How to Troubleshoot the Revox A77
The Revox A77 audio recorder is a classic piece of recording equipment from the 1960s. The A77, like any decades-old piece of electronics, can be difficult to maintain, and if a piece of vital equipment breaks, replacing it may be difficult or impossible. However, if you are willing take care of your A77 and have a passion for analog recording equipment, you can keep it up and running. Many of the problems you run into with the A77 can be fixed by anyone with a solid knowledge of electronics.
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Instructions
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Clean the magnetic heads and tape guides regularly with cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol. The bearings in the A77 do not require cleaning, and the A77 should never be oiled. The A77 did come packaged with a cleaning kit, but given the years that have passed, the cleaning kit, if present at all, is better off not used.
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Demagnetize the magnetic heads. This can reduce noise on your recordings.
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Degrease the brake bands and brake lining. Failure to do so can weaken the brakes and cause the "Stop" button to perform suboptimally.
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Listen to the motor. If the motor is making a low rumbling sound, you will need to replace the bearings.
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Listen to the motor. If the motor is making a high whistling sound, check the space between the pickup head and the rotor. The gap between the two should be between 0.3 and 0.4mm. To stop the whistling, affix a thin piece of rubber between the pickup and the pickup's mounting surface. This will muffle the vibrations that are causing the whistling.
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Tips & Warnings
The Revox A77 is designed for reels larger than 60mm. Avoid using smaller reels.
Cleaning magnetic heads and tape guides can be a sensitive procedure. Never use hard or metal cleaning supplies on the Revox A77.
References
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