Modding a rare boombox, is that sacrilege?

[Dancorp]

If all goes well, I should receive soon a JVC RC-M75W, purchased at an unbeatable price.


I usually modify my boombox to add Bluetooth and LED system (see my signature)

The problem is that this model seems very rare.

Hence my question: even if my mods are always done with respect for the machine,
do you think it is sacrilegious to change it or, on the contrary, make it an even more unique unit?


Debate is open




Dan

 

[Transistorized]

I guess that would depend on if you are keeping it for your own enjoyment or fixing it to sell for a profit. Tasteful mods seem to always be accepted by most. You always have the purists out there but I feel you should do with it as you please if your keeping it.

 

[Hisrudeness]

Your box so it’s up to you.
Me? I’d never do it especially to an M75.

 

[Superduper]

Your box so it’s up to you.
Me? I’d never do it especially to an M75.

I agree. There's probably only (1) M75 for every 100 M70's out there which is essentially the exact same thing. So a better approach would be to find an M70 to mod and keep this one as is, or if as you say, you got this at an unbeatable price, and you don't care to keep it original (beyond some dial lamps or such subtle changes), how about selling (or trading) it to a collector who would treasure it as an M75 so you can mod an M70 instead? Anyhow, just a thought and suggestion. In the end, it's your box so do what you want.

 

[stereomad]

No don’t do it dude

 

[Reli]

I don't see how a Bluetooth and LED mod would harm anything. Assuming it's wired correctly, a Bluetooth receiver isn't going to harm the other audio sources. And as for LED, that's a necessity on any M70, so why shouldn't it be a necessity on an M75? Who wants a dim yellow incandescent bulb that doesn't light the entire dial evenly, and doesn't stay on unless your finger is on the button?

 

[blu_fuz]

If you aren't hacking up the original plastic body of the M75 or any of the trims, yes mod it.

 

[Superduper]

I didn't see his mods but I mentioned "subtle" as opposed to drilling holes, sticking self adhesive led strips all over the outside, etc. Also, some bluetooth mods require you to access the module; again this may require drilling holes to press the pair button or to turn it on/off. Whether these are done in a subtle, hidden, and skilled manner or tacky and reckless, I wouldn't know so for me, I suppose it depends...

To be fair, probably a dozen years ago when I found an ultra rare and highly desirable boombox model, before I knew what it was worth or how rare it was, I drilled a holes on it for a switch. I regret it now but can't reverse what I did. In the end, it's his box and he will do whatever he wants. However, he asked for opinions so I'm sure he will get a bunch all over the spectrum.

 

[T-STER]

Personally a little piece of me dies inside when i see a rare or classic machine being hacked about with tacky add ons.

I do see the benefit of a non intrusive bluetooth or perhaps a tuner light changed to modern low power consumption yet brighter led.

 

[Hisrudeness]

No reason to mod this particular box when there are so many regular M70s all over the place. A lot of collectors on here with multiples of M70s. They’re not uncommon.

 

[Reli]

But the M75 is gold, so it would look really pimp with a nice yellow LED tuner.

 

[blu_fuz]

Amber tuner LED and white VU LED do look good on these...

 

[Northerner]

Yeh not sure I’d do it to an M75, way too rare. I don’t have a problem with a mod at all on a common box that’s no minter. On anything decent the mod should be subtle and removable but subtle leds and Bluetooth can be done easily without harming the box if done right

 

[floyd]

I would leave that one alone it looks like a prime example of that model be shame do anything to it looks pretty f****** awesome already. My rule is I usually only mod boxes that are already f***** up. I don't want to sound like a hypocrite but that's really nice JVC.

 

[Radio raheem]

i don't see any issue as long as the mods are tasteful and you're not drilling holes into her etc

 

[floyd]

Yeah I agree I said it before people should be able to do what they want with their boxes I don't want to start backpedaling lol.

 

[Radio raheem]

sending you a pm homie and yea i agree as always

 

[redbenjoe]

such a gorgeous ultra rare collector edition -
so do all the mods you will enjoy ...
but ONLY if they are 100% reversible
ie --make sure you can put it all back to original ...someday

 

[Cpl-Chronic]

Obvioulsy, this topic is close to home for me & yes, I'm probably the culprit who 'drills holes' & adds 'tacky self adhesive LED strips' to my more common grails but you have to admit, I went bold & never looked back & created something daring & new...Why some people on this site react so negatively to my stuff compared to say Glu's Tiara 90 or Just Cruisin's Mods, I'll never understand. Anyone can easily add backlighting to an M70 or Speaker rings but I wanted an alternative to the Disco-Lites that were selling for big bucks & yet really looked kind of weak compared to what I envisioned...That said, at least the conversation is about the subject & not a direct attack on someone's art. The boomboxes I modded with LEDs on the bodies & blinged to the max are not shelf queens by any stretch so the purists can take a zanex & relax. The 777's I did, the M90's & the M70's all had issues of some sort & were never going to be near mint for various reasons so I decided to make them something unique & '1 of a kind'...

Now, all over the Boomboxery FB page, people are adding LEDs, RGB systems & bluetooth connectivity, etc...1 guy has added USB & SD card interfaces & countless others have done custom paint jobs, like Glucifer's Tiara M90 or Just Cruisin's rainbow C-100 & Monster Lasonic 4 woofer beast...so the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My philosophy is sit back & enjoy the circus instead of bashing one's efforts to bring something new to the tired old, I got 8 M90's all the same but I won't part with any unless I sell for eBay prices...How boring is that?

What started me on the road was when I got my first blaster, a 777Z which looked so bad-ass & yet sounded so dismal compared to modern systems, it was pathetic....I had to do something with it or get depressed at the fact I spent so much money on a dud....So Fixed it up & added bling & you have to admit, it's a 1 of a kind now instead of another 777...

I've also changed speakers on more rare blasters like the National RX-A2 & A4 but stopped there & never added anything else since it is easily reverted back to stock by saving the old speakers as well. I will sometimes paint speaker grills a midnight blue so that you get that stock look unitl the light hits it just right & shines a deep dark blue to let you know this unit is slightly above the rest, etc.

As far as modding a true M75, which is extremely rare to find, if you do it right, you can revert it back to stock without much work & I think that would be OK. Would I drill holes in one & add RGB DISCO LEDS & bumper bars? HELLL NOOO!! I'm not dumb but hey a beat up 777 with a non-working tuner, or a run of the mill M70 is fair game to me & I hope people on this site would have enough tact & class to allow me to do that & not openly mock & berate me for it....

I think that is the important point about the discussion.

Just my 2 cents...Some paint jobs & hack jobs I would call tacky & tasteless but I support their artistry just the same & will always encourage radical ideas I can learn from. That is the whole point of a community like this. It's to encourage collaboration, sharing of ideas & experience while allowing all to participate...

Now, grab an RGB music controller & go nuts....slam in some woofers & amp modules, arduino's etc...

Peace!!
Cpl

 

[Jorge]

I am going to side with Cpl: any switches can be hidden inside the battery compartment for the Purists. Myself, I am in this crowd but once I Avondale-ed my Naim Hi-Cap I must have lost my "purity". Went downhill afterwards, and my Sencor and The Elephant boomboxes got beautified to my liking, Not resale!