Need advice on rehabbing an old stereo console

[brotherly]

First, sorry if this isn't the place for this thread!

Now, I know, I know, stereo consoles are the worst. The speakers tend to be bad and the design of putting the turntable in the same body as the speakers is awful. I'm totally with you and I agree.

But I think they're awesome anyway. This isn't going to be my main system, but I would love to have it sitting in the living room or something. It doesn't need to sound amazing.

Here's the issue: the turntable is garbage (of course). I'd love to tear it out and drop in a Dual 1009F that I have lying around. I figure that would be decent, since it's isolated by springs. The thing is, I'm at the far newbie end of experience here. I don't really know much of anything at all. I have 0 woodworking knowledge and few if any electronics knowledge.

The unit is an RCA VLT17-W. I got it for free on the side of the road. It actually works, surprisingly, or at least the receiver powers on and gets radio stations. I need to clean off some birdpoop from sitting outside, and the inside is dusty as heck, but otherwise not terrible. It's a solid state unit. I'd love to rip out the TT and install the Dual while keeping the original receiver and speakers, if possible. Worse comes to worse, I'll just gut it entirely and install new speakers/receiver/TT.

What do I need to know here? When it comes to tearing stuff out, is there any sort of safety thing I should be aware of, or can I just rip it all out no problem? I'm 100% new at this stuff, but I want to learn. Any advice/resources would be really appreciated.

 

[knockbill]

Well, first of all the TT in the console probably doesn't use a magnetic cartridge, so you will need a phono pre amp to operate the Dual... Did you find a schematic for the RCA? That would be a good place to start...

 

[brotherly]

Well, first of all the TT in the console probably doesn't use a magnetic cartridge, so you will need a phono pre amp to operate the Dual... Did use find a schematic for the RCA? That would be a good place to start...

Haven't been able to find a schematic though I'll keep looking. But you're right, it would need a pre amp. Seems like I'd be better off installing a new receiver along with the TT.

Can I just tear all this stuff out? I don't need to worry about getting shocked or something right? Obviously it's not plugged in.

 

[Steven Tate]

I can't imagine you would get shocked. Just keep your hands out of the underside guts of the receiver in case a big capacitor still has a charge. Seems to me the main skills you will need are woodworking skills. It's going to take considerable fabrication to mount new equipment. And if you are determined to do it, consider getting some quality bookshelf speakers that will fit inside the cabinet, remove the old speakers and hide the new ones behind grille cloth. If you are going to go to all that trouble, might as well get some decent sound when it's finished. Start a thread and document your progress.