Your '76 should have a distributor-type ign, in which case this is the electrical diagram:
http://www.maxrules.com/oldmercs/Wiring/1966ona/50.jpg
The tach plug on the control box, as long as it's wired correctly and working properly, has all the connections you'll need for your tach.
You can check with a meter to determine which terminal is +12V; which is ground; and then the other is the tach signal from the brown wire connected to the rectifier.
If there were any problems with the plug, you could connect the tach's signal wire to either of the terminals on the rectifier where the yellow wires connect.
But you'd still have to find a source of switched +12V and ground. So, the tach plug sure is convenient and would be worth troubleshooting if it's got issues.
Your Merc has a 12-pole alternator, and according to the product description the tach has that as an available setting.
HTH.........ed