How to demag. tape heads with bulk eraser

NO! That uses a large transformer that will probably damage the heads -- it's made for erasing complete tapes, fast. You need an actual tape head demagnetizer for the job which will have the correct field strength and a probe that will fit in close to the heads and tape guides that require demagnetization. I have seen them pop up on ebay now and then. As for a new one, I saw an *economy model* at kingdom.com for $15 that looks like it would work on cassette and reel to reel heads, though you may want to call and clarify that before you buy one. Here's the link: http://www.kingdom.com/short-desc.asp?go=35

Hey, I'm sure the one from kingdom.com will work fine too and it's not really a ton of money when you think about it.

I know what you mean about having a blast with reel to reel. I've bought 3 decks over the past 6 months, two sweet Teacs and a nice Revox A77. I have a decent prerecorded tape collection and I've been scoffing up a few here and there on ebay. Some of those old recordings/performances are really a treat and the sound quality rivals the best sources currently available for cheap. Hey, so what if you have to clean the heads now and then, and go through "all that hassle" of threading the tape?! Certainly it's no more trouble than vinyl's maintenance rituals and the price of admission is even sweeter. I don't know anyone that's broken a head while threading a tape, but I do know of many instances of stylus/cartridge destruction due to a momentary bobble. :)