Hello from Minnesota! (and the 36 year quest for a JVC RC-M70...)

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liquorbox69

Member (SA)
Jul 9, 2017
42
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Minnesota, USA
[SIZE=medium]Greetings everyone. Glad to finally be a part of Boomboxery![/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]About me? I'm from South Minneapolis, born and raised! (On the playground, is where I spent most of my days....)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]When I was a kid growing up in the 80's, I saw my first JVC RC-M70, and knew that I had to own one. I was away at summer camp one year, and one of the counselors owned one. I was really impressed by the sound! It filled the cabin with a sound quality that I did not expect from a “portable radio cassette recorder”. I was truly amazed. Not even a teenager yet, and I wanted a JVC boombox more than anything.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I used ride my bike to the local electronics store (remember those?), and admire all the boomboxes up on the shelf. The JVC's were always my favorite. As much as I liked the RC-M90, the RC-M70 was still my first choice. For the money, I thought it actually sounded better than the M90. My dilemma? How the HELL can a kid afford the damn thing? Even if I saved all of my allowance and money from mowing lawns, it would still take me forever.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]When I was 13, I got my first real job bussing tables. I lied on the application, saying I was 14 so I could work. The pay was only $3.25, which was minimum wage back then. I would still go to the electronics store at least once a week. I was even looking at the boomboxes at Radio Shack, Sears, Target, whatever. None of those were going to do. It wasn't until I was 14 that I had enough saved up for the JVC I wanted.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]So, if you haven't seen it coming by now....[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I was finally ready to purchase that JVC boombox that I had my eye for the last three years. I went to my local electronics store, looked up at the shelf, and it wasn't there. It was NO LONGER AVAILABLE! Really? I even asked the store clerk if they could locate one for me, but it was too late. The M70 was no longer available. I decided that I wasn't going home empty handed, and settled for the JVC RC-880. Aesthetically a very nice looking box, close in size to the RC-M70, and it had a auto-reverse cassette deck. However, it lacked the sound quality and input features of the M70.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Sadly, after 25 years of owning that JVC RC-880, I finally had to let it go. I was moving, and decided that it wasn't coming with me. I was actually pretty upset about parting with it. That JVC went with me just about everywhere for over 25 years. At the time, it seemed like a good decision. I figured that I would eventually find another boombox that was even better than my old one. However, I later regretted leaving that old JVC behind. I always kept an eye open, searching for another old JVC boombox.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Before the internet, about the only way to find older electronics was thrift stores, estate sales, garage sales, pawn shops, flea markets, or completely by chance. My search for a replacement JVC boombox had really slowed until technology and the internet finally caught up.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]A few years ago while looking for a RC-M70 on eBay I found another JVC RC-880 by chance. It wasn't as clean as I hoped for, but it was in decent condition and the price was right. I decided to buy it. I came to realize afterwards that even though I finally found the same model JVC that I had once owned, the feeling just wasn't the same. I thought back about why I let it go in the first place. It was pretty obvious. I still wanted that "upgrade". I still wanted a RC-M70. I was starting to wonder if ever find one in good condition without having to pay a small fortune. My search continued.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Well I'm happy to say that as of this year, almost 36 years to day of buying my original JVC RC-880 boombox, that I finally found the JVC RC-M70 boombox I always wanted. While recently searching boomboxes on eBay, I came across a very clean JVC RC-M70JW. There were some mis-spellings in the description, so not to many people probably saw the listing. The price seemed fair, so I decided to “pull the trigger”, and I bought the damn thing! Wow! What a feeling of relief. I thought about some of the other ones that I bid on over the years that I either didn't win, or just passed on because they were way overpriced. No longer. I'm finally the proud owner a RC-M70. My search is over![/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Wait, did I just say my search is over? Well.... maybe not completely over.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The problem with having an appreciation of these classic boomboxes is you want to own more that just one! Now I will probably never be a hard core collector like many of you are, but I'm always looking and searching for a few more boomboxes. I typically like a lot of the classic boxes out of Japan, but there are a few Taiwan boxes that get my attention as well. I do see myself picking up a few more in the near future. However, I would probably keep my collection to around ten or so. Any more than that and the wife starts buying jewelry![/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I have been following the posts here on Boomboxery for years now. Now that I finally have the JVC that I always wanted, I thought it might be a good time to actually sign up. I enjoy going through the forums and reading posts from people who have the same appreciation for these classic audio relics that I do. Some of these old boomboxes were not really built to last. I seem to like the higher quality boxes out of Japan more. The ones that were built to last. They were designed with maintenance and repair in mind. To me, these boomboxes are not just some old outdated technology. They give joy to those who appreciate what they were, and what they still are.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]So anyway, that's why I'm here. That's what brought me to Boomboxery. Hope you can all relate. Take care![/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Like L.L. Cool J said, I can't live without my radio![/SIZE]

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blu_fuz

Moderator
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Jun 3, 2009
10,666
155
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WI
Excellent story! I'm just next door in Wisconsin. I understand the WANT and NEED for more! They will come with time. Go slow and try not to flood yourself with a bunch of projects.

Welcome to the site.
 

liquorbox69

Member (SA)
Jul 9, 2017
42
0
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104
Minnesota, USA
blu_fuz said:
Excellent story! I'm just next door in Wisconsin. I understand the WANT and NEED for more! They will come with time. Go slow and try not to flood yourself with a bunch of projects.

Welcome to the site.
Thank you. I'll probably be ordering a strap from you eventually. Planning on an Analog Alley LED upgrade as well. Other than that, I'm not going to screw with it too much. Just give it a proper cleaning inside and out, including all the sliders and switches. It's a nice survivor!
 

Fatdog

Well-Known Member
Staff member
May 3, 2009
10,898
112
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I've been waiting for this intro... and I'm not disappointed. :cool: :-) :thumbsup: I love to read these types of posts. I know all too well the yearning for a certain boombox, only to settle for one much cheaper. Like you, it took many years - and ebay - but I finally got my GF-777 years ago.

Welcome aboard!
 

T-STER

Member (SA)
Jul 14, 2014
2,246
73
48
UK
Great story and what an intro to the site, the M70 is a great choice and you will hear nothing but praise for it here, its a classic for a reason.

Welcome to the site man.
 

liquorbox69

Member (SA)
Jul 9, 2017
42
0
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104
Minnesota, USA
Fatdog said:
:-)

I've been waiting for this intro... and I'm not disappointed. :cool: :-) :thumbsup: I love to read these types of posts. I know all too well the yearning for a certain boombox, only to settle for one much cheaper. Like you, it took many years - and ebay - but I finally got my GF-777 years ago.
Welcome aboard!
Hey Fatdog. Thank you for your comments.

Yeah, the Sharp GF-777 is definitely on my short list. (Although I wouldn't mind a GF-555, GF-666 either.) The GF-9696 speaks to me as well. I like the classic "suitcase" look the best. Two-way speakers, VU meters, and the cassette in the center of it all. I'm still kinda stuck on JVC right now. I think the next one I'll be looking for is a RC-838. (That is unless something else doesn't find me first.)

Take care! :-)
 

Northerner

Member (SA)
Apr 16, 2012
5,322
250
83
North West UK
Great intro...a story probably very similar to a lot of people on here. The M70 is a good one to have. The 838 is another lovely box, doesn't sound as good as the M70 but still good and it's a beauty. I like these two as well :-)
 

liquorbox69

Member (SA)
Jul 9, 2017
42
0
0
104
Minnesota, USA
Northerner said:
Great intro...a story probably very similar to a lot of people on here. The M70 is a good one to have. The 838 is another lovely box, doesn't sound as good as the M70 but still good and it's a beauty. I like these two as well :-)
Thanks Northerner. I was just looking at your post on the Sharp 9090 and 9191. Again, nice work!

I know the JVC 838 doesn't have the sound of the M70, but I really like the look of it. That, and can't be any worse for sound than my old RC-880.

The Sharp boomboxes were always a contender. Probably my second choice back in the 80's. If I ever find a clean one priced to sell, I'll probably snatch it up. I kinda have my eye on a 9696 right now, but I think I'll wait until I'm finished cleaning up my M70. I have a treble potentiometer that needs attention. First things first.
 

liquorbox69

Member (SA)
Jul 9, 2017
42
0
0
104
Minnesota, USA
Thank you all for checking in. You really know how to make the new guy feel welcome!

Like I said in my intro, I have been looking at posts on Boomboxery for years. There's so much information here that I'll never get through it all. If it wasn't for everyone here who was contributed in one way or another, there wouldn't be this great community and the exchange of information and ideas. It's nice to know there are people in this world who are just as crazy as I am! :w00t:

Take care all. Crank it up to eleven, and rip the knob off!

-Erik
 

-GZ-

Member (SA)
Oct 8, 2010
2,238
7
38
Boom Central
Attention Lurkers:

That right there is all it takes to be fully welcomed into this awesome community. Hell, even a quarter of that will do.

Welcome aboard, newbie! Beautiful M70 you got there.
 
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