Tascam Portastudio 414 MKII 4-Track Cassette Recorder

San Francisco, CA, United States

About this listing

We have completed servicing, calibrating, and testing this TASCAM 414 MKII. This unit is incredibly clean, and after the necessary repairs and switches upgrade, it is working like new. Cosmetically, it's in near mint condition, especially after undergoing our deep cleaning process. We tested recording a full tape of music on it, and tested all of the inputs/outputs, and even the punch in/out functionality. Grab it before someone else does!Repairs:These were need to bring the item back to functioning condition, before performing maintenance.• The frame of the transport was bent out of shape. Perhaps an accident from someone else trying to open the unit improperly. We removed this and carefully bent it back to shape. An easy fix.• A missing pan knob on channel 4 was replaced.• A couple 1/4 jacks were damaged. These were carefully repaired by desoldering them, and glueing the backing pieces back in place. • All four input-select switches were replaced with new parts!Maintenance: With many vintage 4-track recorders approaching 40 years of age, they need to be maintained to continue to work properly. First and foremost the rubber belts need to be replaced, but there are many other things that can keep the 4-track running well.• Clean and demagnetize tape heads• Replace belts with low wow/flutter belts• Oil capstan bearing with high quality German oil. It greatly improves wow/flutter• Clean all input and output jacks with Deoxit on a cue tip. No messy spraying.• Clean all potentiometers and faders with contact cleaner• Check for and fix broken or weak solder joints. It is common for 1/4" input jacks, RCA jacks, and power jacks to have their solder crack from strain. We check for this and fix it when needed.• A common issue with TASCAM 414’s and 424’s is the INPUT and record-select slide switches become dirty and do not work properly. When this happens, the signal can cut in out and out in playback or recording. We make it a point to disassemble the mixer and thoroughly clean these switches multiple times with contact cleaner, and then Deoxit concentrate before reassembly.Calibration:Aside from calibrating the tape speed which is required after changing belts, often the rest of the calibrations are fine from the factory, but we check them and make tweaks when necessary.• Calibrate tape speed(s)• Check/calibrate the Azimuth• Check/calibrate the playback level for even playback• Check/calibrate the record level for even recordingCleaning:We also take pride in restoring the cosmetic condition of the units we work on. Note that in some cases there are stubborn marks that we leave. Rather than scrub them away with a harsh cleaner which can damage the original finish or patina and leave the unit looking spotty.• All knob and fader caps were cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner.• In some cases when the faceplate is removed we clean it in the sink with soap and water and dry it completely before reassembly.Quality Assurance: We also do a thorough QA of all our units. This process includes hooking the unit up to a vintage Hammond drum machine, Nord organ, and various other gear. We then record music on all 4 channels, and test all the functionality that would be used when recording music. It only gets listed once it has been tested this way. If any issues are found, we fix the issues before listing. This ensures that the unit is functioning as it should without a doubt! Other notes:• It comes with a new power supply and bulk-erased vintage tape. Vintage tapes are the best in our experience.• Free USPS ground shipping. Will usually ship same day.We also have other machines for sale. Check out our Reverb Store: https://reverb.com/shop/functional-tech-sfNeed your 4-track serviced? Reach out to us via direct message or our website for availability and rates. We are located in San Francisco, CA. See our website functional.fyi for more info.Internal Id: July 21, 2026 Listing Date: G358

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$840

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