WAY OT: Need Repair Shop

mjroddy wrote on 2/25/2005, 12:29 PM

I've got a Clairion XD5 Studio 4 track from WAY back. It gave up the Ghost a decade or so ago, but now I find myself wanting to dust off and rescue all those old tapes that were recorded on it. So I'm looking for a reputable repair shop. The last place it was taken (6-7 years ago) declaired, "I'VE FIXED IT! It was running too fast, so I stepped down the motors and now it runs well." Well... it's a double speed recorder, so that just showed the guy's knowledge of the unit.
I've done a pretty thorough search on the www, but didn't see anything that screamed, "I CAN FIX OLD CLARIONS!" Even the factory doesn't want to touch a unit htis old.
Any help is most appreciated.

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/25/2005, 12:49 PM

Is there something special about this recorder or is it just an analog 4-track cassette recorder? If all you want to do is salvage your tapes you can pick up a Tascam Portastudio or Fostex X-15 4-track cassette recorder for around $40 on eBay. Would that work?

~jr

Rednroll wrote on 2/25/2005, 1:14 PM

I use to work for Clarion in their OEM automotive system development products, not the same devision as your 4 track. I still have some contacts there that I could possibly work through and find out if they could recommend a Clarion endorced repair shop for your 4 track or even a service manual. JR's advice is probably the easiest route, because the repair might cost more than it's worth. Send me an email if you're interested, and describe in detail what it's doing. (ie it's dead doesn't turn on, plays tapes at the wrong speed....etc.) Then I can go through my contacts, to see if they have a recommendation for you. How much are you willing to spend to get it repaired is the first question though?

Email: rednroll@hotmail.com

mjroddy wrote on 2/25/2005, 1:42 PM

JR, I'm thinking that the tapes recorded on this Clarion are pretty specific to it's internal macanation. First, it's a double speed recorder (supposedly for higher fidelity). Second, htere were some specific settings on it that we'd have to reproduce.
BUT, having said that, I'll take one of the tapes to Guitar Center to see if they have something that plays them. Maybe I can rent something, or, as you reccomend buy a cheep deck that will play them correctly.
Rednroll, I've emailed the address you have above. Thanks.