CassetteMaster | Yashica YC-25 Yashicorder Reel-to-Reel Portable Tape Recorder @CassetteMaster | Uploaded 3 years ago | Updated 4 hours ago
Brace yourselves for this experience. This tape recorder is not just a tape recorder, it is an experience.
This is a YASHICA tape recorder, made by YASHICA, known for their film cameras. They did make radios and tape recorders, too, but they are more rare than their cameras. This site mentions some of the stuff:
yashicasailorboy.com/tag/yashicorder-77
This recorder uses a rim-drive mechanism manufactured by COPAL, another camera manufacturer, which also made shutters for some of Yashica's cameras. The same exact mechanism used in this recorder is also used in the Standard Unicorder 88 and 89 tape recorders, and the Yashica 77. The same button-switch mechanism is found in a LLOYD's rim-drive recorder, and another similar model I saw on eBay once (don't remember the brand or model, but it was very similar to the LLOYDS).
Link to my video on the Standard Unicorder 89:
youtube.com/watch?v=N0Lw_y3RfGg&t=409s
Link to my video on the LLOYDS:
youtube.com/watch?v=GhHZm68CAAE
Rim-drive technology is an inferior technology to capstan-drive, only pulling the tape from the takeup reel. They have a constant _angular_ velocity on the takeup reel, such that the linear velocity of the tape (normally constant for a capstan-drive machine) continually increases slowly as more tape accumulates on the takeup reel. Most rim-drive machines were built to a price, and the drive systems typically had the motor shaft directly against the rubber rim of the takeup drive wheel. That combined with no motor governor to regulate the speed of the motor greatly contribute to wow and flutter problems (more wow in this case) with your typical rim-drive recorder. BUT!!! The Copal mechanism is very different than most rim-drive recorders. Yes, still constant angular velocity, but it uses a high quality governor-controlled motor with a belt-driven flywheel, which then drives the rim of the takeup drive wheel. The result is not only considerably more torque, but a lot more stable speed. Yes, rim-drive, but very low wow and flutter. The Copal drive system used in this one is surprisingly well-made and solid, which for a lower-cost rim-drive system is a bit odd.
Unfortunately, the circuitry is a bit lacking in this one, only four transistors (PNP germanium), and DC bias recording. There is plenty of DC bias 'S' with this one, the strong distortion in the sibilants in speech, although with some de-essing, or other conditioning of the incoming signals, it can sound a bit better.
I had to replace the amplifier's electrolytic capacitors, as it had very weak sound when I first tested the recorder. Then afterward I found the recording quality was atrocious, with heavy distortion, especially in bass frequencies. It was a particular distortion, a dead giveaway to the bias voltage not being correct. Increasing the bias resistor from 25kΩ to 39kΩ made a tremendous boost in recording quality, although there is still plenty of "DC bias 'S'", likely due to the pre-emphasis of the high frequencies during recording to try to get better frequency response.
I am on the lookout for a Yashica Yashicorder 77, and any other Yashica recorders or especially, recorders using this particular mechanism or even just the same button-switch system like used on the LLOYDS (I am beating myself for not getting that one I saw on eBay; it was a while back).
Brace yourselves for this experience. This tape recorder is not just a tape recorder, it is an experience.
This is a YASHICA tape recorder, made by YASHICA, known for their film cameras. They did make radios and tape recorders, too, but they are more rare than their cameras. This site mentions some of the stuff:
yashicasailorboy.com/tag/yashicorder-77
This recorder uses a rim-drive mechanism manufactured by COPAL, another camera manufacturer, which also made shutters for some of Yashica's cameras. The same exact mechanism used in this recorder is also used in the Standard Unicorder 88 and 89 tape recorders, and the Yashica 77. The same button-switch mechanism is found in a LLOYD's rim-drive recorder, and another similar model I saw on eBay once (don't remember the brand or model, but it was very similar to the LLOYDS).
Link to my video on the Standard Unicorder 89:
youtube.com/watch?v=N0Lw_y3RfGg&t=409s
Link to my video on the LLOYDS:
youtube.com/watch?v=GhHZm68CAAE
Rim-drive technology is an inferior technology to capstan-drive, only pulling the tape from the takeup reel. They have a constant _angular_ velocity on the takeup reel, such that the linear velocity of the tape (normally constant for a capstan-drive machine) continually increases slowly as more tape accumulates on the takeup reel. Most rim-drive machines were built to a price, and the drive systems typically had the motor shaft directly against the rubber rim of the takeup drive wheel. That combined with no motor governor to regulate the speed of the motor greatly contribute to wow and flutter problems (more wow in this case) with your typical rim-drive recorder. BUT!!! The Copal mechanism is very different than most rim-drive recorders. Yes, still constant angular velocity, but it uses a high quality governor-controlled motor with a belt-driven flywheel, which then drives the rim of the takeup drive wheel. The result is not only considerably more torque, but a lot more stable speed. Yes, rim-drive, but very low wow and flutter. The Copal drive system used in this one is surprisingly well-made and solid, which for a lower-cost rim-drive system is a bit odd.
Unfortunately, the circuitry is a bit lacking in this one, only four transistors (PNP germanium), and DC bias recording. There is plenty of DC bias 'S' with this one, the strong distortion in the sibilants in speech, although with some de-essing, or other conditioning of the incoming signals, it can sound a bit better.
I had to replace the amplifier's electrolytic capacitors, as it had very weak sound when I first tested the recorder. Then afterward I found the recording quality was atrocious, with heavy distortion, especially in bass frequencies. It was a particular distortion, a dead giveaway to the bias voltage not being correct. Increasing the bias resistor from 25kΩ to 39kΩ made a tremendous boost in recording quality, although there is still plenty of "DC bias 'S'", likely due to the pre-emphasis of the high frequencies during recording to try to get better frequency response.
I am on the lookout for a Yashica Yashicorder 77, and any other Yashica recorders or especially, recorders using this particular mechanism or even just the same button-switch system like used on the LLOYDS (I am beating myself for not getting that one I saw on eBay; it was a while back).
