Digitech Super Chrome DT60 Reel-to-Reel Design Tape Troubles: Solved with Maxell XL II Swap

[@ingenfestbrems]

My 1975 modell Tandberg TCD330, rewinding faster than the most and at the end slows down to not damage the tape. Remember that this smart rewinding only became common in 1990s VHS machines

[@m80116]

We can see even with the Maxell tape it gets side swiped onto the metal plates. The shell seems a model that we can still buy new today from Chinese vendors. It also seems the same used in the Pro.2 OR52 cassettes. I have some of those new still sealed. I have replaced more tapes than practically anyone else that I know of. I usually set the new spool into the destination shell, close the shell and spool it on to one of the old hubs, when the donor hub is empty I simply replace it with one original hub and lock the tape on to it. I always stick a small label to the cassette indicating the tape brand and formula installed. That's how I give a new lease of life to old shells that deserve it.

[@universalhead]

Yes it’s interesting and annoying they aren’t cheap. The reels are quality aluminium. I had a similar experience , the tape was being stalled by the small white nylon guide wheels. I found out they were not spinning free. I marked them with a red marker and could see they didn’t turn. After a little truing up and removing flash off them they started to work. I gently reamed the hole with X-ACTO blade and then a tiny amount of oil. After they spun free and the tape although ate a few times was saved and it sounds amazing. Really nice sounding cassettes. Good bass and clear highs. Every new tape needs to be checked before it’s used.

[@gabrielspiropol9418]

I really want to buy a reel to reel cassette tape and do the swap out too. Nice job !

[@vidtech2630]

Reel tapes normally have completely flat slip sheets to accommodate the reels. Did this cassette have a y slip sheets?

[@hifirulezzz]

just round slip sheets about the size of the reel.

[@maxentemask]

The chewing issue of your tape it's because the take up reel in playback mode is to agressive, the force is to high, and it's taking the tape from the pinch roller too quickly. This problem is common in deck's with reel motor. You need to reduce the force of the reel motor in playback mode. I know because i did this on many deck's. Once you reduce that force (lower the voltage on reel motor in playback mode) , and the pinch roller run freely, you will never have problem with chewing tapes, no matter how thin that tape will be.

[@hifirulezzz]

@@maxentemask Looks like you are new to my channel. I recommend to watch more videos on my channel. This will remove questions about my expertise. All my decks have proper tension on the takeup reel. New pinch rollers. If the tape is bad it is bad. I have 110 minutes tapes playing just fine on my decks. This Digitech tape was a disaster. But I like reels. Had to replace the tape.

[@bellytripper-nh8ox]

​@@hifirulezzz I HAVE A REEL TO REEL TO REEL TO REEL TO REEL TO REEL TAPE PLAYER RECORDER