Magnavox 'Spirit of 76' console turntable

Bobby,
My friend--I don't know what we are to do "with you" ? You ( and I !) are living in the past. With today's SMC tec., it is nearly impossible for a human to change ANYTHING, on this type of board !
It's even difficult ( for me) on some of the "thru-hole", type boards--I have one on my bench at the moment , built in 1979, about 6x4 inches in size, that was "hit" by "something" ( Lightning?)-- This is fast becoming a Royal PIA !
Ron Rich

Ron,

What really bothers me is, what can be done to help those newbies who've acquired a new/old unit and need help? It seems like folks are buying these old record players and pulling out the old records from the garage and attic.

With the economy the way it is, who can afford to ship something accross the country to have it serviced? I've learned enough over the years to handle my own issues.

I may have suggested a few years back, but it would be nice if some of the Techs would post their locations and the services they provide. It seems like the demand has exceeded the supply of available Techs.

I refuse to work on other people's units because I cannot offer any type of guarantee. Sure, I can swap out a needle or cartridge, but nothing beyond that.

It's a shame that folks acquire a nice stereo only to have it sit there in fear of plugging it in, thinking it might go up in smoke and possibly take the house down with it.

I'm more concerned about people who don't know a screwdriver from a food processor...they can be extremely dangerous. But, what about those that have an inkling of what these old units are about and need a little guidance? Those are the ones who probably READ the service manual and need alittle walk-through in their endeavors.

Please, I'm not encouraging anyone to go out there blindly and attempt to repair and/or destroy their beloved acquisitions. Maybe just offer a little more advice than get it "professionally serviced." Anything beyond my scope and abilities would definitely go to a professional, but, with some proper guidance, there are some things that an amateur can handle. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

As a service/restoration tech, I can only supply some basic info for a "customer" to try.
Needle changing, basic "customer" maintenence, operating hints, etc.

But I don't get into heavy "overhaul" stuff mainly because people don't understand nor want to be bothered with it - and those that want to "DIY gung-ho" into these machines usually wind up damaging/destroying them, or as least throwing them out of "calibration".

No, that stuff is for experienced techs, sorry.
I insist on seeing these things properly serviced, they deserve to live a long life for the enjoyment of the "new breed" of people aquiring them now.
I've seen enough "botched repairs" come into my shop over the years, due to DIY mechanics and internet-bred wannabes.
They cost me extra (precious) time to straighten out, and I've already got a huge backlog in waiting.

I'm with Bobby on this. PhonoLand Collectors Community
A collectors community site with subjects including jukeboxes, gramophones, phonographs, antique radios and ofcourse 78rpm, 45rpm and cylinder records. Questions and answers, buy and sell ads, and much more!
Any hope to compete with other like sites (and they are drawing far more traffic than this one) includes helping those who deem themselves competent enough to tackle a rebuild or recapping. Yes, they can goof it up royally, even ruin it. So what. At least they are trying and they "ain't doin' nuttin' I ain't done before" and this is their opportunity to learn and gain experience. When I was young no one wanted to take the time to teach me anything about phonographs or radios so I self taught and yes, I've destroyed a few things in spectacular fashion. I fear the only thing we are telling prospective enthusiasts is forget it unless you can find a service center (good luck) and dig deep to pay for it. We might as well tell them to put the console, phonograph or radio by the curb to be picked up by the trash man because that's where it's going to end up when they get discouraged. The hard part is trying to figure out if the poster is serious about his project or if he's wasting our time. Many fail to revisit and tell us how they made out which leads me to believe that they gave up or they weren't serious. I am glad this came up. I plan on trying to be a little more proactive in encouraging the "new breed"... like my son who now is the proud owner of a Zenith console and his friend for whom I just restored a Sylvania console. I'll get off my soap box now...

Thom, I don't think you were on any soap box at all and are self-taught, for the most part, like me. What gets me is that these old electronics are still around and, apparently, are making some kinda comeback. You would think that alotta bucks could be made repairing said units since vinyl and related vintage stuff seems to be showing a revival...HALLELUJAH! (oops, a little Pentecostal flashback there...LOL)

What are we to do when we got guys like MattTech with a waiting list backed up for months and other guys like him around the country? That's great that he is in such demand and he does his work well.

What gets me are the newbies who joined 24 hours ago, wanting a quick fix, and don't consider web etiquette by reading older posts to find answers to redundant questions.

I contribute what I can to serious newbies, mostly in private, and what little knowledge I can share here on the board. Anything beyond my scope is quickly recommended to have those issues addressed by a professional.

I know there are alot of "Electronic" schools out there, but I don't think they're teaching at the component level like back in the old days.

How frustrating to buy a big beautiful console just to have it sit there and stare at it, because of aged electronics, and can't find anyone to service/restore it. Is there something we can do, or am I missing the boat of the possible many techs out there? --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

The whole issue of "dwindling technicians" pervades all electronic hobbies...all except one: Ham radio operators. A local Ham radio club may be a viable resource for technicians in your neighborhood. Many of these people are broadcast engineers and thoroughly familiar with theory and practice.

Beyond that I have to say hobbyists are pretty-much on their own. These boards can help with schematics and basic advise, but in the few years I've been contributing to online forums, I have come to see the frustrating limits of troubleshooting-servicing by "remote control".

One big advantage in dealing with vintage equipment is the relative simplicity of the old designs as compared to today's concepts. But basic understanding of electronics an the use of simple test instruments, the easiest of which is the DVM, is still essential.

The reality is that most vintage consumer electronics will not be restored. It'll limp along as a curiosity item and when it finally croaks or the novelty wears off......

Rob/NYC

The mindset of the Iphone-clutching googling community is that the internet will be their savior, and anything can be solved through it.

In some general cases, yes.
In the electronics arena, mostly, NO!
I see more mis-information put "out there" on the net that turns my stomach to read it - how on earth could someone possibly know the truth and do a "repair" with this kind of crap posted?

I've seen the results many times of "internet-led" servicing come into my shop.
And trust me, it wasn't pretty.

You simply cannot jump over mandatory elements to success.
Theory, formulas, lead-dress, modifications, etc, all need to be understood in order to complete the job at hand. - properly.

Just firing up a soldering iron and buying a cheap DVM and googling the net doesn't qualify anyone to work on electronics.
Seems no one wants to sit down and read a book and learn any of the basics - god forbid that's boring! - not fun! - and takes too too long!

It took me years to hone my profession - the old-school way, and from that I can now reap the rewards and provide the services that others need.
I didn't skip the important and of course mandatory steps, but these "newbees" and putzers think they can, and rely on "the net" to guide them through.
Nah, sad to say, again, it ain't gonna happen that way.

I agree with Matt, and I can only speak for myself. I have sat down for many hours reading many books on the basics...found it rather fascinating and interesting. I never wanted to get into it with the goal of opening my own business, but the fact that being able to repair my own stuff is a great accomplishment, with a few snags along the way.

As a kid, I've always been mechanically inclined and curious, seeking knowledge, and being able to fix something yourself has always been a rewarding experience. Sorta reminds me of farming back in the day when folks were self-sustaining and knew where their food came from. That's why I'm gonna buy a few hens down the road and have my own farm-fresh eggs. I don't think I could eat the girls, though, just keep them mainly for eggs and their entertainment value.

It must take a special type of person willing to invest the time in learning the basics before tackling any project. I tend to read months in advance before taking on any endeavor and I've been at it for several decades.

I just hate to see these old relics fade away and see a part of our "audio" heritage completely forgotten. This stuff pioneered our way into what we have now, and should remain a part of our musical history. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona