My Marantz 2500 with Black Dial Scale
- Thread starter Big Tuna
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Is there a backstory here?My 2500 with black dial scale
Big Tuna
Too Much Power!
I posted this quick and I knew someone would ask how it came to be. Little did I know it would be you, Glen, but I'm glad you asked because I was going to tell.
The dial scale is in fact the original one that was in it when I got it. I found another one, which was the one showing in previous pics. The original one had some spots on it that looked like corrosion, or so I thought. It appeared that the original silver finish was a thin layer of aluminum on scale face, but upon my close scrutiny & inspection, I discovered it to be a sort of silkscreen or imprinting. The worn spots had bothered me, so I just wondered what would happen if I began to polish on it. I figured I didn't have anything to lose by playing with it, and I nearly threw it out several times. Sure enough, the silver began to "dissolve", and a beautiful piano black finish appeared. The reality of it is, I discovered it pretty much by accident, and I liked it so much that I went ahead and put it back in, and the rest is history
Looks pretty sweet! Harkens back to the original 22xx series before the B series and lighter colored backgrounds. Is it full black when the lights and power is off?
I've always thought about wiring in 2 different color LED's which could then be switched on depending on my mood. Blue for martini's, red or orange for merlot.
I've always thought about wiring in 2 different color LED's which could then be switched on depending on my mood. Blue for martini's, red or orange for merlot.
Hoodcom
Well-Known Member
Questions first, comments later?
Though the black dial looks good. I didn't know it was so simple to make them that way... :scratch2:
marantzfan
...
Ok Tuna. I'm getting a big truck and I'm coming for the Sevens AND the big Marantz now. 
Big Tuna
Too Much Power!
oh man, Cody, no way was it simple, lol! 2.5 hours of meticulous polishing, and I had to get the corners with a Q-tip.Questions first, comments later?
Though the black dial looks good. I didn't know it was so simple to make them that way... :scratch2:
OK...it looks pretty good. :yes:Questions first, comments later?
SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
Hi BT: This scan came from someone here awhile back, courtesy of Quadrocker. Anyways, this should answer some of your questions. Interestingly, the 2385 in the scan has FM Dolby which makes this a U.S. model. I'm guessing a few early-production 2500's were circulated for assessment before the change was made to all-silver.
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SoCal Sam
Lunatic Member
Thanks
Yep, it's pitch black when off, but you can still see the scale and blue vellum if you look close up and squint
I just got the cover and wood back on for a final shot. The walnut just completes it, IMO :yes:
The scope shouldn't be too hard to black out if you are going for the 1976 look.
Big Tuna
Too Much Power!
LOL, Sam, the scope already has a black grommet border. I knew about the black dial 2385 shown in the brochure, but as far as 2500/2600's go, there is no such thing. And I don't believe there is a black dialed 2385 either because the brochure was a promotional item to let people know of what was to come, and secondly, there is no photogenic proof that a black dialed/blue metered 2385 even exists.
Big Tuna
Too Much Power!
Based on that brochure, it is logical to assume that intial design called for the 2385's to have black scale/blue meters, but for reasons unknown, they changed it right before beginning production. I believe that because there simply is zero actual proof of a real 2385 that has the blue meters and black scale. The question remains that the one pictured in brochure obviously is a real one, however, even back then they photoshopped the ad pics to make them stand out better., which brings to mind, how do we know it's real since there is no picture anywhere of an actual real one outside of that brochure pic? So, until someone comes forward with a real pic of a 2385 exactly like that brochure shows, I'm forced to believe it does not exist.
Quadrocker
Active Member
My 2500 with black dial scale
Far Out..!! :jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop::jawdrop:
You can actually turn a silver Marantz dial into a black one..!!
I'm the one who posted/linked the original brochure pic's of the mysterious black dialed 2385..(originally located at this site..http://www.orthogonal.com.au/music/hifi/index.htm)..since then I've been looking for one...now it seems you can make your own..!! I wonder if this (..mod?.:scratch2
will work on the whole range..??I think the black looks great and its much easier to see the dial.
It's like the Beatles "butcher cover"...peel off the front, and you get the original...amazing...nice job..!!!:thmbsp:
anderslober
Yikes...not again!
Very beautiful! LOOKS FANTASTIC! Man...that 2500 is gorgeous............I ain't jealous AT all.!;-)))
Big Tuna
Too Much Power!
Thanks fellas! I am finding myself growng on it. For those of you who are wondering about why my scale is black, I explained it in a post on first page of this thread. I did it really by accident. I dove into the original scale messing around with it. I was not worried about what would happen to it because I already had another dial scale that I found, which was installed in it. I merely tried to polish out some dark spots on the original scale and it turned black in that spot, so I finished it off, in turn revealing a black face, just like how the older ones are. Here is a fresh pic of the 2500. I had the wrong screw on top cover underneath the walnut top panel, causing it to warp, and I replaced the brass screw I had on faceplate. Now it's looking really nice. :yes:
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