timkroeger
Custom Title User
Hey there,
I just scored a 16 track 1" Tascam ATR-60/16 that's going to need some care and maintenance. I don't have much experience in servicing tape recorders but I've built and fixed tube amps, so it's mostly the mechanical part of the job I'm a little afraid of.
I didn't do much testing yet because the pinch roller is a little sticky and you can listen to the tape adhering and breaking free from the rubber surface when in play mode. I don't want to ruin the tape and what not. A new pinch roller is on the way, as is the complete original service manual and a used tentelometer (no manual or calibration gear available though ). I still need spring scales but I wanted to wait for the manual so I can be sure to get scales' with the right scale. I guess I'll need a MRL tape and some degaussing device in the near future but before I start to set up the machine there are more important things to do.
The machine came with the function select unit and I have a NIB Micro Lynx here (needed to peel the transparent foil from the display ) with complete manual and cable diagrams that I still need to hook up with the ATR. I have the 38 pin ELCOs, suitable 20 pin cable but I'm missing the damn 40 pin connectors for the system unit. I could only find those for those flat computer cable which cut the insulation so all the pins are connected, but I only need 20 pins and would rather solder or crimp the single strands. Anybody know where I could find those things? Maybe even with a housing?
I have taken some pictures of the machine and the heads and I noticed some "colouring" on the heads, don't know how to describe it. I'll attach a shot but please have a look at the page I set up for this machine. I know nothing about the history of the heads, maybe someone with experience can comment on them. Maybe they're relapped, don't know... If you need more photos, please let me know, I'd very happy if someone could have a look at and comment on them.
I also noticed that the record and repro heads sound quite different. after recording a small piece of music I compared them and I feel the sync head is sounding fine. The repro head is missing a lot of high frequencies though and sounds quite dull. Maybe you can see something on the following picture I took of the repro head when you compare it to the record head above.
Anyway, I wanted to say I've been reading here for some time now, digging out older threads about "the 58", "the MS16", "the 388", various mixer projects (I have a Tascam M-3500 32 channel console with manual & schematics now, maybe do an op amp upgrade after cleanup and that will be another project) and I feel like this is a really nice place with nice people doing really nice things. So as I am going to take care of the ATR I will update this thread along the process/progress and hopefully someone else will find the informaiton useful.
Thanks for all the info you provided already in the many threads I read.
Cheers
Tim
I just scored a 16 track 1" Tascam ATR-60/16 that's going to need some care and maintenance. I don't have much experience in servicing tape recorders but I've built and fixed tube amps, so it's mostly the mechanical part of the job I'm a little afraid of.
I didn't do much testing yet because the pinch roller is a little sticky and you can listen to the tape adhering and breaking free from the rubber surface when in play mode. I don't want to ruin the tape and what not. A new pinch roller is on the way, as is the complete original service manual and a used tentelometer (no manual or calibration gear available though ). I still need spring scales but I wanted to wait for the manual so I can be sure to get scales' with the right scale. I guess I'll need a MRL tape and some degaussing device in the near future but before I start to set up the machine there are more important things to do.
The machine came with the function select unit and I have a NIB Micro Lynx here (needed to peel the transparent foil from the display ) with complete manual and cable diagrams that I still need to hook up with the ATR. I have the 38 pin ELCOs, suitable 20 pin cable but I'm missing the damn 40 pin connectors for the system unit. I could only find those for those flat computer cable which cut the insulation so all the pins are connected, but I only need 20 pins and would rather solder or crimp the single strands. Anybody know where I could find those things? Maybe even with a housing?
I have taken some pictures of the machine and the heads and I noticed some "colouring" on the heads, don't know how to describe it. I'll attach a shot but please have a look at the page I set up for this machine. I know nothing about the history of the heads, maybe someone with experience can comment on them. Maybe they're relapped, don't know... If you need more photos, please let me know, I'd very happy if someone could have a look at and comment on them.
I also noticed that the record and repro heads sound quite different. after recording a small piece of music I compared them and I feel the sync head is sounding fine. The repro head is missing a lot of high frequencies though and sounds quite dull. Maybe you can see something on the following picture I took of the repro head when you compare it to the record head above.
Anyway, I wanted to say I've been reading here for some time now, digging out older threads about "the 58", "the MS16", "the 388", various mixer projects (I have a Tascam M-3500 32 channel console with manual & schematics now, maybe do an op amp upgrade after cleanup and that will be another project) and I feel like this is a really nice place with nice people doing really nice things. So as I am going to take care of the ATR I will update this thread along the process/progress and hopefully someone else will find the informaiton useful.
Thanks for all the info you provided already in the many threads I read.
Cheers
Tim