Wow - bizarre.

I checked grounding of the head shield - full continuity with the other head shields and random metal parts on the machine.

Interesting that the head itself may need addt'nl grounding.

The heads on the F-44 actually don't have separate head shields; they are integral, and their grounding tests good.

The fluid I was thinking of was LAST tape head (and tape) lubricant ….

https://www.audionirvana.org/forum/t...ation-products

I was always highly sceptical of a fluid that claimed to function both as a friction-reducing lubricant, by applying it to the head surface…and simultaneously as a ‘conditioning agent’ by applying it to the tape itself !

So I never purchased nor used it….sticky shed syndrome was already a common problem in the same era as LAST fluid was on sale, and I doubted the stuff could prevent or cure the condition…but could conceivably contribute to it ! I’m reasonably sure that static reduction in the tape pack was one of its claims also…

yes indeed, a legendary fix decades ago.

another static source were the DC reel motors on the contraptions made in Ft. Lauderdale.
static buildup cured by fabricating a micky-mouse brush contacting the shaft above the tach.

Is the noise in both channels or just one? When were all the electrolytic caps last replaced?
--scott

It's a light silicone volatile. You can buy an equivalent from me. It does absolutely nothing for sticky shed, but it can make some tapes with "Loss of Lubricant" failures play properly.

https://reverb.com/item/33011762-klu...head-lubricant

(LoL is actually a whole bunch of different failures probably none of which actually have to do with loss of lubricant but we're stuck with the name because that's what archivists called it in the eighties.) It will not reduce flutter on good tapes.
--scott

Yes, both channels.

Electros were replaced in 2008; how could caps be tape-specific and only affect the PB head?

I'm thinking leaky caps in the playback electronics, which would only affect playback but would not be tape-specific and would not be correlated between channels.
--scott

A friend and local vintage electronics restorer suggested wiping the capstan and pinch roller with water after cleaning with alcohol; it seemed to make a slight difference, but gave me the idea to try a few drops of water on the felt back-tension disc - the noise disappeared completely for a short while, then gradually returned but at a much reduced level; I assume it returned as the water began to evaporate.

That would suggest that humidifying the room may be the ticket after all; our gas furnace could be drying the air despite our proximity to the ocean.

So funny that this is the exact opposite of sticky-shed tapes; instead of being baked, these tapes may need to be 'moistened'!

Will run a humidifier all day tomorrow and see what happens.

Thanks to all for the info and suggestions.

If I recall it was more like some laminations on the head face needed grounding, nothing to do with shielding. The AG350 had big laminated head shields with shield caps that came up when the cover/lifters was closed.

If legendary, you can probably Google it!

So,

Ran humidifier in small room for two days, with tapes propped up vertically so as to expose both sides to the air, and the noise is indeed reduced considerably but not enough to use the Ampex for PB of this tape; will have to use the Akai for that.

I guess having the windows mostly closed this time of year, and the gas furnace on most of the time, the air can become rather dry.

Some do with Stellavox stuff and to an extent with Nagra 4 stereo using the nagramaster biasing / eq settings