Thanks to my old friend Snade (who must have been in "housecleaning mode") I have two functioning Nak 500s. At least functioning to the extent the playback works. I haven't tried to record yet.
One of the Naks has walnut veneer side panels (at least I think it is walnut) with only a small area of missing veneer on one panel. The other one has black side panels, no rubber feet and no on/off switch. It is permanently powered/on and is in slightly worse cosmetic condition. Both are missing the "Memory" button and, unfortunately have a slight "burr" or ridge when you cross the head vertically with a toothpick (Thanks NakDoc for the diagnostic procedure).
Interestingly, the walnut one is a "Nakamichi 500 2 Head Cassette Deck" with a "SuperHead Crystalloy" badge. The black one is a "Nakamichi 500 Dual-Tracer" with a "Focussed Gap Super Permalloy" badge. Have no idea whether or how these are different.
I am playing some tapes this morning on both after cleaning the heads and capstan and they both sound remarkably good in my utility room office. Much better highs than I remember cassettes providing. After a bit of warble on the black one at first, its speed has stabilized. I do need to get some Deoxit 5 for the sliders.
My 300 or so cassette tapes are at least 10 years old and were all recorded on my Sony WM-D6 using Maxell XL II, XL II S or MX or TDK SA or SA-X. Since I don't have a manual, I presume I use the EX and 70 settings for this type of tape on the Naks.
If I can figure out how to post some pics, I'll do so later.
One of the Naks has walnut veneer side panels (at least I think it is walnut) with only a small area of missing veneer on one panel. The other one has black side panels, no rubber feet and no on/off switch. It is permanently powered/on and is in slightly worse cosmetic condition. Both are missing the "Memory" button and, unfortunately have a slight "burr" or ridge when you cross the head vertically with a toothpick (Thanks NakDoc for the diagnostic procedure).
Interestingly, the walnut one is a "Nakamichi 500 2 Head Cassette Deck" with a "SuperHead Crystalloy" badge. The black one is a "Nakamichi 500 Dual-Tracer" with a "Focussed Gap Super Permalloy" badge. Have no idea whether or how these are different.
I am playing some tapes this morning on both after cleaning the heads and capstan and they both sound remarkably good in my utility room office. Much better highs than I remember cassettes providing. After a bit of warble on the black one at first, its speed has stabilized. I do need to get some Deoxit 5 for the sliders.
My 300 or so cassette tapes are at least 10 years old and were all recorded on my Sony WM-D6 using Maxell XL II, XL II S or MX or TDK SA or SA-X. Since I don't have a manual, I presume I use the EX and 70 settings for this type of tape on the Naks.
If I can figure out how to post some pics, I'll do so later.