Heads!

[A.N.T.]

I thought it might be good to have a thread about heads. Magnetic heads. A couple of photos for a starter. A (small) part of my collection of combination heads (an old photo) and a part of today's (quite unexpected) acquisition. I would try to place here some photos and information of various heads and head-related issues - measurements, lapping, alignment, you name it.

Here are the links to my measurements of a number of heads:

http://www.ant-audio.co.uk/Tape_Recording/Heads_/RP_heads_measured.htm

http://www.ant-audio.co.uk/Tape_Recording/Heads_/Sandwich_heads_measured.htm

Cheers

Alex

 

[vince666]

that's great, Alex, thanks

IMHO, this just looks like a thread who deserves to be sticky.

 

[J!m]

TAILS!

(couldn't resist)

 

[A.N.T.]

TAILS!

(couldn't resist)

That should be a separate thread!
Cheers
Alex

 

[Bob Boyer]

TAILS!

(couldn't resist)

We need pix!! Where's Nav when you need him?

 

[A.N.T.]

Guys, let’s keep it clean, only magnetic heads (or tails) please!
Cheers
Alex

 

[vince666]

yes, only heads (and tails) please.

my own small stash of NOS Canon sandwiched amorphous heads (just put one on my Technics RS-M260) and a spare Technics AX with missing guide, used one of those into my AIWA F880 by adding a guide on the right/PB side and modifying the mounting plate accordingly (as shown on the below pics).

 

[J!m]

That should be a separate thread!
Cheers
Alex

Perhaps on a more conventional forum, yes.

 

[Lazarus Short]

Does this cover it?



Oh, just tails...

 

[20tajk7]

Heads of Alpage AL-300 (this deck will deserves a thread, worked on 13 of them and did some mods).

Erase head :


Rec/play ferrite head :



The green capacitor with the 103 mark isn't a capacitor, it's a 10kOhms thermistor used for temperature compensation of the recording amplifier

 

[vince666]

Oh, the great Alps ferrite heads! Alex did put those on my B965MF, which never ceases to amaze me!

and some more nice ferrite heads, I suspect still from Alps, in my old Technics RS-M63.
same heads as on the RS-M95 with some differences at the shape of the mounting plate only.
(sorry for the bad picture quality, with doesn't make really justice to the head, which is still in great shape)

 

[pioneercollector]

I second the ALPS head comment, Alex did replace the rather rodgered one in my Pioneer CT-1250 many years ago, and it still sounds amazing to me!

PC

 

[NavLinear]

Perhaps on a more conventional forum, yes.

Tails it is.

 

[Fishoz]

Much better…thanks Nav

 

[Gepetto]

Tails it is.

View attachment 53860

The resolution on this head is not going to be very good at all. The gap is way too wide...

 

[laatsch55]

Appears to be a wear groove too...

 

[Fishoz]

I don’t see any wear…looks playable to me…

 

[Wheel-right]

Lap Job?

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

Joe, we got another BOT

 

[WOPL Sniffer]

What you want to ask?

HUH?????