Sony TC 388-4 questions

[captainwrong]

Hey, the newbie has another question or two

Luck be with me, I think I'm going to be aquiring a Sony TC-388-4 deck. However it's got a couple of problems (I have the deck at my house right now.)

First up, the small belt to move the take up reel during play has snapped. Any leads on a good source for this. I'm sure this question has been asked a million times and a Google search turns up several options. I'm just curious where people have had good expirences.

Second, one of the VU meters appears to be non fuctional. It lights up, but doesn't move. Any thoughts?

Third, it seems like the left front is not recording. It's difficult to tell because I am using really old tapes for testing and I'm having to advance the reel by hand (see question number one.) I know there is a number of variables that could be causing the problem, but I'm pretty sure that I have everything hooked up right and all that.

Fourth, where's a good place to get a service manual? Another question I'm sure you're all rolling your eyes at, but again a search has turned up several sources...

Fifth, given all this, what is a fair price to offer for this deck? The missing recording channel worries me, but I realize it could be simply in need of a good cleaning/de-mag. I know this is going to be a fix-er-up but, providing it's nothing too major I can probably do it.

Thanks for putting up with all my questions. I'm learning a lot reading here!

 

[timbre4]

You've got a project machine! Take-up belt is minor affair...

The first thing is to swap some cables around to confirm that it's the unit and not the cables or sources. If after doing this, it still doesn't record on that channel or the VU meter fails to move, then it's the machine.

Another factor is what can you repair yourself and is there a pro nearby for more difficult repairs?

Sounds like a $50 deck so far...

Happy New Year and good luck. timbre4

 

[captainwrong]

I think I've solved the missing channel. It seems like the pots are really really dirty. I'm getting sound it's just muffled and if I got to adjust the level, it'll come in and out entirely. I'm pretty sure cleaning the pots and the heads will take care of that.

The VU still kind of bothers me, but I have a friend who is a recording engineer who is going to help me out on this. He's just bought an Otari 1" 8 track that he's trying to get up to speed, so we're gonna work on our tape decks together.

I'm going to give my friend $65 for this because I don't think it's that far away from working and he's an outstanding guy. Plus he's throwing in several reels of un-used tape and what not.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ccm0114]

I have a service manual and an owners manual for my Sony TC 388-4. I can make copies of either for you, although the service manual will be a pain because it has a lot of foldouts.

email me at ccm0114"at"email.mot.com

I have needed a lot of new rubber in my unit, too. There is a Sony service place in my area, and I tried getting parts from them, but they just laughed at me. They also wanted $100 just to bring my unit in for service, and they promised a short 16 week turnaround. I hate Sony service. That's why I won't buy Sony anymore. Anyway, I fixed it on my own.

First, you can look for a local VCR repair place. They stock a lot of weird sized belts, and can probably match what you need. That's what I did. I also found a place that does custom re-rubbering of your pulleys, etc., but it cost about $50 per wheel last time I checked.

Anyway, the guy who invented this reel-to-reel must have been some evil Japanese genius. Imagine using only one motor. With all those belts, pulleys, and clutches in there, the thing would give Freddy Krueger nightmares.

 

[captainwrong]

Thanks, I may take you up on that.

The VU has magically started working again! I like that it's working, but I don't like that I have no idea what happened.

As for the belt, I was lucky and found an old school electronics supply house it town that had the belt I needed. I know what you're saying about the insides of this thing. It's like a swiss watch in there!

Sony service is terrible. I bought a Sony cassette deck in 1995 that was pretty high up in the line (one of the first with Dolby S) and damned if the thing didn't break down about 3 months after warranty! I'm always gentle with my equipment, so I really don't think it was anything I did.

Anyway, they gave me the same $100 and 16 week turnaround and I just said no thanks. If it wasn't for the Playstation (and this 25 year old tape deck) I haven't bought a Sony product since.

 

[AllAroundSurround]

I'm NOT crazy about SONY BOLOGNE either the only Sony I own is an SACD player.
My one complaint is it doesn't shut off via the remote... Imagine... having to get up and walk over and shut it off! It sucks the digital signal detect so I have to get up shut it off and then play what ever I was going to do.. Would it have been so hard to include that in the remote!,,,, YEA I'm lazy ! but Up down .. up down to compare is a PAIN IN THE A**

Not in a good mood right now! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/embarassed.gif ALT="">
Rob0]