Hi Lou & all,
For those interested in this thread and especially Nakamichi cassette
players:
Know that Nakamichi cassette machines were manufactured using a
different interpretation of the IEC record/playback specification until
the IEC spec issued in 1982. This led to the problem that cassette tapes
recorded on other brands would sound somewhat dull when played on a Nak.
The exception being the Nakamichi model 550, a portable machine. In
1982, the Nakamichi factory switched to the IEC spec issued in Prague,
Czechoslovakia and all Naks produced after that date were compatible
with all other brands. Thus, you should check the dates of manufacture
for any model of Nakamichi cassette player you plan to use for archival
transfers.
I'm not bashing Naks here, (I use them too) just stating the facts.
Cheers!
Corey
Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
www.baileyzone.net
On 7/24/2019 8:32 PM, Lou Judson wrote:
> For me it is mere curiosity! I’ve been given lots of cassette decks over the years, but actually spent about $400 each for my two Naks, worth every enny since I have this big project… Some Naks have the lifter, some don’t. It’s amazingly simple - just ridges attached to the head that push the spring back as the head penetrates the shell to contact the tape! Not even an extra moving part.
>
> Dual capstans is essential when the pad is pushed back, to give accurate tension. I also feel that easily knob-adjustable azimuth is also essential.
>
> <L>
> Lou Judson
> Intuitive Audio
> 415-883-2689
>
>> On Jul 24, 2019, at 8:18 PM, Corey Bailey <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Tim & Lou:
>>
>> Some of the brands that I'm aware of were Sony, JVC & Technics. There were others, I'm sure, and I don't have model numbers. There were a number of dual capstan decks (a feature that I consider most important) that may have incorporated pad lifters. There is no database that I know of that contains this information. Hi Fi Engine is good about listing the specs of equipment that it has in its database. Anyone with more information on this subject should jump in here and perhaps we can get a database started. What I have noticed is that any of these 20+ year old machines command prices that are generally too high for me. I have spent way too much money on decks that wind up dying and the failed part is now obsolete and not able to be found.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Corey
>>
>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
>> www.baileyzone.net
>>
>> On 7/24/2019 7:40 PM, Tim Gillett wrote:
>>> Hi Corey,
>>>
>>> You said, " FWIW, Nakamichi
>>>
>>> decks weren't the only decks that came with dual capstan transports
>>> and
>>>
>>> pressure pad lifters. Several brands produced audiophile grade
>>> machines
>>>
>>> with dual capstan transports and pressure pad lifters that had specs
>>> as
>>>
>>> good as most Nakamichi's."
>>>
>>> I've never come across this. Do you remember which brands these were
>>> please?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Tim Gillett
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From:
>>> "Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List"
>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>>
>>> To:
>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Cc:
>>>
>>> Sent:
>>> Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:23:43 -0700
>>> Subject:
>>> Re: [ARSCLIST] Cassette pressure pads
>>>
>>> Hi Martin,
>>>
>>> I have saved several cassettes that were assembled with screws for
>>> those
>>> occasions when I have to re-shell a cassette tape. Sometimes, I steal
>>>
>>> just the pads to return the cassette in question to it's best
>>> possible
>>> condition before transferring the audio.
>>>
>>> Like Lou, I (usually) resort to Nakamichi decks for transfer for a
>>> host
>>> of reasons. Recently, I transferred several cassette tapes and my
>>> beloved Naks wouldn't completely play about half of them. I had to
>>> resort to another dual capstan deck for those cassettes. FWIW,
>>> Nakamichi
>>> decks weren't the only decks that came with dual capstan transports
>>> and
>>> pressure pad lifters. Several brands produced audiophile grade
>>> machines
>>> with dual capstan transports and pressure pad lifters that had specs
>>> as
>>> good as most Nakamichi's.
>>>
>>> Cheers!
>>>
>>> Corey
>>>
>>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
>>> www.baileyzone.net
>>>
>>> On 7/24/2019 9:42 AM, Lou Judson wrote:
>>> > Martin, I have a few you could have. I use Nakamichi decks for
>>> playback so the pressure pads are irrelevant. In a project of some
>>> 1500 cassettes to transfer, the guy I work with saved a bunch of parts
>>> from broken cassettes for repairs, but the pads are useless to me.
>>> Usually all I need for repairs are the hubs with leaders…
>>> >
>>> > I see only six or seven in the parts box, though. How many do you
>>> need? Actually, come to think of it, we are not keeping the
>>> transferred cassettes, so I actually have several hundred discards!
>>> >
>>> > Write or call me offlist if this helps. Or get a Nakamichi with pad
>>> lifters to be better off! :-)
>>> >
>>> > <L>
>>> > Lou Judson
>>> > Intuitive Audio
>>> > 415-883-2689
>>> >
>>> >> On Jul 24, 2019, at 9:26 AM, Martin Fisher
>>> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> Hey Folks,
>>> >>
>>> >> Does anyone out there have a source for cassette pressure pad
>>> assemblies (I say assemblies because the pads are usually attached to
>>> a spring) or some alternative method of manufacturing your own. I've
>>> tried those peel and stick strips available from several sources
>>> online and they just don't cut it. Much too thick and rather
>>> cumbersome. Of course I can buy a bunch of C-O shells and mutilate
>>> them but I hate to waste so much just for the one part I need most.
>>> >>
>>> >> Thanks! :-)
>>> >>
>>> >> Martin
>>> >>
>>>
>>> -------------------------
>>> Email sent using Optus Webmail
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