WEM Mk4 Copicat - low volume output

[Bushbaby]

Which are the record and replay heads on the unit?

[Murphyv310]

Some info here. http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/britamps/...picat.html

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
The first head (tape running direction) is always erase, may in some models be a permanent magnet type, then followed by the record then three playback heads.

[Amie]

Hi Rob

Nobody has mentioned this but.... My copycat was given to me as a faulty unit by someone who said it had the same fault as yours, they had made their own tape loops and were trying to use the tape inside out with the back of the tape running against the heads!

Also if the tape is worn it will give that effect.

But, those heads look very worn, the tape is likely not to be running against them properly

The components look original, and the soldering on mine looks like a thirteen year old has done it....Oh wait

Good luck,
Amie.

[Murphyv310]

Yes a reversed tape will give virtually no output.
To be fair I didn't mention it as I took it for granted that it would be something the OP would check and know about. The splice of the loop is done on the reverse side on genuine and home made tapes. Using Chrome tapes causes severe head wear, they work well when the machine is new though.
Even though some Copicats had rather mixed electronic build quality they were very reliable, I really cannot ever remember fixing a fault on the audio side of these machines.

[Bushbaby]

Thanks Trevor and Arnie.
I bought some new tape loops and operated just one with the spliced tape section on the outside (assuming this is correct).
It was sold to me as fully working BUT I had assumed from the start that it would have potential issues being so old.
As I said in my initial post, the echo and effects side of thing does appear to be working but the output to the amp is very low indeed, 1 was just trying it out on a small Marshall Lead 12 combo and almost had the volume control at 10 with the gain up too to hear anything . I didn't think for one moment that it could be the heads that could be causing the issue. I feel a wee bit stuck where to go next but I assume that trying some new heads will be a start.

Best Regards

[Bushbaby]

Sorry Amie,
Should have put my glasses on (Arnie - doh!!).

Best Regards
Rob

[Amie]

Hasta la vista Bushbaby!

Amie

[Bushbaby]

Ive just has a thought - how do you ensure the heads are all aligned? I realise now that I did unscrew the shroud to the first (erase) head to see how clean the head was. Is it possible I have pushed it out of alignment with the others (I did try to be as careful as possible when I did undo it)?
Best Regards

Rob

[Amie]

I'm no expert Rob, however perfectly aligned erase head isn't going to be a problem, my copicat doesn't seem to have any adjustment, and is original. I assume that as the heads are screwed down to a flat surface and the tape isn't likely to be played on another machine, all that matters is that they are in line with one another. They seem to be normal mono heads.

On a tape recorder the heads normally have a sprung loaded mounting screw one side, does your copicat have that?

Amie.