5/16/2023 0 Comments Tapedeck recorder![]() I used the line-in and line-out RCA jacks on the rear panel. The ridges appear as an irregular surface rather than smooth. If there are visible ridges, this can cause tape damage over time. March 16, 2021– When using the deck, including winding and re-winding, make sure the tape is wound smoothly with no visible ridges of the edges of the tape (photo below). The back-coat improves the tape’s mechanical performance during playing and winding, but also storage. On the rear of the tape is a back-coating, often being carbon black (carbon powder). The base is coated with primer, and then the other substances applied. The various substances mentioned above are applied to the base material, which has been different types of plastic over the years (paper was used early on). Varying signal levels (loudness) are represented by the strength of the magnetization. As the tape passes the recording head, the iron particles are magnetized with their North/South orientation determined by the direction of the current flow in the head. On tape for RTR tape decks and other recorders like cassette decks, there are very small iron particles, stabilizer, lubricant, and binder. I am currently also testing RTM SM-900 which is a studio mastering tape. LPR35 tape from Mulann Industries also should have the brown side facing the tape heads. The brown side is shown on the bottom, and the black side is shown on the top. Here is a photo of both sides of ATR Magnetics Master Tape. Both sides are shiny, so there can be confusion. I have seen comments on forums where one person says the shiny side faces the heads and another person says the dull side faces the heads. March 12, 2021– For ATR Magnetics Master Tape, shown below, make sure the brown side of the tape faces the tape heads. Here is a photo of the repaired GX-625 deck. I was told that such decks were used by radio stations and got heavy use, and thus, the heads are usually very worn (they look flattened) and may require what is called re-lapping, which means polishing them so that the surfaces are not flattened. I had originally considered a deck with 15 IPS speed capability. I found information stating that certain brands and models had reliability issues such as motors, capacitors leaking or exploding, etc. It is not a fancy deck with a lot of features. The Akai GX-625 is supposed to be one of the best consumer reel-to-reel decks that Akai manufactured. If I had not had his advice, I would have been screwed because I might have ended up with a deck that has reliability issues. Ask about any negative experiences with the repair shop you are considering. If you purchase a deck, and it needs repairs, go to reel-to-reel forums and ask for opinions on the best repair shops for your brand and model. Ask about the brand and model number on reel-to-reel tape deck forums as to the quality of the deck and any known design problems. Check for availability of parts before purchasing the deck. This is not the case for all brands of tape decks. Repair parts on the Akai were easily available. If you plan to purchase a used deck, which just about all tape decks are, you have to be really careful, and expect that it will need repairs. ![]() I don’t believe this deck was serviced at all. The deck originally arrived with brown tape residue all over the guides and heads (photo below). When I purchased the deck, the company selling the deck said it was serviced. ![]() I went around in circles getting the insurance that I bought at the same time to agree to pay the repair claim. The parts were generic, so there is no reason why the first repair guy I sent the deck to in the middle of the country (USA) should have had the deck for five months without repairing it. Shipping to and from the East Coast where the repairs were done was about $135 each way (I live in California). So, it appears that checking out the potential repair station where you might be sending your vintage reel-to-reel tape deck is absolutely critically important. He replaced three transistors, fixed the electronic speed control, lubricated appropriate parts, cleaned everything, and fully calibrated it for ATR tape. He repaired it in one week, saying that the parts were generic and easily obtainable. Once I got the Akai GX-625 tape back deck from the repair station that kept it for five months without repairing it, I found and sent the deck to another repair station on the East Coast. ![]()
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