Teac A-3340s problem(Mp3 included)

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SoundBall

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Alright, first post. So i just got this Teac 4-track, i got it real cheap.

I cleaned the heads very well with q-tips and 99% Iso. Alcahol, because they were covered in a THICK layer of sticky tape shed, and nowthey are perfectly clean. They have a little bit of wear, but I don't think its that big of an issue.

Ok, so It works great, but the problem is that the Front-Left, and Rear-Right channels (track 1 & 4), sound muffled and have a slightly lower output. This effect only happens on things i record, but they'll playback other tapes just fine.
(affects both Mic and Line inputs)

So, I'm wondering, does this have anything to do with the record head? is it too worn? I think these are the edge tracks on the tape, is it possible that the tape I'm using doesn't line up with the wear pattern of the tape heads? or could this be an "internal" problem.

Whatever the case is, I really don't want to take this to a tech. Any help out there?

I've included two mp3's for comparison, track 1(muffled), track 2(clear)
 

Attachments

demagnetize the head and then try it! if that doesn't work, it could be any number of things, something wrong with the head, something wrong with the electronics, i would also clean AGAIN, maybe even a couple more times, sometimes that stuff can get in there really bad. since its on the edge tracks, it could also be something not correct with the head placement but i would demag first.

i have had this problem before, i always clean AND demagnetize and it goes away.
 
Another thing to consider - tape heads wear like tires. The outer edges might be worn out more than the inner edges, and may not make as good of a contact or wrap on the tape as the inner tracks. You probably have to calibrate 1 and 4 record and repro levels to compensate for this wear.

You'd do yourself a favor to get a calibration tape, a good-quality VU meter and a service manual. Or if you don't wanna fuss with all of that you can try increasing the record level tweakers, and increasing the repro level tweakers slightly on 1 and 4, but "on the fly" calibrations are risky, and can cause undesired results if you don't have a calibration tape.
 
don't know if these pictures might provide some insight, these are the records heads, they're a bit worn as you can see. yeah, i'll definetly demag, and see if that helps

head2.jpg


head1.jpg
 
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It almost looks looks like these heads are gonna start to open up a bit.:confused:
 
the split in the middle on the edge tracks is a bad sign, but go ahead with the other recommendations ... they may still have some life left!
 
Just demagnetize... the other thing I would suggest would be to clean the heads, but Im pretty sure you already have. Anyways, hope you get it to work.
 
The split is normal...those heads don't look like they're ready to open up to me anyway...azimuth is a bit off but I wouldn't change it now...Can you get tracks one and four to perform better by dickering with the sync switches there on the head cover?
 
alright, so i went ahead and lapped it myself, because i figured the problem was that groove. Well, all i gotta say is it looks great, no groove, just look at the before and after picture! I still have to install the head, and hope it works.

lapp1.jpg


lapp2.jpg
 
Looks good.

Be sure and do a full recalibration because lapping increases the head gap a bit.

You know the drill, azimuth, playback levels and EQ, record bias, yadda-yadda...
 
Alright, I installed the head...

Good News: It works great! No groove!
Bad News: tracks 1 and 4 are still a tad muffled

I guess it could also be the playback head(it was just as worn)

I'm gonna try some RMGI tape

hmm....
 
ok well, even though this model tape deck allows you to remove the heads without messing with the alignment, i checked the azimuth on the record head just to be sure, and it wasn't off really.

so i think the heads have been ruled out as the problem

i'm gonna check the bias and eq
 
alright, i solved it, i lapped the Playback head, and now its working perfectly.

thank you to everyone who offered help though
 
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