ScuzzBlog: Diaries February 2022
Entry 27th February 2022: Post 1: SONY TC-399 - Reel to Reel Tape Recorder.
SONY TC-399 - Reel to Reel Tape Recorder.
OK it's 1978 in old money, some 44 years ago and I had completed
my five years training at the local authority to become a MSAAT
architectural technician, when some idiot had the bright idea to
talk me into going to school of architecture, to become a proper
fully fledged architect. So I gave up my job at the LA and trudged
off to Birmingham School of Architecture.
In my first term I received a large cheque from the superannuation
people. Evidently I wasn't able to leave my pension money on hold
till I got a proper job. So I sat at home with this big cheque
and like any sensible student on a grant, I chose to spend it. So
my dad drove me to John Frost in Lichfield and convinced me to
buy the latest offering from SONY in the open reel format of the
SONY TC-399. The shop was more like a large lounge than a shop
and there were places to sit and listen to music. Times were way
different then and 'hi-fi' equipment was more about precision
engineering. Kit had a fantastic style, and the more gadgets and
buttons the more impressive.
In addition to the SONY I also purchased a large Realistic amp,
a Panasonic cabinet style five inch TV, GB3 speakers and an AKAI
record deck. In truth I was very glad I did, cus the long nights
creating my architectural masterpieces were made so much more
rewarding by having that high quality music playing in my ears.
I have been waiting a long time for the return of my tape recorder.
Sadly my sister and I fell out last year and she has my SONY at
her house. I have been toying with the idea of getting another
and just the other week a great unit came on the Bay and I simply
couldn't resist.
First thing you note about the SONY is the smell of polish. That's
quality wood to the surround. The black may have a slight grey
tint to it on the pics but that's the light reflecting on a shiny
faint patterning in the metal face plate. She is in very good
condition and surprisingly worked without fault.
The SONY TC-399 represented a new breed of tape machine with what
was dubbed the 'open reel format'. Normally tape recorders would
lay flat and have a plastic covers to the reels and mechanism. The
unit has twin record function and this allows recording on the
two stereo heads in single tracks. All the controls clunk and
slam into action. The most striking feature of the machine is the
twin VU meters. They really do give the tape a heart that beats
in time with the music. In the dim light of the lounge they just
add a real silky smooth soft light to the tape. Simply magic.
Time was that music was more than just the music. People spent so
much money on their kit, and it really was a status symbol. You
would hear folk bragging about the cost of their stylus. Records
filled shelves and silver on black was the norm for kit with the
added sparkle of VU meters. The TC-399 standing next to me is a
slab of black, towering off the bench. There is no mistaking the
power of the sound and it just oozes 'hi-fi'. Not sure if the
concept has much meaning today with telephone downloads, but in
the day the record shops were feeding the hi-fi' world with such
magical works like Tubular Bells, Led Zeppelin 4 and Dark Side of
the Moon and you needed the kit to enjoy it. It was a blast.
The first album I recorded on the tape was Manifesto by Roxy Music,
and the track Trash still is as sumptuous as it ever was. It is
really wonderful to have had so many memories of years of the
evolving world of music. And this beast has jogged an amazing
amount of happy times.
And here is Trash by Roxy Music.
Sorry for the adverts
Times designing and drawing buildings were always intoxicating.
I do not drink or smoke and have always found that with pencil
in my hand and with music flooding through my ears I could lose
myself in the depths of my imagination. Albums like Manifesto
were always very hypnotic and I was blessed with a period of
music that was always very rewarding ... and still is.
The music box at the end of Spin me Round is so dreamy
And so sorry for the adverts
SONY TC-399 - Reel to Reel Tape Recorder.
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