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Scored some vintage gear looking to mod it

post #1 of 6
11/12/11 at 11:22am
Thread Starter 

Sup guys I pretty much got myself a receiver/phono combo in working condition  from like the 60’s for free. I’m just missing a needle so I can listen to my Weather Report record XD.

The following is where I need help.

 

Making two wooden cabinets and staining them black (For aesthetics and to make it match my black ikea furniture in my room). I'll be replacing the speaker cables since that's easy enough to do.

 

Staining the receiver black since it’s mostly wood unlike the speaker cabinets that this brought.

 

Then I need advice on how to splice the audio for it work on stereo since when its on FM/AM radio it only comes out through one speaker even though both of them work. When I change the balance for the speakers I can hear the left speaker trying to play something but all that comes out is static and some noise. I believe it to be either the input or the manner it which it was designed.

 

And of course somewhere I can acquire a needle.

 

Thank you in advance. I'll post pictures if anyone asks.

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post #2 of 6
11/12/11 at 5:03pm
Pics would be great!

Check the Needledoctor for a stylus and pull the information for your deck at Vinyl Engine. If you can get the service manual, follow it.

You probably have a bad/dirty potentiometer. Spray it with Deoxit or similar. If that doesn't work, you'll have to replace it.

You can't just "splice" a left channel and make it a right channel, or vice versa. There are two different channels. If one doesn't work, you have to fix it.

Also, replace the electrolytic filter caps in the power supply. Those go bad, so put in new ones. I wouldn't try to modify the circuit. That can be difficult and the costs add up fast. You can usually get a used piece for less or DIY a new box. Instead, I'd do a few small projects (like the filter caps) to get it working well and keep it working.
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post #3 of 6
11/13/11 at 9:33pm

Also, check the basics: what do the speaker connections look like?  Do you have bare wire out the back of the case that goes to the speakers?  Are they connected correctly?    Hopefully it's something simple like this to do.  However, judging from the apparent age, yes, you might need to get inside! 

 

I agree with Erik: please post some pics so we can narrow down your troubles.  

 

(I also agree with the Needledoctor and Vinylengine suggestions!)

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post #4 of 6
11/14/11 at 8:07am
Thread Starter 

Thank you guys I already have a needle, it was in a little box that I neglected to check. Anyways I already gutted the speakers and receiver. For the record the cables have to be connected to the back of the receiver for them to work. Essencially I have the L and R, PHONO, FM, Inputs on the back. Here are the pics.

 

IMAG0086.jpgIMAG0089.jpg

IMAG0087.jpgIMAG0090.jpg

 

I already have plans to make the cabinets for the speakers this weekend. Hopefully I'll get it painted also. Now I'm just trying to get L/R channels working. T_T


Edited by Kenjuku - 11/14/11 at 8:09am
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post #5 of 6
11/15/11 at 5:41am
Thread Starter 

Ba-bump

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post #6 of 6
11/16/11 at 7:32am

I'd restore it and admire it the way it was meant to look.

 

If not that, Id go steampunkt on it. Take apart an old pocket watch for its gears, cut the legs off of a 1930's table so you can use the inlaid top as part of the the case, and maybe find a way to use the semaphore flags from an old VW beetle.

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