how do these heads look?

[sebber]

This the best picture i can take
it was much dirtier before so i cleaned it with some 99% ipa and some acetone
They play fine and clear but recording sounds really bad (constant dipping in volume and unstable sound)
this my first rtr so im not too familiar with everything, bought it today on fb marketplace for abt 300 and came with 6 reels (akai 1730d ss)
Should i use autosol metal polish?

 

[oldvinyldude]

Wow-they still look kinda rough. So many possibilities for poor recording:
(still) dirty heads
Tape monitor switch dirty
Poor tape quality or tape not stored properly
Bad transistor(s)

 

[BOUXY]

Mostly Heads I believe? Paid way too much also

 

[paul bi]

Ok you have a ¼ track 4 channel tape deck problem is there is tape oxide all over the heads the guides and on the head bed plate I suspect that bad tape has been run through this machine it requires the heads cleaning with alcohol and cotton buds

DO not adjust the heads or remove them
You should be able to fast rewind a full spool of tape and the guides and head plate be as clean as when you started if not suspect bad tape

 

[paul bi]

This the best picture i can take
it was much dirtier before so i cleaned it with some 99% ipa and some acetone
They play fine and clear but recording sounds really bad (constant dipping in volume and unstable sound)
this my first rtr so im not too familiar with everything, bought it today on fb marketplace for abt 300 and came with 6 reels (akai 1730d ss)
Should i use autosol metal polish?

300 ? £ or $ or A$