Sansui + Akai = True Vintage Score !!!

kretinus

kretinus

squanto was a fool
So there I was sitting in front of the computer, browsing Craigs List and hit the refresh button, and up pops "Akai 360 reel to reel tape deck and Sansui receiver-amplifier".

I sent the guy an email thinking, yeah, mine will be number 107 out of 108 but oh well, having been too late on similar deals many times before. To my surprise, he emailed me back that evening, gave me his address, right in Boone, literally just up the road aways from my house.

Went over this morning and found a Sansui 1000X with all the original documentation including service manual and pretty much a solid mint condition save for about 20 years of dust from sitting in storage, but it wiped right off. The controls were pretty stiff until i worked them a bit and aside from needing a shot of deoxit, everything functions perfectly, all the blippin lights even work. Been running it pretty much all day, sounds great and surprisingly punchy for being rated at 28 wpc. My first Sansui and I wonder why I hadn't snagged one before.

The tape deck though, that's the thing that I'm obsessing over. Not only is it in the same pristine condition as the receiver, not a scratch or mark on it, it has all the original documentation including the "diploma", it also has all the original accesories, head cleaning kit, lube kit and the original carton and inserts. To sweeten the deal, it has the OEM aluminum take up reel with the Akai logo cut out. All the mechanics function perfectly, but no tape yet to test it thoroughly, but I wouldn't be going out on a limb in assuming it's fine, it was obviously well cared for, a friend has a tape, we'll be testing shortly.

These really represent the first additions to my odd ball collection that can be considered truly vintage in age and quality I think and since I only paid $25 for both, a true score as well.

I believe by this time tomorrow the 'sui will be driving my EPI M100s and 100Vs, and I hope to snag a good tape or two to fill with music. I'm more familiar with Akai's professional tape machines but I have a feeling this one won't disappoint me in the least, and I love reel to reels anyway, just never could find a decent one at a realistic price.

I'll post more pics tomorrow, the one below is the one in the ad.
 
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Wow that's a nice find. That Akai take up reel alone is worth more than you paid for the whole setup.
 
Nice score Troy.:thmbsp: Will the Akai accept 10" reels..?
 
My original intent was to flip it, but after an afternoon playing with everything, no way in hell is this going on the block anytime soon. Not even sure what I was thinking to begin with.
 
That IS the Akai that does everything from 1 7/8ips to 15!!!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!

What a rare beastie.
 
Next time your in town . Stop by , I have some 7" stuff I can't ever see using.And the price is right...Hows that for Karma...

15 assorted reels of tape and a Dokorder 7" take-up reel.
 

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vinyldavid said:
That IS the Akai that does everything from 1 7/8ips to 15!!!!

CONGRATS!!!!!!

What a rare beastie.
Click to expand...

Actually you need to add another capstan and pinch roller to get 15 IPS if my research is correct, but it does have that expansion capability.

7 IPS will render a fairly decent recording, 15 would be sweet, but with 7" reel capacity, a bit short on time.

Definitely something to look into though.

I happen to know where I might be able to obtain a DBX or Dolby processor to add to the mix at a stupidly low price too, a friend back home has a barn full of pro audio accumulated over 40 years in the music business, never threw anything away, when they got a record contract, Epic paid to upgrade his 16 track to 32, all the old stuff is still sitting up there.
 
avionic said:
Next time your in town . Stop by , I have some 7" stuff I can't ever see using.And the price is right...Hows that for Karma...
Click to expand...

I love you man...

Actually I was going to get ahold of you to see if you could go through the Sansui for me just to snuff everything up, i think it's worth some preventative care. Let me know when you're bench is covered with all that high end Yammy stuff.

Would like the deck checked out too if you do that kind of thing.
 
kretinus said:
Actually you need to add another capstan and pinch roller to get 15 IPS if my research is correct, but it does have that expansion capability.

7 IPS will render a fairly decent recording, 15 would be sweet, but with 7" reel capacity, a bit short on time.

Definitely something to look into though.

I happen to know where I might be able to obtain a DBX or Dolby processor to add to the mix at a stupidly low price too, a friend back home has a barn full of pro audio accumulated over 40 years in the music business, never threw anything away, when they got a record contract, Epic paid to upgrade his 16 track to 32, all the old stuff is still sitting up there.
Click to expand...

I would definitely go through this barn with a camera and post pix. :yes::yes::yes:
 
Actually you need to add another capstan and pinch roller to get 15 IPS
Click to expand...
Actually I think all you need is a sleeve that slides over your capstan.And you may have it and not know it..
 
avionic said:
Actually I think all you need is a sleeve that slides over your capstan.And you may have it and not know it..
Click to expand...

hmmm, have to check that, I got my info from a website so who knows.

I just don't want to handle the manuals, might get them dirty...
 
I may have just lied.I just did a search and the X360 may indeed need a capstan sleeve and pinch roller. But you still may have them and not know it.Some Akai's had them stowed under the tape head shell.
 
vinyldavid said:
I would definitely go through this barn with a camera and post pix. :yes::yes::yes:
Click to expand...

I think I could organize a tour through the place.

It's called Juniors Motel now, started in the 60's as the practice studio for a band called Locust, the Stones laid some tracks there once even. We called it the chicken coop, because that's what it was originally, the walls were lined with egg flats, the floor was 3" foam rubber with plywood laid over it.

You ever get out this way we'll go take you on a trip through rock and roll history.

Kirks a bit gone though, he somehow hooked up with a former girlfriend of David Koresh, they're currently putting together or finishing up an album of his music.

Like I said, he's bit gone ...
 
kretinus said:
I think I could organize a tour through the place.

It's called Juniors Motel now, started in the 60's as the practice studio for a band called Locust, the Stones laid some tracks there once even. We called it the chicken coop, because that's what it was originally, the walls were lined with egg flats, the floor was 3" foam rubber with plywood laid over it.

You ever get out this way we'll go take you on a trip through rock and roll history.

Kirks a bit gone though, he somehow hooked up with a former girlfriend of David Koresh, they're currently putting together or finishing up an album of his music.

Like I said, he's bit gone ...
Click to expand...
This wouldn't be in Otho would it..
 
kretinus said:
hmmm, have to check that, I got my info from a website so who knows.
Click to expand...

Pix on where they SHOULD be:
x360head.jpg


should be somewhere in that, which is the cover over the heads.

kretinus said:
I think I could organize a tour through the place.

It's called Juniors Motel now, started in the 60's as the practice studio for a band called Locust, the Stones laid some tracks there once even. We called it the chicken coop, because that's what it was originally, the walls were lined with egg flats, the floor was 3" foam rubber with plywood laid over it.

You ever get out this way we'll go take you on a trip through rock and roll history.

Kirks a bit gone though, he somehow hooked up with a former girlfriend of David Koresh, they're currently putting together or finishing up an album of his music.

Like I said, he's bit gone ...
Click to expand...

Ummmm....yea.....I might just get up there sometime.....I'd love to ahve a tour...and to see some 16 track tape machines :D
 
vinyldavid said:
Pix on where they SHOULD be:
x360head.jpg


should be somewhere in that, which is the cover over the heads.



Ummmm....yea.....I might just get up there sometime.....I'd love to ahve a tour...and to see some 16 track tape machines :D
Click to expand...


You ain't that far away.

I'll be in the St. Louis area later this summer, how far away are you?
 
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