Running some tape today

Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
285
Location
Clinton, Ia
Tagline
Retired
#1
Its been a while since I've run any tape. With nothing else to do today I loaded a 10" reel on a Sony TC-755 and let it go.

I've had this deck since 1985. In the mid 90's a retired tech serviced for me and calibrated it for Maxell-XLl back coated tape. The machine still runs flawlessly and only requires it heads cleaned. When I got this machine, it came with all the original paper work, box and packing and a rare dust cover. DSCF0342.JPG DSCF0344.JPG

Here's a couple of pictures. It's setting on top of a Sony TC-558.
 

WOPL Sniffer

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
11,217
Location
Minnie-Soda
Tagline
Screw it
#2
Yup, the Big Sony's sound great and are built well. I was going to put my Sony TC-580 up for sale (it's a 7" reel deck) but it works so nice and has auto reverse so I may rethink that.
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
285
Location
Clinton, Ia
Tagline
Retired
#3
The Sony 580 is a nice deck. I've owned one that took a lot of work to breath life back into it. The 558 is the only 7" six head deck I own. These came on the market late 1968 and production ended by 1972. The TC-755, 756, 756-2 (half track) and the 758 (auto reverse rotating head block) production were available through out the 70's. They also had competition from Sony's own TC-765 & 766-2 (half track). These could probably be referred to as Sony's premier decks. The were large monsters and weighed about 65 lbs. I still have all these decks except the 756-2 half track. I'm seriously considering letting go of some of my decks this year. I only have two decks set up and the others are stored away.
 

orange

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
17,704
Tagline
Broken beyond repair but highly affable
#4
Wish I could afford one of those Sony monsters.
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
285
Location
Clinton, Ia
Tagline
Retired
#5
Wish I could afford one of those Sony monsters.
The monsters are great decks. They're big and they take up a lot of room. They've been packed away for a year. The 765 is in my avatar. The 766-2 is identical except for a switch in the head cover that lets you switch from 2 track to 4 track playback. In 1976, the 765 sold for a $1,000 and the 766 sold for $1,500.00.
 

WOPL Sniffer

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
11,217
Location
Minnie-Soda
Tagline
Screw it
#6
Storing and reel to reel don't even go together. These things come out of storage needing a lot more work the when they went in.
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
285
Location
Clinton, Ia
Tagline
Retired
#7
Sniffer, You are correct regarding storage. This is why I am considering reducing the collection. The 765 went unused for a long time prior to getting it. The pinch roller assembly was frozen and it need some other minor repairs. I've had it for about 20 years and still plays perfectly.
 

WOPL Sniffer

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
11,217
Location
Minnie-Soda
Tagline
Screw it
#8
I just put my Sony TC-580 up for sale. I have another big Tascam I'm thinking about buying. I put up a Yamaha receiver up too.
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
285
Location
Clinton, Ia
Tagline
Retired
#9
I'm considering getting rid of my 558 this year. If I need to run 7" tapes, I can do it on the bigger decks. I'll probably end up keeping the 755 & a 758 auto reverse.
 

WOPL Sniffer

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Aug 10, 2015
Messages
11,217
Location
Minnie-Soda
Tagline
Screw it
#10
Well, the receiver didn't last long and I sold 2 amps in 2 days.... Got the parts on order to do 2 more WOPL's (700II's). Looks like that Tascam 44-OB is mine. I'll finish the 42NB when the pots and knobs come in and see what I'm going to do with that one. That will buy me alot of pasta... I mean blank tapes....
 
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Messages
285
Location
Clinton, Ia
Tagline
Retired
#11
Playing so0me old tapes today. The Cubs game was cancelled because weather. The weather is crappy here also. Snow flurries, windy and the wind chill is in the lower 20's. Running the Sony TC-755 and some tape recorded from around 2010 recorded on a Teac A-6300. Of course my cat thinks any time the tape is running he should have a look. He got an infection in his right eye last October and the vet tried to cure him with medication but eventually he had to have it removed. DSCF0347.JPG DSCF0346.JPG DSCF0345.JPG DSCF0347.JPG DSCF0345.JPG
 

Elite-ist

Administrator, (and straight-up pimp stick!)
Staff member
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
9,771
#12
Nice to see you are still playing some reels from time-to-time, Ron. Too bad about your cat losing an eye, but pets have a way of getting around such obstacles in time.

Nando.
 
Top