Roberts 770x rehab

I found this Roberts 770x EL84 tape unit a year ago and had it sitting around for awhile and I finally got around to it

I have read the threads about pulling the mono amps and converting them for stand alone use. I do not mind people doing this but since I got the unit working so well and I love tube gear I decided to keep it and use it intact

It powered up but would not play, so I ordered a new belt. But it was just the complicated operating procedure that was why I couldn't get it playing.

Once I got it playing one channel did not work.

I got the service manual and pulled it apart, cleaned/lubed the transport and noted the belt and tires were excellent

Tested the tubes, caps and resistors, used a bunch of deoxit and after messing around with it I got both channels working

It sounds great, no hum, nice and clear


It has original tubes, NEC and Toshiba EL84's

I am glueing one screen panel so it is missing in the picture

I am thinking of having the case veneered in walnut

That's in really nice shape, and good for you for keeping it whole. IMO the Akai / Roberts "crossfield" series machines are really pretty decent recorders. So many of them get split up and used for tube amps, it's nice to see one get restored once in a while.

Currently on and around the bench I've got a couple of M-10's (one walnut, one gray vinyl), an X-201D and an X-2000S (that's the one with an 8 track recorder and a cassette recorder built in) that I'm working on. A really nice AK'er is helping me out with some parts for that last one. Great winter-time project.