I think that some Nakamichi decks are equiped with special pad lifter, so
there is no need to worry about this.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Greene" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 6:51 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Cassette Tape Playback issues (was Free - Cassette
tapes)


I always liked the Nakamichi decks with the closed-loop dual capstans. One
point of caution: closely examine the felt pressure pad that should fall
directly over the tape and head. In some cassettes, the glue may fail,
causing the pad to wander off-center or fall out entirely. In a case like
that, put the tape in a new shell, because the misplacement or absence of
the pressure pad will cause the tape to mistrack.





Steve Greene
Archivist
Office of Presidential Libraries
National Archives and Records Administration
(301) 837-1772
>>> Lou Judson <[log in to unmask]> 6/27/2012 11:31 AM >>>
Tom, do you think that standard double capstan deks are not adequate for the
job? I have Sony and Nakamichi decks that have closed loop dual capstan
drives that seem to do a fairly good job, though I haven't had severely
warped tapes that are problematic - so far!

<L>
Lou Judson
Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689

On Jun 26, 2012, at 6:55 AM, Tom Fine wrote:

> An interesting machine would be a cassette mechanism up top but instead of
> a capstan drive, the tape would be pulled out the middle of the shell and
> put in a little isolated-loop drive, Technics style, with the heads inside
> the loop. I would think, if you had really good guidance on top of the
> loop, you could keep the tape very stable in the loop. Better still would
> be a way to adjust the two pinchrollers so you could vary the tension/wrap
> on the heads. Cassette tape is so thin, that should be a way to guarantee
> good head contact.
>
> Probably not worth rigging up such a beast for lowly cassettes.
>
> -- Tom Fine