Another Pioneer SX-650 off the assembly line

arcorob

Addicted Member
Yes, I have finished the one that came dusty crusty inside and beat up wood outside. My wife reuqested this one. Recapped, transistors, removed every pot to clean and solder back. Plus it got LED background lights. The real rub (and I told her I was embarassed to post) was the color. Walnut? No, Cherry? No. Oak ? No. Blue dye on oak veneer? Yes. LOL. She wanted this for her art studio and wanted "different". So here is is. Plays flawless. Looks pretty good. Its so blue it almost looks charcoal.

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Yes, I have finished the one that came dusty crusty inside and beat up wood outside. My wife reuqested this one. Recapped, transistors, removed every pot to clean and solder back. Plus it got LED background lights. The real rub (and I told her I was embarassed to post) was the color. Walnut? No, Cherry? No. Oak ? No. Blue dye on oak veneer? Yes. LOL. She wanted this for her art studio and wanted "different". So here is is. Plays flawless. Looks pretty good. Its so blue it almost looks charcoal.

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Fricken Epic!

The SX-650 is a fantastic receiver, I’ve had a few of them. Nice work @arcorob!!
 
Fricken Epic!

The SX-650 is a fantastic receiver, I’ve had a few of them. Nice work @arcorob!!
Thank you !!!! I think the next one I am going to do a step by step video kind of thing - I have good software for it :-) This one should be a challenge as the seller said there was some cracking - But I do have the key transistors if thats te cause,,,,time will tell.
 
Thank you !!!! I think the next one I am going to do a step by step video kind of thing - I have good software for it :) This one should be a challenge as the seller said there was some cracking - But I do have the key transistors if thats te cause,,,,time will tell.

If you post to YT ping me and I’ll follow and subscribe :)

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCHGpomcqy7oRcLDYNErXOWA

some of the toys I’ve restored :)
 
The xx50 series are my favorite of all of the Silver faced Pioneers. The 650 is the oddball of the series however as it is the only model that utilized STK outputs. The rest used discrete devices. Not knocking it though. It is still an awesome receiver.
 
The xx50 series are my favorite of all of the Silver faced Pioneers. The 650 is the oddball of the series however as it is the only model that utilized STK outputs. The rest used discrete devices. Not knocking it though. It is still an awesome receiver.
Yeah and they are VERY hard to find - I know, I looked just in case...LOL
 
I'm a Lil late but. That's a very cool piece. I was wondering I recently got my older brothers pioneer stereo he bought in the early 80's. The model numbers are. TX-930 Digital tuner. CT-730 Cassette deck. And. SA-930 Amplifier. It works great but I'm not really sure it's hooked up right. Actually I'm positive it's not. It just doesn't sound right. If anyone knows how to hook it up or has any suggestions on it. Or where I might get an instruction manual I sure appreciate it. I love that stereo lots of memory's of rocking the house to Motley. Or Judas Priest when I was in like 3rd 4th grade great times. Anyway I'd appreciate any advice at all. And look forward to getting some. Thanks guys
 
I'm a Lil late but. That's a very cool piece. I was wondering I recently got my older brothers pioneer stereo he bought in the early 80's. The model numbers are. TX-930 Digital tuner. CT-730 Cassette deck. And. SA-930 Amplifier. It works great but I'm not really sure it's hooked up right. Actually I'm positive it's not. It just doesn't sound right. If anyone knows how to hook it up or has any suggestions on it. Or where I might get an instruction manual I sure appreciate it. I love that stereo lots of memory's of rocking the house to Motley. Or Judas Priest when I was in like 3rd 4th grade great times. Anyway I'd appreciate any advice at all. And look forward to getting some. Thanks guys

See if this works for you.... @Jason Andert
 

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Yes, I have finished the one that came dusty crusty inside and beat up wood outside. My wife reuqested this one. Recapped, transistors, removed every pot to clean and solder back. Plus it got LED background lights. The real rub (and I told her I was embarassed to post) was the color. Walnut? No, Cherry? No. Oak ? No. Blue dye on oak veneer? Yes. LOL. She wanted this for her art studio and wanted "different". So here is is. Plays flawless. Looks pretty good. Its so blue it almost looks charcoal.

View attachment 2609889 View attachment 2609890 View attachment 2609891

I'm a little late as well. Did you do the woodwork yourself? It looks pretty awesome!! If you did it yourself, can you guide me on how you accomplished it? My SX-650 has the famous issue with the veneer peeling all over.

Internally, I've de-oxed all the pots and cleaned it as much as I could, but there's still some crackling on the right channel while the left one seems a little quiet. In addition, there's flickering when I turned on the receiver from a cold start.

Any advice would be much appreciated! JP
 
I'm a little late as well. Did you do the woodwork yourself? It looks pretty awesome!! If you did it yourself, can you guide me on how you accomplished it? My SX-650 has the famous issue with the veneer peeling all over.

Internally, I've de-oxed all the pots and cleaned it as much as I could, but there's still some crackling on the right channel while the left one seems a little quiet. In addition, there's flickering when I turned on the receiver from a cold start.

Any advice would be much appreciated! JP
OMG ...so sorry ..just seeing this

1) The case is easy - or semi easy - first, remove the case and the grill. Remove the grill from the case (6 little screws). Now peel off the old veneer. Best way is to heat with a heat gun a section at a time starting at one end (get a corner pulled up ) and PULL. Note...the brown outer is just that. Its the color. You have to peel the tan / band-aid colored vinyl to get to the wood. Work slowly. Heat, pull. heat pull
2) Buy a veneer roll on amazon and contact glue . Your choice - here is one of my common buys
Edge Supply Red Oak Wood Veneer Sheet Flat Cut, 24” x 96”, 10 mil Paper Back, “A” Grade Veneer Face – Easy Apply with Contact Adhesive Oak Veneer Sheet – Veneer Sheets for Restoration of Furniture - - Amazon.com
They sell it it 24x48 also so you dont need to get a 96 roll
3) Cut to size using a VERY sharp razore utility knife (I suggest you watch a you tube video or two)
4) The electronics - I have a very cool person that sells me the complete recap and transitor kits and STEP BY STEP instructions. He is pretty awesome. I also have a paper copy of the service manual which assures I can see every spot and part (cool diagrams so you dont have to be schematic literate)
5) This also requires you have a good soldering iron and desoldering gun. Now some folks will say "oh you dont need a desoldering gun, thats too expensive". I am here to tell you "YES YOU DO". Desolder 50 to 70 spots manually and you tell me "oh that was fine". NOT

In my case, I go to extreme (say it loud) extreme detail on my restores. For the pots, I actually remove them to clean and have a 3 step process. I clean everything - even the wires. I have some other trade secrets too..and for fun...heres some pictures like finshed work, before and afters ...

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