Roland Tape Echo Pinch Rollers

We only ever fit freshly refurbished Roland rubber rollers in the machines we sell. We send the old rollers to be re-rubbered by the same people who refurbish rollers for studio multitracks, and we carefully replace the old bearings with high quality new parts.

This process is involved and takes a great deal more time and money than simply buying a new off the shelf replacement.

So why do it?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – rubber performs better than any other pinch roller material (ever seen a studio tape machine using anything else?).

Rubber is tried and tested: it lasts and will maintain its performance for decades to come (there are machines with rubber rollers that are 50 years old and still running).

Finally, size does matter: we’ve seen motor issues caused by non-original/softer/slippier replacement rollers requiring more tension against the capstan.

Fresh rubber and new high quality bearings help us to achieve exceptional results in our Roland Echoes.

So if you care about sound quality and echo performance, fit a rubber roller. And when you consider a machine for sale, ask how old the pinch roller is and whether it’s been changed or refurbished by a professional?

The new pinch wheels are fitted with 3 new bearings, with the outer two flanged. Your new pinch wheel will require either 1 or 2 of the washers (technically they are “shims”) provided. We recommend installing both shims at first, double check the wheel spins freely. If not, remove 1 shim and finish installation.

Then you can put the screw and its own small washer back on top. Due to Roland’s manufacture process not every capstan is the same height therefore this is why you may need either 1 or 2 washers. A little up/down movement in the pinch wheel is fine. The key point is: if the wheel spins freely you’re good to go!