TASCAM 133B manual request ... will pay $$$ ... need asap!

[cjacek]

Hi,

Could someone please scan and email me the TASCAM 133B manual ? Thing is that I need it NOW and will pay $10 USD for your trouble, via PayPal. If you wish to help then please send me a PM (Private Message).

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[Vintage TX]

Daniel, what do you need to know ?
I have the same model here.

Be glad to help if I can.

 

[cjacek]

Daniel, what do you need to know ?
I have the same model here.

Be glad to help if I can.

Ok, Rolf! Thanks!!

Here's the situation: I pretty much understand all of the functions and have played back and recorded on this unit as if it were a stereo cassette deck. I must first say that this thing is a large and heavy beast - beautiful looking and well built tho! I was surprised how robust and clean the recordings are (with both standard + double speed). Even dubbed a cd onto it and found the sound indistinguishable (if that's a word ) to the cd. Amazing sound.

Ok, anyway, first I wanted to state the positive but now some puzzling issues I find unresolved. Ok, I hooked up the outs (L + R) of my cd recorder to the both ins (RCA L + R) at the back of the 133B. I then hit BOTH the "Rec." buttons under the L-Audio and R-Audio and also made sure the 2 "Line" buttons were selected as well. I adjusted the L + R input controls (had to depress Rec + pause to hear) so that both the VU's were working (at around "0" db). I was hearing the cd, in stereo, in my headphones, which were hooked up to the 133B. I then played back the recording, on the 133B cassette, and found it very well recorded. I then wanted to record something else, in exactly the same way, OVER the existing recording I made earlier. Well, despite trying to do everything exactly the same and checking everything many times over, I still had the previous recording playing in the background, tho muted but still there. Yes, the new recording was there on both channels (stereo) but the previous sounds came through on what seemed like the right channel (and mayber even the left. What's going on here ???

Thanks!

Daniel

 

[Vintage TX]

Daniel, the only thing that can cause poor erase is the erase-head. Check that first, could be dirt of the tape does not go up against the erase head properly.

You did all the controls right when recording and playback Daniel.
I really like the 133 almost better then 122 MKII because of 2 speeds and the sound.

 

[cjacek]

Daniel, the only thing that can cause poor erase is the erase-head. Check that first, could be dirt of the tape does not go up against the erase head properly.

You did all the controls right when recording and playback Daniel.
I really like the 133 almost better then 122 MKII because of 2 speeds and the sound.

Yes, the sound is quite spectacular if it weren't for the issue I have. So, as I understand it, it is certainly a mechanical fault of some sort rather than anything else ? See, the problem is that this particular unit looks absolutely new and the heads and all look unused. I've cleaned the heads and all is good. No dirt or anything. Is there anything I can do to remedy the situation myself ? If not then how much would it cost to have it fixed normally ?

I've also hooked up my dynamic mic directly to the XLR input and can't get any sound going. I did everything right (pushed "mic" etc ..) but nothing. I've also switched the "XLR" in the back so it "knows" I'm going via the XLR. Still nothing ..

Daniel

 

[Vintage TX]

That's strange Daniel
If the unit was shipped, maybe some connection came loose inside. Take the cover off and look inside for loose wires etc.
I don't have a schematic for 133 but got a parts-deck if you need something Daniel.
Did you check if the heads goes up properly to the tape when engaged on Play ?
When you have the cover off follow the wires coming from the erase head to the left side of the cassette compartment.
If I remember right it should be white and black and goes out on the bottom left corner (facing front) check where they goes to the pc-board and that connection (white/plastic)

Let me know what you find Daniel.
I can take the one apart here to send some more info if you need.

Did you buy Ebay or privat?

 

[The Ghost of FM]

Incomplete erasure could be a because of a few different possibilities.

The first one, dirty erase head/poor head to tape pressure from the head not coming up sufficiently to contact the tape, which has been discussed here already.

The other thing that comes to mind is that the 133 was designed to work exclusively with type II, high bias cassette formulations only. If you use a type IV, METAL tape in there, your first pass recording will indeed sound wonderful but, the second pass recording can not be 100% erased because of the higher erase standard for Metal tape. You will hear a faint "ghost" from the previous recording on this deck.

Daniel,

Are you using a metal, type IV cassette in there? If so, that would explain your problem.

Cheers!

 

[A Reel Person]

Uhuh, uhuh.

Daniel,

The XLR inputs are for a +4dbU signal,... that is derived from a mixer's or preamp's output. An SM57 plugged directly into the XLR inputs does not have enough juice to drive them.

The erase problem is either a dirty erase head, [most likely], an erase bias or erase head alignment issue.

Finding the erase head connection to the PC card, removing and reseating it, could be a good first troubleshooting step. Oxidation of the connector could be causing a less than perfect connection, & conduit for erase current.

 

[cjacek]

That's strange Daniel
If the unit was shipped, maybe some connection came loose inside. Take the cover off and look inside for loose wires etc.
I don't have a schematic for 133 but got a parts-deck if you need something Daniel.
Did you check if the heads goes up properly to the tape when engaged on Play ?
When you have the cover off follow the wires coming from the erase head to the left side of the cassette compartment.
If I remember right it should be white and black and goes out on the bottom left corner (facing front) check where they goes to the pc-board and that connection (white/plastic)

Let me know what you find Daniel.
I can take the one apart here to send some more info if you need.

Did you buy Ebay or privat?

Yes, I took the cover off and it looked nice and clean in there - very new. I was shocked how full of electronics it was in there, as compared to the cassette decks they make today!

Yeah, so I haven't seen any loose connections.

Yes, the heads go up properly when rec/play is engaged. All good there.

Unfortunately it's very hard to see in there and I couldn't follow the erase head wires. I'm actually taking it to a TASCAM authorized service center so we'll see .... If I need parts then I'll let you know! Thanks!! It actually may be worth the repair 'cause this particulat 133B looks very new, inside and out. Has many of the functions of the original 122 but I've never seen a 122 in a truly mint condition so I just got this one, for $91 bucks!

Btw, I bought it on eBay.

Daniel

 

[cjacek]

Daniel, the only thing that can cause poor erase is the erase-head. Check that first, could be dirt of the tape does not go up against the erase head properly.

Could it be then, that the erase head is misaligned ? I "eyed it" and it looks straight to me ..

Daniel

 

[cjacek]

The first one, dirty erase head/poor head to tape pressure from the head not coming up sufficiently to contact the tape, which has been discussed here already.

The heads are very clean and cleaned once again by me for good measure. It looks to me that the heads are coming up strong to the tape.

The other thing that comes to mind is that the 133 was designed to work exclusively with type II, high bias cassette formulations only. If you use a type IV, METAL tape in there, your first pass recording will indeed sound wonderful but, the second pass recording can not be 100% erased because of the higher erase standard for Metal tape. You will hear a faint "ghost" from the previous recording on this deck.

Yes, there is a "ghost" (a bit more pronounced that that however) but only on the right side as the left side seemed to have been erased properly by the new sounds. I'm only using chrome type II tapes. No metal. I know.

Now, mind you that when I re-record another song onto the previous material, that the left side is erased (I hear no "ghost") but the right side has about 50% erasure. Is it possibe (probable) that it could be just head mis-allignment ?

Thanks Jeff!

Daniel

 

[cjacek]

Re: Uhuh, uhuh.

Daniel,

The XLR inputs are for a +4dbU signal,... that is derived from a mixer's or preamp's output. An SM57 plugged directly into the XLR inputs does not have enough juice to drive them.

The erase problem is either a dirty erase head, [most likely], an erase bias or erase head alignment issue.

Finding the erase head connection to the PC card, removing and reseating it, could be a good first troubleshooting step. Oxidation of the connector could be causing a less than perfect connection, & conduit for erase current.

That make sense because when I initially recorded on tape, hooked up my receiver to the outs (of the 133B) and adjusted the "output" (on the 133B), I noticed "static" upon turning the right "output" knob. This went away after "working" the knob some. The 133B was unused for a long while. Perhaps it's the same with the erase head circuitry ??

The erase head (and all inside the tape compartment) is very clean, unused so I don't think it's dirt. What, may I ask is "erase bias" ? Also, do you think that if I get 50% erasure on only the right side, that the most likely scenario might be mis-alignment ? What would you believe the cause to be if you were presented with an unused unit, absolutely mint and this was the problem. Obviously it can't be from overuse etc .. How would a head get mis-alligned then ? What about oxidation ? Could it be just from being stored and unused ? As a ball park area, what would you think a job like this, in the most likely scenario, could cost ? Is this a very complicated and lengthy job to diagnose and fix ? Also, is it at all fair for me to ask TASCAM to do a free estimate ?

Thanks!

Daniel

 

[cjacek]

Someone just suggested I use a bulk tape eraser for a quick (and cheap) fix solution! I like it!!!

Daniel

 

[A Reel Person]

Erase bias is an electronic adjustment.

If it's not a dirty head, as you've said, and it's truly a low-or-no use like-new-133, then it's probably erase bias current that needs to be adjustment. All those analog adjusments will drift off spec with age. I doubt it's an erase head alignment issue.

However, I still think that there's a possibility that the erase current may be less than par, from oxidation on the connector, which is also common with age. I'd still recommend finding the connector, removing it and reseating it. A little contact cleaner couldn't hurt, too.

I don't know if a bulk eraser is an ideal solution, but if it works for you, I'll not criticize. Just bulk erase far enough away from any of your other tapes or magnetic media, and you should be okay.

 

[cjacek]

Thanks ever so much once again Dave, Rolf and Jeff .. but could you please lead me by-the-hand somewhat to check what you suggest and perhaps fix it ? Going to a TASCAM repair centre is out of the question as the estimate alone is about 50 bucks, I found, and the repair is $80 per hour and God knows what's wrong, how long it will take and if they'll need parts! Plus, I don't want the repair guy scratching my "new" 133B! This recorder cost me 90 bucks + shipping and this thing looks and operates like new, absolutely new. However, there is evidence of non-use as I had to work one of the output pots quite a bit to get some static out out the sound, as witch each turn of the knob "static" would creep in. I had to turn it left and right many times to get it all out. Now it works perfectly! There's not a scratch on the unit and that it is not dusty at all, inside and out. I've got a $1000 unit for 1/10 of the price so the last thing I wanna do is spend hundreds to fix it. I wanna do this myself, if you guys wanna help me ? I took some pictures and there's so many wires and such, that I don't want to mess something up or do something inappropriate. Please help me out. What do I do next ? Thanks ever so much!!

Daniel

 

[cjacek]

Heads ...

 

[cjacek]

133B (naked)

 

[A Reel Person]

That is beautiful!!

I'll give'ya 100 bucks for it!

 

[Track Rat]

Dave, you're a bigger gear slut than I am. By the way, have you seen my new (well, it's new to me) M-3500?

 

[A Reel Person]

There's hardly a bigger gearslut than me! ... try as you may!

I saw the pictorial of the Track Rat M3500 retrofit! Man, cool! That's a lot of wiring, but you obviously know what you're doing! WTG, & congrats on the new mixer!!

The last major piece of gear I bought was,... [can't remember].

I believe it was,... the Fostex MC-102, the Fostex FD-8, & the Tascam 488mkII,... all purchased many months ago, in summer of 2003. It's about time I scored more gear, eh?