Ferguson 3248 recording problems - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

reeltoreelrob · 7th Mar 2021, 11:32 am

Hi all,
I am having a few problems recording on this Ferguson, the recording is generally not the best it seems to have distortion mostly on bassy parts of music, it doesn't matter if it's on manual or auto even when the level is set low in manual, recoding speech from the radio doesn't show up the problem.

Secondly when it has been recording for a while tracks 2.3 will virtually stop recording this only happens on tracks 2.3 the record meter continues to work.
Playback is fine connectors to heads are clean and tight.
I'm not a fan of changing caps for no reason but I have swapped the black ones can't remember what make they were but all out of spec. I know it's hard to diagnose online but any ideas would be great.

Thanks in advance
All the best Rob .

Mooly · 7th Mar 2021, 12:04 pm

Distorted bass could be down to insufficient bias current. Might be something worth looking at.

DMcMahon · 7th Mar 2021, 1:05 pm

If not done already then try to get some electrical contact cleaner sprayed into the Track Selection and Record/Play switches (keep spray away from other parts) and afterwards exercise both switches many times.

Also ensure the combined Record/Play head and the erase head are really clean.

David

reeltoreelrob · 7th Mar 2021, 10:21 pm

Hi,
Thanks for the input, I will be looking at the points you have both made.
I bought it off eBay, it arrived badly damaged so had to get a donor set it is now looking good.
When I first had it the amplifier would stop working when it got warm but the change of capacitors sorted that, overall it's not got a bad sound considering it has a small speaker.
All the best Rob.

7th Mar 2021, 11:32 am	#1
reeltoreelrob Pentode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 202	Ferguson 3248 recording problems Hi all, I am having a few problems recording on this Ferguson, the recording is generally not the best it seems to have distortion mostly on bassy parts of music, it doesn't matter if it's on manual or auto even when the level is set low in manual, recoding speech from the radio doesn't show up the problem. Secondly when it has been recording for a while tracks 2.3 will virtually stop recording this only happens on tracks 2.3 the record meter continues to work. Playback is fine connectors to heads are clean and tight. I'm not a fan of changing caps for no reason but I have swapped the black ones can't remember what make they were but all out of spec. I know it's hard to diagnose online but any ideas would be great. Thanks in advance All the best Rob . Last edited by reeltoreelrob; 7th Mar 2021 at 11:43 am.

7th Mar 2021, 12:04 pm	#2
Mooly Octode Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,351	Re: Ferguson 3248 recording problems Distorted bass could be down to insufficient bias current. Might be something worth looking at.

7th Mar 2021, 1:05 pm	#3
DMcMahon Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 6,604	Re: Ferguson 3248 recording problems If not done already then try to get some electrical contact cleaner sprayed into the Track Selection and Record/Play switches (keep spray away from other parts) and afterwards exercise both switches many times. Also ensure the combined Record/Play head and the erase head are really clean. David

7th Mar 2021, 10:21 pm	#4
reeltoreelrob Pentode Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 202	Re: Ferguson 3248 recording problems Hi, Thanks for the input, I will be looking at the points you have both made. I bought it off eBay, it arrived badly damaged so had to get a donor set it is now looking good. When I first had it the amplifier would stop working when it got warm but the change of capacitors sorted that, overall it's not got a bad sound considering it has a small speaker. All the best Rob.