I used to be really interested in "what gear did so-and-so use on x album" but these days for better or for worse that has changed more into "what can I use to get a sound sort of like what x album sounds like" or whatever.
Actually now that I'm thinking about it, I've always been interested...
I fixed a porta 02 recently where the seller said tracks 2 and 3 didn't work. Sure enough, the wires were busted off the play side of the head. Easy fix. It's the two white wires in the middle
Yeah preferably lint free cotton swabs but you can worry about that later. I use 91% isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. You want to rub the heads side to side in the direction of the tape travel. Don't put any alcohol on any rubber parts.
Turns out something isn't quite right with the 2SA1359. it's causing a weird oscillation. I just swapped the dc in board from a different machine with a 2SB891 and no oscillation. Time to dig a little deeper
Edit: nevermind I fucked up the pin out