JVC SR-VS30 VHS severe tearing problem?

[jbd5010]

Hi all - can anyone suggest a starting point for troubleshooting the VHS playback issue with my SR-VS30 exhibited in the attached image? This occurs on all tapes, SP or EP, and these same tapes play fine in my standalone (and identical transport) SR-V10U with the same equipment in the rest of the workflow. I assume it's some play head issue, or maybe an electrical issue?

Ironically, the MiniDV deck on the other side is working flawlessly (for now, at least).

[aramkolt]

Do you know the history of the deck at all? Like did it work fine and then stop working all of the sudden? I assume the tape path has been cleaned? I could see it being a sort of extreme mistracking I suppose since it almost looks like the tape is being fast forwarded. Next step would be to look at the RF envelope with on oscilloscope though. If the waveform from that looks good, then that rules out it being a mechanical or head issue at that point.