maggie astrosonic/micromatic volume problem

hello. i have,i believe a 1969 maggie stereo console. it is having volume problems. i`ll be playing a record and the volume will get very low and then come back when it feels like it. moving the unit or banging on the volume knob will sometimes bring the volume back up. my wife seems to think it`s a loose wire or bad wire with the left speaker. what do you think is causing the problem....greg

Hey Greg,

Is the decrease in volume gradual (fading) or does it just pop in and out? Does this happen in all modes when you're also playing the radio, an external tape deck/cd player etc.?

Like Sister Canteloupe says, "If you have a pain on one side of your body, check the other side to see if it's there, too... then, if you have a matched set, you're okay."...LOL

Anyhoo, you could have a number of problems. The most I have found are scratchy volume/tone/function controls. You gotta rotate them back and forth a gazillion times to break up the crud. You turn the volume half-way up, one channel goes out...you switch from phono to radio, one channel goes out.

Also, I've had cases where the cartridge was bad. I don't know the name of the part, but that little rubber "saddle" that keeps the needle in place is attached to two [prongs] and somehow, they get loose over time and it's time to discard or get it professionally rebuilt. If I tap the arm while a record is playing, both channels bounce back equal. Damn, these things can be tempermental at times.

If you have to bang on the thang to bring the volume back up, you could have some loose connections or any of the issues mentioned above. Check your cartridge wires, and the turntable wires that go to the chassis.

If you do have scratchy controls, it's best to remove the receiver and spray the back of those controls with some cleaner like Deoxit. DO NOT USE WD-40.

If you're curious about the approximate age of your unit, remove the back and look for some small stickers on the chassis that may say something like:

Chassis (or Amplifier)
R202-02-10
09/68 (for September, 1968)


Do some snooping and do a process of elimination. If the radio plays well and the phono mode is crappy, go from there etc. From what you described is rather general, but it doesn't sound too serious and can be repaired.

I am no professional by any means, it's just my general overall assessment of your situation. OH...if you're mechanically and electronically challenged, like they say on TV...DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Get you unit serviced by professionals and folks who know what they're doing (gotta put a plug in for us non-professionals). --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona