Fostex E-16 wants repair - BAD

Spiv · 7th October 2008

I have a question: I own TWO (how lucky) Fostex E-16 16trk 1/2" tape reel recorders. I love them. One is used in my studio, one will be for parts. My main recording machine is beginning to wear from the outside tracks in (trk 1 & 16) have lost their lustre, and are in need of repair. Does anyone know of a place I can take these machines to overhaul? Since I have TWO, part out one, made the other work up to par? I've heard all kinds of suggestions of refurbishing the record heads, etc, and am a little green to this maintenance jargon. Although I've done several records in the digital/analog domain, my home studio will remain 16trk analog. I live in Chicago and would most likely drive the machines anywhere within an 8hr circle.

HELP!!!

Brendan · 7th October 2008

It's common for the outside tracks to loose fidelity because of the way the tape rides on the heads and from rubbing against the reel. Usually you'd put sounds that don't suffer as much from loss of high's like kick, smpte, etc. on the outside tracks. Are you sure that there actually is excessive head wear?

If the repro head is good on the parts machine you could swap that one over yourself or have a tech do it but it would need to be aligned with a test tape and a scope.

If you want to get the head relapped, JRF place does that:

Head relapping

But you'd still need to have it aligned when it's reinstalled.

7th October 2008	#1
Spiv Gear interested Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Thread Starter	Fostex E-16 wants repair - BAD I have a question: I own TWO (how lucky) Fostex E-16 16trk 1/2" tape reel recorders. I love them. One is used in my studio, one will be for parts. My main recording machine is beginning to wear from the outside tracks in (trk 1 & 16) have lost their lustre, and are in need of repair. Does anyone know of a place I can take these machines to overhaul? Since I have TWO, part out one, made the other work up to par? I've heard all kinds of suggestions of refurbishing the record heads, etc, and am a little green to this maintenance jargon. Although I've done several records in the digital/analog domain, my home studio will remain 16trk analog. I live in Chicago and would most likely drive the machines anywhere within an 8hr circle. HELP!!!

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7th October 2008	#2
Brendan Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 242	It's common for the outside tracks to loose fidelity because of the way the tape rides on the heads and from rubbing against the reel. Usually you'd put sounds that don't suffer as much from loss of high's like kick, smpte, etc. on the outside tracks. Are you sure that there actually is excessive head wear? If the repro head is good on the parts machine you could swap that one over yourself or have a tech do it but it would need to be aligned with a test tape and a scope. If you want to get the head relapped, JRF place does that: Head relapping But you'd still need to have it aligned when it's reinstalled.