Christmas tree and lights

[phillymatt53]

Matt, do you use sorbothane pads under your turntable to prevent the cartridge from picking up vibrations/feedback from the cabinet? In all the consoles that I have had, I trade out the ceramic cartridges for a magnetic cartridge + preamp and with the lower tracking forces they often skip or pickup feedback. I use sorbothane, but only get moderate attenuation of the vibrations. I am wondering how you solved the problem.

Well, Barry!.... I had no idea that you were/are into such console stuff too.
OK, here's the thing about consoles, and what I did to modify mine....

Yes, modifying the changer, and thus making it sensitive with a magnetic cartridge takes some design work.
My console's Garrard 3000 is a nice changer, and was designed with a light-tracking Pickering/Stanton magnetic cartridge, has a synchronous motor and a heavy cast platter.

The speakers, particularly the woofers, are in close contact with the changer and are going to be prone to feedback/distortion from cabinet vibrations.
That sorbothane isn't the answer in that case, because woofer vibrations travel all through the cabinet.

The answer to this problem is electronics...
Here's the only possible and effective solution....
There is a relatively simple electronic circuit called a Sallen-Key filter, installed after the RIAA preamp, and the main control preamp of the system.
It uses a pair of TL072 IC chips, one for each channel, for stereo.
A handful of small capacitors, and a couple resistors, built in a shielded little box the size of a pack of smokes, and of course using a small DC power supply.
This filter sharply filters out any frequencies below a given/designed frequency.
In my console, I designed it to "kill" or block any audio below 27Hz, which is just above where the annoying woofer vibrations start to shake the console and changer.
Because there's really nothing worth hearing "down that low" in frequency to worry about in the first place.
And the results are, absolutely no more feedback, even at loud volumes that shake the house windows.
It doesn't have any sonic effect on the music you would hear, there is still plenty of bass above 27Hz, because most bass that songs have is above that, around 30-40Hz and up to150Hz.
Initially, before I built the filter, the changer would visibly start shaking on it's spring mounts at fairly loud levels, skipping grooves, and those 12 inch woofers would "bottom out" and distort.
The additional benefit of the filter is eliminating that nasty rumbling, popping, and overloading the amplifier, which actually robs the amp of its power due to the stress on it.
So it's a win-win success and I'm pleased with the results.
I've even made another the Sallen-Key filter for my custom jukebox stored out in my garage. - the vintage "Golden Oldies 45" changer needed it.
That juke's got FOUR 10" woofers and a 200 watt amp!
It's used for outdoor BBQ's and neighborhood gatherings and gets cranked up sometimes. The neighbors a block away heard that thing during the 4th of July BBQ's.
That Jukebox was a labor of love, took me 3 years to finish from scratch.
I've got pics of it if anyone is interested.

 

[vacerator]

Yes Matt pic's please.
Many old consoles and receivers had low and high filter switches. I didn't like using them. Either too much treble filtered or bass.

 

[vintageteddy96]

Sirius XM watercolors channel and other Christmas music too . Wouldn't Sorbothane be considered snooty and snobby?
My sister and husband have two rooms of LP records and an inexpensive system. She says I'm a fidelity snob. McIntosh is out of my budget league.
My system is half new and half vintage.

The only time I'd talk crap about someones system was if it was a suitcase record player. They had they're time and place but were never Hi Fidelity by any means and usually have a crazy heavy tracking force.

 

[vintageteddy96]

Yes Matt pic's please.
Many old consoles and receivers had low and high filter switches. I didn't like using them. Either too much treble filtered or bass.

I agree, I'd like to see pics as well

 

[phillymatt53]

The only time I'd talk crap about someones system was if it was a suitcase record player. They had they're time and place but were never Hi Fidelity by any means and usually have a crazy heavy tracking force.

Ah, but there were a few "HiFi" portables that produced respectable performance.
I've serviced a customer's Sylvania portable that really impressed me for a portable.
It was a Sylvania "Exponent" model 440-2.
Garrard record changer w/magnetic cartridge, similar to the one in my console, fine quality robust amplifier, and air suspension speaker systems.

 

[phillymatt53]

Pics of my "homemade" custom jukebox - roll around casters - 200 watt amp - 4 10" woofers - 4 tweeters - CD player, - customized 1950s RCA Victor "45" player - sequential pilaster lights, 4-color frequency-activated lights - remote control of record changer and CD player, and a microphone input for making announcements or "sing along" sessions once the booze kicks in.

That large illuminated white panel across the front is for the list of 45's by number, stored in the numbered upper rack behind the turntable.. Pick 10 or 12 records, stack 'em on the changer, and let 'er rip!
Hold My Beer!

My neighbors at the 4th of July 2022 neighborhood BBQ


And shots during the building of this.....

 

[vacerator]

Very cool Matt

 

[phillymatt53]

Very cool Matt

Thank ya very much!

 

[reactor]

Ah, but there were a few "HiFi" portables that produced respectable performance.
I've serviced a customer's Sylvania portable that really impressed me for a portable.
It was a Sylvania "Exponent" model 440-2.
Garrard record changer w/magnetic cartridge, similar to the one in my console, fine quality robust amplifier, and air suspension speaker systems.

View attachment 321783

I have had two Sylvania consoles and both were probably the best built, quality-wise, of all my units (RCA, Westinghouse, and GE). Both were 1968 TOL, had air-suspension speakers with dome tweeters, a separated amplifier from the conttol panel, and came equipped with TOL (then) Garrard SL-95 record changer and magnetic cartridge...can't recall the brand cartridge, unfortunately. I eremver in the early nineties I had my fraternity brothers over to the house and many of them were commenting how cool the console was, especially the control panel. I thought it was great that these young guys appreciated technology that was about 25 years old at the time and console stereos were long a thing of the past.

 

[reactor]

Pics of my "homemade" custom jukebox - roll around casters - 200 watt amp - 4 10" woofers - 4 tweeters - CD player, - customized 1950s RCA Victor "45" player - sequential pilaster lights, 4-color frequency-activated lights - remote control of record changer and CD player, and a microphone input for making announcements or "sing along" sessions once the booze kicks in.

That large illuminated white panel across the front is for the list of 45's by number, stored in the numbered upper rack behind the turntable.. Pick 10 or 12 records, stack 'em on the changer, and let 'er rip!
Hold My Beer!

My neighbors at the 4th of July 2022 neighborhood BBQ
View attachment 321784

And shots during the building of this.....
View attachment 321785View attachment 321786View attachment 321787

How cool! What a great job on your jukebox, Matt....very impressive!!

 

[phillymatt53]

How cool! What a great job on your jukebox, Matt....very impressive!!

Thank you sir!

 

[phillymatt53]

I hope this quick jukebox video is viewable to others.
It doesn't do justice, since it was taken with a "smartphone" in my garage.


View attachment JukeMod.mp4

 

[vintageteddy96]

Pics of my "homemade" custom jukebox - roll around casters - 200 watt amp - 4 10" woofers - 4 tweeters - CD player, - customized 1950s RCA Victor "45" player - sequential pilaster lights, 4-color frequency-activated lights - remote control of record changer and CD player, and a microphone input for making announcements or "sing along" sessions once the booze kicks in.

That large illuminated white panel across the front is for the list of 45's by number, stored in the numbered upper rack behind the turntable.. Pick 10 or 12 records, stack 'em on the changer, and let 'er rip!
Hold My Beer!

My neighbors at the 4th of July 2022 neighborhood BBQ
View attachment 321784

And shots during the building of this.....
View attachment 321785View attachment 321786View attachment 321787

That's awesome!

 

[phillymatt53]

That's awesome!

And I thank you too!

 

[circlew]

Most of the Christmas albums I have are compilations, mainly on CD. On vinyl I have the Brady Bunch Christmas, one with various seasonal hits from Decca and Capitol. The most unique is the 1958 Ruth Lyons "Ten Tunes of Christmas", that my mom bought when I was 3 years old. I also have the CD version issued about 25 years ago, which also includes the contents oh her 1962 album.

Strangely enough, we never had the Bing Crosby recording of "White Christmas" when I was a kid. My mom had bought the 1944 Frank Sinatra version when they bought a record player in 1947, as she liked Frank better. I also have it on a Sony Columbia CD. After I got out of school, I bought a 45 of Bing's 1947 recording. Several years ago I bought his "Voice of Christmas" CD, which includes both the original 1942 hit, plus the later rerecording. It has every Christmas and Winter season record he made on the Decca label. A few others I have are on 45s and 78s.

 

[phillymatt53]

Most of the Christmas albums I have are compilations, mainly on CD. On vinyl I have the Brady Bunch Christmas, one with various seasonal hits from Decca and Capitol. The most unique is the 1958 Ruth Lyons "Ten Tunes of Christmas", that my mom bought when I was 3 years old. I also have the CD version issued about 25 years ago, which also includes the contents oh her 1962 album.

Strangely enough, we never had the Bing Crosby recording of "White Christmas" when I was a kid. My mom had bought the 1944 Frank Sinatra version when they bought a record player in 1947, as she liked Frank better. I also have it on a Sony Columbia CD. After I got out of school, I bought a 45 of Bing's 1947 recording. Several years ago I bought his "Voice of Christmas" CD, which includes both the original 1942 hit, plus the later rerecording. It has every Christmas and Winter season record he made on the Decca label. A few others I have are on 45s and 78s.

Tom, I have a download of Ruth Lyon's "Have a merry merry merry Christmas"
Partly because it's a campy old tune, and it's also featured in John Waters cult movie "Female Trouble" with "Divine" after "she" beats up her parents on Christmas day and runs into the woods getting molested by a stranger.
John Waters loved his "vintage" music in a lot of his movies.
In fact, I have his CD "A John Waters Christmas"!

 

[circlew]

Tom, I have a download of Ruth Lyon's "Have a merry merry merry Christmas"
Partly because it's a campy old tune, and it's also featured in John Waters cult movie "Female Trouble" with "Divine" after "she" beats up her parents on Christmas day and runs into the woods getting molested by a stranger.
John Waters loved his "vintage" music in a lot of his movies.
In fact, I have his CD "A John Waters Christmas"!

View attachment 321796

I have "Merry, Merry Christmas", which was recorded by Ruby Wright in 1957, on a 45, a 78, the 1958 album, and the CD. The other side of the single is Ruby's recording of "Let's Light the Christmas Tree". She was the best singer on the "Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club" show. For those not familiar with Ruby Wright, she was married to bandleader Barney Rapp. Rapp performed at the Pavilion Nightclub in Cincinnati's Netherland Plaza Hotel, and Ruby was his singer. When she was expecting their daughter in 1939, he hired 17 year old Doris Kappelhoff as her replacement. Her last name didn't fit the marquee well, so he suggested she use the name Day instead. So he was the person responsible for her famous name.

 

[reactor]

I have "Merry, Merry Christmas", which was recorded by Ruby Wright in 1957, on a 45, a 78, the 1958 album, and the CD. The other side of the single is Ruby's recording of "Let's Light the Christmas Tree". She was the best singer on the "Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club" show. For those not familiar with Ruby Wright, she was married to bandleader Barney Rapp. Rapp performed at the Pavilion Nightclub in Cincinnati's Netherland Plaza Hotel, and Ruby was his singer. When she was expecting their daughter in 1939, he hired 17 year old Doris Kappelhoff as her replacement. Her last name didn't fit the marquee well, so he suggested she use the name Day instead. So he was the person responsible for her famous name.

Ah, the Ruth Lyons Christmas albums! I have the original release album, and then the second release as well, called "It's Christmas Time Again." I would say most on this site are not familiar with Ruth Lyons, although for a short time she did appear in national broadcast, mostly she was a Midwest phenomenon. A pioneer woman broadcaster. In her latter years of broadcasting, she was with the giant WLW, Cincinnati and it's affiliates. Her show, "The Ruth Lyons 50/50 Club was simulcast on radio and televison. Her primary listener/viewers were in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Her view audience was gigantic. She held the record of the largest viewed daytime show in the Nation from 1952 to 1964. Her show went to full time color broadcast in 1957. So many people purchased color sets, just to watch her. that the Dayton - Cincinnati, Ohio region had the highest sales of color television in the Nation, I believe for at least a five year period. Soon WLW converted their other local shows to color, such as The Paul Dixon Show, due to Ruth pressuring WLW to do so (She was extraordinary influential because of all the money she made for them.) Dayton and Cincinati had the largest number of color television sets, per capita in the United States such as our region was given the name of "Colortown, U.S.A." in 1962. Later, Walt Disney, with his "Wonderful World of Color" TV series finished the job that Ruth started, as his show is given credit for creating the most color TV sales for the rest of the Nation in the early days prior to the the 1966 - 1967 year by which all three networks had committed to 100 percent color primetime broadcasting. Back to Ruth's Chrismas albums, Ruth wrote he own music and tried to write a new Christmas song every year to be debuted on her annual November, "Holiday Hello" Show. You would think that just bring a local show that major stars would not be interested to appear...just the opposite. Ruth's audience was so large they clamoring to appear because of the enormous viewership. Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Bob Newhart, Helen Hayes, Tab Hunter, Johnny Cash, William Shatner, Dolly Parton, Andy Williams, Tony Randall, Troy Donahue, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and a host of others. Sadly, since the show was live, and existed before magnetic taping became prominent, there are very few records with only one full episode that exists on tape, from 1963, and a few snippets of other shows.

 

[phillymatt53]

Ah, the Ruth Lyons Christmas albums! I have the original release album, and then the second release as well, called "It's Christmas Time Again." I would say most on this site are not familiar with Ruth Lyons, although for a short time she did appear in national broadcast, mostly she was a Midwest phenomenon. A pioneer woman broadcaster. In her latter years of broadcasting, she was with the giant WLW, Cincinnati and it's affiliates. Her show, "The Ruth Lyons 50/50 Club was simulcast on radio and televison. Her primary listener/viewers were in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Her view audience was gigantic. She held the record of the largest viewed daytime show in the Nation from 1952 to 1964. Her show went to full time color broadcast in 1957. So many people purchased color sets, just to watch her. that the Dayton - Cincinnati, Ohio region had the highest sales of color television in the Nation, I believe for at least a five year period. Soon WLW converted their other local shows to color, such as The Paul Dixon Show, due to Ruth pressuring WLW to do so (She was extraordinary influential because of all the money she made for them.) Dayton and Cincinati had the largest number of color television sets, per capita in the United States such as our region was given the name of "Colortown, U.S.A." in 1962. Later, Walt Disney, with his "Wonderful World of Color" TV series finished the job that Ruth started, as his show is given credit for creating the most color TV sales for the rest of the Nation in the early days prior to the the 1966 - 1967 year by which all three networks had committed to 100 percent color primetime broadcasting. Back to Ruth's Chrismas albums, Ruth wrote he own music and tried to write a new Christmas song every year to be debuted on her annual November, "Holiday Hello" Show. You would think that just bring a local show that major stars would not be interested to appear...just the opposite. Ruth's audience was so large they clamoring to appear because of the enormous viewership. Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Bob Newhart, Helen Hayes, Tab Hunter, Johnny Cash, William Shatner, Dolly Parton, Andy Williams, Tony Randall, Troy Donahue, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and a host of others. Sadly, since the show was live, and existed before magnetic taping became prominent, there are very few records with only one full episode that exists on tape, from 1963, and a few snippets of other shows.

WOW Barry!
You're a regular history book!

(Or did ya search that up on Wikipedia)

 

[reactor]

WOW Barry!
You're a regular history book!

(Or did ya search that up on Wikipedia)

I lived that history. I grew up in the Dayton, Ohio area and watched Ruth Lyons, as a kid, whenever school was out, every Holiday and during summer break. Ruth was a phenomenal and my mom and grandma were fans of hers. Everything I know about her comes from experience. She is missed, a local legend.

 

[reactor]

WOW Barry!
You're a regular history book!

(Or did ya search that up on Wikipedia)

I lived that history. I grew up in the Dayton, Ohio area and watched Ruth Lyons, as a kid whenever school was out, every Holiday and during summer break. Ruth was a phenomenal and my mom and grandma were fans of hers. Everything I know about her comes from experience.She used to speak of her early days of broadcasting, on her show. I remember her speaking of the hideous make-up they made her and her TV cast wear when they first went to color broadcasting, as the engineers were afraid their faces would not render properly on their new color cameras, lol. Ruth also wrote a wonderful book called, "Remember With Me". She is missed, a local legend.

 

[phillymatt53]

I lived that history. I grew up in the Dayton, Ohio area and watched Ruth Lyons, as a kid whenever school was out, every Holiday and during summer break. Ruth was a phenomenal and my mom and grandma were fans of hers. Everything I know about her comes from experience. She is missed, a local legend.

A local legend......Sort of like Dick Clark here in Philly with his American Bandstand tv show.
I used to watch it after school on our 23" black & white console tv.
And yes, I used to dance in front of the tv to those old songs.
That's how I perfected Chubby Checker's "The Twist".

 

[phillymatt53]

Yes Matt pic's please.
Many old consoles and receivers had low and high filter switches. I didn't like using them. Either too much treble filtered or bass.

Ya know, Mike, I've never liked those "fixed" filter switches either.
I suppose some find them convenient.

My Console's got "real knobs" for bass & treble, if I need to adjust the sound.
So does the jukebox.
In the console, RCA designed in a fancy dual-tapped volume control that gives that "Fletcher-Munson" loudness curve depending on the volume level.
And it works in quite a pleasent way too.
Because human hearing is not "linear" in its perception and sensitivity for all frequencies and all volume levels.
I'm sure you already know that.