Vintage R2R?

jakelm

I found this up in my father's attic. He said he bought it at a PX in Vietnam in 1970. The pics are blurry sorry, but it says Panasonic Solid State FM/AM Stereo Tape Recorder Model # RS-763FS / Ser # 5410-A. It has a voltage nob for 100/115/125/200/230/250. The front has Phono/Tape/AM/FM/FM Stereo. A nob for Bass, a nob for Treble, a nob for Left/Stereo/Right, a nob for Volume and a nob for Balance. It also has a radio station scan of some sort. There was a smoked cover that goes over the tape portion, but the cover could not be found. There is a switch for an internal speaker, but that doesnt seem to work, and taking off the back and front I couldnt seem to find the speaker to test it. Taking off the back cover, there is a rat's nest of wires. I have ever seem so many wires jammed up in a cabinet before. Everything seems to work (barely) but hopefully with alit more attention it will play ok. The Play and FF work but the "tube" belt was broke for the RW. There are preouts that I used to hook to my HK output with the right channel hissing while music could be heard, but hopefully with some cleaning, it might solve the problem. My father told me he has about 80 hours of recording from Vietman radio station somewhere in the attic, he will look for them for me.

I dont know much about this player. This is my first time with a R2R, so I'm learning as I go. I just wanted to share this with you all and hear opinions on what I found and possible where to find tapes for this type of player.

Jake

mhardy6647

Nothing special, but it could be a lot of fun if it works. Your father's vintage (home-made, "live") tapes are probably where the most fun is.

I'm listening to an early R&R/R&B compilation tape (from a "tape swap" group) on a TASCAM 22-4 R2R as I type this :-)



I've never seen a component quite like your father's Panasonic... you might want to peruse the very early 1970's ads at http://reel2reeltexas.com/catIndex.html

Unfortunately, there is a lot to go wrong in a tape deck :-( There are some folks who specialize in their repair, but that one's, unfortunately, not worth spending $$ on except, possibly, for sentimental value. Try an e-mail to "VintageTX" -- see http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/vintagetx/ He can probably give you good advice if you wish to try DIY repair.

jakelm

Thanks Hardy, I wish I had a tape to see if the heads still work. The play head I was able to get pretty clean, but the recording head looks like it wont work (too much corosion).

If he can find the tapes he made, then it will be a project to preserve them on cd.

I will shoot an email to VintageTX, and see what he thinks.

The nobs are very scratchy when I turn them. What is a good solution to clean them with, WD40? I used nail polish remover to clean the heads, but it looks like I will need something stronger, any ideas?

I have never heard the sound quality of a R2R. I do wish I could get it working.

jakelm

Can all these R2R play the same size tapes? Or are there specific tapes for specific players?

mhardy6647

a deck like the above-mentioned Panasonic will take all sizes up to 7 inch reels, and play tapes at whatever speeds its transport will support (in this case, probably 7-1/2 ips, 3-3/4 ips, and maybe also 1-7/8 ips). Pro and some home decks (like the Pioneer RT-909 in the photo I posted) will support 10-1/2 inch reels. Pro decks (like the TASCAM 22-4 in the photo) will usually add 15 ips speed (for better frequency response and S/N). Tape is 1/4" wide.

The Panasonic in the original post is most likely quarter-track stereo. This standard consumer stereo format records stereo on one tape "side" as tracks 1 and 3, and the other side as tracks 2 and 4. This limits compatibility with two-track (one-sided) stereo tape formats and also two-track (two-sided) mono. The four track TASCAM 22-4, for example, can play (and record) to any or all of its four tracks independently.

Hope this is helpful for R2R tyros.


EDIT: Oh, jakelm, if you cannot find any tapes, I can probably dig up a test tape for you.

As far as the "corrosion" on the tape head: Have you tried cleaning the tape heads yet? "Pure" isopropanol (not rubbing alcohol, which usually has other things besides water and isopropanol) is a good choice IMO.

jakelm

Does help Hardy..thanks. So its has the same playback and recording as a cassette tape , only much larger with more options?

It can play and record in 3 different speeds. I guess thats like VHS with LP, SLP, SP. I cant wait to get a reel and see how it plays. So 7" is the max size reel, ok..

jakelm

This one was found in the '71 add. Looking at the Mod # it seems as the model numbers are almost the same. Possible built within a few months aprt.

http://reel2reeltexas.com/vinAd69.RecDirC.jpg

mhardy6647

Cassette tapes are quarter-track stereo, but use tracks 1 and 2 for one side, and 3 and 4 for the other, rather than the interleaved track layout for consumer quarter-track reel to reel stereo two-sided tapes.

EDIT: Here you go... good ol' Google...

http://lochnessproductions.com/pltref/tapetype/tapetype.html

quarter-track stereo R2R


quarter-track stereo cassette

jakelm

Found it.

http://www.blatata.com/edcontent2/idc/3/id/376

jakelm

When I do get some reels for this player, dont I need a universal blank reel? Where do I find that?

mhardy6647

If you want to invest in new production stuff (not inexpensive):
www.usrecordingmedia.com

Then again, there is always eBAY :-)

Alternatively, I can send you a test tape and blank reel to try if you want. Like the dope pusher... "the first taste is free!" ;-)

jakelm

That would be cool if you could send me a test reel. But I wouldnt want something to go wrong and the player eat it up.

I take up reel, thats what its called...I couldnt think of the name of the empty reel

jakelm

This one seems very affordable.

http://www.usrecordingmedia.com/tmepllahub7r.html

They have the cleaning solution too.

Is 1/4 inch the thickest I can go, for my player?

mhardy6647

My offer stands... What I can do is tape something on some "spare" tape (it won't be high end) at whatever speed you want and send it to you... or...
if you're not averse to spending a few bucks, this looks not too outrageous.
http://www.usrecordingmedia.com/rmemsm1x41on.html
http://www.usrecordingmedia.com/tme5lowtoplr.html

Note that these are 5" reels...

(five empties cost more than one full!?! I could send you an empty 5" or 7" reel)

EDIT: Yes yours is for 1/4" tape. Anything bigger is pro territory.

jakelm

Where can I find reels with music on them? Besides ebay. Maybe something retail.

Older classic rock on reel, sounds fun.

No..I have no objection to spending a few dollars on parts/accessories.

I do appreciate the offer to send me a test reel...but for $8 I cant go wrong.

mhardy6647

No new-production prerecorded tape AFAIK.
Try fleamarkets or garage sales and the like.

Doc Bottlehead and friends are in the process of bringing out some cost-no-object prerecorded tapes, but this is far out of your -- or my! -- league:

http://www.tapeproject.com/

jakelm

Not out of my league...whose room do you think they are in...:p



Sweet.... and playing them off of R2R. See why I want to get this thing working?:D

candyliquor35m

Be careful. They have belts that need to be changed after long periods of non-use. I learned the hard way and it cost me $350 to fix whereas the new belts and lube probably would have been $50.

jakelm

candyliquor35m wrote: »

Be careful. They have belts that need to be changed after long periods of non-use. I learned the hard way and it cost me $350 to fix whereas the new belts and lube probably would have been $50.

The Play and FF looks like a direct drive system, but the RW belt has rotted away.


LOL>..I tryed rubber bands for the RW,,,,,,It almost worked

engtaz

mhardy6647,
That is a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet setup

George Grand

Mark (MHardy) is a great guy, and finds a LOT of great stuff at.....you tell them Mark.

As much of a diplomat and aristocrat that he is, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that last image is NOT his rig....or his home. It's what he deserves, but not his.

schwarcw

George Grand wrote: »

Mark (MHardy) is a great guy, and finds a LOT of great stuff at.....you tell them Mark.

As much of a diplomat and aristocrat that he is, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that last image is NOT his rig....or his home. It's what he deserves, but not his.

I ditto that George, whether it's here on the Polk Forum, or over at AK, Mark always has good advice, knowledge of the hobby, and is always a gentleman.

jakelm

I have to agree with you all...Mark has helped me a bunch here with my new old R2R.

I will buy some products from the website he has given me. Seems like I just stepped into a great new project.