I have a Sony SLV-696HF VCR that won't playback or record. I can take
any tape (recorded by others, commercially recorded, anything) and it
plays back only garbage video (looks like blank tape to me) but perfect
audio. If I record on a tape in that deck and then playback on another
good deck, the tape shows nothing (don't know about audio). I already
tried a head cleaner

Some scouring on the net resulted in finding the following on
http://www.anatekcorp.com/faq/archvcr.htm :

Question:
Sony VCR #SLV-700HF no playback. Video unit will record fine
(played back on another vcr). Jail bar picture. No signal output
on IC801 on RP-149 pcb pin #20 + voltage does not vary from record
to playback as it should. Sound is perfect. Does this chip go bad
or am I overlooking another circuit? Logic voltages are ok.
Answer:
I found IC801, part#8-759-046-75 to be causing the jailbar
playback. After replacing the IC on the head preamp voltage on
pin #23 varied from record/playback as it should. Make sure you
replace the ground shields around the pcb!!!! If you don't it
still looks like you have a problem (noisy picture,no color,looks
like tracking off or dirty heads!)

This is the closest thing I found to my problem, although I can't even
record so it's not the same. Further, my model is a 696 not a 700, but
that's real close

If anyone has any specific tips, or knows that the above path applies
to my model, I'd love to hear it. I'm a electrical engineer so I just
need to be pointed in the right direction with a few troubleshooting
steps. It's otherwise a great VCR so I'd like to salvage it if
possible rather than just buy a crappy new one that'll eat tapes in 18
months.

Barring tech tips, can anyone recommend a good VCR repair shop in the
Atlanta area? Sony doesn't list any authorized repair shops, just says
they'll exchange it from their factory "with a comparable model". I'd
rather find a good local guy and give him my money to do a likely easy
fix on an otherwise solid machine.