It's a big challenge when a customer sends you over 100 tapes to transfer! To get the best results during the transfer process you need to fast-forward all of the tapes. This allows any loose debris to fall off the tape. Another benefit is that signs of "sticky shed" syndrome will show up during the fast-forward & rewind processes.

The problem is that using your AG1980 to fast-forward and rewind tapes is a very time consuming procedure (it also contributes to video head and tape path wear). Using your AG1980 to check tapes this way, ties it up and keeps it from it's main function of playing back tapes!

There's a serendipitous answer to the problem!! Use a lower priced high-speed fast-forward VCR. These have modern mechanisms that slowly ramp up the fast-forward speed to an extremely high speed, As the tape nears the end of the cassette, the mechanism slows down, then for the last 20ft or so, it crawls. So there's no chance of snapping off the end of the tape!  During our tests, our refurbished Curtis Mathes VCRs fast-forwarded (or rewound) a full T-120 cassette in only 60 seconds! T-160 cassettes take only 90 seconds! Quite amazing! So while your AG1980 is occupied as the playback source for your digital transfers, you can be checking other tapes on the "high-speed" VCR. It's a real timesaver!  ~ Tom G.

some of our High-Speed VCRs

I'm pleased to announce that we've just added the Pro-Matic dehydrator to our line of videotape dehydrators. With it's deeper trays, the Pro-Matic dehydarator can accept up to eight U-matic video cassettes at one time. It also can dehydate most audio and videotapes up to 1" wide and up to 12" diameter reels. The built-in digital temperature probe allows you to accurately monitor the internal temperature during the dehydrating process. There's more info here

If all your other VHS tapes are playing well, except for one, then I'd expect that your "bad" tape has "sticky shed" syndrome, or it's missing oxide from being played too much. Other causes could be that the control track on the tape is damaged; or that the "bad" tape was recorded on an out-of-alignment VCR.

First, look closely at the audio/control head while the tape is playing (located just to the left of the rubber pinch roller) If the tape shows ripples at the very lower edge, then somehow the control track has been damaged.

"Sticky shed" problems often can be temporarily cured by baking the tape in a tape dehydrator.

Unfortunately most other problems are very hard to repair. Often the "bad" tape has been recorded on an out-of-alignment VCR. This sometimes happens when someone has a jammed tape. They fight with the mechanism to get it out, and in the process, some of the tape guides get twisted. After that, they continue recording, and as you'd expect, the tapes recorded on that "damaged" VCR will play back okay as long as they use the same VCR. However, every other correctly aligned VCR will exhibit playback problems with that tape. The only way to watch that "bad tape" would be to diddle around with the alignment on a cheap VCR, trying to get it to match the playback of the "bad tape".

Transferring tapes isn't as easy as most people think!

~ Tom Grant  Ocfrober 2024

This is a common question that comes up quite often. The name “Panasonic AG-1980 “and “Panasonic AG-1980P” are one and the same! The front of the VCR has “Panasonic AG1980” stenciled on it, while the serial number label on the back says “Panasonic AG1980P”. This is the same on all Panasonic AG1980s. The added “P” also appears above the serial number sticker on all Panasonic VCRs from that era. ie. Panasonic AG-1330P.

Regardless of what people say, the end-all, and final determining factor in how well a videotape plays back, rests with the condition of the video heads. Worn video heads won't playback EP (slow speed) VHS tapes properly. Hi-Fi sound playback will be hard to achive, and the video picture just won't track correctly. (You will, however, in most cases, still be able to play SP (standard speed) VHS tapes).

All of the "sale" refurbished Panasonic AG1980s that we sell, have high-quality, replacement video heads installed. Our video heads are "near-to-new",  as measured on our waveform monitor. We currently stock over 50 video heads, and when we're rebuilding AG1980s, we only select the very best heads to install in our "sale" refurbished AG1980s. You can rest assured that you're getting the best possible playback when you purchase a TGrant Photo restored Panasonic AG-1980.

Note: All AG-1980s sent in to us for repair retain your original video heads. If, after testing, we determine that your heads are in poor condition, we'll call you to see if you want better condition heads installed.