baking" the tape. The guides and heads of the recorder will need cleaning also - this is a much easier job, and should be done each time the recorder is used.

Good Luck -

- Wil

PS: here's the thread:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=18342

 

[beyond_therapy]

don't you hate that.

i had that problem a few years ago with back treated tapes. I stripped my machine and checked all the belts to only to find out of a buddy of mine that is was the back of the tape sticking to the guides. Also brought a 2track machine from old studio in melbourne with some old tapes most where ampex 456 tape from the 80's the tape was F**ked if you tried to FF the tape it would just stick to the guides and leave black coating all over them and anything the it came in contact with. good luck

 

[oode]

Update

The tape is old Sony PR-150 I got free, you know you really do pay for free stuff, anyway it was old when I got it 8 years ago with the deck, and I Used it anyway, now I pay!!!! IT isn't really coming apart, and only 1 song section seems to be bad, a part we had to rework when we were recording. So, the upshot is, I cleaned the trasport really well (using thread in the corners as suggested by someone) and made it through the song, but I think that bit of tape is done for, unless I can find some silicone.

Thanks for the help.

 

[A Reel Person]

Yeah, the tape is shot.

The 388's still an awesome machine, though, and new 7" 1/4" reel tape can still be bought from media suppliers.

I have a 388, and I think it's one of the coolest machines, ever.