Do you have an opinion on a Sony TC-366 RTR?

TC-366 was made in early 70's. 3 speed model, single 110 volt motor.
I have restored many of these. Dependable and great sound.
Are you thinking about buying one ? :)

Thinking Of Selling One

Does it work ? :)

I have to hook it up.This was my neigbors from when i was a teen ager.He passed away recently and i picked it up.I am not real familiar with rtr and will either figure out how to use it (his daughter says it works) or possible trade it for something else i probably dont really need. I also pick up a big box of his recorded tapes.

Try it out first, maybe you get "reel-fever". :yes:
If you need any help or advice just let me know.
It's not a difficult machine to use, when loading the tape there is a small chrome rod to the left of the headstack, be sure the tape press against it, otherwise it will not start.
That is the automatic shut-off switch, when the tape runs out machine turns off.
Set the monitor switch: Source/ Tape in Tape position, turn the play-lever one notch to the right and hoepfully sweet music comes out. :banana:
One important thing, never change the speed on play-mode, that will mess up the idler-wheel inside.

Here are the spec's:
Tape speed: 1-7/8, 3-3/4 and 7-1/2.
Pause-control.Monitor / Source switch.
3 heads.Playback or Recording in Mono or Stereo.
On/Off switch for Noise Supress.
Sound on Sound recording feature.
Voltage: 117 volt 60 hz.Power consumtion: 35 watt
.Recording time with 1800 feet tape: 1,5 hour at 7-1/2 speed (stereo)
Reels: Up to 7 inch.
Semiconductors: 27 transistors and 4 diodes.
Recording system: 4-track stereo or monaural.
Signal to noise ratio: 55dB with high-grade tapes.52 dB with standard tape.
Distortion: 1.2%
Frequency response:20-25,000 Hz at 7-1/2.30-17,000 at 3-3/4.30-9,000 at 1-7/8.
Wow and Flutter: 0.09% at 7-1/2.0.12% at 3-3/4.0.17% at 1-7/8.
(2) Microphone input on facepanel.(3/8 mini-jack)
Headphone jack 1/4 located on the front.
RCA-connections for Output and Input.
DIN 5 pin connection for rec/playback.
Dimensions:16-7/16 Wide.8-5/16 High.14-13/16 Deep.
Dimensions metric:416 mm Wide210 mm High376 mm Deep.

Good Luck with the testing. :thmbsp:
Here is a picture of the last one I fixed:
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/vintagetx/S101.jpg

cool thanks i will hook it up tonight.I wasnt sure how to thread the tape.Thank you for the help Jim

You welcome. :)

I can see i am goin to have to study this as my 1st try did not work.The unit powers up but when i click the lever to start it just clicks off (i think) I dont think i set the tape up properly.

That is probably the chrome-rod is not engaged.
Pull the head-cover straight out carefully, check the rod to the left side.
Turn the power ON,
Move the chrome-rod carefully up, does the motor start ?

bingo do you have any pics of how the tape goes in?

Vintage TX , I have a TC-377 , how does it compare to the 366 ? Thanks , any help would be great .

Great, take the head-cover off first so you can check the rod:
Loading the tape:
Against the rod and below the tape-lifters, between capstan-axel and pinch-roller (black rubber) up to the R-reel. :)
Here is a picture:
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/vintagetx/C17

Deadear,
TC-377 was the later model, made 1974. almost the same as 366.
The last Sony made was TC-399 with silver or black faceplate early 80's.
Also 2 Quad models, TC-366 and TC-388.
TC-377 has the same heads, transport, speed etc, like TC-366.
I can't tell much difference soundwise between the two. :)

Jim,
check this tread, Sony TC-388 has the same tape-loading as 366. :)
There is several pictures etc, here:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=20350&highlight=DSK+Sony

Thanks TX , I will hook mine up a give it a try !!

sweet music is coming out go figure thanks

You welcome, so you also have one sitting untested ? :)

Great Jim, welcome to the world of "reel-nuts" :D

Yup, the trick on those is the little lever that VintageTX describes. It is a tape sensor, and actuates a microswitch that 'tells' the recorder there's tape present. The motor will only run if the switch is 'on'. The switch is there to cut the motor off, e.g, when the tape runs off the reel on rewind or ff (so the tape isn't flapping around).

There's a nice scan of the brochure for the very similar TC-377 at "The Vintage Knob": http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyvault/TC377/TC377.html

Axel, the creator of the Vintage Knob (a beautiful site) has been posting here lately.

I've got a TC-388-4 that I found left on the curb after someone's yard sales didn't move it. It works ok but someone had attempted to rewire the heads so that it would work with overdubbing like the Teac 3340s did.

I've put most that part back together but the R2R thing isn't biting me. Anyone need parts? I'll be glad to help out there.

Cheers,

David

mhardy6647, thanks for the link. :thmbsp:

David, do you have the OFF/ON switch in working condition ?
I am fixing a TC-388 for Wigwam Jones and the switch is broken. :worried:

mrh,

Thanks for the kind words!
axel

The kind words come readily because 'The Vintage Knob' is one of the best looking and generally coolest hi-fi obsession (and I don't mean that in a bad way!) pages I've yet seen. I do hope Axel'll find lots more cool stuff to put on there at high resolution!

I have our colleague Mr. Wigwam Jones to thank for introducing the site to me. It's also nice to have Axel posting here IMO.

Hi all, I recently acquired a TC 366. I've been wanting to try tape for some time now and came accross this machine which is very clean and even had the original owners manual. I tried it out last night and it seems to work ok, but every now and then it sounded like it slowed a bit. I'm guessing that it could use a good servicing including belts and idlers (if it has them). I found this thread while doing a search. My question is where would I find parts? Are aftermarket or repro belts available somewhere? This thing is a true survivor, and deserves a thorough servicing. Any and all recomendatons on what to do and where to get parts would be greatly apppreciated. Thanks, Jay

The TC-377 has ferrite heads and the meters are right side up. Those were the main changes from the 366

I'm just finishing a restoration project on a 366 I got a couple months ago. I ordered my belts from here. (http://www.vintage-electronics.cc/sonybelts.html)

I'd be done with it except I over-torqued the screw that holds the supply assembly on the spindle. Now I'm looking for a B 2.6x8 screw. Haven't had much luck at hardware stores around here. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

maybe www.smallparts.com?

The 366 has the Easiest tape path to load that I've ever seen. It's hard to make a mistake. It can actually be done with one hand, unlike lots of other machines out there.

If you think that's the problem, take the cover off to make sure it goes where it's supposed to. The cover pulls straight off towards you (away from the machine).

AK to the rescue again :banana: Thanks a bunch guys :thmbsp:

I just got my hands on my first R2R... the Sony TC-366.

It was collecting dust on a shelf in the music dept of the school where I teach.

It's in fine shape overall and all works, not the counter (belt needed), even has the cover.

The sound cuts out but when the monitor switches are jostled it returns, my guess DeOxit should fix that issue.

I cleaned it up, and cleaned the cob webs and dust bunnies from inside. Cleaned the rollers and heads as they were caked w/ tape residue.

Should I demag the the heads and if so which head is which?:scratch2:

The only problems I see are it needs...
-all four belts
-reel clamps

Does any body know sources for the clamps and belts?

Should I do anything else to it?:scratch2:

Thanks
Doug

Yes you should demagnetize the heads and all metallic parts in the tape path.
Otherwise, I can offer no suggestions, sorry.

The motor in these really needs lubrication on a regular basis. If memory serves correctly there is an oil hole on each end of the motor that supply resevoirs which house foam pads. The pads deteriorate with age and the end result is a seizing of the armature bushings. I replaced them with a couple of felt rings. Also, the grease Sony used on linkages hardens. I used contact cleaner as a solvent to remove it and re-greased.

Should I demag the the heads and if so which head is which?

LEft to right: erase, record, play.

Don't know where you will get parts, Sony themselves are no longer a source, I hear.

Deadear,
TC-377 was the later model, made 1974. almost the same as 366.
The last Sony made was TC-399 with silver or black faceplate early 80's.
Also 2 Quad models, TC-366 and TC-388.
TC-377 has the same heads, transport, speed etc, like TC-366.
I can't tell much difference soundwise between the two. :)

Not quite. The TC366 used permalloy record and playback heads. The TC377 used ferrite&ferrite (F&F) heads which are much more durable. Things are otherwise almost identical.

I've owned both. I had a 366 for 11 years and a 377 for about two years. Neither were as durable as my Teac A2300S but they did make better recordings at 3 3/4 ips than the Teac. They were about equal to the Teac at 7 1/2. The Sonys are easy to work on and changing a belt takes only a few minutes. Such cannot be said about the Teac, although I must admit that it only needed lubrication and 1 change of belts in 17 years. The Sony's belt needs changed more often as they are 1 motor decks and the belt has more to drive. The idler arm for the drive idler is stamped metal and easily bent by changing speed while in PLAY mode. That was the only problem I found with the Sonys and one could prevent damage by paying attention and only changing speeds in STOP mode.

The only problems I see are it needs...
-all four belts
-reel clamps

Does any body know sources for the clamps and belts?

Should I do anything else to it?:scratch2:

Sombody is always selling belt kits for these on Eprey. Rubber reel stoppers can also be found there from time to time.

Other stuff to do is to clean some of the great that may be slowing your auto-stop sensor wire. The machine should stop immediately when the tape is done playing or winding.

Great info guys, thanks!
I did see the oil holes on the motor and filled them
The grease is still mooshy and the break pads are still intact

So I'll comb thru e-bay for belts!!

What should I do about reel clamps? Thats all that was missing.

Thanks to all for the tips.

What should I do about reel clamps? Thats all that was missing.

Thanks to all for the tips.

Do you mean the clips to hold the reels on the spindles? Do you think you really need them? That machine can be mounted in two different positions in the case, but in either way I don't think the reels are in danger of falling off, are they?

IIRC they are proprietary to this machine (and maybe one or two other Sonys), but again, I'd be surprised if Sony had them. Wouldn't hurt to check with them, failing that, watch ebaY...

Yeah I guess I'll watch the 'Bay

During play it works w/o but during rewind they reels flop around a bit.

Worried about shooting a reel across the room

I had the same problem on my Akai-only had one rubber reel retainer. So, on the other side I cut a piece of auto vacuum line and shoved it on there. A bit inelegant, but it worked fine. The Sony I have now has 'em built in, which is a good happy thing.
Dan