Another cutie!

[Miracle Mile]

So, today we've got something new on the bench:

An AKAI GX-52 two header from 1989....

Although maybe not a high-end deck, it's probably (in my opinion) one of the nicest looking two-head decks ever, easy to service and build like a tank!

It only needs some good cleaning, no belt issues this time (it's a direct drive) and during some first tests without cleaning anything it sounded lovely.
This is the deck I couldn't afford when it came on the market in the late eighties and it's fun to bring it back to the state of new....

 

[laatsch55]

Nice Miles....

 

[VintageShadow]

It does look Hi-END to me, very nice deck..

 

[Miracle Mile]

It does look Hi-END to me, very nice deck..

It is a very nice deck, and I always loved the looks and the design of this one. No plastic crap!

Probably a keeper.

 

[VintageShadow]

And moreover, it has the super GX head on it, not a bad thing at all..

 

[Elite-ist]

Miles: Nice pick for your latest cassette deck acquisition. Thanks for the detailed pictures. I like to see shots of the innards of some of the decks we play around with. I happen to have a factory Akai brochure from that time period. Here's a scanned article, appearing within that brochure, on your Akai GX-52:

I added another silver-faced Pioneer cassette deck to my collection, today - a CT-F850 with wood enclosure.

Nando.

 

[Dazen1]

I'm not sure that Akai made any truly great cassette decks although some of the GX series units were aesthetically pleasing.

Have fun with your latest find Miles!

 

[Miracle Mile]

I'm not sure that Akai made any truly great cassette decks although some of the GX series units were aesthetically pleasing.

The main reason for me to keep this one for a while.....

Well; I'm not a real Akai fan either, but this one has some VERY nice features and the transport mechanism is phenomenal comparing to a lot of other decks!

Have fun with your latest find Miles!

I will.

 

[BubbaH]

Its odd how certain area's seem to hold better treasures. In the last 3 years I have seen a total of 2 nice decks for sale. One being my Yamaha that I still have and the other being my brothers Teac. Of course both were bought on the spot after eying them up at the local record shop. I have had my eyes peeled for some time for another 3 head as I'd like to replace my Yamaha with either a Pioneer or Sony 3 Head. Few and far between out here.

 

[Miracle Mile]

A video of the deck found on Youtube:

[video=youtube_share;ekdfn4dsNTE]http://youtu.be/ekdfn4d6NTE[/video]

 

[Dazen1]

Its odd how certain area's seem to hold better treasures. In the last 3 years I have seen a total of 2 nice decks for sale. One being my Yamaha that I still have and the other being my brothers Teac. Of course both were bought on the spot after eying them up at the local record shop. I have had my eyes peeled for some time for another 3 head as I'd like to replace my Yamaha with either a Pioneer or Sony 3 Head. Few and far between out here.

Hi Ben,

Plenty of decks for sale in my part of the world but the prices are ridiculous. No shortage of good machines available but all the sellers want silly money.

A video of the deck found on Youtube:

[video=youtube_share;ekdfn4dsNTE]http://youtu.be/ekdfn4d6NTE[/video]

An attractive deck.

Just keep on looking for that Arcam Miles...

 

[Miracle Mile]

Hi Ben,

Plenty of decks for sale in my part of the world but the prices are ridiculous. No shortage of good machines available but all the sellers want silly money.

So, the seven euro's I paid for the GX-52 wasn't a bad deal then.

An attractive deck.....

Having in mind it's a two-header... Yup!

 

[BubbaH]

While I dont typically use Ebay, I had found a nice Pioneer Elite deck at a low price. I had set my limit way before the cut off time on the auction. In the last minute it bounced slightly over what I was budgeting.

 

[Miracle Mile]

While I dont typically use Ebay, I had found a nice Pioneer Elite deck at a low price. I had set my limit way before the cut off time on the auction. In the last minute it bounced slightly over what I was budgeting.

Except for the Sony's I have this Akai deck is number three in a row after the TEAC V-5000 and the Nakamichi in a short time.
All three decks were absolute bargains and although the TEAC and the Nak were nice to "fool around" with, they weren't "keepers"...

This cutie will stay for a while.

 

[VintageShadow]

So, the seven euro's I paid for the GX-52 wasn't a bad deal then.

And you think i got my mono shoebox for those money.. and still considering a deal..

 

[Miracle Mile]

And you think i got my mono shoebox for those money.. and still considering a deal..

Hmmm... It depends on what kind of shoes were in it....

 

[VintageShadow]

Hmmm... It depends on what kind of shoes were in it....

Almost falled down from my chair... Good one...


These infact...

 

[Elite-ist]

The only Akai cassette deck I have is a GX-F31 which I bought long ago with a Pioneer CT-650 in a package deal from the same owner. I love the looks of the little Akai, especially, the back lit power bar and peak meters. I didn't record any tapes with it, but I have played plenty of tapes in it throughout the past six years in my downstairs system. A few days ago, I moved the Akai from where it was sitting to slot in my Nakamichi BX-150.

I picked up a Pioneer CT-F850, yesterday, and it has the desirable wood enclosure. It had been serviced with new belts, lubrication and I will give a follow-up later in another thread.

I have more pictures to take of it when I have time. Once I got the Pioneer deck home, I took a few quick pictures, but not in a very well-lit background, so the quality is not good. It's in very nice cosmetic and operating condition.

Nando.

 

[Elite-ist]

While I dont typically use Ebay, I had found a nice Pioneer Elite deck at a low price. I had set my limit way before the cut off time on the auction. In the last minute it bounced slightly over what I was budgeting.

Which model Elite was it, Ben? You would think I would have one by now, but it just hasn't happened.

Nando.

 

[Miracle Mile]

Which model Elite was it, Ben? You would think I would have one by now, but it just hasn't happened.

Nando.

I really think this one would fit to your other Elite components: