The weak point of vintage tape gear is the OEM caps. One moment I was enjoying Heart Like a Wheel, the next there was a sharp crack and a cloud of acrid smoke. The dead cap will be split open like the Alien making it easy to spot. You have to be somewhat careful with replacing. Can't just use any cap with the same rating.
A80 VU II about 500 hours. It ain't the hours, it's the years. Eventually electolytic caps fail but it takes years so not often.
The A80 is an amazing machine. Flat frequency response 20 to 20 khz. Once set up it doesn't drift. Just don't move it. A joy to use. You will love the solid ker chunk when you press the play button.
I like Agfa 468 tape. You can still get it from Recording the Masters. Ampex 456 sounds bright to my ears. No experience with 3M. 1/4 inch 15ips use CCIR equalization. Get calibration tape from Magnetic Reference Labs.
It ain't the servicing. It's the cleaning. You clean everything that contacts the tape before every play.
American Recorder sells tape head cleaner to clean all metal parts.Use 409 for the pinch wheel. Yeah that 409 from the market.
A80 VU II about 500 hours. It ain't the hours, it's the years. Eventually electolytic caps fail but it takes years so not often.
The A80 is an amazing machine. Flat frequency response 20 to 20 khz. Once set up it doesn't drift. Just don't move it. A joy to use. You will love the solid ker chunk when you press the play button.
I like Agfa 468 tape. You can still get it from Recording the Masters. Ampex 456 sounds bright to my ears. No experience with 3M. 1/4 inch 15ips use CCIR equalization. Get calibration tape from Magnetic Reference Labs.
It ain't the servicing. It's the cleaning. You clean everything that contacts the tape before every play.
American Recorder sells tape head cleaner to clean all metal parts.Use 409 for the pinch wheel. Yeah that 409 from the market.