cool looking Zenith...

[Firedome]

love all the lights! MCM too!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... c92c54d461

[chazglenn3]

I had the previous years model. It was my first stereo console and started the addiction. They started numbering them with the letter A in 1970, so this one is a 1972 model. Mine was a B966 in the Mediterranean style cabinet. A bit higher end tuner and amp than this B950. The touch controls were pretty cool. Our member Senior Steve serviced the pre-amp and amplifier for me and it's still going strong today at a friend's house.

[William]

Thanks an interesting changer. Did Zenith built that changer, or was it VM?

Bill

[hermitcrab]

Well the price is decent... Zenith sure like to brag about their 2 gram tone arms ... now today it is considered the norm...I still track all my consoles around 4 grams ...because either 2g is too light... or my floor joists are too flexible to walk by a console at 2 grams without it skipping

[electra225]

Move to AZ, Elton. All the homes are build on concrete slabs. No shaky floors, no skipping tone arms......

[chazglenn3]

The record changer was VM I believe.

[William]

Thanks, Charles, it looked like one of the more modern ones.

Bill

[Firedome]

"No shaky floors, no skipping tone arms....." and no basements. ;-(

[hermitcrab]

Move to AZ, Elton. All the homes are build on concrete slabs. No shaky floors, no skipping tone arms......

I prefer having a basement ... especially when something like a Tornado is bearing down on you...which we had about 7 years ago just north of us about 1/4 mile away...but I doubt you have that worry in AZ.

[SeniorSteve]

Hi Chazglenn3, I thought the changer on your TOTL Zenith was a Garrard and did a little looking. It was a 3500 series Garrard. I like the VM changers as they are relatively easy to clean and lubricate compared to the Garrard, but I always thought the Garrard changers were easier on records than VM. The in house belt drive changers in the TOTL Zenith consoles from 1962-1969 were the best ones.

Steve

[Firedome]

Well the FB one is sold... I didn't have room anyhow. But I believe I've seen an uptick in sales for SS units particularly if they are modern style. Maybe the MadMen effect?

[chazglenn3]

That's right, Steve! I do remember that now. Thanks for the correction! The belt drive Zenith turntable in my YT960 is just fabulous.

[Motorola minion]

All this makes me want to dig out the Z966 behind my car, also 1969 and the Zenith has the same belt drive TT and tilt-up 45 rpm adapter. Build-wise and ease to restore put these Zeniths a cut above RCA and Magnavox and other offerings on into the 70s.

It is unfortunately in the darkest, most provincial cabinet available and the tiny wheels protest with reverberating groans in that familiar Zenith way, when I move it across the floor. I'm saving it for when I find a gutted X-Y-Z or later 960 in Danish walnut.

I also noticed the 320 watts advertised for the TOTL consoles in 1967 - 1969 was revised to a more realistic 200 watts in later brochures

[chazglenn3]

Yeah the 966 cabinet is just hideous. That's why I got rid of mine. The 960 is just gorgeous.

[William]

I'm not sure which cabinet style is worse, the Z966, or the Z968M which is the one I have. It's an over the top Early American in maple. So far it has not made it into the house, I have it stored in the pole barn. I have a brochure dated 1969 that states the amplifier has 320 watts of solid state power. If you crank the bass to max., then push the bass boast button, the cabinet literally shakes so bad it sounds like it will fall apart. The tone arm won't track either.

Bill