Oddity Archive: Episode 199.5 - Ben’s Junk: Pioneer RH-65 8-Track Deck

[@JohnAranita]

I bought a used 8-track recorder from a Goodwill and a blank 8-track cassette from a Radio Shack. It was my first stereo recorder. This one might be the model of what I bought. I also had stereo mics. The playback was great -- super stereo!

[@bugdrvr]

I fix this stuff for a hobby. Well, mostly hi fi and instrument amplifiers and such but I do get into tape gear on occasion. If you ever get something that is being recalcitrant, ship it down to me in LA. I'll fix it and send it back on my own dime (as long as it's actually fixable). Would be fun to see some of my work up on a video.

[@NerdyMeathead]

You should get a 8 track cassette adapter. Then when you have the cassette adapter you can put a Bluetooth tape adapter in and have 8 track bluetooth with working vu meters!

[@Channel37TV]

14:08 - Music to adjust your Tele1st™ converter box by

[@DuckGWR]

Man, I've tuned a lot of 8 track's playback speed and crosstalk adjustments using Who 8 tracks... If I have to tune it by ear, I'm going to use something I know lol. I think well recorded, well sequenced 8 tracks can sound damn good. Many aren't, unfortunately. It's your least favourite major format - it's my most favourite!

[@DanOConnorTech]

Whenever I hear what I'm going to call "the Asian music" on your videos I think of the old CNET podcast Buzz Out Loud with Molly Wood and Tom Merritt from about 15 years ago. They had a segment called Hot Asian Gadgets and would play similar music. I love it!

[@Fluteboy]

16:38 - Oh, good man! Now I'm off to listen to Bob Welch on Quaaludes!

[@Electronicle]

Wow! I had a Magnavox deck when I was a kid that used the same mechanism. This is pretty much how my recorded 8-tracks sounded as well. I remember re-threading a few prerecorded tapes onto an actual 1/4" 8 Track open reel deck with a similar head configuration and the tapes sounded almost as good as cassette tapes.

[@vicariousgamer2871]

Cool, now you've got that puppy working pretty well. I've got an old cassette walkman that doesn't work, maybe you could take a look at it ? And WOW the new Patreon list is out, the new Patreon list is out... Now I'm somebody %^ } - Navin Johnson

[@Alberto7tube]

Nice video 😃👍

[@johnsweda2999]

you feed a constant high-pitched tone on the middle channels what you're playing and adjusted to hear nothing from the other channel that should work you have a pre-recorded tape with high frequencies and adjust it that way to get fine adjustment same with Dolby

[@pcallas66]

I'll be honest, your recorded tapes sounded better than the prerecorded tapes. I know you had a little bit of WOW but the dynamic range was really good according to my ears. 8 tracks always sounded like they were just missing something, but your home made tapes sounded really awesome. That is definitely one of the better recorders for sure. I have an old Olson RA964 deck from around 1974 that doesn't sound too bad either and still works very well. The record/playback volume controls need cleaned, but that's it on that. Thank you for posting.

[@MacinMindSoftware]

The wow & flutter end credits made me lol

[@MrJohndoakes]

Listened to a Justin Wilson track elsewhere on KZbin and I swear that Jackie Gleeson based his "Smokey and the Bandit" character on Wilson.

[@jasonhaman4670]

You have a Justin Wilson 8-track‽‽‽ Awesome! I love Justin Wilson.

[@Asriazh]

In case You didn't solve the pegging vu-meter issue yet, it's most likely dirty record switches. It's the long things on the PCB. Spray some contact cleaner inside and work them for a bit. With them being dirty and stuck, your 8-track player would be half in replay, half in recording mode, driving the VU-meters crazy. I just bought one of those Pioneer RH-65 players. It didn't arrive yet. I hope I'll be able to make it work well and look nice. And where the heck would you find a replacement for the dolby ICs, if you'd need them? CR860b's seem to be pretty much unobtaimium. Thanks for Your video!

[@MichelLinschoten]

Funfact was listening to this on a set of magnepan Tympani I speakers lol

[@paulcarroll750]

The playback speed depends alot on the tension on the cartidge that holds it against the pinch roller. Try pushing gently on the right side of the cartridge as its playing. If the speed picks up you know the tension on the cartrige need adjusted. Also, would you consider doing an episode on quad 8 track? I know the tapes are expensive but i could loan you some.

[@mikecrawford1247]

I actually have that exact player and yes it is hooked up to my sound system

[@thaddeusmcgrath]

Left channel sounds more isolated compared to the right. Right channel isolated seems a little low and blended with the left during the conversation test. Overall it sounds great.

[@michaelturner4457]

Did you try cleaning the record/play switches with Deoxit or other contact cleaner?

[@lutello3012]

Making an Aphex Twin 9 Track tape is on my bucket list but can't waste the money on a decent deck right now.

[@TonyBourdier]

Does anybody knows how to remove those 2 knobs off (Recording knobs) so I can remove the silver faceplate off?

[@choboutube]

Hi, where did you get the belts please?

[@OddityArchive]

vintage-electronics.net is usually my go-to for belts.

[@JasonBoon02]

So close to 200!

[@michaelturner4457]

I suspect the motor has a mechanical governor inside, that determines its speed. Not easily serviceable of course.

[@Electronicle]

hmmmmm maybe. I had a Magnavox that used the same mech and it would randomly go from normal speed to chipmunks and then back. Some days it was fine, others it just was bi-polar. I just got used to hearing Hotel California at various speeds. At the time I guessed it was maybe a short in the windings, but maybe you're onto somethin.

[@jason681174]

Do you still have the Montgomery ward deck and want to part with it

[@ChrisKewl]

5:05 Lawrence Welk reference? 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. :P

[@OddityArchive]

Nah. If i was gonna reference Lawrence Welk, there’d have been a bubble machine joke in there.

[@ControlledSprite144]

Hey there a 3rd Max head room highjacking online