My first post, looking for advice

[justrideit]

First off. I have two decks. A TEAC X-2000R bl and a TEAC 4010S. I also have another very special Sony "recording system" that I intend to discuss in a separate post.

I use the 2000 for record and playback in my main system. I use the 4010 for playback when I am in the computer room.

I got the 4010S from an older gentleman who purchased it in the military. It is in perfect cosmetic condition and has the plastic dust cover and original box. I also have the owners manual and a cool advertising brochure.

I recently got the 2000 from a retired military guy. He purchased it in Japan in 1987. He says it has less than 200 hours on it. I replaced the belt (used belt looked brand new) and lubricated everything according to the service manual. I have the owners and service manuals.

I have the following tapes:

(1) Maxell XL II 10.5" reel
(2) Maxell UD 10.5" reel
(8) Quantagy 406 10.5" reel
some factory prerecorded, all 7.5" reel

1. How do you erase tape? I want to make sure it has been completely erased. I have heard of people making a recording and during the quite passages, they could hear previously recorded material. The way I do it is to set the deck to record, turn the line in volume to zero and hit record. Is this correct?

2. How do I know if the deck needs head alignment or other basic set up?

3. What is the basic set up or calibration that should be done? How frequently?

4. I have read were the deck gets calibrated for a specific tape type. If that is the case, is that for recording only? I ask because I have different types of tape to playback and I can't imagine calibrating for each tape type. I may listen to 4 different tapes in one day.

Thanks in advance for your advise and guidance.

[speakerman1]

To answer question 1 you use a bulk demagnetizer. You can get them on ebay. Also I am looking at some for my store. So maybe I will have some listed soon.
Larry

[justrideit]

Does bulk erase work well? Someone I know used a bulk erased tape and had background noise. Maybe the bulk erase job was substandard (if that's possible).
Am I putting undue wear on my machine by using the erase method I mentioned?

[Scorpion8]

Does bulk erase work well? Someone I know used a bulk erased tape and had background noise. Maybe the bulk erase job was substandard (if that's possible).
Am I putting undue wear on my machine by using the erase method I mentioned?

The bulk eraser provides an ease of use by being able to blank off larger sections of tape faster. Of course a 10.5" reel is a LOT of tape, so it's easy to miss a spot or two. Using the machine to re-record over material just to earase it adds no more wear and tear than playing a tape. The erase head on the deck should be good enough to blank over anything recorded previously, unless it has been on there a long time. Some folks use bulk earsewrs just to save that one-extra pass thru the machine, but if your machine is in good shape it should be fine. Frankly, the deck doesn't know or care if it's being used to blank a tape, play a tape, or record a tape. It's just running along.

ETA: Oh, and welcome to TH! *wave*

[speakerman1]

My bulk eraser works well. The plus side of a bulk eraser is that sometimes if the tape was recorded on one machine and erased on another it won't erase it all. I have ran into that a couple times.
Larry

[justrideit]

That makes sense. I will keep an eye out for your upcoming bulk eraser sale.
Thanks

[justrideit]

So, what about answers to questions 2, 3 and 4. Anybody??

Oh, and if I decided to send my machine for a tune-up, is there someone close to Michigan? Shipping has to be pretty high for an X-2000.