Cassette Decks for Dummies

A beginners' guide to cassette decks: which features to look for, and how to test, clean, connect, and use them.

Chapters Index:
0:00 Introduction
1:08 Features to Look For
4:43 Looks Can Be Deceiving
7:14 The Finger Test
9:58 A Quick Fix for Peg
11:38 Cleaning the Mechanism
14:29 Low-Technology Connections
18:57 Finally! A Playback Test
20:55 Record Your Record
23:02 Conclusion

#cassetteculture #dummies #repair

[TheJaHa]

A simple, but really great well thought up and put together video as always.

Here's a little tweak you can try whenever you have the time tho,
When using a 'Piano keys style' cassette deck that has Full Auto Stop, the easiest way to do the finger test with the rewind function, is simply to activate the 'Pause' function on the deck first before you press the Rewind button to temporarily disable the Auto Stop feature. It may not work for all decks, depending on what type of mechanism is used, but from the looks of that TEAC, I'm almost sure it'll definitely work.

[themaritimegirl]

This video is exactly what the Gen-Z crowd who never touched cassettes as kids need to help them get started. Well done.

[chrisa-hz]

What I usually do is buy them, Clean them up including cleaning the tape heads, etc.Change the belt if needed, And then Pass them on to another thrift store ❤️ I love giving these beautiful tape decks another life!!

[twocvbloke]

I like how that instruction manual depicted the "Do not drop!" instruction with a cat pushing it off the edge, cos that's what cats do, for everything, anywhere, no matter what it is... :P

[UnderEu]

Even considering myself a cassette enthusiast, read about all the advanced tweaking and serviced my gear with my own (dis)abilities, this was a very excellent guide and there's always something to learn - the window cleaner tip, for example.

Excellent one, as always, Mr.

[JonGallon]

I know it's already redundant but again, thank you VERY MUCH for providing subtitles, it helps a lot non English native speakers like me. (but, to be honest, your dictation/speech and voice are very good and I can understand you most of the time without reading the subtitles. 👍👍

[ndPyleOfVinyl]

As a tapehead since 2002, I appreciate this video very much. I also use a Technics RS-B11W that I bought for a buck from Goodwill back in 2010 and thought that it was the best deck that I have bought. I have fancier decks but I am more satisfied with the Technics' sound quality and ease of use. I recorded over 600 cassettes on it and it still sounds great despite it being heavily used before I bought it.

I am a very old man and I adore your channel. It is amazing how cheap are these machines in USA. Even a similar used in Argentina means a full day wage of a normal worker. Cheers from frozen Patagonia.

[igorszamaszow]

A deck with Dolby C for 7 bucks is a pretty good find.

[monaural.]

Well done. I am a diehard cassette man, have been since the late 70s. I’ve made literally hundreds of great sounding tapes of rare material from the internet. How? You just use the headphone Jack on your computer! Can’t download? I never let that stop me! Love doing it “old school”!

[bf]

Great advice for new people getting into the hobby! Like you said don't worry about finding a Nakamichi. Teac, Kenwood, Pioneer...etc are all fine choices especially for a beginner! Basically any Japanese brand is going to treat you well IMO

[shmeddyspaghetti]

This is exactly the kind of video I’ve been needing, since I’m buying my first full stereo system in a couple days. I’m only 21 and only have a Walkman right now, but watching this video definitely made me feel better about understanding this tech since I didn’t grow up with it! Thank you :)

[rillloudmother]

dummies are the ENTIRE world now. how does this not have more views??!!?!1

[rupertthomson]

I'm so glad that we know which brand of tape player Terry Venables endorsed. It's this kind of esoteric knowledge that the world needs right now.

[Quacks]

13:25 If the capstan doesn't turn when the power is switched on, activate the rewind or fast-forward mode to make the capstan turn. That way, you can clean the capstan without having the pinch-roller pressed against it (as would be the case if you used the "play" function to make the capstan turn) to jam your swab and/or re-contaminate the wetted capstan as it turns. To clean the pinch-roller properly, you'll need to repeatedly stop and re-clean the capstan as you remove the debris from the pinch-roller by holding the swab against it, since the roller will often have a lot more oxide/dirt buildup on it than the capstan will (that's largely because the roller rests against the "front" --- i.e., oxide-coated side --- of the tape, whereas the capstan contacts the "back" of the tape, which is the side away from the oxide coating), and this debris will come off and coat the capstan as it is wiped loose by your wet swab. Often you may need to change your swab several times before you get the pinch-roller clean, whereas the capstan usually comes clean with just one application of the swab.

[snugglebunnyhaven]

I remember how much of an intricate part of my audio pleasure the cassette deck was for me in the 80s and 90s. And the Teac brand was actually an exceptionally good machine for those of us on a budget and their Tascam brand. My usage of recording from my receiver/tuner was my favored use. With decent cassettes such as a chrome there was virtually no loss from quality of the original source. I had always used alcohol cleaning everything including the roller. I never had one degrade on me from using alcohol. I usually had things like the heads wear or some other mechanical issue long before that. I wore out my share of machines through the 80s. And I still use them today specifically to record my radio shows for later listening.

[NOWThatsRichy]

This is a great information video for anyone thinking of buying a used deck, but doesn't have any prior knowledge of what to be aware of.

[kcsreenath]

thank you! my Kenwood KX620 meters were peaking as soon as the unit powered on. Your tip on the record button fiddling fixed it. Thank you!

[dintyshideaway]

I have so many thoughts on this video, I will try to keep the length "comment appropriate". First, I love the fact that you discourage the use of a high alcohol content ISO for all things. Even after working in a radio station, I still used 91%+ ISO on everything, and with this rubber getting so old, taking better care is good advice. Also I would love to see a companion video on choosing a receiver. I think that a lot of people do not realize that these surround sound receivers in thrift stores, which are literally a dime a dozen, are in many cases a much better choice than one of those beautiful woodgrain and chrome models from the late seventies. I am always shocked to see Yamaha, Onkyo, and even Denon receivers just sitting there collecting dust, knowing if they were silver with an analog tuner people would be fighting over them. Cleaning a dirty pot with contact cleaner is not always easy, and these surround units should not usually need that attention. Anyway great video, having been spoiled on 1/4" tape for so long, I was never really a fan of cassettes, but I love the enthusiasm and information.

[miata]

Congratulations on a brilliantly done and well-received topic. You covered many areas that I had previously wondered about!