Tascam 388 low, almost no playback volume...

[WhinyLittleRunt]

I just set my 388 up after not using it for many months, and immediately noticed two problems: first, the tape that I had previously recorded on, the actual recording played back slow. Now, I may very well have tried to erase that tape with a bulk tape eraser but don't remember... Any idea what would cause a previous recording to play back at such a slow speed? The actual transport seems to be running at the correct speed. Second, I'm getting almost no output, none with DBX in use. I understand the workings of the machine, so I don't think it's something I'm doing... I recorded some test stuff just for reference, and it plays back at almost no output. Speed is fine. Is it possible something got jarred loose? I did move it around a little bit but not much. Should I maybe go in and reseat cards? What's odd is that I can at least hear my recording slightly so I know it went to tape...

 

[A Reel Person]

It's very hard to say.

You have to make sure the head is spotlessly clean.
Sometimes a tape can accidentally get wound onto the reel upside down.
For there to be a slowness and drop in volume might both indicate sticky shed.

 

[WhinyLittleRunt]

Oh. Wow. I am so stupid...

So, there's nothing wrong with the machine. I was using the wrong tape... I was pulling cards, checking fuses etc, all along I was looking at the reel of Maxell tape and realized that it was not the one I had been recording on. I was recording on an Ampex tape that came with the unit when I got it. I found the tape and played it and all was well. The slow playing? I actually played the same tune on the "bad" tape slower originally!

The issue with the tape I think is that it's wound backwards... I have 4 of these NOS 35-90 tapes, and I remember thinking there was something wrong with the machine originally because of this same issue. Is it still possible for the signal to leak through the wrong side of the tape so that I was still able to hear some of my recording? At any rate, so I can be sure, what is the best method of rewinding that tape correctly? And can I do it right inside the 388?

 

[A Reel Person]

Bingo!

Put the upside down-wound tape on the left side, thread it normally past the right tension roller, and give it a 180 degree turn before winding it onto the takeup reel. Play the tape thru to the right reel. IF your tape is wound tails out, or if you want to keep the tape on it's original reel, put the full upside down-wound reel on the right, and rewind it to the left first. Then proceed to play it thru to the right again, while flipping it just past the right tension roller.

 

[A Reel Person]

You have to make sure the head is spotlessly clean.
Sometimes a tape can accidentally get wound onto the reel upside down.
For there to be a slowness and drop in volume might both indicate sticky shed.

I'm taking the gratuitous opportunity to quote myself!

PS: Ever wonder how I knew about the tape wound upside down-thing?

 

[WhinyLittleRunt]

Ugh... my belt fell off. Too loose, needs to be replaced...
I have a 38 that isn't working right that I just put a belt in last year and barely even ran it; will that be the same size?

 

[A Reel Person]

I don't think so...

I would not do you any favors trying to remember the sizes, then quote it wrong, but as I remember they are different.

 

[jpmorris]

I understand the TSR-8 and 388 belts are interchangeable. I don't think the same goes for the 38.