Tascam BR-20T Story...

  • Thread starter Thread starter sweetbeats
  • Start date Start date
Hm...

The BR-20 manual indicates that the sync and repro head part numbers are both unique from both the 20N and 20D models... :mad:

The 3-track head isn't listed in the openreel.net parts list, and the "proper" repro head is 21900 yen. :(
 
They usually put 'on back order' or 'discontinued', if not available, so I'm pretty sure they have the belt for the BR-20. I ordered a bunch of stuff from that place and they always had in stock as indicated on their site. It's worth checking out.

Also the BR-20N / 32 heads are 6900 yen which is 69USD, based on xe.com

Again, why couldn't you fit the regular BR-20 heads into the 20T? I bet it could be done, may be worth exploring that area and it'd be much cheaper. ;)

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why couldn't you fit the regular BR-20 heads into the 20T? I bet it could be done, may be worth exploring that area and it'd be much cheaper.
Click to expand...

That'd work for the repro head, but I do want the timecode track on the sync head...

BTW, heard back from Tascam on the capstan belts and they have them in stock for $10.37. ;)
 
Ordered tape today (two pancakes of SM900...planning on going sans noise reduction when using this deck and I figured the extra headroom may come in handy, and the SM900 was actually cheaper than the SM911...:eek:...by about $5.)

Also ordered an MRL tape...21J203...multi-frequency 15ips IEC.

Once I have those stuffs I can (at some point :rolleyes:) get the BR-20T into spec (hopefully) and start doing things with it.
 
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Another Kudo for Tascam...BR-20T Sync Cable Schemo

Called Tascam Operational Support today to get a schematic for the interface cables for the BR-20T and the ES-50 synchronizer. I had to wait on hold for about 2 minutes, Jimmy answered, knew what I was looking for and had it faxed to me within minutes. I had a question on a diode placement so I called again and got right through and my question was answered cheerfully in seconds.

These are relatively obscure technical questions on 10-20 year old gear, and the support is as if it is current run.

Its not always that way, but it sure is nice when it is and I personally feel Tascam does a good job of this at least with the things for which I have called them...
 
Took a little time out to clean up and repair the RC-402 remote...it had tape residue on the cable, needed a hood for the connector and a general cleaning up.


Here is the before shot:

RC-402%20Before.JPG


Here is the after shot:

RC-402%20After.JPG
 
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Clearly this deck has been on the back-burner, but I did take a little time to resolve the meter lamp issue...

One of the bulbs was burned out and they are in series...one goes they all go. Now of course the luminescence looks different. :rolleyes: Oh well. The other original one will burn out sometime too and I have one more spare bulb. ;)

BR-20T%20Meter%20Lamps%20Repaired.JPG
 
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Love the BR-20, you sure have a number of projects going on! Sounds like fun though!
 
heheh...yeeeahhh...its a sickness I think...working hard recently to get on top of all the projects and then do some coasting...
 
What would that look like anyway? The intervention? Like jpegs of grim-faced people sitting in a circle?

Some of these repair jobs are going pretty quick tho' too, so don't circle up just yet...:D

I think the meter lamp repair on this here BR-20T took me about an hour, and that includes cleaning the dust out of it, digging around out in the shop looking for the bulb, and it is a solder-in type bulb so getting all the burnin' tools too...and...um...unh...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
 
I was gonna bite the bullet...

I don't even like using a new to me deck until I've gone through it and set it up. Sad, but its how I'm wired. So I really have done little with the BR since purchase since it has been in the backseat so-to-speak...I was gonna do something very non-sweetbeats-ish the other night at use the BR to track safety masters of some vocal tracking I was doing through the M-___ mixer to my DAW...well, in the time I've owned the BR the pinch roller has gone tacky. :( 65 bucks from Teac and currently out of stock so I'm going to press the bearing out, send it to Terry Witt to be re-rubbered and source a high-quality replacement bearing...It will cost about 50 bucks to do all and it'll be better than stock. I was so close to being normal for a moment...
 
Pinch roller back in...

I got the pinch roller back from Terry Witt several weeks ago. The turnaround was really quick. Another testament to Terry's work. The roller really looks nice.

IMG_2822_1_1.JPG



So I put together a couple 1/4" reels out of parts to try the BR out. I've had it for a year. Haven't even rolled tape on it. As I was getting ready to put the reel on the supply table I noticed that a part missing from the reel adapter...it is a twist-on metal shim. The clamper doesn't clamp wthout it because the reel is too thin for the tabs on the clamper to apply pressure. ARG! Its wierd. I never noticed it was gone before, but sure enough I look back on pictures and it was never there...this is the part I'm talking about:

IMG_2825_4_1.JPG



I was delivering some gear to evm1024 today. I told him about the debacle since he's a fellow BR-20 owner. He happens to have a spare shim. :eek:

So, I'll have the shim soon. :D:D:D

I must admit, I rolled tape anyway even though the supply reel slipped around some. Tested basic transport functions and one of the memory positions. So far so good, and it was really refreshing to run tape on...ANYthing.

Here's the list of machines I own:

  • Ampex 440B
  • Ampex 440C
  • Ampex 440-8
  • Ampex MM-1000
  • Tascam BR-20T
  • Tascam 388
  • Tascam 234

Know how many of them work? Up until today none that I knew of. :o:rolleyes::eek:

Do you have any idea how refreshing it is to know I have a working machine??!

The 388 is close, the MM-1000 may very well work but I don't know yet and I'm taking it really slow until I know things are healthy on the machine.
 
I feel really stupid saying this, but I ran tape on the BR-20T for the first time since I got it a year and a half ago... :o

The reason I want to bring this up though is man that thing handles tape nicely...VERY smooth, precise and gentle. I was impressed and I'm excited to do some work with it.
 
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