The cabinets can be modified into cool retro liquor cabinets. Our 60s black and white tv console was turned into a liquor cabinet by installing shutter type doors where the picture tube was.

Oh yeah, it's real.

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Resurrecting this 2-year-old thread since I've recently made good on my threat. Ignore the stuff I previously said about "taste" and not installing blinking LED's- the 41 year old me had no style and didn't know what he was talking about.

So the console is a Grundig Majestic SO 101/60 PX that I acquired in non-working condition. The veneer was pretty rough (especially the top- it looked like someone had been watering a plant on it for the last 40 years); it was lightly hand-sanded and refinished. I then hacked together a custom interior console in order to house a Pioneer AVH-X5600BHS double-DIN car receiver (w/ a MicroBypass Automatic Video in Motion Interface mod to override the safety feature, necessary for non-auto installs like this if you wish to use half the features); powered the receiver/lighting with a standard computer PSU (a brand new Corsair CX450M 450W ATX12V, now with a completely voided warranty!). Replaced the original, media-destroying turntable with a U-Turn Orbit+, which is going through a Behringer Microphono PP440 preamp; replaced side tweeters with 2 Kicker DSC4 4” speakers and the bottom woofer with a Pioneer TS-A6975R 6”x9” (second speaker housed in separate cab, as I didn't want to mess with the lower baffle- side baffles had to be custom-made though). LED lighting is just an inexpensive HitLights kit, kinda cool to have because I could also substitute the old vacuum tube power indicator and provide usable lighting in the phono area.

It's not really audiophile quality, but it's a versatile little sucker; I've been using it every day, mostly the phono, integrated ipod feature and for streaming podcasts via the bluetooth pairing with my iphone (even made a couple of phone calls with the included mic). If you decide to try it, just watch mounting costs- it's just like building a guitar, costs can run rampant.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Really cool Mike!

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
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I can't possibly compete with the coolness of Morphballs stereo above, but in the last 1.5 years, I've gotten a few vintage consoles. they are fairly cheap, and fun to work on, if you are inclined to that sort of thing. Careful - these things can be addicting.....

It all started with this one - a thrift store find. It's '62 Magnavox. I googled it right in the store, and found out there is a decent sized following for these tube driven beauties. There's tons of info on repair and maintenance on-line. I tuned it up, re-built the turntable, new tubes as needed, and added a line out for an MP3 player. The Collaro turntables in these Maggies track fairly light, so I don't mind using the stock TT. I love it.

Since that first one, I've rebuilt 3 more of the same basic model - each with a different cabinet, but pretty much the same guts. I took one to work with me at the bike shop....
1960 Magnavox

Gave one to my girl for her birthday...
1961 magnavox

And gave one away as a wedding gift. no pics of that one.

Here's my latest. It's a '59 Motorola. All tubes, of course. This might be my favorite so far. I have a little more to do to it - but this one sounds really great! This turntable doesn't work well, no matter what I do to it, so I bought another unit for parts, including a better TT. If that one doesn't work I'm going to get a more modern TT for it.

Of course, with all the craigslist combing I do looking for these things, I couldn't help but buy this thing....a '64 GE. Tubes, and sounds pretty cool for a small unit.

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

I have a 1970's Zenith that looks quite like the third one morphball posted. 3-spd. turntable, 8-track player, AM/FM stereo. Whenever I have a chance, I'll probably replace the turntable with something of the USB variety, and work in a iPod dock in place of the 8-track player.

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

Thanks gents! I love this topic!! Wow Chris, those are beautiful! I actually really admire that you've preserved the original character and warm tone. The Grundig actually had all of its original parts and I briefly entertained restoring it, but I think what you're doing is much harder and more time-consuming. I might just try to find another one and try it with this one out of the way, though. Those are just too freakin swanky, and they must sound amazing with those tubes!

Just curious to those who own them, are any of your consoles solid wood? I know the use of particle board and veneer in the furniture industry predates the mid-50's when my German one was made, but I'd heard that American-based companies weren't doing veneer until the 60's, wasn't sure if it was true.

Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio

Last edited: Jan 06, 2015 12:43:50

morphball wrote:

Thanks gents! I love this topic!! Wow Chris, those are beautiful! I actually really admire that you've preserved the original character and warm tone. The Grundig actually had all of its original parts and I briefly entertained restoring it, but I think what you're doing is much harder and more time-consuming. I might just try to find another one and try it with this one out of the way, though. Those are just too freakin swanky, and they must sound amazing with those tubes!

I think yours is the swanky one. They are actaully pretty easy to work on, and at least with the Magnavox, there are tutorials on-line about every single part, and how to fix it or even hot rod it a bit. If you can build a Surfy Bear Reverb, you could do this without too much more knowledge.

Just curious to those who own them, are any of your consoles solid wood? I know the use of particle board and veneer in the furniture industry predates the mid-50's when my German one was made, but I'd heard that American-based companies weren't doing veneer until the 60's, wasn't sure if it was true.

Mine are a mix - mostly real wood, with some plywood/particle board/veneer. More "Fake" wood on the later 60's units.

I see lots of 40's and 50's era ones at the local thrift stores. Really cool designs, but the components are usually blown up. They would be the perfect shell to do one like Mikes. But they are always asking too much money for them, however.

I did manage to score a small late 50's Magnavox mono console unit for $20 - no guts at all, pretty abused. I made it into LP storage/outboard speaker. I'll have to take a pic next time I'm at the place it resides.

Unfortunately, this has led to a vintage speaker obsession, and a bit of a vintage 70's tuner/receiver obsession too.

I think these stereos take care of my need to "fix things up" and tinker with stuff without too much cash outlay. They are nearly as satisfying as a vintage tube guitar amp, but much, much cheaper.

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

I shouldn't have looked at this!

That's pretty damn cool Chris!

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea