BINSON Echorec B1S - need some advise

[pongi]

hello all!
just got a tube binson echorec b1s from the 60's- this is a more unknown model.
i received it in unchecked condition and unfortunately i was not able to find the correct schematic.
as most echorecs are suffering of corroded wiring, i rewired & cleaned the entire thing which took some serious hours.

i started the unit for a test and i'm quite happy so far, it sounds real good already, but i can't have endless echo for example,
and i doubt its as it should be.
so i decided to change some parts in it to bring it more up to spec hopefully.


-should i change the 2 bigger capacitors (electrolytics)? -(altough i have no hum in the output)
-there are some of those yellow/mustard colored capacitors? do they also dry out, like electrolytic caps? change?



a simple overview of the machine:

it an echomachine with a rotating magnetic disc, where the playback head and the 4 "echo"heads and the erase head are arranged around that disc.

it consists of 4 controls
1.input/echomix
2.lenght of swell
3.vol. echo swell
4.echo swell switch (diff. combinations of the disc-heads)

there is 1 ecc82 tube, 2 ecc83 tubes and the magic eye - level indicator tube.



thanks for any inputs!

 

[walter]

If there are any coils with adjustable core, try tweaking them, but note where they are before turning.

 

[pongi]

thanks! i did, and photographed everything before i changed anything.

anyone have a hint on the mustard caps? just in general, do they often fail?


thanks

 

[MagnetoSound]

anyone have a hint on the mustard caps? just in general, do they often fail?

Not as a rule. You can check them for leakage, but do not replace them unless necessary. The machine will be worth considerably more if it still has them, I'd have thought.

 

[pongi]

ok thanks for the tipps!

i know now what it takes to restore an echorec.

1 day of hard work rewiring everything, change some parts, testing, cleaning disc&heads
1 day *important*... of love, adjusting the heads!


she's sounding spectacular now, instant pink floyd & spaghetti western! 8)