Just realized my old deck finally bit the dust after 20 years

My Nakamichi deck just stopped playing tapes yesterday. I was trying to listen to a mix my sister made me back in 1998 and it just ate the tape. I got it at a thrift store for $15 a few years ago and it worked fine until now. Any tips on fixing these things or should I just look for another one?

2 comments

2 Comments

noah_barnes1mo ago

Honestly before you toss it, check if it's just the belt that melted. Those old Nakamichi decks had rubber belts that turn to goo after a couple decades, and it's like a $5 fix if you're handy with a screwdriver. I've fixed two of my buddy's decks that way, just popped the top off and swapped the belt, worked like new. Way cheaper than hunting down another one, since people think they're made of gold now.

reese_bell1mo ago

Yeah I get what you're saying but honestly not everyone has the patience to mess with those tiny screws and delicate parts. Sure it's a cheap fix if you know what you're doing but most people will break something else trying to pry the thing open. And those Nakamichi decks are finicky with alignment too so a belt swap ain't always the end of the story.