BlueBoy Records » vintage record player

Can you play modern LPs on vintage record players?

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:08:22 +0000

I know that may sound like a silly question, but I know nothing about record players and I’ve just inherited one dating from around the 1960s. Its in full working order and everything, I was just wondering if it would play modern vinyl?

Yes, just check the needle, up through the 1960’s some players came with a feature to switch between two different needles (without actually having to change the needle or cartridge), one for standard records and LPs, and a second for older 78 RPMs that worked better with a heavier, harder needle. If your player has the feature, it will be clearly marked and is simple to make the change, usually just by turning a knob. If you do not see ant such markings… no worries. Enjoy.

My Vintage Record Players speakers play EXTRA quiet!?

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:01:58 +0000

Vintage GE Man Made Stereo 300, Speakers are attached. I’ve even tried taking the original speakers off and hooking up another speaker….still quiet =( Anyone have any ideas? My friend is taking it to his father to fix it but I was curious if there’s anything I can do??

Either you need to change your cartridge FAST (it’s worn out) or you should be using a pre-amp!

What should I look for when buying a vintage record player?

admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 07:01:18 +0000

I have a 1974 Pioneer amp with wood casing and I’m looking to buy a vintage record player to go with it. My local record store has three wood base vintage turntables I like but I don’t know much about the brands. I can test them out to hear the best sound but what else should I look for when buying vintage as far as quality and features? I know one is a Realistic and one is a bit more expensive because it has an upgraded Grado needle. Thats the only info I have. Any help would be great thanks.

One that actually has a Needle that WORKS on it ! You would be horrified to discover how MANY working record players are STILL out there… But no one makes the Needles for them anymore ! So BeWare !

Where can I find a vintage portable record player in Las Vegas?

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:00:15 +0000

I’m starting to collect vinyl records and I got a few from my grandparents but i need a record player. I’ve looked on ebay and other websites and found plenty of decent ones but I’d rather not buy it online just because im too paranoid to use my credit card online. So i want to know where I can get one in Las Vegas. Such as Thrift or Antique stores or any other place .. im not looking for a turntable but a vintage portable record player. Also I plan on going to garage sales this weekend to search for one. But if you know of any places please let me know. Also i tried the indoor swapmeet but i couldnt find one. The location would be a great help too. Thanks!!

Just go to the thrift and antique stores. For the latter, I’d concentrate on the ones that cater to the mid-century or "Atomic" era.

Could i use a y phono to stero adapter from radio shack to plug in my vintage 1980 record player into my stero?

admin — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:25:07 +0000

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103225
would this product work for connecting my turntable that has two red and white phono cables to my home stero ? ive heard of pre amps but this looks like a cheaper option.

If the record player has an amplifier built in you can take the output from that into the tape. aux, or tuner inputs of a stereo amplifier….called the ‘line level’ inputs. The Y connector will be fine or whatever fits .
If it’s a turntable without an amplifier built in so the cartridge output is all you have you need a ‘disc’ or ‘phono’ input on the stereo amplifier because the output from the cartridge is too weak for the other inputs. It will ne around 2mv to 5mv for a magnetic cartridge and around 20mv for a ceramic cartridge but line level inputs need around 100mv to get decent volume
That’s why you get turntable pre-amps, to boost the level and characteristics of the signal to suit a line level input and then you can use one of those on an amp without a phono input
It changes the response to better suit the RIAA curve for the line level inputs and provides a suitable input impedance and capacitance for the phono output which line level inputs can’t do if you plug the cartridge output straight into them because they’re not designed to accept the output of a phono cartridge so even if you have enough volume the sound will be be tinny and distorted.
A phono input has a little pre-amp circuit board behind it to change the characteristics of the signal before it’s sent into the main part of the amplifier.
Some of them have a switch to change from ceramic to magnetic cartridge outputs and some expensive ones have a switch to change from moving-magnet to moving-coil cartridges.
Moving coil cartridges have a very low output, around 0.2mv, but are of very high quality and they need a very good tonearm. That’s top level hifi stuff.
You’ve used two terms in your Q. A turntable has no amp built in but a record player does.
Phono input is short for phonograph input, not to be confused with phono plugs and sockets which are otherwise called RCA connectors.
http://www.showmecables.com/RCA-Connectors-Adapters.html.
The red connector on your turntable is the right channel and goes into the red socket on the amp.
The white one is the left channel and goes into the white or black socket on the amp.
Some amps just say right and left instead of having color coding.
You can join them with a Y connector and put both sighnals into one socket for mono sound.
On a stereo amplifier you can plug them straight in as they are to an input labeled phono or disc if you have a turntable or into a line level input if you have a record player.

Vintage Record player question please help?

admin — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:08:48 +0000

Hey I’m looking for my first turntable, I don’t know the name of the kind that I want so I’ll try and describe it my grandmother had one when I was little I would guess that it was made in the 70s it had like a plastic shell that went around it, it almost looked like a square suitcase

My guess it was a pretty cheap and common model when it was made

Again I have no idea the model or brand so I don’t know what to look for

The most popular plastic suitcase record players were the GE models. There was a mono model and a stereo model called the Wildcat. They both came in various ’70s colors. There were others on the market, but one of these is probably what you’re talking about.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-Solid-State-Record-Player-33-45-78-Used-But-Good-/180716313171?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2a13881a53

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VTG-60S-GE-WILDCAT-PORTABLE-RECORD-PLAYER-turntable-/330607331822?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item4cf9bb89ee

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-GE-Wildcat-portable-record-player-phonograph-/280731241315?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item415ce2cb63

Electronics this old are not likely to be reliable or sound like they should without some restoration. They should be recapped (all electrolytic capacitors replaced) and the mechanical turntable parts will likely need some maintenance, lubrication and adjustment. You’d want a new stylus before playing any records too. If you plan on buying one of these, I would recommend searching out a restored one or buying a working one and having it restored before you try to use it on a regular basis. It would cost you a bit, but if you just buy a used one and expect it to work properly, you’ll probably be disappointed… or it will work for a little while and then burn out.

If vinyl skips on old record player, it doesn’t mean it will skip on all right?

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:39:46 +0000

I bought a brand new record and it sometimes skips (in the same places) on a vintage record player.
On a new player this would not occur right?

That means there is a defect/scratch on the record, can’t be undone.
I had several hundred albums and 45’s

Can my record player play LP records if it can play 33 1/3 rpm?

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:51:34 +0000

All in the question. I have a crosley vintage record player, it is vintage but plays perfect. So it plays 78, 45, 33 1/3 RPM records. So does that mean I can play LP records on it?

It will play LPs at 33 1/3. Word to the wise, if it has an auto changer mechanism don’t use the auto feature for LPs, place the LP over the spindle and directly down onto the deck. LPs don’t like "falling" 3 inches.

What is the best record player?

admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:10:37 +0000

I really want a vintage looking record player that you can hook you ipod up too that also has great quality! IS there even one like there out there?? I love old records, but i also want it to be under 400 dollars.

ipod = compressed audio of quality worst than a CD player

If you want to listen to an ipod, it makes no sense to spend all that money for a record player, unless you simply want "furniture".

A record player requires some decent investment in a complete audio system.

Where in London can I get a good, cheap record player?

admin — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:55:32 +0000

I live in London and I’m essentially looking to buy a vintage/retro style record player. Preferably one that works and is less than…say…£30? Any one know a place?

Most record players have been disposed of. Those needing turntables mostly have USB turntables for converting their vinyl to digital media