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Pilot/Garrard console - umm what do I do with this thing?

Qaleidoscope

Qaleidoscope

New Member
So hubby and I picked this guy up at an estate sale today. No manuals or schematics. Of course Google searches don't say much so far.

It works, we played a record we're not attached to on it and it works... left speakers sound weaker than the right not sure if that's by design or not (need new wire perhaps?) or if they should sound the same. Balance is dead center.

Anyway can you guys identify this for for me? Tell me how much it sucks and if I wanted to go down the road of restoration what sites out there might I reference? What suggestions might you have for this thing if you're experienced with working on these.

Thanks!
Q
 

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wlgrant6 said:
Nice looking console. Looks like a keeper.
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Thanks! Any guidance on how I can learn more about it by chance? Would love to spiff it up! Should I run new speaker wire? Swap anything out? Maybe a resource for what needle or cartridge i should look at?

Thanks!
 
knockbill said:
Pickering V15 cartridge should be easy to find a stylus for...
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And Jico's a good replacement for one. This is an excellent console, one of the better available when new. Does look to be early transistor. Nice, mid century modern cabinet design which I like. Why not clean the controls and switches? This console's very worth restoring. Built before the genre turned to cost cut. This one is quality.
 
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Any info on the changer? I was looking at a westinghouse console that had a
KentTeffeteller said:
And Jico's a good replacement for one. This is an excellent console, one of the better available when new. Does look to be early transistor. Nice, mid century modern cabinet design which I like. Why not clean the controls and switches? This console's very worth restoring. Built before the genre turned to cost cut. This one is quality.
Click to expand...
Well this was reassuring to read! Thank you. I found stylus for it and it's already on order very excited. The volume when I turn it crackles a bit so I read up on how to clean those and will work on that soon. I'm suspicious of the state of speakers... right side sounds great and gets pretty loud too. The left side i feel I hear all I should coming out of them when I turn balance fully left but it's sooo low not nearly as punchy as the right. I imagine it could be the wiring or does anyone think I would benefit from replacing the speakers altogether? Honestly I cracked it open and everything looks soo clean. No corrosion, wear, or any signs of degradation but that doesn't necessarily mean it's not there. Any hints on how to zero in on best course of action... might it not be wires or speakers at all and some issue with the receiver? Maybe it has fuses? I'm really good at tinkering with some initial general guidance. Any help would be appreciated. Radio signal isn't great either but that could just be a need for new antenna (here's hoping). Man i used to be so good at messing with electronics as a young kid in the 80s early 90s. I'm so far removed now I need to get myself warmed up again. I'm excited to spiff this up!

Q
 
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Oh another inquiry if I may... there's an input option for aux... there's phono, fm, fm stereo, am, and aux but I don't see any ports to plug into... is this referring to any external speakers that may be wired from the back perhaps?

Thanks again! I LOVE THIS SITE! You guys are all great.

Q
 
Balance issues are usually in the receiver itself. Sometimes it can be as simple as a deox bath of the controls and switches. Sometimes it can be a more in depth problem such as out of spec resistors or capacitors for that one channel.

You can always check to see if both speakers are working properly by simply reversing them.........unplug the left speaker and plug it into the right speaker output and vice versa.

You can plug a cd player or phone into aux.
 
cademan said:
Balance issues are usually in the receiver itself. Sometimes it can be as simple as a deox bath of the controls and switches. Sometimes it can be a more in depth problem such as out of spec resistors or capacitors for that one channel.

You can always check to see if both speakers are working properly by simply reversing them.........unplug the left speaker and plug it into the right speaker output and vice versa.

You can plug a cd player or phone into aux.
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Trying that now! Thanks
 
Did the wire swap and issue followed the other speaker... so I'm looking at an issue with the left wiring or receiver itself at this point right? And I should probably start with the easiest being wire? Actually the cleaning first, the wire, then the receiver. Am I on right path there?
 
Qaleidoscope said:
Did the wire swap and issue followed the other speaker... so I'm looking at an issue with the left wiring or receiver itself at this point right? And I should probably start with the easiest being wire? Actually the cleaning first, the wire, then the receiver. Am I on right path there?
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Start with cleaning the controls. The wire, unless it is physically broken or a terminal is detached, is the least likely cause of the channel imbalance.
 
You probably need to find someone that can troubleshoot and repair it. Very early solid state receiver. you could maybe change out the receiver with a newer one If you don't go the repair route.
 
audiomaniac2 said:
You probably need to find someone that can troubleshoot and repair it. Very early solid state receiver. you could maybe change out the receiver with a newer one If you don't go the repair route.
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I'm digging getting into the process myself with a little help from my new friends, you all here if I get really stuck I may go find a pro but for now I'm looking to get intimately involved in learning and finding my own way. I think it's fun!
 
Qaleidoscope said:
Did the wire swap and issue followed the other speaker... so I'm looking at an issue with the left wiring or receiver itself at this point right? And I should probably start with the easiest being wire? Actually the cleaning first, the wire, then the receiver. Am I on right path there?
Click to expand...

As others have said, unless a wire is broken, there's nothing wrong with the wire as long as the speaker is working. Your little test affirmed that both speakers are working fine and the imbalance is indeed in the unit itself.

While you're waiting for your can of deox, rotate that selector switch back and forth 20 times or so.
 
cademan said:
As others have said, unless a wire is broken, there's nothing wrong with the wire as long as the speaker is working. Your little test affirmed that both speakers are working fine and the imbalance is indeed in the unit itself.

While you're waiting for your can of deox, rotate that selector switch back and forth 20 times or so.
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Absolutely agree here - work those controls (all of them - volume / balance / tone / bass / treble / source select) back and forth many many times. Also flip any switches related to filters up and down many times too - it's amazing how a good workout can clean up dirty switch contacts.
 
Alright! Excercise! Will do! Thanks guys! While I waited for the deox I connected satellite speakers in place of the integrated ones to enjoy the unit in the interim

I will say I found a couple other quirks. The power switch needs a tap or 2 to stay on meh and when I move the speed to 45 arm still drops where it would for 33... one thing at a time though ha! Aside from that I'm digging this unit
 
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