I grew up with these big audio system furniture pieces, and now that I'm 41 and not so impressed with LED's and blinking lights, I really miss them. As a kid, there was one in every house where I spent significant time in, and I still remember borrowing my Dad's Chet Atkins and my Mom's Elvis records and just zoning on the floor. I'm especially in love with old Grundigs right now, and hope I can find one to restore (and possibly to make some tasteful updates for CD and MP3 playback). Anyone using one for their listening rituals? Did you install new speakers, turntables, etc.? Does anyone think old record players are at all damaging to records?
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » The Shallow End »
Vintage Stereo Consoles
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Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 3324 Pittsboro, NC 
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:06 AM
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle 
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:10 AM
These things never sound right to me. I have a couple friends who own them and they think they are awesome, but I can't get over the sound just not being right. Maybe new speakers, or new amp. I'm not really sure. |
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Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 3324 Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:12 AM
Yeah, I can see that. I was thinking that finding one already gutted might be preferable and much cheaper. — |
Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:20 AM
Some of these sound great to me but I have an emotional/acoustic attachment to them as I heard a lot of music played on systems like this as a kid. http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
Joined: Oct 28, 2008 Posts: 671 Winnipeg, Canada 
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:34 AM
I remember the one we had seemed to have way too much bass. My mom still has the one from my grandmother (it's basically being used as a plant stand). I think one of my uncles pulled the speakers out, but I've always wondered about getting it working again. Now I'm wondering even more! —https://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=9353f9155b5ff32e14c998495fd00da4&#!/rich.derksen.7 |
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Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 3324 Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:39 AM
Newer speakers could very well address that. I'm actually thinking the type of audio gear made for cars could be ideal for a conversion if you just wanted to start from scratch (stealth technology!), haven't really investigated that though. —Mike Last edited: Feb 08, 2013 09:40:36 |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:45 AM
That is a great idea! |
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Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:48 AM
A friend of mine has been commissioned by a furniture dealer to build look a likes with either tube pre and power amps or solid state but with all the modern amenities such as ipod and turntable jacks etc. http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 09:54 AM
They were biased to sound mellow or sort of FM DJ-ish. Think Marantz. My main concern with using them to play records today is that they were designed to use a very heavy tracking weights that just eat records. That problem can easily be solved if you don't mind swapping out the tone arm or whole turn-table for a modern one. The sound quality can be solved if you don't mind swapping out the electronics for modern ones. It's like owning vintage Corvettes. Do you want to own an original 1954 with a Blue-Flame 6 and Powerglide or one with a complete C-6 chassis and powertrain under it? Me? I'd go all original. Wish I still had ours, tubes and all. —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Last edited: Feb 08, 2013 09:56:05 |
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Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:01 AM
I don't know Noel, I'm that guy who still loves Flatheads, In line 6's and Fuzzy, Bassy sounding Dean Martin records, LOL! —http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
Joined: Sep 25, 2009 Posts: 127 Montreal, Kwee-bec
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:07 AM
My father built a similar console around that era and it's up at my mother's cottage still. I was recently given the old Garrard turntable that always fascinated me as a kid because of the autochanger for 45s. Research has shown that it would be quite the project to clean out the original pig-based lubricant to get it working again. The console still has an old German tube radio in it that was probably used as the amplifier for the turntable. I've got designs on the console and the radio. —RK |
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Joined: Dec 23, 2008 Posts: 3324 Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:09 AM
Noel wrote:
That's pretty much what I thought too; I have no desire to be completely "retro" if it damages the medium. I bet something like a good used Technics 1200 could fit in there nicely (or just the arm like you suggested), and you could technically add a tube preamp to warm it up... hmmm. CrazyAces: That's awesome- does your friend have any pics of his work? — |
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Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:15 AM
Here's a resource. And another. I'm sure there are others. morphball wrote: — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. |
Joined: Feb 14, 2010 Posts: 802 N.E. Ohio
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:25 AM
I had a buddy whose folks had a stereo HI-Fi console with reverb and a wild blue light bar thingie. The parents played opera on it, we played Sabbath when they were not home. — |
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Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4053 Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:46 AM
morphball, I'll check with him and see what he's got for images and PM you. http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic |
Joined: May 25, 2006 Posts: 537
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:58 AM
Those are some beautiful looking units. My folks had one, too, and I see them occasionally at the thrift store. Restoring one sounds like a fun project. Although, I've moved a lot over the past few years and know that I would be cursing at the big s.o.b. on moving day. Someday, when I get settled in, somewhere. — |
Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK. 
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 01:46 PM
my mate & I were chatting about these yesterday. They were called Radiograms in the uk. We were never allowed near them, but Mum & Dad never used them either! Reckon they must have cost a fortune — |
Joined: Dec 11, 2011 Posts: 2136
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Posted on Feb 08 2013 05:56 PM
Outside of a car, the first thing I bought on credit was a Magnavox console that was 6' long. It had 12" speakers, am/fm radio, a turntable and an 8 track. If I still had one, I would have replaced all the components with new stuff. Speakers age. When they get to the end of their life span, the dynamic range is reduced. I'm ok with the retro look but I want the music to be 100%. |
Joined: Apr 24, 2012 Posts: 23 Northern Germany |
Posted on Feb 08 2013 08:26 PM
I own an old Saba tube radio with a cabinet including a record player, both from the late 50s/early 60s (have to look up when they were built exactly) Last edited: Feb 08, 2013 20:30:53 |
Joined: Sep 07, 2011 Posts: 507 |
Posted on Feb 08 2013 10:03 PM
I used to have a 60s Magnatone I bought used for 40 bucks with original manual and sales tags. Turntable didn't work good so I thought I could fix it, but after taking it apart it was way beyond my knowledge, so I sold the whole console to someone for 20 bucks haha. Now I just use a 70s Panasonic turntable and stereo and old 50s speakers (not hi-fi but works good enough). I do love the look of the atomic style 50s consoles with the tapered legs. Last edited: Feb 10, 2013 14:15:51 |
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