Tascam 246: concern on possible purchase, questions

[Cliff K]

Hey folks,
I'm thinking of buying a used Tascam 246 Portastudio, but the seller claims that there is one problem: when the machine has not warmed up the pinch roller strips the backing off the tape, but once the machine has warmed up the problem goes away. He claims that he had all the belts and other rubber parts replaced, but didn't have the pinch roller replaced, and that the problem is caused by an old pinch roller. Is this problem familair to anyone, does the seller's diagnosis sound correct? How expensive/big a deal is it to replace or fix it? This will be my first Portstudio if I get it, but I don't want to get a machine that is seriously flawed as I've no experience with these. I've heard good things about the 246, and the price is $75 which is good for me if it works! There is also a Porta One for sale even cheaper that supposedly works fine...I know it has less features than the 246, but would I be better off with that with out the problem that the 246 has?
Any help you can offer to me is really appreciated!
Thanks,
Cliff

 

[A Reel Person]

The pinch roller sounds like it's worn out,...

and very likely needs to be replaced.

$75 is a good price for this unit, that otherwise needs service, so it's a wash financially, if you're prepared to have the 246 serviced to replace the pinch roller, which could cost another $100-$150.

See, the pinch roller itself is like a $9 part, but it takes $125 labor to install it, unless you're a DIY'er, like me. I've replaced the pinch roller on a Tascam Portastudio 244 & 234 Syncaset, and it's a significant teardown. Not that I couldn't handle it, I could, 'cause I'm a tech by trade, but I wouldn't want the unsuspecting newbie to try to replace his own pinch roller on a 246. It's just too complicated a teardown. I think $75 is fair, since the unit needs service.

I doubt very much if you'd want to start recording on projects, only to have the 246 occasionally decide to eat your tape. You know that's not gonna fly. If you buy this unit, you'll obviously have to commit to fixing it too.

The 246 is a great machine, and it's worth fixing. A person like me would jump at the $75/246 and just fix it myself for a real cost saving. The person who needs professional tech services would be about a wash financially with this unit, since a near-mint 246 in good working condition would cost about $225.

I'd say, go for it, buy it and get it fixed at Tascam Service in LA.

 

[A Reel Person]

Pound for pound and buck for buck,...

the 246 that needs minor repair is still worth having over the PortaOne. The 246 is one of the most top of the line Portastudio designs ever, and the PortaOne was the low end recorder of the line, but honestly, the PortaOne still handily blows away the Porta02 and MF-p01, relatively speaking, but is no match for the 246. The 246 is so much of a superior unit to the PortaOne, it's not even funny.

I'd go for the 246, fix it, and maybe if there's money left over, I'd then purchase the PortaOne as a second recorder, to use as a quick & dirty sketchpad or field recorder.

If you want one Portastudio, given your choices, the 246 is still the best recorder for the best deal, even though it will require repair. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with having a PortaOne as a second recorder to the 246.

 

[Cliff K]

Thanks for your response

Thanks a lot for your response, Reel Person...that's just the advice I need. I'm going to check the 246 out. I think I'd be happy with a good unit with new replacement parts that won't need to be replaced for a while for the same coast as a unit that may require this maintenace sooner as I'm sure these older units usually have a lot of hours on them (how old are these?).
Thanks again,
Cliff

 

[kernmount]

I loved my 246

I bought the 246 when it first came out. I loved it was a great rig.

I sold it about 9 years ago, and have missed it ever since. It was a solid piece of equipment.

I say, go for it.

 

[A Reel Person]

The 246 was originally released in 1986,...

so that makes the average 246 about 15 years old.

No doubt, a functioning 246 that doesn't need work is worth paying for, over and above the 246 that needs repair, unless you're a committed DIY'er who's looking to refurbish fixer uppers on the cheap.