RANT - TASCAM MP-BT1 fragile junk!

[bandwife]

I agree with the OP, it is a cheap piece of work. I used mine only and home and usually mounted with velcro on a special practice stand. So it has had very little handling. Most of the switches are malfuncitoning and the headset jack connection is loose. Perhaps I use it too much (LOL)

 

[boriology101]

I have NO DOUBT that these are made overseas using the cheapest Asian electronics (no offense intended toward Asians).

At least to me, even if you stated that you didn't intend, I personally take it very offensive. you'd better get an airplane ticket to punch the person designed the trainer rather than you use racist words to provoke people who have done nothing to your problem. It's all about matters of design & build quality issues, race doesn't belong to anywhere in this topic. why did you have to put asian over there?

 

[boriology101]

BTW, my MP-BT1 has been working flawlessly for quite a while. I disagree with the OP based on my own experience. Tascam is not an high-end brand, but they have done good jobs for the money i paid. I have used several tascam products in the past mainly multi track recorders. They were all ok for my needs.

 

[LHbassist]

I'm disappointed and frustrated so I'm going to blow off some steam and see what the rest of you have to say about these trainers. I know some of you have them or have used them. So here's my story:

I bought a TASCAM MP-BT1 (I think from MF, IIRC). At the time, it was $199. So, I had my trainer for less than a year but longer than the warranty phase. The power switch broke and I couldn't turn the unit on. I sent it to TEAC America (that's TASCAM, BTW) for repair. I didn't hear anything back for a month or more. Called them. They LOST my trainer somewhere. After playing "let's haggle on the phone" for about a week, the service manager sends me a replacement...

but it's the GUITAR trainer!
So I call her back and she finally sends another BASS trainer (tells me keep the guitar trainer as a peace offering). Gee, thanks.

So now I'm on my 2nd MP-BT1 trainer, I've had it for roughly one year, and now the output volume rocker swtich broke. No rough handling! This thing just sits in my home office and gets used in one place in a corner where I have my guitar stool. Out of nowhere this switch breaks. Now I can't turn the volume DOWN (only up). Sending these in for repair outside of the warranty period ends up costing about $10 less than buying a new one!

I'm so PO'd about this! Read about them online and you see MANY people have had trouble with these fragile switches! At the price these things are going for, they should last a decade--at least 1/2 a decade! Getting ONE year out of a $200 item is just ridiculous!!

TEAC/TASCAM needs to step up the game, IMO! These units need to be redesigned and manufactured in a completely different way. I have NO DOUBT that these are made overseas using the cheapest Asian electronics (no offense intended toward Asians). In a nutshell, the plastic (ALL the plastic) used to make these is the cheapest, most fragile plastic.

Since mine's way outside any warranty period, I opened it up to see what's going on and to see if I could fix the switch somehow. Know what I found? I found that these are entirely made of a fragile, cheap plastic similar to the type used for model airplanes--the type you buy at the toy store and put together with Testor's model glue!!

Model airplane plastic?!

I have $30 calculators more durable than this!!

BTW--No, I didn't break my MP-BT1. I reassembled it and it still works but I was unable to fix the switch.

At the price these go for, they should be made of better matrerials!! What a rip!

UGH! I just wanna:
TASCAM --->

<--- ME

What other options are out there for an MP3 trainer with all the features that these have?

Has anyone else had problems with the quality of these units?

[/RANT]

I have posted a number of reviews on Tascams' incredibly badly made products. Mine were CD-BT-1's, but do you think I'd have the idiocy to buy one of the MP3 based trainers based on my experience with this junk? If you would have read the review section, there are a bunch of reviews that are positive. But, I've had TWO of these, and they BOTH SUCKED! I play along with MP3's now, using a small 50 dollar Behringer mixer, that is a LOT better than the reputation they have, by the way.... and my computer...use the low cut on the mixer for the track channel, and your bass in another channel. Save a hundred fifty bucks.

 

[Ryan L.]

I had the exact same problem with mine. It now sits on a shelf in our closet--- a totally useless piece of junk to me now.

 

[bandwife]

Do you feel better now that you did? Passive aggressive bs.
I have one of their recorders, and it's a nice little unit.

You aren't very bright. He wasn't being passive aggressive. And if he has a bad experience with a product or customer support, he has every right to report that fact anyway he chooses. Are you suggesting that manufacturers be allowed to treat customers any way they choose?

If you don't have anything constructive to say, keep quiet.

And that applies to all the people who respond with "never had a problem" type answers. Technically you are off topic. Start a new topic/thread about how great your product is. Or you could post something useful to the OP. Obviously hearing someone tell them about how great their experience is/was only makes it worse for the OP.

 

[mkmsound]

Had a Boss Micro BR. No physical problems but many MP3s wouldnt play to the very end even though when connected to computer the files played completely.

Now using TASCAM GB-10. Very happy with it.

 

[bandwife]

At least to me, even if you stated that you didn't intend, I personally take it very offensive. you'd better get an airplane ticket to punch the person designed the trainer rather than you use racist words to provoke people who have done nothing to your problem. It's all about matters of design & build quality issues, race doesn't belong to anywhere in this topic. why did you have to put asian over there?

Racism applies only to people not to things. "Asian electronics" technically only means they were produced in an Asian country. Could have been made by Caucasian workers in China for all we know...

My Asian fiancée was not at all offended by his statement.

 

[Slowgypsy]

Back on track....

I've owned and used both (CD & mp3) Tascam bass trainer's for several years now... several hours each and every day... tossed them in my case... not rough handled but used as they were meant to be used.

Obviously everyone will have a different and personal experience, but with the Tascam trainers... mine has been 100% satisfying. If I lost one or ran over it with a truck, I'd purchase a replacement immediately.

Just my $.02

 

[boriology101]

Racism applies only to people not to things. "Asian electronics" technically only means they were produced in an Asian country. Could have been made by Caucasian workers in China for all we know...

My Asian fiancée was not at all offended by his statement.

Racism applies to everything as long as it creates inequality to human being. Racism applies only to people? dude, it's about THINGS that racism was created for.

I just showed OP including your post to couple of faculty members in the sociology department where i'm working at and they said the op can be offensive to asians. Thanks for bringing your word definition which everyone already knows It was, again, at least to me, not about the word definition but negative connotation of race from the word that is highly inappropriate to the topic of poorly constructed product design & build quality issues.

 

[bandwife]

Racism applies to everything as long as it creates inequality to human being. Racism applies only to people? dude, it's about THINGS that racism was created for.

I just showed OP including your post to couple of faculty members in the sociology department where i'm working at and they said the op can be offensive to asians. Thanks for bringing your word definition which everyone already knows It was, again, at least to me, not about the word definition but negative connotation of race from the word that is highly inappropriate to the topic of poorly constructed product design & build quality issues.

You are still wrong. Doesn't matter what your faculty says.

Here is the definition of Racism:

: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Note that it says 'human traits' not the traits of things.

Is saying American Cars suck racist? Japanese basses are crap? You are taking political correctness to an absurd level. You are diluting the meaning of a word. With something as serious as racism, you really need to be careful.

It is a common notion that things built in China, for instance, are poorly made due to the cost cutting manufacturing process. This has nothing to do with the race of the people involved (racist economics perhaps ). And based on the overwhelming evidence on this board, you could easily deduce that products (i.e. tascam products) made in asia have quality control issues. Not scientific, but certainly a reasonable conclusion.

I like the features of my MP-BT1 but not the quality of the build. I have had many sub-standard Chinese products over the years. I travel to China twice a year just for fun and I still buy Chinese made electronics. Do I trust Asian electronics, not in general no. If that makes me a racist...so be it.

 

[boriology101]

You are still wrong. Doesn't matter what your faculty says.

Here is the definition of Racism:

: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Note that it says 'human traits' not the traits of things.

Is saying American Cars suck racist? Japanese basses are crap? You are taking political correctness to an absurd level. You are diluting the meaning of a word. With something as serious as racism, you really need to be careful.

It is a common notion that things built in China, for instance, are poorly made due to the cost cutting manufacturing process. This has nothing to do with the race of the people involved (racist economics perhaps ). And based on the overwhelming evidence on this board, you could easily deduce that products (i.e. tascam products) made in asia have quality control issues. Not scientific, but certainly a reasonable conclusion.

I like the features of my MP-BT1 but not the quality of the build. I have had many sub-standard Chinese products over the years. I travel to China twice a year just for fun and I still buy Chinese made electronics. Do I trust Asian electronics, not in general no. If that makes me a racist...so be it.

ha, now you're saying that faculty is wrong? I'm not sure what credibility you have that you can confidently say that. . I have no idea where you copied and pasted the definition of the word but let me tell you again and again, i am neither interested in your word definition nor interested in spending my time for your personal thoughts. I was talking about negative connotation from the OP in my view. I never asked for your China love or whatever. It's all about matter of interpretation, THERE IS NO NEED OF YOUR THOUGHTS UNLESS I WANT.

Yes, racism is serious topic, so my point was just to get rid of that "cheapeast asian electronic" part in the OP so that there would be no one pissed off when reading it. I know your GF said no problem, but I do have a problem in my initial feedback and this is the outcome of the OP to me with the other two folks. His rant would be entertaining for me to read if he didn't put the single word over there.

I don't see you as a racist because you are not, I am sure the original poster is not a racist as well. However, according to your posts in this thread, I see you are a sacarstic mannered individual being overwhelmingly judgemental of other's opinion. I can feel totallyfrozen smokingly mad by his frstration by experiencing quality control issues of BT1 (I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND HIM). However, in contrast, things you keep trying to argue in this thread are all well known by most of users here I just can't get what your real point is. I hope you are not just provoking people for fun.

And, who's set the rule that we only have to support his rant in here? open another thread for good things about BT1??? Everyone is supposed to give feedbacks whatever they are as long as the topic is directly related to OP. One thing i feel funny is that I, at least, stuck to the topic but you keep dragging people out to another topic that is with you, not the OP.

In fact, I never mentioned tascam products are always perfect. You get what you paid for, that's what I mentioned about Tascam product in this thread. And the thing I don't like about OP is that I felt racist connotation that unnecessarilly connects quality control issues with race. OP is missing one point that the price of the trainer has been reduced a lot. Also, he could purchase extra warranty when he bought the machine or at least he could deal with the sales manager for having the second BT1 comes with extra warranty. I am sure she could be able to give him good options. There were options for him to preven this misfortune but it was his decision to accept the price of BT1 including the risk of so called well known quality control inconsistency of Tascam products even after he directy experienced such a thing.

Personally, my BT1 is as perfect as solid rock. I didn't abuse but neither I babied, it awalys did the job for me really well. I can get it cheap online these days, I will just buy again if it breaks down.

 

[boriology101]

Is saying American Cars suck racist? Japanese basses are crap? You are taking political correctness to an absurd level. You are diluting the meaning of a word. With something as serious as racism, you really need to be careful.

Don't you see yourself that you are using nationality terms on your race talk? nationality and race are totally different topics. You're the one being absurd and diluting the meaning of a word. let's stop this nonsense.

 

[jsbarber]

I've had a MP-BT1 for about a year and a half and use it pretty much every day for at least an hour.

The flaws that I have experienced are:
- sometimes the fast forward button won't work for a bit, but then self-heals
- I have had it lock up and you have to wait until the power drains the battery, recharge, and then it works again
- If the loop segment is too small it doesn't work

I am pretty careful with mine, I keep it and transport it in the original cardboard box it came in. (I taped up the box so it is better held together.)

It does have a lot of great features, but could be improved if:
- it had more memory, or could accept an external memory device
- rather than slowing down by 4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, 32% and 50%; it would be great if you could change it by 1% at a time
- could record your playing
- supported FLAC or wav for better audio quality

The new product that Tascam has adds some of these features, but you give up others.

I have also had a CD-BT1 for about 7 years. It still works fine, but I prefer the MP version.

My two cents worth (for free!)

Jim

 

[totallyfrozen]

At least to me, even if you stated that you didn't intend, I personally take it very offensive...

Oh yeah?! Well...well...I take offense that you say your location is Heaven cuz no one in Heaven is offended at anything; otherwise, it wouldn't be Heaven. So either your blaspheming or your just lying and you're really in Hell.
So there!

So clean up your own act before you run around on your high horse trying to clean up everyone else's. BTW, the thread is about the TASCAM MP-BT1...Not about whether you think I'm a racist or not. In any case, you gave me a chuckle...so I thank you.

P.S. I still use my TASCAM everyday. I just can't adjust the volume so I'm slowly going deaf.

 

[Randall]

My gtr-1 has a input jack that is not working after about 40 uses. Now i can only use it to record jams.
Not sure if it is worth fixing as I bought it online from the USA (i live in Canada). Buyers beware.

 

[totallyfrozen]

OK,
Based on all the various responses that I've received (talking, of course, about the RELEVANT responses and not the "racism" nonsense), what we have is:

Inconsistent quality and fragile parts.

Some users have used the TASCAMS for awhile and claim they get good reliability and others claim one problem or another. Now I'm seeing that the problems also extend to the guitar units and CD units.

So you can flame me for complaining about the quality of my FIRST and SECOND Tascam trainers but just remember that I'm not the only guy on this planet who's had a problem with these trainers. I still enjoy mine and use it daily, but I'm not going to pretend that it's perfect or built like a Abrams tank. It ain't. Like I said before, for $200, I don't think it's unreasonable to want more durability. For a mere $50 more, my iPod Classic is built like a brick!

 

[Ryan L.]

^
I know I'll never buy one again. I reallly liked it when it would actually turn on without taking it apart and using a screwdriver to power it up.

 

[boriology101]

Oh yeah?! Well...well...I take offense that you say your location is Heaven cuz no one in Heaven is offended at anything; otherwise, it wouldn't be Heaven. So either your blaspheming or your just lying and you're really in Hell.
So there!

 

[RikBass]

Hi
My power switch also failed after about 2 years of loving use.
Very annoyed but would still buy another one.
I agree that 5 cents more spent on each switch would make them great.
Very handy for my cover band work