Vintage Cassette - Nakamichi MR-2 2-Head Professional Cassette Deck

How do I clean tape heads?: To clean tape heads, use pure isopropyl alcohol and lint-free swabs. Throw the swab away after use.

How do I demagnetize tape heads?: Practical tape head demagnetizers are available for under $10. Try to find one with a plastic coated tip. If you can't find one which is plastic coated. you can slip a drinking straw or plastic tube over the tip for the same effect. This plastic will prevent the demagnetizer from scratching the head.
Before plugging in the demagnetizer, remove all tapes from your working area and unplug the recorder. Hold the demagnetizer away from the recorder as you plug it in. Slowly bring the tip of the demagnetizer up to the tape head and slide it back and forth across each tape head for five one-second strokes. Then pull it away from the head slowly and go on to the next. After demagnetizing the heads, use the tip on each metal tape guide with a similar five strokes. Last, slowly pull the demagnetizer far away from the recorder and unplug it. Recording engineers use a demagnetizer before each recording session. (courtesy of AudioFAQ)

Is the master fade supposed to mute abruptly before the fade is complete? Is there any way to change the timing on the fades and when the mute engages?: There are two speeds of fade. Two seconds if you hold the button in and four seconds if you just touch it and release. (courtesy of Nakamichi Cassette Deck FAQ)

What is pitch control?: Pitch control allows you to speed up or slow down the tape in order to make up for tapes that were recorded on a machine that was too fast or too slow. (courtesy of Nakamichi Cassette Deck FAQ)

What's the strange cage around the play head on the dual capstan units?: It lifts the fibrous pad inside the tape in order to prevent scrape flutter--the bouncing of tape across the head--the result of uneven pressure on the tape. These pads are installed to put pressure on the tape to keep it in contact with the head in most machines but are not as consistent as the high-quality transport of the Nakamichi. (courtesy of Nakamichi Cassette Deck FAQ)

What has Nakamichi done to keep their machines from "eating" tapes?: A: They have a tape motion sensor that will stop the machine if the tape has stopped moving for any reason. (courtesy of Nakamichi Cassette Deck FAQ)

Is there an easy way for me to tell if a deck has the gear update? What would I be looking for?: The only machines than needed the gear updates are the BX-, CR-, MR-1, and the RX-202. The way to check is to open the tape well cover and remove the two screws located on the top at either side of the black metal plate which sits behind the tape. These screws are small--Be Careful!!! Pull this forward but take note of the grooves this sits in at the bottom. Between the reel tables, there will either be a rubber wheel (size of a penny) or a gear. That's it. When replacing the back plate, be careful to re-align the bottom of it with the grooves on the capstan (metal posts at bottom). Failure to re-align properly can result in motor damage and poor tape alignment. (courtesy of Nakamichi Cassette Deck FAQ)

Which Naks are rack mountable?: 680/670 series, MR-series, and some Dragons have rack ears. (courtesy of Nakamichi Cassette Deck FAQ)

What is the difference between the MR-1 and MR-1B and the MR-2 and MR-2B?: The "B" designation denotes a machine which had its record and playback equalization altered to conform to the IEC March 1981 equalization standard (IEC2), rather than the earlier IEC standard which Nakamichi has followed since the introduction of it's first products in the early 70's. These two models are not different in any way on the front or back panels, both are identified as being MR-1 or MR-2. "B" models are generally marked with a small white dot affixed to the bottom panel near the rear of the machine.