Tascam 238

Just got a Tascam 238.
When it came in, it had a defect: The capstan motor (direct drive) was spinning at abnormal high speed and was making a terrible noise (like a jet engine).
This is a common known problem with this deck.
I replaced the SMT caps on the motor PCB and now it's working fine!
Channel 6 did not have playback, a little coil (LPF 19KHz) is broken.
I'm searching for a new one, but until then, I have made a bridge with a capacitor over the coil, so the deck can be used!

Don't mind the sound quality, my camera isn't that great...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tascam
• 238
• channel
• multitrack
• cassette
• DBX

[corganb]

wow, I have one of these and recently paid $200 to have tascam replace the capstan motor assembly. I know basic soldering and electronics. Could you tell me which caps need to be replaced on the PCB? Or take a photo?

Congrats!

[StudioIntegra]

@corganb

All the little silver SMT caps needs to be replaced, accept for de bipolar one.

It's not an easy job...

You can use normal capasitors to replace the SMT capasitors, recommended is the ude of 105 degrees caps.

After the replacement, you need to check and possable adjust the speed.

I have restored my 238 and 122 MKII this way.

[corganb]

@StudioIntegra Thanks for the details. If I run into more issues with my 238 perhaps I'll try this fix. Not quite sure how to adjust the speed though. I'll worry about that if I need I suppose.

[StudioIntegra]

@corganb

Speed adjust can be done quite simple. (It's not perfect, but works fine)

Take a cassette, and record a sinus on a deck that runs on speed (can be a normal cassettedeck). Take the recorded cassette and play it back on the 238, adjust the speed. You have to multiplay the recorded sinus with 2, because the 238 runs at double speed. When you play the tape on the 238, you have a signalon track 1 and 2, clean enough to measure the frequency

[jross68052]

Graeat demo on the 238. Cool tune also.

[StudioIntegra]

@jross68052

Thanks!

[jgk381]

wow, is this your original music recorded on this 238? Sounds like some old 70's classic rock, excellent sound man!

[ildur]

You shouldn't record the speakers, you should line it into a computer to show it off

[wehappyfewmusic]

Hi, great quality sound you've got here man - What mixer are you using with the 238?

[jumpers3]

Tascam heaven!

[claudioj1999]

You can see another tascam 238 working: lmCYwuOkTN4 Sorry the languaje is in spanish!!