Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Good news. I have picked up the Tascam 388. 100 bucks. I made out like a bandit.
Tascam 388
8 channel 1/4" snake
more than 10 blank 1/4" reels
Tascam Midi-izer
all manuals for mind blowing schematics
The guy was moving and didn't want to throw out his old gear. He'd rather see it go to use ... in which it will. HE BETTER NOT THROW ANYTHING OUT! Ill take all of his aging junk!
It powers up. All the VU meters work(well at least light up). Faders and knobs move pretty smooth. But that's all I have been able to really check. I am at school then jamming tonight. After the jam, I am going to do my fiddling. I will take a picture of my deal and post it on here. The condition of the 388 appears better than I expected. It was sitting under a bunch of stuff but I could not find any real cosmetic blemishes. I need to read that manual so I can really put this thing to use. It is a beautiful piece of equipment.
My home "studio" finally feels like it's coming together. I have always felt like I was missing something very important. But as of lately, everything feels like it's falling into place. I have my DAW and my AAW and its going to sound ... raw(hopefully in a good way).
For my own pleasure, I think I will update this thread with my discoveries, failures, recordings, and whatever else that has to do with the 388. Maybe someone would be interested in getting a 388 and could reference this thread. Or maybe you guys like to hear about me fumbling through maintenance or possibly succeeding with my Tascam 388 sessions. For those who don't want me to post here about my 388. Just don't read the post, save yourself the trouble. Let it dwindle down the thread list.
Thanks for letting me post this useless information! Although I have 3 other reel to reels, they have not been pleasing. I am hoping this 388 wins me over. I am confident that it will.
Tascam 388
8 channel 1/4" snake
more than 10 blank 1/4" reels
Tascam Midi-izer
all manuals for mind blowing schematics
The guy was moving and didn't want to throw out his old gear. He'd rather see it go to use ... in which it will. HE BETTER NOT THROW ANYTHING OUT! Ill take all of his aging junk!
It powers up. All the VU meters work(well at least light up). Faders and knobs move pretty smooth. But that's all I have been able to really check. I am at school then jamming tonight. After the jam, I am going to do my fiddling. I will take a picture of my deal and post it on here. The condition of the 388 appears better than I expected. It was sitting under a bunch of stuff but I could not find any real cosmetic blemishes. I need to read that manual so I can really put this thing to use. It is a beautiful piece of equipment.My home "studio" finally feels like it's coming together. I have always felt like I was missing something very important. But as of lately, everything feels like it's falling into place. I have my DAW and my AAW and its going to sound ... raw(hopefully in a good way).
For my own pleasure, I think I will update this thread with my discoveries, failures, recordings, and whatever else that has to do with the 388. Maybe someone would be interested in getting a 388 and could reference this thread. Or maybe you guys like to hear about me fumbling through maintenance or possibly succeeding with my Tascam 388 sessions. For those who don't want me to post here about my 388. Just don't read the post, save yourself the trouble. Let it dwindle down the thread list.
Thanks for letting me post this useless information! Although I have 3 other reel to reels, they have not been pleasing. I am hoping this 388 wins me over. I am confident that it will.
H
Hi_Flyer
New member
great find. I don't really need one of these, but for that price I woulda totally jumped on this deal. these machines intrigue me, I've never seen one in person. I know one or two guys that would love to get their hands on 388 with only 200 hours on the heads...
shedshrine
Member
You're a lucky man! Here's what I went through to get one in great condition...
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:41 am Post subject: Re: Great gear you got a *bad* deal on
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Got a long one, here goes...
I got it in my noggin that I wanted another Tascam 388. I had four reels kicking around that I'd filled from my first go round with one I bought new in 1988 that I wanted to transfer, and I also had a jones to get back into tape.
I was fiending pretty bad, nothing was coming up local on craigslist, but there were usually at least a couple on ebay. Finally, an auction came up for one advertised as basically never having been used, with a colorful story behind it ..and no pictures. A couple emails back and forth before auction end and I use the buy it now. It's mine for $600.00
I end up with his phone number and we talk several times. Guy sounds cool, elderly guy who's contracted ms, used to be a studio musician in Philly in the seventies and eighties. He said he'd bought the last unopened box unit the music store had had, and though he ended up not being able to use it, kept it as inspiration to fight the ms. Said he had kept it in the livingroom to look at. I bought the story, and didn't insist on pics.
Longer story short, after a harrowing week and a half getting the shipping together on his end, I get it. I had it shipped 3 day air to minimize conveyor belt drops, and paid to have it professionally packed. I get it home and man handle it into the livingroom where I grab a kitchen knife to cut through all the packing tape.
As soon as I get a decent size cut going along one side, I pull up to look inside. Phew! Huge blast of cigarette stench that only gets stronger with each cut of bubble wrap. There is a coating on the face of the thing, and especially on the rear connections, which I guess never got wiped down.
Making things worse was that the seller lived in a severely humid area, the florida keys no less, so there is the beginnings of corrosion in several places. I'm crushed, frustrated and mad all at the same time.
I call the guy, who says," why yes I do smoke, why?" and "Well, down here everything starts to rust eventually". Of course smokers don't tend to notice the heavy smell that builds in their homes, and the effects of humidity there are so matter of fact, that the "meager" corrosion of the deck is comparatively mint in his eyes.
But, the reel to reel section has been protected all these years by the plexiglass cover and though smells a bit, fine. The heads are indeed pristine. Not having a variac, I just plug it in to see what happens. Everything lights up, 10 beautiful vu meters. I run a signal, and am surprised at the sound quality. Things aren't so bad afterall.
Encouraged, I scrub the entire thing, and the connections especially take some serious finger-numbing scrubbing. Initially with alcohol swabs for the cigarette tar, and then brasso on the chrome. Amazingly, it almost entirely comes off. Great.
I have already ordered and received a few rolls of 457, a new capstan belt as the original was complete goo, a new pinchroller and a handimag. The original pinchroller, 17 years new, is good as new after just a bit of scrubbing with a wet qtip, and turns smoothly giving accurate readout with a little machine oil. Fine.
I load up tape, and it lurches and stops. I fuss with positioning the tension arms and can get it turning a bit if I hold them, but on it's own it's just not happening. Fine, I was planning on having a tech check it out anyway.
I take it to the tech across the bay on a day off, as early as I can, planning to just hang around there in Berkeley til he calls. There's no call for quite awhile so I stop back by. He had been troubleshooting all afternoon and finally determined that the servo tension controllers are corroded, and won't allow precise adjustments. Shit!
The servo controllers are all located under a grill opening on the top deck above the vu meters. (the earliests 388s produced didn't have this grill) He needs to get some parts, so we set up a pickup date a week later.
I get there as he's opening the shop as he's agreed to let me watch him work. He has all the cool tools, and whips out a hakko desoldering gun to swap out the tiny parts. Finally everything is calibrated and up to spec and ready to rock.
All told my $600 ebay Tascam 388 ended up costing me around $1600. New, they sold for $3100 - 3300. In any case, while it didn't turn out to be the sweetest deal, the thing runs like a tank now. It's pots are scratchy here and there, and the record light for channel three doesn't light up when depressed, but these are extremely minor issues.
The end.
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:41 am Post subject: Re: Great gear you got a *bad* deal on
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Got a long one, here goes...
I got it in my noggin that I wanted another Tascam 388. I had four reels kicking around that I'd filled from my first go round with one I bought new in 1988 that I wanted to transfer, and I also had a jones to get back into tape.
I was fiending pretty bad, nothing was coming up local on craigslist, but there were usually at least a couple on ebay. Finally, an auction came up for one advertised as basically never having been used, with a colorful story behind it ..and no pictures. A couple emails back and forth before auction end and I use the buy it now. It's mine for $600.00
I end up with his phone number and we talk several times. Guy sounds cool, elderly guy who's contracted ms, used to be a studio musician in Philly in the seventies and eighties. He said he'd bought the last unopened box unit the music store had had, and though he ended up not being able to use it, kept it as inspiration to fight the ms. Said he had kept it in the livingroom to look at. I bought the story, and didn't insist on pics.
Longer story short, after a harrowing week and a half getting the shipping together on his end, I get it. I had it shipped 3 day air to minimize conveyor belt drops, and paid to have it professionally packed. I get it home and man handle it into the livingroom where I grab a kitchen knife to cut through all the packing tape.
As soon as I get a decent size cut going along one side, I pull up to look inside. Phew! Huge blast of cigarette stench that only gets stronger with each cut of bubble wrap. There is a coating on the face of the thing, and especially on the rear connections, which I guess never got wiped down.
Making things worse was that the seller lived in a severely humid area, the florida keys no less, so there is the beginnings of corrosion in several places. I'm crushed, frustrated and mad all at the same time.
I call the guy, who says," why yes I do smoke, why?" and "Well, down here everything starts to rust eventually". Of course smokers don't tend to notice the heavy smell that builds in their homes, and the effects of humidity there are so matter of fact, that the "meager" corrosion of the deck is comparatively mint in his eyes.
But, the reel to reel section has been protected all these years by the plexiglass cover and though smells a bit, fine. The heads are indeed pristine. Not having a variac, I just plug it in to see what happens. Everything lights up, 10 beautiful vu meters. I run a signal, and am surprised at the sound quality. Things aren't so bad afterall.
Encouraged, I scrub the entire thing, and the connections especially take some serious finger-numbing scrubbing. Initially with alcohol swabs for the cigarette tar, and then brasso on the chrome. Amazingly, it almost entirely comes off. Great.
I have already ordered and received a few rolls of 457, a new capstan belt as the original was complete goo, a new pinchroller and a handimag. The original pinchroller, 17 years new, is good as new after just a bit of scrubbing with a wet qtip, and turns smoothly giving accurate readout with a little machine oil. Fine.
I load up tape, and it lurches and stops. I fuss with positioning the tension arms and can get it turning a bit if I hold them, but on it's own it's just not happening. Fine, I was planning on having a tech check it out anyway.
I take it to the tech across the bay on a day off, as early as I can, planning to just hang around there in Berkeley til he calls. There's no call for quite awhile so I stop back by. He had been troubleshooting all afternoon and finally determined that the servo tension controllers are corroded, and won't allow precise adjustments. Shit!
The servo controllers are all located under a grill opening on the top deck above the vu meters. (the earliests 388s produced didn't have this grill) He needs to get some parts, so we set up a pickup date a week later.
I get there as he's opening the shop as he's agreed to let me watch him work. He has all the cool tools, and whips out a hakko desoldering gun to swap out the tiny parts. Finally everything is calibrated and up to spec and ready to rock.
All told my $600 ebay Tascam 388 ended up costing me around $1600. New, they sold for $3100 - 3300. In any case, while it didn't turn out to be the sweetest deal, the thing runs like a tank now. It's pots are scratchy here and there, and the record light for channel three doesn't light up when depressed, but these are extremely minor issues.
The end.
Herm
Well-known member
Razor Make sure you check the pinch roller for a guey feelling. If its not gooey wash it with some soap and water. If its gooey it can really mess up your heads.
Also your tape may be old enough that it will have sticky shed and can gum up your heads also. The tape can be bad enough that it will bring your machine to a halt and could burn a motor up so be careful with old tape.
I would run a roll for a short time and check the heads for tape build up.
If the tape is 457 Ampex I would be afraid of it but if it is quantegy you are good to go.
You might do a search on this forum cause Beck has listed a lot of the tape you would need to look out for.
Sounds like a great deal.
Have fun
Also your tape may be old enough that it will have sticky shed and can gum up your heads also. The tape can be bad enough that it will bring your machine to a halt and could burn a motor up so be careful with old tape.
I would run a roll for a short time and check the heads for tape build up.
If the tape is 457 Ampex I would be afraid of it but if it is quantegy you are good to go.
You might do a search on this forum cause Beck has listed a lot of the tape you would need to look out for.
Sounds like a great deal.
Have fun
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Are you nuts?!?!?
Of course we want you to post about your 388! We'd be insulted if you didn't!
Let us know what type of tapes you got in that deal. Also, no matter what cond the pinch roller and belt is, buy new ones straight from TASCAM. Let us know if you need contacts - I have several). Don't buy from eBay as sometimes they're more expensive. Rubber parts (rollers, belts) are disposable items and need to be changed every several years or so even though they 'last' longer. If you want to keep it in spec, change 'em, especially if they weren't recently. (Judging by the seller's descipt, he didin't seem very interested in that sort of thing - neither did he know the value of the 388!).
Clean the heads and tape path.
Do a search on '388' (as subject topic) in this forum and you'll come up on my 388 with lots of picts including one with the heads. That's how clean you want it to be.
If in doubt on tape, get RMGI LPR35. They go for 12 bucks and are the best you can get. It's +6 tape (but that's trivial) but it's also 1mil, which is the one you want.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
I don't have much time as I am in and out at the moment. I got the tascam in my basement.
BAD NEWS! No transport function will work. Fast forward,play,rewind. They wont light up when I touch them either. I thought maybe you had to press a button to enable the transport functions but I cannot find it in the manual. How naive could I be to not make him show me the reels spin! DOOF. Hopefully there is a solution! Ill be back in a little while to respond to your posts! Thanks guys!
BAD NEWS! No transport function will work. Fast forward,play,rewind. They wont light up when I touch them either. I thought maybe you had to press a button to enable the transport functions but I cannot find it in the manual. How naive could I be to not make him show me the reels spin! DOOF. Hopefully there is a solution! Ill be back in a little while to respond to your posts! Thanks guys!
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
With your finger, lift (up) the rightmost tape guide until it can't go any higher (be gentle) and until the capstan shaft begins spinning (even if it doesn't don't worry - belt is mostly likely off). Now, while holding that, press every function, FF / REW and PLAY. If FF and REW work then it's all good. If play doesn't work then it's most likely the belt. This is typical stuff so don't worry until you check those first.
NOTE: If all works but play / rec doesn't, listen closely if the capstan motor works (when you lift the right tape guide). It's certain then that it would be a bad belt. Typical stuff.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Update, I did what you said, unintentionally really. Fast forward and rewind work well. Play is not working. The belt is broken? Too worn? should I take looksy? Thanks for the fast response.
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
As I thought, it IS the belt. You're in business. Take a look at my edited post above:
NOTE: If all works but play / rec doesn't, listen closely if the capstan motor works (when you lift the right tape guide). It's certain then that it would be a bad belt. Typical stuff.
YOU NEED TO REMOVE AND PURCHASE A NEW BELT AND ALSO THE PINCH ROLLER (IT'S MOST LIKELY BAD TOO).
When you get to the belt, you need to clean the large flywheel with some alcohol (and lint free cloth) prior to putting on the new belt, especially if there is black goo from the belt.
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
One additional comment: When servicing the belt, make sure to secure the tape cover with some adhesive tape, slide the sliders UP and place the machine upside down on something very soft.
...and remember, ANY machine, even new / unused for the last 20 years demands a change of all rubber (pinch roller + belt). Rubber goes bad over time no matter what.
...and remember, ANY machine, even new / unused for the last 20 years demands a change of all rubber (pinch roller + belt). Rubber goes bad over time no matter what.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Hey I will replace the pinchroller and belt. The pinchroller looks pretty good but who am I to judge. On ebay there is a belt but I cannot find a pinchroller for it. I checked all the channels and they all work. I am excited to get this thing working!
I will have some pictures up hopefully soon. I want to clean the heads and get the belt and pinchroller.
I will have some pictures up hopefully soon. I want to clean the heads and get the belt and pinchroller.
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
As I said earlier, don't buy on eBay.
If you're in the USA, with credit card in hand, call TASCAM parts at (323) 727-4840 and order a pinch roller and capstan belt. (Replace both).
Looking forward to the photos!
If you're in the USA, with credit card in hand, call TASCAM parts at (323) 727-4840 and order a pinch roller and capstan belt. (Replace both).
Looking forward to the photos!
shedshrine
Member
Here's my setup which is basically centered around a Tascam 388:
(click a pic)
(click a pic)
cjacek
Analogue Enthusiast
Nice setup (is it Mike?).
2 quick questions: (1) Where does your studio exist - bedroom, basement?; (2) Electronic drums always intrigued me.. How do these sound vs 'real' drums.
All you now need is a nice 22-2.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Oh god. Thats a horrible story. Actually a horror. Maybe even a murderer. Every cigarette was slowly killing the poor 388. You saved it just in time! Luckily, your story has a happy ending. It's always feels a little sketchy when dealing with used things, especially reel to reels. They're not as simple as 1 2 3. Theres so much that can go wrong. I'd love to hear some of your recordings with it, if you have them digitized. I can't wait to get mine up and running. My bandmate wants to record our album on it ... and we don't even know what it sounds like. It's just this sort of unknown that we are both really excited about. I can't wait to begin to understand everything thats going on. I might not be the first to catch on but I know I will.
The pinchroller seems to appear in good condition. No goo. I do have rubber cleaner as well. I have read that soap and water may not be a good idea. The water will dry out the rubber quicker. I'm going to try and get a new pinchroller anyways.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Sick setup shedshrine. Very organized home studio. Beautiful to see it based around the 388. I wish my space was that neat! It's is a work in progress. A work that will never be completed...
I like the lamp on top of the 388... I might just throw one on their. Inspired by shedshrine.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Sorry cjacek! I just got to sit down for the first time and really read through the posts. Sorry for making you repeat yourself more than once!
I need to thank you for your help in getting this ball rolling. You have already proven to be a great help to me! Any way I can order tascam parts through tascam online? Maybe a little far fetched ...
I am going to go downstairs and take a few pictures of the machine and the other beautiful JUNK!
I cleaned the heads but the tape path needs more work before pictures can be revealed! It is honestly somewhat surreal to have this monster in my basement. I have seen pictures online and it always just seemed mythical, unknown, or non-existent. I would always look at the pictures online and be like "Why would they stop making those things, I would love to get my hands on one." Now it's coming true... I can't restrain my excitement.
I even like listening to my voice through headphones on the 388. I can't wait to play with the sweepable eq's. Lord have mercy.
Erockrazor
I mix in (2x) real-time
Looking forward to the photos!
Disclaimer: Not a photographer. Battery was going dead before I started the picture taking. Would of maybe like a shot of the back and shot from the top. Maybe next time! Hope some enjoy!
Still a little gunk on the tape path. If you see anything more to clean, speak up please! As for the tapes. All of the Scotch 226 but one ("mastering tapes") are still shrink wrapped. The Ampex 456 is completely sealed. The Scotch 808 ("recording tapes"), one is wrapped and one is open. I was planning to use the open one.
shedshrine
Member
Here's the last thing I recorded on the 388:
Blinded Mix 4
My recording setup is in our guestroom under a bunk bed. I wish I had a basement as that would rule!
I have never enjoyed programming drums as it's much more fun to play them, even if that means they are just virtual. You can't finesse them like a real kit, but they are a necessary compromise at this point as we don't have room for a real set let alone the soundproofing needed.
The mesh head ones are better because you don't hear the stick hitting the hard rubber pads, you just hear the drum sounds. They are also 5,000 bucks. The first sets Roland put out, the td7 kits, should be pretty cheap by now I'd imagine.
I run the stereo outs of the drum "brain" through an ART ProVLA and it gels them together nicely. In the mix they blend in pretty well.
Blinded Mix 4
My recording setup is in our guestroom under a bunk bed. I wish I had a basement as that would rule!
I have never enjoyed programming drums as it's much more fun to play them, even if that means they are just virtual. You can't finesse them like a real kit, but they are a necessary compromise at this point as we don't have room for a real set let alone the soundproofing needed.
The mesh head ones are better because you don't hear the stick hitting the hard rubber pads, you just hear the drum sounds. They are also 5,000 bucks. The first sets Roland put out, the td7 kits, should be pretty cheap by now I'd imagine.
I run the stereo outs of the drum "brain" through an ART ProVLA and it gels them together nicely. In the mix they blend in pretty well.
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