Very Rare Paros 750 Vacuum Tube Reel To Reel Tape Recorder Repair

[@allanpower1263]

First time I actually heard my own voice, it was on one of these tape recorders, I was about 10 years old and absolutely fascinated by it, both the machine and my own voice emanating from a machine!

[@Abruzzo333]

I have an Akai M8 from the late 60's that is tube driven and I absolutely love the sound of it.

[@davidalfaramirez]

It’s very cool to look at this old equipments I enjoy watching your videos

[@paulthepainter2366]

The best reel to reel and vacuum tube tutorial video ever! I learned alot and I already own a vacuum tube mono Webcor and an Akia that I had to glue together the crumbled cams.

[@12voltvids]

I have an akai with crumbled cams.

[@paulthepainter2366]

@@12voltvids if you carefully collect all the pieces and painstakingly position them carefully together again with super glue little by little and then soak them all and more super glue they will work well enough again for you to discover all the other problems in the machine has 😄😀 I prefer tube amps so I'm not going to bother fixing the electricals that are causing the motor to run slightly slow and the speed switch to not be functional. Maybe someday. It plays eight tracks ok (slightly slow) and it plays back 1/4" stereo tapes that it recorded at it's "custom" speed

[@paulthepainter2366]

It's own recordings sound amazing through a hifi system. And it looks cool AF doing it.

[@ricfair9919]

Built like a battleship. You hit pay dirt with this unit. Almost need a plexi glass cover, those rollers and belts look great. Great that it found a new home with someone who appreciates the design and value.

[@alexispieltin9379]

It's an interesting discovery and first check of a potential good nugget. This used and abused early 1960's Japanese reel to reel is an interesting equipment, typically what top foreign language labs could have used for years. I remember my German teacher still used some of these heavyweight machines in the mid 1970's, and gosh, was used as a labour horse... The internal loudspeakers are certainly not the finest, and suspensions may be shot. I've also noticed heavy grooves on guides, I don't know if they can be "turned" over or if new ones could still replace them. I know some made Teflon replacement coating for these (out of spare and cut VHS guides), but that was years ago (and could also prove difficult to find nowadays). Same problem if new heads have be found somewhere, I guess Canon does not provide such spare part. Your solution to polishing the old heads is great, but as you said is certainly greater unmounted on a bench, first with a fine plate file, then polish with special pads and bronze paste. When back in the machine, a final alignment could probably make the global process more efficient, obviously problematic if you don't replace missing screw. A good demagnetizing tool pass for the finishing and you will certainly gain some years of use if the process is fine. New felt pads on the erase head and play/rec head could also be a good idea, but if unavailable or difficult to locate, you could try pricking them with fine needles to make the material soft again. This process is commonly used to soften pads in keyboards mechanisms, needles are standard tool for instrument tuners. As for the electronics, keeping oil caps is absolute nonsense if you want to use this reel to reel, cause they're easy to replace (high voltage electrolytics or plastic film are easy choice), and as they could ruin your tubes, output transformers if leaking. PCB is also difficult to eliminate from a wooden chassis. An overall check of values is also a good idea: easy to do as unsupplied cool tubes are extreme high impedance: generally nothing to unmount to check values with testers! First chemical caps, then carbon resistors, 30% of wich are generally found out of specs when not open. You could also find some early selenium diode rectifier for negative voltage polarization. Easy to replace with 1N 4007 or better. These selenium components are an absolute must go as toxic waste! If you only intend to keep it as a static part of your collection, that is probably OK, but this one still obviously needs more special care and hours to work like new. But as a 1960's professional kind of equipment and interesting good sounding material, this really deserves it. It has obviously a high hours rate, but mechanisms still looks quite fine, and chassis was also probably built like a tank, so it's a potential interesting quality long term project.

[@12voltvids]

First of all this is not going to be put into regular service. I have many much newer machines for the odd r-r use. It was more of a let's see if it works. I could spend much time on this if i wanted which I really don't because in the end i still have a very worn machine. It does however sound very good for the condition.

[@richardhalliday159]

As a kid in the sixties my dad got me a Grundig TK5 valve reel to reel ( mono ) all metal construction, had great fun recording the top 20 off the radio, original mix tapes I suppose. When Philips brought out the compact cassette we were gobsmacked. Richard. Yorkshire. England

[@rjy8960]

:) my dad had a TK14 when I was little (I'm now 53). The deck went years ago but I did salvage the tape and have the recording now as a .wav. It's really strange hearing me and my mum singing Baa Baa Black Sheep and a TV recording of the Banana Splits.....Richard. Birmingham!

[@davejones5745]

Love to see tubes in my Reel to reel. Easy to work on and sounds gorgeous.

[@goodun2974]

Hmm, Paros is the name of a Greek island in the Cyclades. I visited a bunch of those islands by small sailboat back in the 1980s: Ios, Naxos, Paros, Sikinos and Foleandros. Or, more accurately, we ate, drank and partied our way through those Islands!

[@alexanderherget6303]

Sounds really good now wow. Excellent work. Well done. If you get around to lapping the erase head I would be looking forward to an update. 👍

[@rockermarco]

Surprised there's not a "Blank High School AV" sticker on the back of that beast.

[@RafaelRodrigues-iz9nv]

Greetings from Portugal. The Akai M9 has also separate amplifier units with vacuum tubes. It is probably from the same decade (60's). The first reel to reel that I owned was the Akai M10 that was the first solid state from akai (1968). On the USA it was sold using the brand Roberts instead of Akai.

[@nikitaknunori]

You mean M8. M9 has solid state. I have on I have service With New capasiotor.

[@RafaelRodrigues-iz9nv]

@@nikitaknunori You are right. Were I wrote M9 should be read M8. Thank you for the correction. 👍

[@zx8401ztv]

It does sound muddy on the internal speakers, maybe one day you will have a look at the p.a to check any cathode capacitors that may be messing up the replay quality. I admit I'm not into valves so i assume that the cathode R/C components can mess up the clarity like emitter components on transistor pre-amps.

[@quetzal4042]

"Doesn't really matter, it'll just switch the right and left." A true audiophile!

[@12voltvids]

I quite often sit in the room with my back facing the speakers. Same effect.

[@OldSonyMan]

The tape mechanism looks like a Sony TC-263 D, Hence the Sony power cord. I could be wrong.

[@greggaieck4119]

What a kool very rare paros 750 vacuum tube reel to reel tape recorder you Owen my mom had reel to reel tape recorder when my mom and dad was live tex me when you have the time on my cell

[@greggaieck4119]

I like your music

[@robinnorfolk628]

A robust machine. Sound is crystal.

[@zulkarnin]

It is unbelievable still working, but of course it needs overhaul restoration in other to work properly. It reminds me crown reel to reel tape decks, crown are really good decks.

[@ronniepirtlejr2606]

Is there a way to demagnetize the heads on that? Wow, you got it sounding pretty good after working on it! 👍👏👏👏 It's going to sound like a new machine when you're done!

[@moshezaharia4666]

Any demagnetizer will work on this deck, but the heads are badly worn and needs relapping.

[@top4runner99]

Hey 12voltvids, love watch your videos, I was wondering if you could give some of your vast knowledge on how to get the auto reverse on a Sony WM-F100 functioning, I’m restoring one and the auto reverse Is sticking, any help would be very helpful thank you and I hope you have a great week

[@DoNaSbaR]

Duraglite (silver polish) is very good to clean old heads. And it don't make a mess!

[@ronniepirtlejr2606]

That thing was built to last! I bet that thing has Point to Point soldering.

[@12voltvids]

That's a good point and i made a point of showing the underside of the chassis.

[@moshezaharia4666]

It really sounds amazing when connected directly to the camera. To me, the erase head looks too far gone, but i'm shure you will make it work somehow.

[@robmcintosh137]

Hi 12voltvids Great video on your Paros 750 rtr.I have found the same one. I cannot get b+ on one of the 6gw8 tubes, will have to investigate further. would you happen to know the value of the big green vertical resitor in the middle. it has had a meltdown and hard to read the ohms. Cheers Rob

[@darkraven-666]

Mechanism looks eerlily similar to my Sony TC-200 with a different amp section. I wonder if this one was also built by Sony.

[@tough213]

This looks a little like a Sony TC-350 mechanism or different model but it really looks like a Sony or it could be a blended unit great video be well and safe

[@nickfrench7372]

Very well solid built chassi,,,on the stereo tube valve amplifier,,,well designed looking drive mechanism too. I like the particular safety power switch at the back too,,,when the chassi is removed from the machine. What is that paste stuff called,,,when u had cleaned more oxide from the heads? Hope u can get it to record as it should if u are able to get the record/playback/erase heads reconditioned later.

[@12voltvids]

The paste was just ajax kitchen cleaner. It is gritty and cleans the crud off very effectively.

[@nickfrench7372]

@@12voltvids Oh,,ok,,Ajax kitchen cleaner,,,,u had used on the tape recording heads,,,i think I do have some of that cleaner here too. With gritty type paste,,,wouldn't it scratch the heads during cleaning?

[@12voltvids]

@@nickfrench7372 polish which is what is wanted.

[@JerryEricsson]

Looks very much like the TEAC that I had in 1970 in Nam, bought it from a GI who was going home.

[@douglashoff95]

Canon heads. These were also used by Dokorder which I remember in my uncle's Concertone 801A (which was a Dokorder). Could be this was actually a Dokorder?

[@Truckguy1970]

This looks similar to one of those old Akai reel to reels from the 60s with the vacuum tube amplifiers, except you can see the vacuum tubes on the front of the machine on the Akai

[@12voltvids]

I have an Akai tube reel to reel

[@ThermionicValve]

I have Brenell 3 Star tube reel to reel (icon photo) which also makes that loud buzzing "farting" noises especially on play back mode. I used DeoxIT on the contacts on the mode switch and now it works well.

[@dalemettee1147]

OK, so you're talking rare. How 'bout a Heath Kit RTR recorder. I bought it as a kit and assenbled it myself. I think the it was solid state but not sure. Anyhow, I had to contact them for reel spindle problems. They sent me a fix kit and instructions for installation. Good sound but the components had problems. Had it for as couple of years, then went to an Ampex consumer grade unit. then went with Sony with soft touch switches. Then to Technics RS 1500 US 1/2 track machines. Loved them, had two of them.

[@craigscannapieco3858]

Hi I have a teac 3300 that I’ve done some repairs on the pinch roller and new belt but I’m having a problem with tight tape tension was wondering if there’s a way to adjust that oh right now I’ve only played 10 inch reels don’t know if that makes a difference or not appreciate any input u might have on this unit I’m a bit of a collector of vintage stereo equipment and have several reel to reel units refurbished them all myself

[@jonathanpickering1457]

It is a Sony chassis very much like the tc600 and also the mains transformer is the same as tc600

[@12voltvids]

Tc600 is a 3 head recorder for starters and is solid state.

[@EmilioGarcia-fr5po]

You don't clean de oxit the tube socket? It helps sounds

[@wdavem]

That is a really good looking machine!! Nice and simple panel layout. How would you lap the head if you were going to do that?

[@BoB4jjjjs]

A well used and slightly forgotten machine, would have been very good machine in its day.

[@tongwang4254]

Hi I got a same one with one tube missing which is located in left corner of the chassis, left hand side of 6CA4, could you tell me what the No is? Cheers

[@tyler2610]

Hi Dave, I have a Sony Combo DVD/VCR that has audio and video on the VCR but on the DVD it has video but the audio comes out the TV speakers very low (barely audible) and you can't turn it up. I have an identical working unit and I checked the audio settings on the DVD menu and made sure they were set the same and still the same issue. Any ideas what's wrong?

[@TrevorsBench]

Sometimes I find date codes on meters or the big electrolytics

[@maciejsowikowski746]

What's this song 33:39 ? I found only the Rick Hart version, but there is a version with vocals and without a trumpet.

[@12voltvids]

Action thriller is the name of the track. You can find it here. musicbakery.com/page/8/

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

Hey I have a Paros P-16 portable "shoebox" mono cassette recorder and I can't find any info on it. Any clues?

[@tongwang4254]

It's hard to find. me too

[@chrispeterson73]

I have a very similar Akai all tube tape recorder that I wanted to steal the amplifier from. Would it be possible to use the amplifier with some small efficient speakers as a small tube hifi?

[@12voltvids]

Yes no problem. My first guitar amp was my Akai 1710w

[@larryshaver3568]

I'd spray a little cleaner into where the shafts come out of the control too

[@bones007able]

Reel Pro Guys ... sell 3D printed replacements for the Akai pot metal cams garbage ... about 70 bucks... but you get all 4 of them ... they work fine ...I have used toothpaste to polish heads ...

[@12voltvids]

Tooth paste will also work. You need the grit to polish them.

[@johnb5519]

Are the heads a standard size? It's just as rare as the Minerva. Is that split shaft for the speed adjustment missing half the shaft?

[@12voltvids]

Don't think it is missing half the shaft.

[@johnb5519]

@@12voltvids Oh, I though maybe that was why there was no knob on it.

[@axelthefoxytechworld8024]

i was like wow looks like my sony tc 200 tube real to real must have been made by sony with diforant brand name its got charactoristics like a sony its got to be a sony

[@12voltvids]

I worked on a tc200. Similar but different.

[@blazuma111]

Quick question. Do you let others ask you for your help on how to fix their things?

[@12voltvids]

Yes you can ask and if i know the answer i will answer. If you hear no reply then i don't know.

[@blazuma111]

@@12voltvids kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJXZqYKoa65grtE This is a Sony KV-27S45 CRT TV that I got. It was working fine for about 30 minutes until the screen completely faded out into blackness. The sound is still good as you can still hear the TV static. There could be many causes to this problem and it may not be repairable.

[@tongwang4254]

@@blazuma111 with same tubes?

[@stphinkle]

Are many electronics actually made by somebody else and rebranded?

[@12voltvids]

These days yes.

[@enricoself2256]

I can hear some W&F and sound is still muffled, not sure it is worth spending more time to improve it. Nice item for your collection, i guess you have much better sounding machines.

[@12voltvids]

Sounded good to me.

[@EricLDC]

You sell reel to reel players? I do want to record. I keep getting ripped off bought a sony tc 230 it did work for awhile. Belt snapped recently but it played without the belt? That's odd unless it's a direct drive? And the belt was for ff and rw? It just quit tho unless it needs lube. Paid 120 dollars for it. Then a mono califone comet made a weird smell then quit on me. Rather have stereo tho so I may end up selling my comet.

[@12voltvids]

Yes I sell units i overhaul.

[@12voltvids]

Many Sony decks used an idler tire to drive the capstan and the belt was for the tape counter, and on some rewind.

[@alanarmstrong2323]

10 out of 10 on the cool factor thanx very much!

[@parachuteman4]

Demagnetize?

[@12voltvids]

Actually i did make a recording, and there was a nice 85khz AC signal applied to the heads which very effectively neutralizes any magnetic charge.

[@theotherchannel2279]

This one reminds me of an Akai...

[@theotherchannel2279]

I wathced more! I would go with Hitachi also. ;) Did you sort out the erase head?

[@danilorainone406]

hdad cleaner diatomacious earth,,glazers pumice use a shop vac w soft brush on the sucker end

[@quanyhuang3178]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmmyYpSin5ykrZY Speaker test updated, welcome to listen

[@simeonchristensen5551]

That's sounds great

[@reginaldlawrence412]

Wow that's great.

[@parachuteman4]

Very cool.

[@chrisschanneloftechnology4743]

Sounds like that machine had bad gas lol

[@martinda7446]

Not quite a G36...Or is it? Nope.

[@richardkelsch3640]

There is a background noise that sounds like Morse code. What the heck?? I verified by pausing etc. Maybe it's all the equipment coincidentally sounding this way, but boy the sound is annoying.

[@quanyhuang3178]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmmyYpSin5ykrZY Speaker test updated, welcome to listen

[@arthurdanielles4784]

The 'superimpose' one listen, two record on this indicates several reasons why this is indeed what would have been a very high spec 'professional' machine. I remember something similar re an educational machine used to teach languages. You listened on one track and at the same time or seconds after recorded your voice repeating the word or phrase. 2) It could be used to record a music track et on one and have the vocals 'superimposed' on the second track thus the music track for ie home studio use would have been very useful. The very large transformer on this indicates a good solid high frequency response - again an indicator that its indeed professional by nature. The black multi pin 'bulgin' connectors indicate probably late 50s early 60s just as you surmise. The russian made 'sylvanian' valve I would look to get rid of asap. They're cheap and nasty almost as bad as some of the military equivalents😊 The metal covers should always be retained not just for heat purposes but for 'screening or shielding' as some valves produce a nasty ring. So what is the valve line up on this? Probably diode ac to dc, triodes and pentode out re the main amps et There's probably a mixer/oscillator valve/s interacting with the transformers and for bias. I'm surprised there's no level display on this which makes me think mid to late 50s. Great vid and good to see this type of gear keep working. I could tell when you played the tape back the frequencies helped by that massive transformer were definitely there ! Certainly would have cost a packet new 😊😎

[@12voltvids]

I did mention the tubes. The rectifier tube was a Sylvania, an American tube.

[@davem147]

That "massive" transformer is the POWER transformer, providing filament and high voltage to the vacuum tubes. It would have little effect on the high frequency response. The 2 OUTPUT transformers, on either side of the power transformer, are the ones that would have the most effect on the audio frequency response.

[@12voltvids]

@@davem147 Should point out this is a class A single ended output providing about 2 watts per channel max. Same tubes as the elekit tu8100 uses.

[@arthurdanielles4784]

My older brother was 11 years old when his best mates dad taught him not only maths, calculus, algebra cos he was a mechanical/electrical engineer who built and repaired valve gear from radios to radiograms to amplifiers to tape reel to reel to ! SO he thought I might as well learn to do this aswell. He has over 60 years I have over 40 years experience and a large collection of valve gear from my 1930s Marconi regenerative receiver to my latest project a 1947 post war radiogram. What he told me from the off was a VERY relevant fact. VALVE systems ARE NOT the same as your transistor OR IC systems re voltages, watts, ohms, capacitance, harmonics, frequencies, distortion. Yes the transformer IS a power unit BUT take another look at the SIZE of it - prob 6.3 volts in series out to the filaments up to 2A current. Main electrical output to the valves re anode/working voltages about YES anything from 500mA to 1A ! OK let's remember the drive motors et so add another 1A remembering that such units were built with drive pulleys et et to reduce the drag on the motors et So we need a transformer that size do we? Which is where it comes back to your reply 'It would have little effect...' WRONG it WOULD if you replaced that with a standard AC to DC transformer the results would be shocking pardon my pun.. I suggest you read up on power transformers in high end audio circuits - even today hi end amps have large high quality transformers in them because it allows HIGH frequencies to be improved against cheaper units. It took me 10 years to fully understand VALVE tech and it's been 30 years since that I realized just how important it was when doing repairs rebuilds et 👀✔

[@12voltvids]

@@arthurdanielles4784 Motor not connected to transformer. It is mains operated.

[@arthurdanielles4784]

Uhh duh.. it does have vu signal level meters.. Sound playback relies heavily on the quality of the tapes, ferrous oxide coatings can wear along with the tape stretching which can give a hissy, poor playback. Bias feed through where you get some of the signal from the other side of the tape leeching through is a nuisance and does occur particularly I've noticed on older machines. Demagnetizing the heads helps a lot. On some machines DO NOT use isopropyl as it destroys the heads. Methylated spirits was most commonly used. 😊 My tapes if I am going to record on them are fed through a machine on record no signal and then used. That generally has them cleaned for use. Some however as I've pointed out YOU CAN'T use cos let's remember they could be over 40 - 50 year old and it also depends on where those tapes were stored! HEAT is an enemy, MAGNETISM is an enemy 😒😎

[@stevepotts2116]

I have the, SAME, ROBERTSON, NAME Implies that it is made in the USA,, but, not, made in, JAPAN, FOR, AMPEX,,

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

Cat!