Sharp GF-800

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

gnashing ferret

Member (SA)
Hey guys, here a pic of my first boombox, the 52w 9kg Sharp GF-800. I decided to get a boombox for a few reasons: every Australia day I go to the coast with friends and family and need a portable radio to listen to triple j's hottest 100 pool/beach side :surf: my cousin told me that i should get one shortly after i started collecting vinyl, and finally because they are amazing.

I got this one because it was well priced ($40!) and was for sale in my city. Sharp's have a good reputation and though i believe this is from the late 80's decline era, still has a quality build and looks really cool (to those who like the square look like me). The sound is excellent, i thought it would be quite tinny, but with some adjustments to the very specific eq i was able to get a sound comparable to a much newer and larger systems. It's loud too, you can see in the photo how low the volume is (slider on the bottom right), yet it easily fills my lounge room with sweet tunes at that level.

Stoked with my buy, saw one in the usa sell for us$160 so i definitely scored a bargain. Keen to hear some of your wise boomboxery comments! =D

sdmhvl.jpg
 
redbenjoe

redbenjoe

I Am Legend
welcome to this great site :-)
you got a serious collector box --and for very short money -- :drool:

all of our australian members here are big winners !!!! :yes: :yes:
 
G

gnashing ferret

Member (SA)
Cheers for the warm welcome guys! This is an amazing site, nowhere else have I seen such polite and respectful forums :breakdance:

Good to hear that this box is desirable n that I didn't get jipped.
 
Gluecifer

Gluecifer

Member (SA)
Welcome aboard Gnashing Ferret!

Thts a beautiful Sharp too, still to add one of those to my collection.
Certainly an outstanding example of Sharp's high end threepiecers.



Rock On.
 
G

gnashing ferret

Member (SA)
Cheers guys, you're comments mean a lot to me! I love my 800 more n more each time i chuck on the radio. Detatchable speakers are awesome, i've got the main box in my living room and then one speaker going into my office/studio (ok, you got me, its a garage with a desk in it...) so i don't miss a beat when i leave my desk to grab coffee or snack :thumbsup:

Wish list? I'm keen on the 3 pieces, especially the ones with square speakers n led equalizers like the Panasonic RXC300 or the Sony FH-15R (grr nz boom, massively jealous!). I'd be keen for a another sharp such as a HK9000, but i think something different, possibly smaller like a Sony CFS9000 may be handy for portability. Saw a CFS9000 on ebay starting bid at $50, but have since learned that the selling is notorious for screwing people over and opening new accounts all the time :annoyed:
 
K

Karu

Member (SA)
I was in a op shop (you know, a charity shop, in Melbourne's outer east on Friday when I saw a large pair of Japanese made head phones, and I mean large! Looking around hoping that there wold be something I could plug them into I saw the Sharp GF-800 sitting there. Being a huge fan of the Pioneer Disco Robo and hoping that one will enter my life again one day I didn't think much of this Sharp but, while I had the amazing sounding headphones plugged in I looked over it and saw it has a connection for a turntable. "COOL" I thought, I have a spare turntable, I can put the GF-800 and turntable next to my bed and listen to my record collection of 500+ records day and night. So you can imagine I didn't hesitate handing over $7 for both.
When I arrived home I tried out the GF-800 and was, and still am blown away. What a great sound!

Yes, we Australians' are lucky with our cheap finds. I can't help but wonder if it was because the majority never took Boomboxes seriously.
 
G

gnashing ferret

Member (SA)
$7?! Wow, what kind of condition is it in? Sounds like a really great find, i should really check out the Salvo's near my work...
Vinyl is amazing, you can see my small collection in the photo of the boombox. I need a new belt though, any ideas where from? (Technics turntable)
Melbourne and Adelaide seem to be the boombox capitols from what i've seen on Boomboxery and ebay, maybe it's just too hot in Brisbane to be walking around with 10kg of boom on your shoulder? I was born in the late 80's so I never experienced the golden age of boomboxes, but my guess is that Australia never caught on as much as USA or europe because music isn't as ingrained into our culture as it is over there (live, recorded, festivals, awards, eurovision, american idol etc) I think we're catching up though =)
 
K

Karu

Member (SA)
It's in great condition, true, tape 2 doesn't play but it does rewind and I don't need 2 tape players working anyway because I have 3 connected to my home stereo. I am going to buy a pair of mono mini phono plugs and connect it to my large stereo speakers and see how that sounds because another ideal thing about this Sharp is it takes 8 ohm speakers as opposed to most stuff these days that take 6 ohm.

I am pretty sure there is one of these in a second hand shop near me, I might be wrong but I asked the shop owner about it a few months ago and she told me she was keeping it for the shop. If it is I will try and swap her another radio for it, yes, she only wants it for the radio. I went down this morning and see that she is open tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Ebay will have a belt for your turntable. Any questions about fitting it, just ask.

Oh yeah, just a reminder it was $7 for both the excellent headphones and stereo.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom