XL-1 head adjustment?
 

I am getting "banding" also. From everything I've learned or tried, head adjustment seems to be my next option. Question: can I adjust the head myself...if so what is the procedure? I've had the doors off the tape case, but don't know what to do next. Can anyone help?

You cannot adjust the heads yourself. You must send the camera in to an authorized Canon service center. Locations listed at http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/skinny.php#service. I see you're in Central Texas, so either the East coast or West coast Canon facility will do.

Head Adjustment
 

I also had a "banding" problem with my XL1, and it turned out to be a disintegrating tape guide. It was an intermittent alignment problem during record, so there wasn't a definded pattern to the "banding". Sent it to Canon, problem fixed. They also cleaned the camera and checked the head alignment at the same time. Hope this bit of information helps....

Fred....

Sending the camera to a Canon service center is definitely the best, and possibly only, option.

Also, if you hadn't sent your camera in for routine maintenance in a while, it would be a good idea to get the people at Canon to check out the rest of the camera for white balance, color, etc. These things do drift occasionally and the techs will make sure the camera's performing to factory specifications.