Sony Tube R2R TC 500A - Any Info?

Smorgy

Smorgy

Vinyl Junky Speakerhaulic
Reelin' in the years . . . all the way back to 1967. The world was changing and so was the equipment we use to listen to music. But change is never fast. Cars were switching from drum brakes to disc brakes, there were long hairs and short hairs and greasy hair too! (well, ok, that hasn't changed) During this year, Sony was selling a tube reel-to-reel tape deck model TC 500A. The son of a bachlor is heavy too! I found that out when I dragged one from work to my car. My benefactor (who is cleaning out his evidently well stocked garage) donated it to me. He says that it was the most fabulous sounding piece of equipment he has ever heard. (This coming from a guy who also donated a Sansui 1000A receiver to me.)

Now begins my quest. Searching here and on the web has turned up no information so far. Unlike the 1000A, which has tons of information on the web, the Sony TC-500A information lies hidden from me. Perhaps in a desk drawer or a garage file cabinet or maybe the trash man got most of it.

Is there anyone here who knows this unit - or knows someone who does?

Thanks!
Smorgy
 

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Well, let's start a database here in this thread. Start with pics:D

:worthless

That sounds like a great peice. How's the sound/working condition?
 
All show and no go ... so far!

vinyldavid said:
Sure looks like it's a great deck. How is the working condition?
Click to expand...

I'm still trying to figure out how you did the signs with the smileys holding them up....

I have not fired the deck up yet. I just got it today and it needs cleaning with a capital C. Plus, being a tube piece, I need to bring it back to life slowly. Seems I'd better get that variac soon!
 
Smorgy said:
I'm still trying to figure out how you did the signs with the smileys holding them up....

I have not fired the deck up yet. I just got it today and it needs cleaning with a capital C. Plus, being a tube piece, I need to bring it back to life slowly. Seems I'd better get that variac soon!
Click to expand...

Do a search on the poor man's variac.....

That is just one smiley. I use it often :D.

That is worth cleaning up and saving :yes:
 
This deck is covered in Sams Photofacts tape recorder book, TR-30. I see one for sale on eBay - $18.50 Canadian. Or you can buy a copy of the pages direct from Sams for $22. I think you could turn up a copy for less if you keep looking - these books usually go for $10 or so. As it's post-1964, it's still in copyright, so I wouldn't ask for a copy or scan.
 
TC 500a manual link

Tom Bavis said:
I see that the TC-500A service manual is available here: http://www.ferrograph.info/ - click on Manuals. He's in the UK, doesn't say what he wants for a CD...
Click to expand...

Thanks! :thmbsp:

I tried the google search and it kept turning up a manual on ebay, but when I tried to find the specific listing, searching title and description kept coming up blank.
 
Hi,
I have the schematics and spec sheet for a TC-521 on my web site. Looks similar :scratch2:

Recovered the iron to make a really nice sounding 6AQ5 SE amp for work :music:

6AQ5 AMP


Regards,
ck
 
Interesting website

Ciscokid said:
Hi,
I have the schematics and spec sheet for a TC-521 on my web site. Looks similar :scratch2:

Recovered the iron to make a really nice sounding 6AQ5 SE amp for work :music:

6AQ5 AMP


Regards,
ck
Click to expand...

I took a look, very interesting unit! I see your donor was a "Stereocorder" and mine says "Tapecorder". The S/N on my unit is 83499 so I know they cranked out a bunch of these in Tokyo. Alot of servicemen bought nice units when they were overseas. I think the one I have was purchased in a PX in Hong Kong in '67.

Thanks for the help! :thmbsp:

Smorgy
 
vinyldavid said:
Well, let's start a database here in this thread. Start with pics:D

:worthless

That sounds like a great peice. How's the sound/working condition?
Click to expand...
The most complete online database of R2Rs on the web can be found at this site: http://www.obsoletemedia.com/ (no affiliation)

Unfortunately to see all of the resources on this site, you must sign-up. Once logged-in there is tons of info listed under the link:
"Tape Deck General Information"
 
Original manual located

Thanks for the great links! I've managed to secure an original service manual for the Sony 500 & 500A. I've learned to put good links into a spreadsheet so when I get a new computer, I can just load up all my favorites. :yes:

Smorgy
 
Saw one of these R2R's today....excellent condition. I didn't know it was tubed- I should have bought it - it'll be gone tomorrow.
 
i have serviced & restored quite a few of these TC-500s, & yes, they are beast. it will require a lot of work to bring that deck back to spec & to make it reliable.
the oil capacitors will ALL have to be replaced. the motor "run" capacitor will also have to be replaced before powering the unit up. running the motor with a bad capacitor will damage the motor.
on top of that, there are mechanical issues that need to be dealt with. the front cover has to come off & the idler wheels will need to be pulled off & the shafts that they spin on will need to be cleaned / degreased, & re-lubed. providing that the idler wheels are not disintegreted, worn, or flat spots on them.
before you even go through all of that trouble, you will need to check the head for wear. if it is worn, i would suggest putting off the restoration until you can locate a good replacement head for it.
the problem with most of all of the Sony tape recorder line was that they used very soft metals when making their heads. it did not take much use (compared to other tape recorder manufacturers) for the Sony heads to wear out. whenever i come across one of these units, the first thing i look at is the head, if it is worn, i usually just pass on it.
 
Scored a 500a this weekend off Ebay. Seller was close and I was the only bidder. The deck works but runs a little slow and probably needs a lot of work to get it sounding right. I bought it for the 40+ tapes that were included (20 pre-recorded and 20+ home recordings) and to salvage the tubes and iron.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of Coral holey baskets. I installed them in my DIY TQWP cabinets that previously had a pair of Rat Shack 40-1284Es. The cabs were designed for the 40-1197 and never sounded right with the 1284s. With the Corals these sound great. Can't wait to connect them to a tube amp. I had given up on single driver speakers but now might need to build some better cabinets.
 

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pich said:
...The deck works but runs a little slow and probably needs a lot of work to get it sounding right....
Click to expand...

I am not familiar with this deck. But I have worked on the solid state 630/630D Sony recorder many times. Often the slow motor is caused by the motor run capacitor being open. I have seen several of them literally explode inside of the cabinet spewing wax all over the place. The value is somewhere around 1.5µFD and it is rated for AC voltage. Not sure if yours has one but if so, I would suspect that cap.

Of course, dried lubrication is almost always a problem with decks of this era regardless of manufacture...
 
I've never been a fan of Sony equipment, (they were one of the first companies to introduce transistor radios) but their Tube R2R's are supposed to be pretty good. I would definately keep one if I found one. Yours was a good find! :thmbsp:
 
Having been around Sony reel-to-reel recorders since the mid 60s, my observations are the following:

They sound great. High frequency response is very good. But one big problem is that Sony used pressure pads that sandwiched the tape very tightly against the heads. While this produced intimate contact and therefore excellent high frequency response, the use of inferior tape (read cheap, abrasive) would wear out the tape heads very quickly. Worn heads usually start to drop off high frequency response rather quickly.

Decks that use dual capstan would often just apply slight back pressure on the tape keeping it tight against the head with less pressure. Does that make sense?
 
The 500 does have the pressure pads and the heads on this unit look good. About a month ago I picked up my first RTR. It is a Sony TC-651. It sounds good and really got me interested in tape.

Thanks for the advice on 500a. For the time being I'm going to enjoy the Coral speakers and put the deck on the project list.
 
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