While the pressure pad lifter (may I call it that) is a great feature of
the Naks, it is only part of the story. What enables the pressure pad
lifter to work is the fact that the tape tension is controlled by the
two capstans, whereas it sounds as if the Tascam 122's are still using
friction to generate the back tension.
I recall my third tape recorder (and my first "real" stereo machine), a
Tandberg 74B, had an arrangement similar to what Tim describes below. I
found that unsatisfactory. My next machine was a ReVox A77 and I never
looked back.
I don't know how Tandberg cassette machines generate back tension at the
play head.
Cheers,
Richard
On 2017-06-29 8:19 PM, Tim Gillett wrote:
> I've serviced Tascam 122 MkII/MkIII's since the early 90's. They're an
> interesting design in that the play head has a good long life,
> because in common with most Naks, the felt pressure pad doesnt press
> against it! But unlike the Naks the pad is not pushed away. The Tascam
> design displaces the play head a little to the right of the pressure pad
> so that the pad mostly presses the tape against the record head and a
> small metal plate between the two heads. The friction creates back
> tension for good tape contact with the play head.
>
> But courtesy of the felt pads, the record head and metal plate wear a
> lot faster than the play head and before too long the head assembly
> needs attention, even though the play head itself may still be in
> excellent condition. With the Naks there isnt this accellerated and
> uneven head wear. So being still partially dependent on the felt pad,
> the Tascams although fine machines still have a weakness in this
> department in my view.
>
> Tim Gillett.
> Perth,
> Western Australia
>
--
Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800
http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
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