Will's Pioneer restorations! Pics pics pics

[wills15]

Ok guys, I've been talking about posting these up for some time, and with the recent talk of the Pioneer CK, thought now was the time.

I have a small collection of boomboxes, and coming from a hifi background, I've always loved the 3-piece hifi style.

Bought a Pioneer CK and a Disco Robo for decent prices, and set about restoring them.

Pioneer CK

Repaired the square speakers using a number of square surrounds designed for the Sony FH series - these are Australian surrounds and are quite expensive, but I had to get this thing going to see what all the fuss was about...

I also replaced the cassette belts and touched up a few dry solder joints. I am slightly disappointed with this CK, mainly because after the restoration, I realised mine didn't come with the optional battery compartment!

As I said in another thread, I think the mid-bass is a bit overpowering, but this may be because I coated one of the 'acoustic dampers' on the side of the enclosure in glue, I'll try find some other foam to replace it with, and let you guys know. Treble and mids are incredible. Better than Tele studio 1M.

Disco Robo

Discovered these online, and knew they would be a great party piece, so had to have one...

An absolutely MASSIVE thanks to Matt (tshorba) and Poonpoon (from Honk Kong) for kindly supplying me with the replacement tuning indicator ring, and buttons - I thought these parts would be totally unobtainable. I repaired the volume know by reinforcing it with some glue soaked fabric, looks like new now.

Restoration involved, lubing the deck, replacing belts, refoaming speakers and fixing above mentioned cosmetic issues.

A few people have ragged on the sound of the Disco Robo, but I think the foam surrounds are usually the issue. Speakers are 2ohm with huge magnets, and play very loud with no distortion. Enclosures are ported, kindof like those crappy Bose church speakers. The robo doesn't have deep bass, but it sounds quite good nonetheless, and it ideal for use outside when you need something loud!

 

[blu_fuz]

Damn nice work on both of those boomers! Good idea on the square surrounds making them into the shape you needed.

 

[redbenjoe]

nice work --
hope you got those ck speakers PERFECTLY right-

if so --then you WILL feel the bass

 

[tshorba]

Hi Will

Did you get the APM style surrounds from Tom? I know he used to have them but they are not on his site anymore, I need to fix my RX-XE550 surrounds. Also do you have the part number for the robo surrounds? I have one set to redo.

 

[wills15]

Redbenjoe, speakers are definitely aligned properly, the bass does rattle the table it sits on, but maybe mine has poor bass because I blocked one of the acoustic dampers - will try getting some new foam for it.

Matt, I have two of those APM surrounds spare, PM me the dimensions of your speakers, and if they fit, I'll send them to you. They are Tom's ones. Sorry, don't know part numbers for the Robo surrounds...

 

[Lasonic TRC-920]

Talk about two ambitious projects. You really step out of the box on both of them....

The Pioneer looks really nice and the robo looks like it's ready to party!

 

[superlew]

Wow! Looks like you've been busy.
Isn't it fun bringing these things back to life?

 

[wills15]

Thanks guys, my life is bringing things back to life!

I love a good project.

 

[Zippy]

That's exactly what I need to do to my Pioneer CK - thanks for the pics!
But those square surrounds are expensive for sure

 

[tshorba]

Redbenjoe, speakers are definitely aligned properly, the bass does rattle the table it sits on, but maybe mine has poor bass because I blocked one of the acoustic dampers - will try getting some new foam for it.

Matt, I have two of those APM surrounds spare, PM me the dimensions of your speakers, and if they fit, I'll send them to you. They are Tom's ones. Sorry, don't know part numbers for the Robo surrounds...

I will let you know tomorrow, thanks

 

[stormsven]

Superb work. Those square foams are always really hard to fix.

 

[skippy1969]

Very nice!
Superb work!

 

[hemiguy2006]

Very nice
I love that Pioneer Robo, it is super cool.
We're these even produced or available in the USA?
I have yet to see one.

 

[monchito]

i love those pioneers frank i belive the disco was japan only ,,i may be wrong

 

[Gluecifer]

Incredible work, Wills! Beautiful resotrations.

I just scored a red Disco Robo too, and it needs all the usual things done to it, very happy we have experienced Robo Repairers on here
in yourself, TSHORBA and sony_apm_fan.

How can other score the membranes for the tape controls from Poon Poon? Does he have a site or something?



Rock On.

 

[wills15]

Incredible work, Wills! Beautiful resotrations.

I just scored a red Disco Robo too, and it needs all the usual things done to it, very happy we have experienced Robo Repairers on here
in yourself, TSHORBA and sony_apm_fan.

How can other score the membranes for the tape controls from Poon Poon? Does he have a site or something?

Rock On.

His username is Poonpoon613, you can try PM him but i think he's AWOL, also search on youtube for technics choy.

I might be getting you guys some foam, but I'll have to let you know.

 

[tshorba]

i love those pioneers frank i belive the disco was japan only ,,i may be wrong

The robo is probably the most common box on ebay.au, that and the VZ-2000.

 

[wills15]

i love those pioneers frank i belive the disco was japan only ,,i may be wrong

They were sold new in the Asia-pacific region, not sure which countries exactly, but definitely Australia, Hong Kong, Philippines...

They are common on eBay.com.au, and aren't that expensive, but all of ours are 220/240V

Australia only got red and silver, but I think Japan/HK got other colours too...

 

[tshorba]

i love those pioneers frank i belive the disco was japan only ,,i may be wrong

They were sold new in the Asia-pacific region, not sure which countries exactly, but definitely Australia, Hong Kong, Philippines...

They are common on eBay.com.au, and aren't that expensive, but all of ours are 220/240V

Australia only got red and silver, but I think Japan/HK got other colours too...

Japan had green, white and yellow, there was also a blue I think. The colored ones are fairly rare even over there.

The prices on ebay.au vary wildly, there was a nice red one that went for $1200 a while back, average prices are $200-400 for a grey and $200-600 for the red. there is always a bunch show up at the same time and a lot get relisted due to somebody from Hong Kong trying to purchase them all.

 

[ledmeter]

Thanks guys, my life is bringing things back to life!

I love a good project.

same here!! I'm on the verge of too many awesome projects!
actually wait - already there
I love your work!