Their web shop describes it as formulated for polyurethane and unlike IPA doesn't risk drying/cracking the roller. Presumably the right plasticizer and maybe a detergent to help with the cleaning. The price is reasonable for a niche product like that I think - they won't be selling in high volume!
Anything tape recorder is pretty niche these days..
My newest recorder is 26 years old, and the oldest 36.. Somewhat amusingly it is much, much easier to get parts for the older Otari decks than the newest ones I own.
My newest recorder is 26 years old, and the oldest 36.. Somewhat amusingly it is much, much easier to get parts for the older Otari decks than the newest ones I own.
Point taken--you are correct.
Now what do you guys use for a RUBBER pinch roller? I've heard naptha works well....
Yes, that's true! I hadn't really thought about it, but, yeah----my oldest tape recorder is ~ 50 years old (Ampex AG440B), my newest (Studer A810) is a mere 26 years old, and the Otari is 36!🙂
I also found this page regarding Otari MX-55 modifications:
http://lab2104.tu-plovdiv.bg/index.php/2019/02/15/otari-mx55-improvement-modifications/
Some very interesting stuff here. Not sure I agree with ALL of it, but he's got some good points. Whattya think?
http://lab2104.tu-plovdiv.bg/index.php/2019/02/15/otari-mx55-improvement-modifications/
Some very interesting stuff here. Not sure I agree with ALL of it, but he's got some good points. Whattya think?
Came across this discussion of tape head reproduce amplifiers, including a detailed analysis of an Otari MX-5050 (pg 48). Hmmmm.......
https://corescholar.libraries.wrigh...om/&httpsredir=1&article=1557&context=etd_all
https://corescholar.libraries.wrigh...om/&httpsredir=1&article=1557&context=etd_all
Very interesting I will be sure to have a look, I'm going to steal these links for my facebook group.. 😀
Well, awright!! Hey, Kevin, when you re-capped your Otaris, what caps did you use--for coupling, bypass, and supply filtering?
I used Nichicon Muse bipolars for the entire audio path in all of these decks, the later decks had these from the factory. (My 1994 MX-50 II had these, my older ones 1990, 1988, and 1984 didn't)
For the rest I used Fine Gold or other audio grade capacitors from Nichicon. I was most concerned about getting ones that physically fit. You can't really go wrong with any Nichicon capacitor these days, they're all high quality, and in many instances will be better than what was originally in there when new.
For the rest I used Fine Gold or other audio grade capacitors from Nichicon. I was most concerned about getting ones that physically fit. You can't really go wrong with any Nichicon capacitor these days, they're all high quality, and in many instances will be better than what was originally in there when new.
Did you find it necessary to recap the ENTIRE machine (not just the audio path)? [there's a LOT o' caps there!]
Yes, particularly in the MX-50s where they had become mostly nonfunctional. (Things like capstan motor running the wrong way at maximum speed, no counter, no audio switching, no record, erratic mute, etc...)
One these two decks replacing the caps fixed everything.
One these two decks replacing the caps fixed everything.
I noticed that this guy:
https://corescholar.libraries.wright...ontext=etd_all
touts a "transresistance preamplifier circuit" for use as a head preamp that uses an NE5534, and he claims an improvement in both noise and distortion. Hmmmm.....
https://corescholar.libraries.wright...ontext=etd_all
touts a "transresistance preamplifier circuit" for use as a head preamp that uses an NE5534, and he claims an improvement in both noise and distortion. Hmmmm.....
Hi Kevin,
how's it goin on with the Gianni roller?
To let you guys know about my experience with the Italian ...
For my MX-5050 MK III 8 track I ordered a "set", meant to be a Pinch and an Impedance roller from him. Made a bloody mistake not to further specify the two different parts. What he sent was ideed two Pinch rollers.
When I emailed him, explaining my "mistake", asking about exchanging one of them for the needed Impedance roller he never got back to me. Door closed.
Seems like he only makes Pinchies. Now I'll have my mechanic friend a go on his lathe and get me what I need.
Meanwhile I enjoy a rare find from my cellars.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Cheers.
This is dotneck335. Kevin is kevinkr.Hi Kevin, how's it goin on with the Gianni roller?To let you guys know about my experience with the Italian ...
For my MX-5050 MK III 8 track I ordered a "set", meant to be a Pinch and an Impedance roller from him. Made a bloody mistake not to further specify the two different parts. What he sent was ideed two Pinch rollers.
When I emailed him, explaining my "mistake", asking about exchanging one of them for the needed Impedance roller he never got back to me. Door closed.
Seems like he only makes Pinchies. Now I'll have my mechanic friend a go on his lathe and get me what I need.
Strange that you never heard back from Gianni. ???? He was always helpful and straightforward with me. I have been dealing with some surgery issues, so I haven't installed the Gianni roller on my Studer just yet.
Have you done any mods to your Otari MX-5050 MK III 8 track? On mine, I'm planning a complete recap per Kevin's recommendations (sure is a LOT o' caps, though!), an Elvee power supply mod, and perhaps an opamp swap to NE5534/5532s.
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My experience so far is only with Athan and OEM, and so far no problems with the Athan replacements. One MX-50 and both 5050 have Athan rollers, they run great so I hope they are durable.
On the caps, it's literally the first thing to do on these decks - on 2 of the 4 decks so far all of the problems disappeared with cap replacement, on the other two which were MX-5050 there were additional problems like bad switches in the transport of the MKIII-2 and a corroded PCB due to perished foam in the MX-5050BII-2. The cap chemistry seemed to change in the late 1980s as the newer decks were the deadest decks due to capacitor issues.
On the caps, it's literally the first thing to do on these decks - on 2 of the 4 decks so far all of the problems disappeared with cap replacement, on the other two which were MX-5050 there were additional problems like bad switches in the transport of the MKIII-2 and a corroded PCB due to perished foam in the MX-5050BII-2. The cap chemistry seemed to change in the late 1980s as the newer decks were the deadest decks due to capacitor issues.
I am thinking that you are referring to replacing all the ELECTROLYTIC capacitors---correct? I am not aware of other cap forms aging.....
Like in the audio path---EQ and such? Maybe polypropylene instead of polyester?
Did we ever come to a conclusion about whether or not the Otari audio-path ICs warranted replacement? Not with some high-priced esoterics, but with something reasonable like an LM4562 or an OPA1642, maybe?
Did we ever come to a conclusion about whether or not the Otari audio-path ICs warranted replacement? Not with some high-priced esoterics, but with something reasonable like an LM4562 or an OPA1642, maybe?
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