Sharp Radio/Cassette - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Andrew_Keith · 19th May 2006, 7:17 am

I have been given for repair a VERY large Sharp radio/cassette for repair basicaly it is a twin deck unit and the heads are shot to bits. Can i still get these from the likes of Farnell??. I dont really want to do the job, as its going to be a

to get the decks out. But he insists he wants it doing

they are both bulk standard rec/play heads.

Thanks in advance.

Paul Stenning · 19th May 2006, 7:46 am

I think CPC still stock one or two standard spare heads. Check the dimension between the front of the head and the fixing holes as there are two or three different standard sizes and CPC only do one of the smaller ones.

With some of these radio/cassette units, when you remove the screws from the back, the whole front of the case lifts away. You have to open both tape doors and maybe pull off some knobs first. Then the decks are easily accessible and can be removed for access to the electronics behind.

Andrew_Keith · 19th May 2006, 8:03 am

Thanks for that Paul, do you know if cpc accept credit card or postal orders as i dont have an account with them?.

percival007 · 19th May 2006, 8:36 am

Hi,
i think CPC do accept credit cards as payment.
We have some cassette tape heads knocking around, if you send me the sizes i'll have a look for you and ask "the Gaffer" how much he wants for them.
Cheers, Percy.

Andrew_Keith · 19th May 2006, 9:03 am

Thanks for that percy, i will check the size over the weekend when i get chance then just let me know how much you want, even decent second hand ones will do as the ones in it now have a VERY deep groove in them, and have obviously had much use. Even though they are alighned correctly sound is so muffled its unuseable

But it was a very expensive unit in the early 80s so is worth it

Kind regards.

paulsherwin · 19th May 2006, 10:22 am

You could probably scavenge a set of heads from a scrap unit. Keep an eye on your local skip

If you get really stuck send me a PM as I've got a scrap Panasonic radio cassette somewhere in the loft - it was used by builders and is unrestorable, but the heads should be OK.

Paul

Andrew_Keith · 19th May 2006, 2:41 pm

Thanks very much for that Paul will let you know if i get stuck

Regards.

Nickthedentist · 19th May 2006, 3:20 pm

Andrew,

These big Sharps are quite collectable, the best fetching 3-figure sums

Sadly, cassette heads are VERY difficult to get hold of now, with most of the main suppliers selling what they've got left then discontinuing them. CPC, for example, used to have a huge range only 5 years ago, but now has next to nothing

I got some recently from DALBANI's aka NIKKO, part number NIKK0-666 @ 81p + VAT each, website www.dalbani.co.uk , payment by debit card accepted

If they're "specials" e.g. autoreverse or non-standard "Sony" mounting, then ones from a scrapper might be your only choice.

Nick.

mickjjo · 19th May 2006, 5:59 pm

Another possible supplier of cassette heads here:-

http://www.donberg.ie/search/search....&group=&page=0

Regards, Mick.

Andrew_Keith · 19th May 2006, 6:10 pm

Hello Nick Nice to hear from you, yes it is a VERY BIG Sharp with six inch bass units and separate tweeters, I am going to strip it down this weekend to take out the heads which is something i have been putting off

. Richard and paul sherwin have offered to help me out with heads if i get stuck, so will measure them and take it from there. For a city the size of Manchester where i live the number of component suppliers is terrible

I must say i have seen a fair number of tape heads in my time, but the wear on these is quite beyond belief. Someone must have been trying to listen to it in this state for quite some time before they got rid of it. But the switches drives and pots all seem noise free so i think it will restore well.

Regards.

paolo · 21st May 2006, 1:43 am

Sorry to burst into this thread but I've got a Sharp GF-6060 dating from about 1982. Everything still works fine except that the pinch roller has started to turn to mush. Can replacements still be obtained? I don't have a clue as to how to go about sourcing one and places such as dalbani require at least a part code

Michael Maurice · 21st May 2006, 8:30 am

Try Charles Hyde 01759 303068, www.chsinteractive.co.uk they are official Sharp spares distributors, also try Alan Dysons tech line, its a premium rate number but he may be able to give you a part number, his number is 0906 861 5915 calls cost 60p/min

I hope this helps

Michael

Andrew_Keith · 21st May 2006, 8:38 am

Thanks Micheal, I will follow this up failing that i will just fit standard R/P heads.

Kind Regards.

Andrew_Keith · 23rd May 2006, 5:10 pm

Finaly got around to taking the Sharp apart today. I have as Paul Stenning suggested measured them. The total depth from front to back is 12mm, the distance from the mounting screws to the back is just over 1mm. They do look very standard, and very knackered!!. Paul you were right the entire front of the machine does come away leaving the speakers on a flying lead with pcb connector

. This is one hellish complicated piece of kit with no less than twelve sub-boards connected to the main pcb8

. I am glad its only the heads that have gone

.

Regards.

19th May 2006, 7:17 am	#1
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Sharp Radio/Cassette I have been given for repair a VERY large Sharp radio/cassette for repair basicaly it is a twin deck unit and the heads are shot to bits. Can i still get these from the likes of Farnell??. I dont really want to do the job, as its going to be a to get the decks out. But he insists he wants it doing they are both bulk standard rec/play heads. Thanks in advance. Last edited by Andrew_Keith; 19th May 2006 at 7:27 am.

19th May 2006, 7:46 am	#2
Paul Stenning Administrator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cardiff Posts: 9,072	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette I think CPC still stock one or two standard spare heads. Check the dimension between the front of the head and the fixing holes as there are two or three different standard sizes and CPC only do one of the smaller ones. With some of these radio/cassette units, when you remove the screws from the back, the whole front of the case lifts away. You have to open both tape doors and maybe pull off some knobs first. Then the decks are easily accessible and can be removed for access to the electronics behind. __________________ Paul Stenning Forum Admin/Owner and BVWS Webmaster

19th May 2006, 8:03 am	#3
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Thanks for that Paul, do you know if cpc accept credit card or postal orders as i dont have an account with them?.

19th May 2006, 8:36 am	#4
percival007 Heptode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 852	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Hi, i think CPC do accept credit cards as payment. We have some cassette tape heads knocking around, if you send me the sizes i'll have a look for you and ask "the Gaffer" how much he wants for them. Cheers, Percy.

19th May 2006, 9:03 am	#5
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Thanks for that percy, i will check the size over the weekend when i get chance then just let me know how much you want, even decent second hand ones will do as the ones in it now have a VERY deep groove in them, and have obviously had much use. Even though they are alighned correctly sound is so muffled its unuseable But it was a very expensive unit in the early 80s so is worth it Kind regards.

19th May 2006, 10:22 am	#6
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,960	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette You could probably scavenge a set of heads from a scrap unit. Keep an eye on your local skip If you get really stuck send me a PM as I've got a scrap Panasonic radio cassette somewhere in the loft - it was used by builders and is unrestorable, but the heads should be OK. Paul

19th May 2006, 2:41 pm	#7
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Thanks very much for that Paul will let you know if i get stuck Regards.

19th May 2006, 3:20 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,858	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Andrew, These big Sharps are quite collectable, the best fetching 3-figure sums Sadly, cassette heads are VERY difficult to get hold of now, with most of the main suppliers selling what they've got left then discontinuing them. CPC, for example, used to have a huge range only 5 years ago, but now has next to nothing I got some recently from DALBANI's aka NIKKO, part number NIKK0-666 @ 81p + VAT each, website www.dalbani.co.uk , payment by debit card accepted If they're "specials" e.g. autoreverse or non-standard "Sony" mounting, then ones from a scrapper might be your only choice. Nick.

19th May 2006, 5:59 pm	#9
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Another possible supplier of cassette heads here:- http://www.donberg.ie/search/search....&group=&page=0 Regards, Mick.

19th May 2006, 6:10 pm	#10
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Hello Nick Nice to hear from you, yes it is a VERY BIG Sharp with six inch bass units and separate tweeters, I am going to strip it down this weekend to take out the heads which is something i have been putting off . Richard and paul sherwin have offered to help me out with heads if i get stuck, so will measure them and take it from there. For a city the size of Manchester where i live the number of component suppliers is terrible I must say i have seen a fair number of tape heads in my time, but the wear on these is quite beyond belief. Someone must have been trying to listen to it in this state for quite some time before they got rid of it. But the switches drives and pots all seem noise free so i think it will restore well. Regards.

21st May 2006, 1:43 am	#11
paolo Heptode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 615	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Sorry to burst into this thread but I've got a Sharp GF-6060 dating from about 1982. Everything still works fine except that the pinch roller has started to turn to mush. Can replacements still be obtained? I don't have a clue as to how to go about sourcing one and places such as dalbani require at least a part code

21st May 2006, 8:30 am	#12
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,225	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Try Charles Hyde 01759 303068, www.chsinteractive.co.uk they are official Sharp spares distributors, also try Alan Dysons tech line, its a premium rate number but he may be able to give you a part number, his number is 0906 861 5915 calls cost 60p/min I hope this helps Michael

21st May 2006, 8:38 am	#13
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Thanks Micheal, I will follow this up failing that i will just fit standard R/P heads. Kind Regards.

23rd May 2006, 5:10 pm	#14
Andrew_Keith Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Salford, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Sharp Radio/Cassette Finaly got around to taking the Sharp apart today. I have as Paul Stenning suggested measured them. The total depth from front to back is 12mm, the distance from the mounting screws to the back is just over 1mm. They do look very standard, and very knackered!!. Paul you were right the entire front of the machine does come away leaving the speakers on a flying lead with pcb connector . This is one hellish complicated piece of kit with no less than twelve sub-boards connected to the main pcb8 . I am glad its only the heads that have gone . Regards.