-=> Quoting Keith Knapp to Cameron Hall on 3 Feb 98 07:37pm <=-
-=> Subj: Re: cassete tape <=-
 KK> Hey, I gots a question for ya.  I have a walkman I carry on my belt,
 KK> and one day I managed to bang it pretty hard into a door frame.
I dropped my Panasonic from only a few feet onto a hardwood floor. 
Buttons flew off, and the innards rattled.   Needless to say, the tape
drive is completely gibbled.  I found it wouldn't shut off, so used
some strong arm tactics and worked with the tape drive and got it to
stay off when turned off. :-)  I still use it for it's great tuner
though.
 KK> After that I could clearly hear phasing problems in the highs, but
 KK> there is no head alignment screw on this box (an otherwise good
Although no screws could be seen from above, sometimes (I've seen this)
they are accessable from underneith, either via hole in the chassis or
a right-angle tool of some kind.  Sometimes, those things are glued
into place... :-(
 KK> Sony Walkhominid).  Subsequently I noticed phasing errors on tapes
 KK> I ran thru the machine, and this phasing was still there when
 KK> I replaced the machine with a new one.  Is it possible for misaligned
 KK> heads to screw up the phasing on a tape even though it's a
 KK> playback-only machine?
The trick here is to listen to tapes NOT played on that machine, as the
phasing you mention could actually be a head miss-alignment of the new
unit.  However, if the tapes NOT played on the bashed machine sound
fine on the new one, then obviously the old one somehow damaged the
tapes.  Anythings possible.  The best way to check for damaged tape is
to view the tape filimant (through the cassette openings) and get a
room light to reflect off of the surface.  There should be NO creases,
dents, ripples, dimples, tears, angled impressions etc.   With the new
unit, make sure ALL tape guide path parts are clean.  And if you can
dig it up, TEAC pinch roller / idler rubber cleaner does a fantastic
job, just remember, HOLD YOUR NOSE. :-)
Hope this leads you in the right direction.
Cameron Hall
cameron.hall@bluebeam.gryn.org | ad121@hwcn.org
Blue Beam MailServer | 905 662 5784 | Stoney Creek ON Canada | v34 FAX
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