Tandberg model 12 stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder

Demonstration of the Tandberg model 12 stereo reel-to-reel recorder from 1966. This model is fully transistorized apart from the 'magic eye' recording level indicator tubes, and includes two integral 10W power amplifiers and two speakers. Maximum reel is size 7" and the recorder has three speeds. This particular machine is a four track version; it was also available (rarer) in a two track version.
This video is a close up version with better lighting so that it's easier to see what's going on.

[@ahah1785]

bought this exact model for 8 dollars at goodwill store... spent 4 hours inside it and i like the simplistic mexhanism but the internal rubber drive wheel is so hard it causes huge wow and flutter as well as the speed is a tad lower than it should be. Capstain is quite weak too....especially at lower speeds. internal amp is skunked but rca plugs work. Cleaned the internal playback/amp/rec rails inside the machine but its still very finicky to get good sound- i try not to touch them....not bad for a maxhine thats 50 years old....

[@ChevyBM]

I got the exactly same player at my summer house. My dad bought it new back in the days, we also still got the user manual. It works but would need service.

[@daviddrake7003]

ChevyBM I service them. A labor of love I would be honored. My phone to text me is 760-638-9580.

[@user-pc9rz3gy3c]

Был у меня, прекрасная вещь...

[@ricardlupus]

I just saw that you mentioned the model 11, it is quite different from the one in this video. The instructions I wrote previously are for the model 8 and other mains-operated joystick control machines.

[@ricardlupus]

Remove all knobs by pulling them upwards, remove the tape head covers, remove four small screws in the corners of the top plate as well as two under the head covers. Carefully lift up top plate, taking care not to bend the autostop sensor at the right hand guide post. Belt runs in a figure-8 fashion between the pulleys under the reel tables, crossing over to the left of the motor pulley (which has two tracks for the belt so it doesn't rub against itself). Assemble in reverse order.

[@amberola1b]

LMFAO at the comments in the thought bubbles about the left and right side. funny as hell, but also cool, I had someone GIVE me two of these Tandberg machines so I could mess around with fixing them and adding them to my collection. Can`t wait to hear what they`ll sound like.

[@alex22watts]

Hi, I bought one of these recently. The motor works, reels turn but no sound outputs. I think it will be the amplifier circuit but does anyone have any other suggestions on where to start/what I should look for to get this making some sweet noise?

[@ricardlupus]

The driver transistors in the output stages tend to fail due to so-called 'tin whiskers' which basically is tin whiskers forming inside the case. The result is that the output goes silent when this happens. The transistors can be replaced, although replacements are hard to find. Another cure is to remove the transistors, short the leads together, and connect a 16 µF capacitor charged to about 10 volts to between the leads and the case. The resulting surge will remove enough of the tin whiskers to get the transistors working again, at least for a while (which can be fairly long, like several years). The main problem is that the transistors are awkward to get at - the power amp boards need to be removed, and the heatsinks for the driver transistors removed in order to remove them.

[@Edwin48100]

Speeds are 7 1/2, 3 3/4 and 1 7/8. The 1 7/8 speed is mainly for speech and not very good for music.

[@ricardlupus]

Yes, especially Tandberg had very poor performance at 1 7/8 for some reason.

[@fastpoholmenmusik2953]

Hej, jag har kollat på massor av dina videon , har en tandberg 62x som jag inta als kan få låta lika bra, när jag indspelar så låter det hel kass efteråt, . Undrar lagar du tandberg? Adam :-)

[@ricardlupus]

Det är säkert papperskondensatorerna i förstärkaren som ställer till det, av någon anledning så brukar just Tandberg 6 låta riktigt illa när de blir gamla. Hör av dig via PM eller kolla min hemsida (butoba.net) så kan vi snacka vidare.

[@justkeep0ntruckin723]

I just bought this model. It needed a belt, but it played and sounded great--even though I had to turn the take-up reel by hand After I changed the belt, the motor would no longer work. No burning smells, no humming sounds--nothing. It just didn't come on any more. Jiggled the lever, checked the fuses (they are good), still nothing. I'm stumped. Any ideas from anybody greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[@ricardlupus]

There is a microswitch near the right-hand guide pin under the head cover which controls the motor. It is actuated by a wire that is lifted when there is tape in the machine. Improper tape threading (or no tape at all), or maladjustment will cause the microswitch to fail to actuate.

[@justkeep0ntruckin723]

Thanks--I figured that out a while back, quite by mistake. I have one more tape to get into electronic format, then I can sell it. (It was kind of neat recently seeing this model in an episode of "Endeavor", a PBS show made in the UK.)

[@omaralzubede4897]

ممكن احد يعرف اصل شركه ترندبيرج شنو.؟؟؟

[@ricardlupus]

Wikipedia has a good summary. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandberg

[@TheElverma]

I really enjoy your detailed explanations. I have a Model 74 that took some TLC to restore. Love the way it sounds! instagram.com/p/BYZmejpBNuj/

[@theunionbeats1]

nerd