Cassettes and side B syndrome

[LeifH12345]

There must be someone who knows what I mean, some older cassette players/recorders have a tendency to not properly align on side b of any tape for the first 30 seconds to 13 minutes.

Is this fixable? It's only ever on side B, you can even start off fresh with side b and it still fucks around.... anyone?

[Quackers]

Good question. An old cassette player of mine had the tendency of eating the tape at the very beginning of side B. A few cherished cassettes were ruined because of that fucker.

I don't know if this is related to your question/experience, but anyway... :coffee:

[Von]

are you referring to a tendency for a tape to fold over on itself? you'll hear it fade a little and then it makes the "pause button sound" and straightens out and then begins the cycle over again?

I had a deck that did that. If the tape started in the middle and then finished ehrn I'd flip the tape to play the other side it would do the above described action. I hated the fact it wrecked my FZ tapes but loved the fact that it did the same thing for my then gf's Bon Jovi and Poison tapes. Never did figure out how to solve that one.

[LeifH12345]

Sheeeeeeet. Well, I guess its good I'm not the only one.

Maybe someone knows something

[Audioarchivist]

Sounds like a bad pinch / roller assembly. You know, the little rubber wheel that pushes down on that spinning pin that pulls the tape along? Check to see how worn out that rubber wheel really is. Usually they wear out unevenly, and having one side of that wheel worn out causes the tape to be pushed out of proper alignment, eventually causing it to slip right out of place, and get eaten...

I'd say if that happens that it's time to take your deck to a qualified tape deck doctor. Repairs might be fairly cheap compared to a lifetime of eaten rare music (but the pre-recorded Bon Jovi and poison tapes should be thrown in a fire as soon as possible! haha) so fix the deck and problem solved.

[bluzman]

Fast forward and rewind old tapes before you play them especially after sitting. Also some older decks can't properly handle some of the 90 minute tapes

[Johnny Thunder]

I had a deck that did that. If the tape started in the middle and then finished ehrn I'd flip the tape to play the other side it would do the above described action. I hated the fact it wrecked my FZ tapes but loved the fact that it did the same thing for my then gf's Bon Jovi and Poison tapes. Never did figure out how to solve that one.

You go you your ex's place and explain to her you were all wrong, are very sorry if you've caused any hurt feelings, and offer her that deck as a peace offering. :D

-JT

[Five]

are you talking about playback after auto-reverse switches sides for you? or do you flip the tape by hand and get this effect?

commercial tapes are getting very old now, I keep finding ones that warble towards the end of each side. but only with certain tapes so its not the deck :confused: