Hello from sunny Melbourne.
I joined up a couple of months back and immediately sought advice on restoring the VZ 2000 i had just acquired. So, better late than never, i thought i should introduce myself.
From the age of 9 or 10 i fell in love with music. Being the late 70's in Australia, the first music i liked was basically whatever i saw on Countdown (kind of like Top of the Pops). I got my first Boomer around this time, but i can't for the life of me remember what it was. Being a kid, i would only listen to tapes as vinyl seemed only for adults. However, by the time i was thriteen i was into punk and alternative music which you couldn't get on tape, so i started buying import records. I made do with taping the vinyl on the family record player and listening to it on my boomer. While it was a good unit, i'm sure i wasn't a 'grail' as back then they would have cost a fortune.
Anyway, vinyl became my first love, and i really only used tapes for making compilations. I'm sure i would have made thousands of tapes over the years for both me and my mates. I would spend hours perfecting the track list and creating appropriate art work.
I remember when the Sharp VZ 2000 was bought out here. I wanted one desperately, but they were crazily expensive. I still remember the ad for it, with a bunch of people outside having a bbq with the VZ on the table crankin' out the tunes. I obviously never got one, or even got to see one with my own eyes back in the day. But, i never forgot about it!
So, many years pass, and while i dabbled briefly in CD's back in the early 90's, vinyl is still king in my house. One day around a year ago i decided to try and find out just what that old vertical record player was. I of course discovered that it was the Sharp VZ 2000 through a site that listed it as one of the 'grails' of the boombox world. While i didn't come across this site, i could see that boomboxes were still very much loved, in the same way that i always appreciated vintage record players.
Finding out what it is, and getting one, is another matter altogether. I was pleasantly surprised to see one available here on ebay, and i spent much time deliberating about whether to pay the $200 asking price. It was missing sliders and had a few other faults, and i decided that it would be an expensive mistake as it would have to be shipped from Adelaide to Melbourne at great expense.
More time passed, and i still wished i could get my hands on a VZ, but whenever i would have a look, none were available. Then, in September this year, one popped up only about a 1 hour drive from my place. I thought this was it. Finally, i'll get my hands on a VZ. And right up until near the end of the auction, i was sure i had it. Then, all hell broke loose, and the bidding went literally insane, and it went for triple what i could pay for it. It was in great condition, so someone else was willing to pay top dollar i guess.
For some reason, i thought, well i'll see if anymore are about, and astonishingly, there was another one, this time, only 15 minutes drive from my place. However, this one was not in great shape, missing sliders and turntable not working, busted tweeter grill and various other dents and scratches.
I didn't think it was worth purchasing as i didn't have the skills or money to get it repaired. Regardless, i thought i would have a search to see if there was any info available on servicing boomboxes. It was during this search that i finally came across Boomboxery, and all my questions were answered. I was amazed to see all the knowledge and advice on getting VZ's back into shape. This gave me the confidence to get a VZ and restore it. So, i got this rather rough VZ, and the rest, as the say, is history.
I have posted a few topics regarding my VZ restoration project, and have been overwhelmed by the help and support of many people here. To name but a few, Alfie, Bredgeo and Tschorba have been of invaluable assistance in getting my VZ up and running. There assistance and support is hugely appreciated.
While my VZ is not quite ready to be unveiled to the world just yet, i am hoping to update my VZ Restoration topic soon with a happy ending.
So, thanks to this site, hopefully one more boombox has been saved from the scrap heap. All i have to do now is find a VZ 2500 and 3000. That can't be that hard, surely?
Cheers
Jeremy
I joined up a couple of months back and immediately sought advice on restoring the VZ 2000 i had just acquired. So, better late than never, i thought i should introduce myself.
From the age of 9 or 10 i fell in love with music. Being the late 70's in Australia, the first music i liked was basically whatever i saw on Countdown (kind of like Top of the Pops). I got my first Boomer around this time, but i can't for the life of me remember what it was. Being a kid, i would only listen to tapes as vinyl seemed only for adults. However, by the time i was thriteen i was into punk and alternative music which you couldn't get on tape, so i started buying import records. I made do with taping the vinyl on the family record player and listening to it on my boomer. While it was a good unit, i'm sure i wasn't a 'grail' as back then they would have cost a fortune.
Anyway, vinyl became my first love, and i really only used tapes for making compilations. I'm sure i would have made thousands of tapes over the years for both me and my mates. I would spend hours perfecting the track list and creating appropriate art work.
I remember when the Sharp VZ 2000 was bought out here. I wanted one desperately, but they were crazily expensive. I still remember the ad for it, with a bunch of people outside having a bbq with the VZ on the table crankin' out the tunes. I obviously never got one, or even got to see one with my own eyes back in the day. But, i never forgot about it!
So, many years pass, and while i dabbled briefly in CD's back in the early 90's, vinyl is still king in my house. One day around a year ago i decided to try and find out just what that old vertical record player was. I of course discovered that it was the Sharp VZ 2000 through a site that listed it as one of the 'grails' of the boombox world. While i didn't come across this site, i could see that boomboxes were still very much loved, in the same way that i always appreciated vintage record players.
Finding out what it is, and getting one, is another matter altogether. I was pleasantly surprised to see one available here on ebay, and i spent much time deliberating about whether to pay the $200 asking price. It was missing sliders and had a few other faults, and i decided that it would be an expensive mistake as it would have to be shipped from Adelaide to Melbourne at great expense.
More time passed, and i still wished i could get my hands on a VZ, but whenever i would have a look, none were available. Then, in September this year, one popped up only about a 1 hour drive from my place. I thought this was it. Finally, i'll get my hands on a VZ. And right up until near the end of the auction, i was sure i had it. Then, all hell broke loose, and the bidding went literally insane, and it went for triple what i could pay for it. It was in great condition, so someone else was willing to pay top dollar i guess.
For some reason, i thought, well i'll see if anymore are about, and astonishingly, there was another one, this time, only 15 minutes drive from my place. However, this one was not in great shape, missing sliders and turntable not working, busted tweeter grill and various other dents and scratches.
I didn't think it was worth purchasing as i didn't have the skills or money to get it repaired. Regardless, i thought i would have a search to see if there was any info available on servicing boomboxes. It was during this search that i finally came across Boomboxery, and all my questions were answered. I was amazed to see all the knowledge and advice on getting VZ's back into shape. This gave me the confidence to get a VZ and restore it. So, i got this rather rough VZ, and the rest, as the say, is history.
I have posted a few topics regarding my VZ restoration project, and have been overwhelmed by the help and support of many people here. To name but a few, Alfie, Bredgeo and Tschorba have been of invaluable assistance in getting my VZ up and running. There assistance and support is hugely appreciated.
While my VZ is not quite ready to be unveiled to the world just yet, i am hoping to update my VZ Restoration topic soon with a happy ending.
So, thanks to this site, hopefully one more boombox has been saved from the scrap heap. All i have to do now is find a VZ 2500 and 3000. That can't be that hard, surely?
Cheers
Jeremy
I have to say that the contributing members here are all top notch and I'm glad that a few of them have helped you with your VZ. We can't wait to see the happy ending!! 
