Otari is in for Calibration

[Doug_Olitsky]

:DJust cant wait for my Otari to get back form having its alignment done so I can start making recordings. I miss it.

I have been making reels w/ my TEAC 2300s for use in my classroom. I put 2 reels together on Scotch 207

- Don Fagen--- Morph the Cat / The Nightfly
- Phil Collins--- No Jacket Required / Face Value

I think I have the honor of making the first ever post on the new TapeHeads!!!:D

[Nak_novice]

Fantastic photos of the Otari restoration Doug and very nice side panels too to make a very nice looking deck so much better.

[Doug_Olitsky]

Thanks!

I really like the mod Danish / Shahinian Speaker look.

I built my BLH speakers w/ the same Fin Birch ply. If you look at my site to my project build you can see lots more.


Happy listening!!!!!:)

[Doug_Olitsky]

THey finally cal'd my otari and I just picked it up! *Hi5*

THe guys at the shop loved the machine and we chatted about it for a few minutes.

THey said it was in great shape and the response curve was dead flat all the way to 24,000 Hz.

Now I just have to lay some tunes down. and report some results*flame*

[Manalog]

Hey Doug,

That's great!!

I purchased an Otari MX5050BII2 a few years ago & it was destroyed in shipping because the worhless moron seller 'packed' it like garbage. And it was in beautiful, like near mint shape. What a waste!! I posted this in Shipping Horror Stories thread.

When my financial situation turns around I'll be looking for another one to 'avenge the loss', if you know what I mean. I know it's a great machine. I'll be looking forward to your results! *reelspin**reelspin**reelspin*

[joeljoel1947]

Hi Doug,
Congrats on getting the deck back!

I also have similar news. Joseph from Award Audio came over to my home Sunday (he lives a half-hour away!) and aligned and calibrated both my B2 and B3 Otari decks. We went for an Ampex 456 (i.e. RMGI 468 for whats actually being used by Tape Project) calibration, as that's what the TP is using for tape----+3 tape.

The amazing thing was, BOTH of them (my B2 and B3) were SUPPOSED to be already calibrated. One of them I even took to a Otari service center before I met Joseph (about 4 months back) and we discovered it was grossly out of whack! I wasted most of my money for most of what they did, sadly. Luckily, Joseph being the gentleman he is "fixed them" both for free! *eyepop*

Both decks are spot on now, and sound magnificent! The B3 measured better then the B2 once we were done. Matter of fact, the B3 measured better then even what Otari specs the deck! It was roughly 19-22kHz at the 15 IPS speed measurement (Otari specs 30-20kHz at that speed +/-3dB).

At least 1 Tape Project tape shipped Monday and should be here shortly so I am ready to roll! *reelspin*

Here are a few pics from Sunday when he was over..........

The equipment needed.....

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/JoelKozlowski_2007/Testequipmentmadness.jpg

My B3 Gets the once-over......

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/JoelKozlowski_2007/TheB3getsworkedover.jpg

The Pool Table comes in handy for all this mess.....

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/JoelKozlowski_2007/ThankGodforThePoolTableworkbench.jpg

Joseph is fixing the B2 now....

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/JoelKozlowski_2007/Themaestroatwork.jpg


Take care Doug!!!

[Doug_Olitsky]

That does suck that they hosed you for lousy work!

But it sure looks like you had a nice time dialing it in and chatting.

Hope the Fosters wasn't opened 'til after the work was done.

[joeljoel1947]

Nahhh, we were drinking Sprite. :o

Joseph's up to 5 Otari's now, and I just bought my 4th to try and keep pace with him. This is getting crazy..... *el_loco*

[Doug_Olitsky]

If you own an Otari and ever have to order parts from them, you're in for a treat. Mitch Gibney is the man to talk to. He is super nice and can rattle off part numbers even w/ a vauge description of the part needed.

Plus, he enjoys chatting w/ us tapeheads.

I ordered reel shims, bulbs, a bunch of screws, feet and some other odds and ends. I had to wait for some parts to come from Japan but the wait was not long.

A nice experience overall!

BTW- the meter bulbs are frosted 8v 55mA

Mitch Gibney MGibney@otari.com
818 734 1785 x107

[ferriteman]

Yeah, but don't get him on the subject of hockey, he'll start on about the Boston Bruins, and carry on...these blasted guys from California!!!

[Indyguy]

Hi everyone - new member and my first post! Sorry to resurrect an old thread but couldn't help but admire your restoration job on the Otari Doug - very nice indeed! I myself just picked one up from ebay that has a couple of issues and wondered if I could bounce them off of you guys. The rewind/ff buttons only work intermittently; I suspect a faulty edge connector jostled from shipping but there are about 30 of them in this machine. Any thoughts on which one it might be? I also have the same gunk on the back of the PCB board from the foam; how did you remove it Doug- would isopropyl alcohol work? And why did you unsolder and resolder those points in your restoration? Cah you just wipe it off the board w/o desoldering? Also, the VU meter bulbs didnt survive the shipping either. I see Mitch is no longer at Otari - anyone find another source for the VU meter lamps? I think they are LU2049s? Thanks everyone and again nice job Doug!

[Doug_Olitsky]

Welcome Aboard!

Yes I used alcohol and a bursh, that foam block melts on all Otari's

otari has the bulbs and places like bulbtronics.com has as well the fuse style bulbs from otari have leads on both ends and are 8v 55mA ( I have ordered from otari and this is printed on the bag)

the mx5050 I got today has mini lamps w/ both wire on one end

If Mitch is gone try Taka Negishi <otariusa@gmail.com>