Panasonic AG 1980 w/inferior replacement heads?

[clashradio]

Hello,

I have a 1980 serviced/recapped by T Grant a few years ago. He also replaced the heads. It just dawned on me that he might have used whatever non-glass, cheaper model Panasonic heads that would fit. I reached out but he can't recall.

If so, would this affect the image quality? I want to compare with a JVC 9900, but it might not be a fair comparison since the heads aren't original.

[aramkolt]

Odds are that "replaced the heads" means that he just put in a different used head drum from a different used AG1980. Send a picture of the top of the head drum and that'll show the part number of the upper drum which will indicate what it is from originally.

[clashradio]

He did mention he bought a batch of parts from a few shops that were closing.

I took some pictures, but I can't find any part numbers. Is there another area I should look?


[Attachment 91490 - Click to enlarge]

[timtape]

Hello,

I have a 1980 serviced/recapped by T Grant a few years ago. He also replaced the heads. It just dawned on me that he might have used whatever non-glass, cheaper model Panasonic heads that would fit. I reached out but he can't recall.

If so, would this affect the image quality? I want to compare with a JVC 9900, but it might not be a fair comparison since the heads aren't original.

Have you noticed image or audio problems, either when you first purchased the VCR or since?

[clashradio]

I've had a few 1980's, and I think this one needed re-capping off the bat. I do remember the image was crap & I ran head cleaner tape and it didn't help at all. TGs aid the heads were too clogged and needed replaced.

I'm just paranoid he used non-glass heads and installed cheap ferrite heads.

[aramkolt]

Looks like the part number was intentionally removed or wasn't there to begin with. It should look something like this, with part number in this case being VXP1750. Yours also appears to be missing the circuit board on top?

[timtape]

I've had a few 1980's, and I think this one needed re-capping off the bat. I do remember the image was crap & I ran head cleaner tape and it didn't help at all. TGs aid the heads were too clogged and needed replaced.

I'm just paranoid he used non-glass heads and installed cheap ferrite heads.

I assumed VCR video heads were normally Ferrite. Do you have a reference for glass video heads?

[clashradio]

Looks like the part number was intentionally removed or wasn't there to begin with. It should look something like this, with part number in this case being VXP1750. Yours also appears to be missing the circuit board on top?


[Attachment 91493 - Click to enlarge]

If 1980 drums should have the circuit board and a part # on top, then it looks like mine was replaced with inferior heads. That's what I was afraid of.

[clashradio]

I've had a few 1980's, and I think this one needed re-capping off the bat. I do remember the image was crap & I ran head cleaner tape and it didn't help at all. TGs aid the heads were too clogged and needed replaced.

I'm just paranoid he used non-glass heads and installed cheap ferrite heads.

I assumed VCR video heads were normally Ferrite. Do you have a reference for glass video heads?

I'm pretty sure 1980's have glass heads. Part of the pro-sumer feature.

[timtape]

I've had a few 1980's, and I think this one needed re-capping off the bat. I do remember the image was crap & I ran head cleaner tape and it didn't help at all. TGs aid the heads were too clogged and needed replaced.

I'm just paranoid he used non-glass heads and installed cheap ferrite heads.

I assumed VCR video heads were normally Ferrite. Do you have a reference for glass video heads?

I'm pretty sure 1980's have glass heads. Part of the pro-sumer feature.

I found this online description of the 1980 heads.

[aramkolt]

I hadn't really looked into what "amorphous" means in the context of heads (I assumed it meant a high density ferrite), but apparently that is indeed a type of magnetic glass. If it is indeed more durable like the online descriptions say, that could explain why I've rarely ever seen an AG1980 with worn heads even if the machine looks very high hours.

I've never seen an AG1980 head drum without that circuit board on top and that red loctite type stuff looks much "more red" than what I'm used to seeing on original heads anyway. Not saying that some replacement part numbers might not have it preinstalled, but that would surprise me since it's a pretty inexpensive part and the installation would be otherwise solderless.

[clashradio]

Tom mentioned these heads are very hard to find now. And with that huge lot of parts he bought, I'm guessing he replaced with ferrite.

If that's the case, then my 1980 is no better than what you could buy at any department store in the mid 90's. What a bummer. Now I have to buy another 1980 and have it re-capped etc.

[aramkolt]

I can re-refurb yours for $750 including head replacement (with a different used one) to get it back to stock if you want which includes return continental USA shipping. That's my usual refurb rate for AG1980's, so it's basically like you're getting the replacement head for free. I will do some additional recapping compared to what others do (power supply, Head Amp, front boards, and some others).

A newer mod is to also remove the RF/Antenna modulator which supposedly can decrease output noise and strain on the power supply, or at least it supposedly does improve the RF output characteristics if used with a VHS-Decode setup - This I can do for no additional charge. I can also pre-install an ADA4857 VHS-decode amplifier hardware for an extra fee if you're wanting to use with that.

Other mods I've done recently is disabling record function permanently so that you can't accidentally record over a tape - This I can also do for no additional charge if desired.

PM me if interested.