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did bic make any MCS TT's

M

markl

Active Member
On ebay I saw A MCS 6200 belt drive TT and I'm not sure who made it. It's not a technics or Pioneer type. It has index shifting 1-6 like a bic and it has the close pin type auto changer clip thing just like on the Bic 900 series and it is made in the USA just like the bics, but the tone arm kind of looks like the technics style near the weight end of the arm instead of the "Dual" type arm that most bics have. It's local and a "buy it now" for $35.00 and I love my BIC 940 & 960 TT's. It's kind of an interesting mix of TT components on it.http://cgi.ebay.com/MCS-Modular-Component-Systems-Belt-Drive-TURNTABLE-6200_W0QQitemZ300250191120QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTurntables?_trksid=p4011.m20.l1116
 
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In their catalogs of gear, this model was considered their BOTL offering for a few years (late 70's). It's appearance changed a little near the end, so this looks like an early one.

Probably an nice TT - had decent specs, but not one of their CEC or Technics built tables - could easily be a BIC. If you gotta have "that" look, buy it - I don't see these come up for sale often.

Rob
 
That sure as heck looks like a BIC to me. I know they made one for Realistic/Radio Shack that looked like this as well. It is a really good bet that is a BIC, probably a sub-980 model as there is no strobe. I think without a belt and needing a needle, the price is a tad scary as you would have to figure out if it used the 900 belts.

The platter mat is sure better than the warp-o-matic two piece job most Bics have.
 
I believe that it uses the same belts as the BIC's, going by the different suppliers online. Not the greatest looking table but if it's anything like a BIC, it could be surprisingly musical. Somehow Bic nailed it, they were able to produce the same kind of rumble free optimum performance that the pioneers and kenwoods of the time did for a lot less $.:music:
 
Hey guys, does that headshell look like it might thread on and off for easy interchangeability like standard technics type? that would be a cool mix of features.
 
Yes, it's a BIC. More like a 920 which was meant as a low price replacement for cheap console TTs. Built better than, say, a BSR though.

Doug
 
Well, at least they're made in the USA. Gotta say that my BIC's are 2 of my fav's. They have one of the best changer systems,simple but reliable, better than Duals design. They have decent tone arms similar to Duals but with a neater looking anti-skate adjustment, and they're dead silent, and they were the first belt driven changers. Overall a very under rated and a great performing TT
 
Yes. I have nothing against Duals and, in fact, have a 1019 myself and it's a great machine but BICs beat Dual's specs when they were released and Dual scrambled to make the 1249 belt drive as competition.

I still can't believe it when somebody makes a crack like they look like the kind of TTs on all-in-one units. They must just not be looking closely.

BICs are musical and reliable units.

Doug
 
Ahmen! I purchased my 940 & 960 last year from some guy on CL and when I got there both of the platters were frozen but the TT's in general looked in great condition so always up the a challenge I bought them along with a nice Sansoui and a technics linear TT. I didn't expect much from the Bic's after reading several posts on here and on AA. After I freed up the platters and cleaned and re-lubed them and put new belts and decent Cartridges I was very impressed with their sound and smooth operation, equalling TT's several times their price. When used on the manual setting they sound as good as my Technics SL-D2 and my AR XA. That just goes to show that some people will cut down a TT just for the fact that it's has changer capabilities no matter what the proven performance is. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Mark:thmbsp::yes::D
 
Amen there, Markl. I picked up a 980 a while back at a garage sale, and after A/Bing quite a bit, I had to admit I liked it better than my Thorens. It sounded better to me, and was more versatile (yes - I occasionally stack 45s on it), so I moved the TD-165 and kept the 980. No regrets. My only complaint is they didn't give a 78 rpm option on them. So I am going to mod one.
 
Doug G. said:
Yes. I have nothing against Duals and, in fact, have a 1019 myself and it's a great machine but BICs beat Dual's specs when they were released and Dual scrambled to make the 1249 belt drive as competition.

I still can't believe it when somebody makes a crack like they look like the kind of TTs on all-in-one units. They must just not be looking closely.

BICs are musical and reliable units.

Doug
Click to expand...


Haha...more BICs for those of us that know better!
 
Methinks Jim is going to calculate and make a new pulley for his 980 for 78s. Would that be a correct assumption Jim?

I was going to do this back when I worked for a place that had machine shop facilities but I never got a round tuit.

Doug
 
No, I was thinking of going down the dial-in resistance route, which I suspect will be doable with the 980 (see my below link). The internal strobe would be useless in this option, but a 78 strobe disc should make it dial-able. If anyone thinks this is or isn't doable, let me know. I have beater unit in the wings.

http://txk.k12.ar.us/~altonp/ttmod.html
 
Just reviving this old thread as I had the good fortune of having one of these MCS oddballs show up at my local thrift. I am happy to confirm Doug was correct in that this is a BIC machine, and a closer relative to the 920 than say the 960. I took the whole thing down and poked around and it has your typical BIC motor and gear set up, a lot of the shared parts that all BICs use. Crazy thing about it was the fact that it was made in Mexico! The tonearm is a departure from the norm. The 920 used a knock-off of the old Philips 212 arm, but this uses something that apes a Technics, but more like the one on the MCS 6710 with the set screw headshell. The speed switch and multiplay settings are like the 920. It came with a Shure cart - looks like the Hi Track that came with my Dual - metal clip type. The motor was seized up, which took about 5 minutes to lube up, and she runs like a champ. I re-lubed the bearings and the platter, and hooked it up. It sounds very nice, and a nice example of how you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or parts anyway. It is only missing the dustcover hinges, as it was taped shut and donated. It set me back $4.
 
:lurk: What happened to the 78 RPM project. BIC's use a synchronous motor, and the 980 uses an oscillator to drive it, so there is no servo to play with, but perhaps changing the frequency of the oscillator would work. My only worry would be overworking the IC amplifiers they use to run the TT. Steve
 
I more or less abandoned it for the BICs. That would be wonderful in one way, but a major headache in several others. It could be done a couple of ways - change the motor spindle, or seriously messing around with the electronics - but neither is convenient, and could risk cooking something or worse. Also, it would require a lot of noodle time to figure out. My hope for the BICs would be to have a simple flick of the switch type of mod. I was able to figure out how to do that with a number of machines, and the Technics mod I have been using has been very simple, hidden, completely reversible and convenient. So I have a nice Technics DD machine that can play 78s when I need it. For everyday use I still use my 980. This MCS BIC was a fun cheap challenge - a fix-it machine that I will sell or trade at some point. It sounds nice too.
 
Yeah, four bucks - cheap! Kind of like the Technics SL-DD33 I got at the SA for $3.95.

I'm glad you got it going.

Anyway, even the lesser BICs are good tables. I have a 920 (among several others) and it is very quiet and records sound good on it too.

Most people go by the brand name and hearsay rather than actually listening.

Doug
 
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