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AKAI GX-365D reel-to-reel........

SteveinAlaska

SteveinAlaska

Well-Known Member
Just got this over the weekend & would like some comment/info/feedback. I am relatively new to the reel-to-reel world (just started using a TEAC A3400). The AKAI came from a retired military electronics guy. It just has been in storage for quite a while. Will do the usual checks.......if I could find schematics,etc online. Checked into hifiengine, but nothing on this model. Previous owner said it has tubes as I picked it up to go out the door with it, found out how heavy this thing is.
 
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It is not a tube machine. It is transistor (most of them tend to need all of them replaced unless done recently). No parts. Very good performing once serviced in the electronic department. And clean all relays (often a common Akai problem on this machine). It weighs around 40-50 pounds and cost around $500 new back then.
 
I have a the Dx 365 (among others) I use mine quite a bit, it sounds good to my old ears and have no major issues with it. I do like the tape reverse setup on this model, no fiddling with foil strips just set the dial.
 
1st AKAI unit with the Glass heads (1969). Capable of 15ips by changing the pinch roller and capstan. The 15ips capstan and pinch roller is mounted under the head cover which flips up.

The edge connectors on the RELAY board are EXTREMELY BRITTLE NOW. I fixed mine with 5 minute epoxy. 2sc458 transistors all over in this unit. 2sc2240's are a good fit. Some models came with the full wood case. There were 2 versions The GX365 and GX365D. "D" models did not come with an onboard amp and speakers.

PM SENT


Larry
 
I have a GX635D and works and sounds great! Replacing the transistors and old caps are on the list but for right now I'm enjoying it as it is.
 

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I have one.

It sounds like crap. There's excessive amounts of surface noise. Thought about recapping it, but someone told me it didn't help. I hadn't considered changing all the transistors too.

Let me know how yours turns out. I've been wanting a really good RTR for a while, but wasn't sure if the Akai was worth sinking the time, money, and effort in to.

If you need a service manual...I MIGHT have one sitting on a hard drive. I can dig it up.

Sent from my Samsung Intercept with Tapatalk
 
dewdude said:
I have one.

It sounds like crap. There's excessive amounts of surface noise. Thought about recapping it, but someone told me it didn't help. I hadn't considered changing all the transistors too.

Let me know how yours turns out. I've been wanting a really good RTR for a while, but wasn't sure if the Akai was worth sinking the time, money, and effort in to.

Sent from my Samsung Intercept with Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The noise is from the transistors.Guarantee it.:yes:
AK'r Romak's 635D was the same way.Most of the 458's were the TO-92 half cylinder style..2 or 4 of them were the "outhouse"style TO-92. I replaced all of them with KSC1845's.Quiet as a church mouse now.
 
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So Dave, just these 14 transistors are all that is needed? Mine plays nice and clean right now but it's been sitting for 30 years so I probably need to replace all the caps anyway. Might as well do these at the same time.

I ended up having to deoxit all the contacts and pots. The switches that are moved by the servo actuator on the bottom board were making random contact but a little deoxit fixed it fine. The pitch control also needed a squirt. Little tough to get to but I was getting random changes in pitch from time to time. Again, the deoxit totally fixed it.
 
Sorry if this comes off the wrong way and sounds preachy, but we should be handing out the correct info.

2 different machines with similar model numbers are getting mixed up here. The OP has a GX-365D
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and the GX-635D is getting mixed up with it.
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Granted, both have the 2sc458's in them, but other than that they are totally different machines.

I've seen this on more than a few occasions here. They are easily mixed up, so double checking the model numbers on your information is recommended.

One thing I did forget to mention is the 15 or so solenoids in the 365D that are not easily obtainable which the 635 doesn't have. The 365D is capable of 15ips by way of a capstan sleeve, and pinch-roller change which are mounted under the head cover. The 365 is a 7-1/2" machine and the 635 is a 10" machine.

On the 365D all the 458's are on the playback and REC daughter boards (4 total). IIRC there are a couple on the solenoid board (been a couple years since I looked at mine internally).

Larry
 
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WHOA!! :D I hunker down and let the 1st winter storm of the season go past, dig out, check the 'net.....and my friends on AK come to the rescue!

larryderouin, answered your PM.

Oh, yeah found stuff on the internet and yes, did a double check on model numbers AFTER downloading a 653D file.

I'm surprised at the number of responses this posting has gotten so tape must live in the hearts of many. Thanks guys
 
I have one of these - I just love this machine - had 2 bad transistors in the pre-amp board fixed that then the solenoids kept acting up. Replaced the diodes on solenoids and this unit works like a champ now. Just need to re-cap and change the noisy transistors sometime in the future but for now it runs quiet and true.
 
I had one previously and it played fine. Well built and heavy. I had the D model with no amp. Loved the extra roller under the head, but you couldn't record a lot at that speed, but it sure sounded good.
 
larryderouin said:
The 365D is capable of 15ips by way of a capstan sleeve, and pinch-roller change which are mounted under the head cover.
Larry
Click to expand...

Just learned something here - I've finally got my GX-365D hooked up to my Fisher 800C (after a weekend find of R2R tapes) - came to do a little research - read Larry's notation - lifted my head cover and sure enough there they are!:yes:

My GX-365D has been sitting idle for at least 10 years - played flawlessy - plan to do a cleaning and lubing soon.
 
I just scored a vg condition X-355. I like the idea of a self-contained amp to do some "portable" listening - (weighs >60 lbs!), if I don't feel like heating the listening room with my class A's!

A post in the thread mentioned a high noise floor. If you read through the original factory specs and published test reports, these had S/N numbers in the 40's - so high expectations there will disappoint. I have an outboard Teac Dolby unit for that chore - but am primarily going to playback vintage 7" pre-recorded tapes. I can also use it as a winder - the 355 series had reel motors that spin tape at a fantastic rate! Always wanted one.
 
I just got two tape machines after years of digital recording (one of them an akai gx 365d, the other a dual) and a huge pile of tape. I can't wait to use the akai for stereo mixes from my board but I need to do some work on it first...definitely needs some transistor replacements and in addition to that the left side of the line input makes no sound (haven't opened it up yet but i'm assuming it's a loose contact). I'm completely new to electronics so I'm trying to gather from your posts and the schematics I've got how many of these 458s I actually need to order, the number I've got is 10. Is this consistent with what you all have had to do? anything else I should add to my list (looks like some of these parts are pretty cheap so i'd rather ship all at once). Also...best distributor for parts in Canada? thanks.
 
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