I once bought this one new, but after a short time I had a problem with huge noise on the left channel. I never found the problem, I renewed all the transistors and capacitors, but that noise remained. I donated it to someone, but he couldn't fix it either. Was a strange problem. And I still wish you a happy birthday, another year wiser 😁
Late happy birthday! That thing's built like a tank! I've no idea how, but my 1977 JVC KD-720 still has the original pinch roller and it looks and feels almost brand new. The drive belt didn't need changing until it was nearly 30 years old. It's had zero mechanical issues apart from a dirty R/P slide switch that was fixed in seconds with a squirt of Servisol contact cleaner. It has so many hours under its belt (pardon the pun) that I've had to replace the R/P head twice, but it still keeps happily trundling along thanks to regular maintenance. A generic DYNY62 replacement head may do the job for you if you're happy with recalibrating the deck and checking for correct head height. They cost peanuts on AliExpress.
Happy birthday mate! If you are not planning on get this deck to record, I belive any head will do the job, if you do want to get it recording, measure the good channel and try to match DC resistant to another head. I have a Philips N2510 (made in March 1973), that I had to replace the R/P head for the same reason and I matched the head by DC resistance and it works well and sounds great. Best wishes, Moshe.
Nice job mate! Those older decks are something special with all that metal... Sadly head... What resistance values you got straight on disconnected head channels?
Just checked - completely open on the left channel. The coil wire has a big green corrosion spot right where it connects to the head terminals. Will try to fix, but it's very unlikely it will work. I have the head from my TC-K61 standing by if it doesn't work.
@ well then thats not super bad. Just wait for your new soldering station and use some microscope (you can get that one right now from china for dirt cheap due to Black Friday sales). I believe in you - you can do this, just don’t stress ;) its bad for health
I actually now have both solder stations I ordered, so I just tried to fix it. No good - the corrosion was superficial so the break is inside the head itself. The Sony head also does not work - it will mount but cannot contact the tape and there is no way I can see to mount it in order to move it to the right height. I've now reclaimed my UES 0.47uF capacitors.
Speaking of Black Friday, I'm now expecting a Sony MZ-N920 and another mystery top of the line cassette deck which may be my first video of 2025. We'll see how soon it arrives 😃
Well that's a bummer. You could in theory swap the head with a standard cheap-o one, but it'll likely need some work in the EQ circuit. Or maybe somehow find an ordinary ferrite head, although I'm pretty sure they're now just as rare as glass ferrite.
@@Oklawolf Well on the backburner it goes then, I guess. Sometimes it's better to wait it this sort of thing, a donor device might pop up when you least expect it. Although by Murphy's law a good head will pop up only if you mod it beyond recognition first 😁
funny thing is .. I thourge I can smell it from my Pc screen, vintage electronic component most of it is Japan (actually Japan made) back in 70s are quite unique.
I once bought this one new, but after a short time I had a problem with huge noise on the left channel. I never found the problem, I renewed all the transistors and capacitors, but that noise remained. I donated it to someone, but he couldn't fix it either. Was a strange problem. And I still wish you a happy birthday, another year wiser 😁
Late happy birthday! That thing's built like a tank! I've no idea how, but my 1977 JVC KD-720 still has the original pinch roller and it looks and feels almost brand new. The drive belt didn't need changing until it was nearly 30 years old. It's had zero mechanical issues apart from a dirty R/P slide switch that was fixed in seconds with a squirt of Servisol contact cleaner. It has so many hours under its belt (pardon the pun) that I've had to replace the R/P head twice, but it still keeps happily trundling along thanks to regular maintenance. A generic DYNY62 replacement head may do the job for you if you're happy with recalibrating the deck and checking for correct head height. They cost peanuts on AliExpress.
Build quality of these Japanese machines is astounding !
late Happy Birthday!
BTW, re GXC-46D, the actualy speed is dependent of the actual thickness of the belt. The thickness does affect the gearing ratio.
Happy birthday mate!
If you are not planning on get this deck to record, I belive any head will do the job, if you do want to get it recording, measure the good channel and try to match DC resistant to another head.
I have a Philips N2510 (made in March 1973), that I had to replace the R/P head for the same reason and I matched the head by DC resistance and it works well and sounds great.
Best wishes,
Moshe.
Reminds me of an old Ferguson 3272 I had - excellent quality deck.
Nice job mate! Those older decks are something special with all that metal... Sadly head... What resistance values you got straight on disconnected head channels?
I forgot to check.
Just checked - completely open on the left channel. The coil wire has a big green corrosion spot right where it connects to the head terminals. Will try to fix, but it's very unlikely it will work. I have the head from my TC-K61 standing by if it doesn't work.
@ well then thats not super bad. Just wait for your new soldering station and use some microscope (you can get that one right now from china for dirt cheap due to Black Friday sales). I believe in you - you can do this, just don’t stress ;) its bad for health
I actually now have both solder stations I ordered, so I just tried to fix it. No good - the corrosion was superficial so the break is inside the head itself. The Sony head also does not work - it will mount but cannot contact the tape and there is no way I can see to mount it in order to move it to the right height. I've now reclaimed my UES 0.47uF capacitors.
Speaking of Black Friday, I'm now expecting a Sony MZ-N920 and another mystery top of the line cassette deck which may be my first video of 2025. We'll see how soon it arrives 😃
I have two GXC-46D, solid machines. The only downside to it is - the square section drive belt.
Well that's a bummer. You could in theory swap the head with a standard cheap-o one, but it'll likely need some work in the EQ circuit. Or maybe somehow find an ordinary ferrite head, although I'm pretty sure they're now just as rare as glass ferrite.
I was thinking of trying the head from my TC-K61 parts deck if it fits. I don't want to spend any money on it.
@Oklawolf That's not a bad idea actually.
The Sony head doesn't work, unfortunately - incorrect head height, cannot be made to work due to mounting differences with the old head.
@@Oklawolf Well on the backburner it goes then, I guess. Sometimes it's better to wait it this sort of thing, a donor device might pop up when you least expect it. Although by Murphy's law a good head will pop up only if you mod it beyond recognition first 😁
niceSir so you must replace all the capacitors and check de transistors HFE...
That has a simular build as a late 80s pioneer
Have u tried Anusol?
funny thing is .. I thourge I can smell it from my Pc screen, vintage electronic component most of it is Japan (actually Japan made) back in 70s are quite unique.
Real sifu t.q info..
It are always the crapacitors... for the head try one from another deck even if not the same