Nakamichi 481 stereo cassette deck A306-05306 - WILLY HERMANN SERVICED

NAKAMICHI 481 3-HEAD STEREO CASSETTE DECK SERIAL NUMBER A306-05306

PROFESSIONALLY REBUILT BY WILLY HERMANN SERVICES 10/17/2020

SUPERIOR ANALOG REPRODUCTION FOR THE CASSETTE MEDIUM

This listing is for a vintage Nakamichi 481 stereo cassette deck. This deck was rebuilt by Willy Herman Services in October. I have used this machine for approximately 10 hours to verify operation and sound reproduction. This machine operates flawlessly all functions, features, and indicators are working correctly.

Cassette decks are very complicated machines that often require professional service. Even if you have a sealed unit that is 30 years old it will more than likely have issues as the rubber components degrade and lubricants dry up even when not in use. Imagine how a used 30 to 40 year old machine that has not been properly serviced will perform. Turning on a deck and playing a tape for 10 minutes is not enough to correctly access these machines. As the unit becomes physically warmer issues of worn parts begin to be prevalent. You also potentially have old and stressed electrical components that will greatly affect the speed and sound.

If you are serious about cassette reproduction it is essential to acquire a deck that has been properly serviced and tested. Avoid the risk of failure and disappointment when you are searching for that special machine.

WILLY HERMANN SERVICE PERFORMED:

Removed tape transport
Cleaned old lubricant from capstans, hubs, idler, cam mechanism, head block, pinch roller shafts, and rocker arms
Reconditioned pinch rollers
Re-lubed all as needed
Replaced spooling idler tire, cam belt, and counter belts
Replaced auto-stop lamp with LED and modified circuit to accommodate it
Modified mounting point for eject Bowden cable to prevent future problems
Reassembled transport
Realigned tape path guides and head depth and zenith
Remounted transport in chassis
Adjusted transport stop, cue, and play points
Reset head height and azimuth
Adjusted electronics for correct play and record levels
Calibrated deck for all three tape types
Verified that deck now meets original specifications
Tested machine extensively for correct function both cold and hot

The 481 is a very unassuming deck but do not be fooled by its simple appearance this is an absolutely fantastic sounding machine. The level of clarity and coherence from my pre-recorded reference tapes was shocking. The 481 uses the same transport as all of the classic 580 series, 680 series, LX, ZX, and ZXL decks. 

I have used and sold many Nakamichi cassette decks over the last 40 years including top performing Dragon, 1000, 700, RX, ZX, CR, LX, and DR models. I used my personal Nakamichi, Mobile Fidelity, and Nautilus reference cassettes for testing. It is evident on the first note the ability of this deck to faithfully reproduce the music. This has always been a strong trait on properly working Nak machines. This deck is a joy you will find yourself playing tape after tape rediscovering your collection.

Cosmetic condition is good with some signs of use. This is also physically clean without any nicotine contamination. Included will be WHS repair receipt, WHS performance verification sheet, and the old parts that were removed.

PLEASE NOTE VERY IMPORTANT PAYMENT TERMS:

Payment by PayPal with shipping ONLY to your confirmed/verified USA address associated with the payment. Illinois residents must add 9 percent sales tax, as I am a registered business in the State of Illinois.

SHIPPING AND PACKING:

Advertised shipping cost includes FedEx Ground service with full insurance and heavy-duty ULINE packing materials. This item will be expertly packed with all new premium materials to ensure safe transit. Please see my feedback profile for references and rest assured this will be done correctly.