I love these classic boomboxes. Those big shiny dustcaps on the speakers are something 8 year old me would have lust after while browsing electronics catalogs.
My brother had this boom box when we were kids in the 80s. Might has well have been mine, I used it all the time, made many radio mix tapes with it, hours and hours of listening with it. Absolutely loved it.
The only 80s boombox I currently have is an Montgomery Ward GEN 3965 from 1983. I got the boombox last summer for $3 at flea market and for that price I could not leave it. All the boombox needed was the old belt tar cleaned and new belt. Which took me sometime to find one that worked. The boombox is in ok cosmetic coundtion do to looking like it had been used a lot.
This video exemplifies why I subscribed to your channel. First, you aren't unboxing pristine vintage electronics that have never seen use, glorifying peeling protective film and saying "look at these stickers over the tape deck window and speaker, I think I'll keep these on for eternity" Second, you get into the history of the particular models origin, get your hands dirty repairing. I once had a GE boom box very similar to the modulette it was one of the more expensive models with MLS, soft touch and onkyo speakers and that thing was loud.
A great unit, with decent bass. Biggest issue is the black nylon bracket holding the tape head. It often cracks, preventing the heads from going up and down correctly. There is someone who sells a 3D printed replacement.
Yup, and this one I was able to repair with epoxy (found the issue after I had made this video.) I did order said 3D printed replacement for the 3-5258A boombox, and it works great. Another common issue I am seeing is that tiny idler gear I showed in the video, and seems dependent on how the unit was stored: it likes to shrink then crack, also causing 2 of the teeth to push out. I have already designed the gear in CAD, and am going to send that out to be printed so I can test it.
Nice boombox - a true classic. I had this boombox and wondered who the OEM was for GE on this model - I thought it may have been Hitachi, but the Funai unit is a dead ringer. I always thought the Realistic unit from Radio Shack had a resemblance to this unit as well. Thank you for the background info.
I Have A GE Mono Two Way Speaker With Bass and Treble Boombox Cassette Rec/Player Model 3-5280A, From Early 80's And Has A Super Tuner Too, And Chrome & Normal Tape Selector For Recording, It's Heavy Too You Should Do A Video Of It 😁
Broadcast hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic, so they are airing as many low cost ads they can. I keep hearing erectile dysfunction ads on the radio or extended car warranties. I still hear MyPillow ads, but those are PI ads, so they flood stopsets with those. At least for Big Radio, it's the same bunch of overheard burnt-to-a-crisp songs that have been playing for 4 or 5 years. I guess that's why my little radio station on the balcony gets listens.
@@IAmNotAFunguy Your statement isn't without merit but only in part. If not for Docket 80-90, market revenues would have not been diluted to the point where some radio stations went from being profitable to struggling almost immediately. Some markets were already over-radioed before Docket 80-90, which took a bad situation and made it worse. Finally, the broadcast lobby got their wish and got higher ownership caps from the FCC. That isn't a consequence of iHM or any other radio company, but they certainly helped along with Jacor, CapCities/ABC (Disney) and Citadel, among many others who were stuck with a ownership cap per market to 2 stations. iHM ruined radio? Yeah, they did in their own way, but they are far from the only company responsible for it. Rate cards haven't increased in a good long time and that's hurting the smaller independents. If iHM sold most of their holdings in the top 100 markets to independents (I know of a few owners personally that would love that), it would make a small dent, but rate cards would not increase to the point of making radio profitable again. At least not like it was in the 1980s.
That so-called China-heap you referred to in your video,is the GPO Brooklyn so-called “boombox” I have of those,and it was the most expensive,disappointing,piece of rubbish,I ever bought,tape deck is seized up,and overall low-quality sound,and radio reception,Bluetooth has also packed up-so so disappointed with it !!!! You are so right,mending and restoring those 80s boomboxes-when brands such as you mentioned,were at their heyday-compared to the expensive garbage,I have just referred to above !!!! I never learn !!! That’s my problem !!
The only “classic” Boombox I have is a JVC RCM70JW also from 1982. I got that sucker for free back in 2006! I’m astounded how much they go for on eBay! The cheapest one rn on eBay is like $600! 😮 I haven’t been able to find them in the wild hardly at all, and the prices for those on eBay scare me off! I can easily say that it’s probably one of the most valuable radios in my collection. Even though it doesn’t work too well…(both antennas are broken)
I dig this video and have watched it about 10 times. I might be getting a Blockbuster so I am doing some preliminary research. Would a regular person be able to change the belt drives and clean the unit including the tape deck without advance knowledge. Would I need to source the service manual? I’m in CA so if you were nearby you would be the person to service one. Thanks to your video I know what issues to look for I’m just worried about disassembling - any tips? Sorry for the incredibly long message.
Yes, anyone can change the belts without any special tools. You won’t need a service manual. Most you’ll need to do is clean all the controls with contact cleaner. However the tape deck may also have a spring that causes the plastic mount it is on (for the heads) to break from age. I’ll be doing an upcoming video on the Realistic Powerhouse boombox where I show how to fix that with JB Weld.
@@spatsbear Thank you! I can’t wait for the new video. I’ve read that someone has a 3D printed replacement part for the piece that breaks from the spring . I hit that subscribe button 😎👍.
@@spatsbear Last question, I promise. What product did you use to polish the Blockbuster? The boombox looked great after a polish. I’m gonna get the plastic scratch product you used for meters window. Thank you.
Thank you for your video! I successfully changed all the belts on my Blockbuster and cleaned all the switches and knobs. Mine had a tape from 1987 stuck in the deck and wouldn’t eject, I slowly turned the drive by hand and viola, I was able to eject it! The drive belt was stretched out and a new belt brought it back to life. The only two things I’m still working on is finding a tape counter reset button (you wouldn’t know if there is something from another model that will work?) and trying to get my vu meter needles in sync. I barely touched the right needle and the white paint came off! I’ll fix it. Without your video I wouldn’t have even attempted the repairs - thank you so much!
@@spatsbear I got one at good will thrift store for $3.50!!! It was missing the power cord and the antenna. Got an antenna off an old portable mini black n white TV and figured out that on laptop computers they have power cords with 2 parts. The part that plugs into the wall and goes into the power brick and the brick that leads into the laptop with a DC peg the part that goes into the wall outlet to the power brick is the EXACT connection for the boombox. And since it's direct into the wall to the classic 8 shaped boombox power inlet. It works perfectly and cost me 3.50 and an half an old laptop power cord that was in a junk box as the Laptop is old af and no good any more. Score!
@@spatsbear I prefer the 66 B. It's bigger and more classic urban boom box looking. It is an awesome 6 watt/ channel. It's my favorite one I own and I got it the cheapest. I look forward to the review. I know u will love it too. It had magnetic speaker connections so if they are on the box they don't need the rcas plugged in. Only if you take the speakers off the body. And when apart u get a 6 foot wire spread!!!
I got another Blockbuster and everything is cool except I’m not getting any movement on the cassette drive. I changed all belts and replaced the cracked piece that holds the heads with a 3d printed replacement. I’m now gonna try replacing the R264 resistor like you did. Anything else I can try? Thanks!
The new motor solved the power issue - But, i have that cracked tiny gear near the idler tire. It won’t advance past the crack in play mode. Did anyone ever 3d print the gear? So Close!
A lot of newer music is smashed to death and it's only gotten louder. Broadcast audio processors don't like smashed music. There's nothing to work with. It only sees a nearly constant envelope of power and as a result, the audio is quieter. So the audio is clipped when radio gets it, then clipped again on the back end of the processor. It's doubly bad.
@@IAmNotAFunguy iHeartMedia hires recording and mastering engineers at recording studios? iHM doesn't have much input, if they do at all, on the recording label's output, at least when it comes to mastering awful clipped and smashed recordings. Why would they? It would be a huge conflict of interest.
ok.. these cassette decks allow you to remove the flywheel cover by providing holes to get to the screws.. explain to me why they cover up one of the screws to allow you to remove the tape motor.. seriously.. so you have to basically remove the plastic surrounding the cassette mech.. which is a pain.. when they could have just left a courtesy hole to remove the screw.. grrrr... great video BTW!
I love these classic boomboxes. Those big shiny dustcaps on the speakers are something 8 year old me would have lust after while browsing electronics catalogs.
I had one exactly like this one 👍 amazing boom box and amazing sound 😎👍
This unit is totally at the top of my wish list. To experience this boombox in person is jaw dropping. I'm starting to check Ebay etc. constantly now.
Saw this boombox on Nightmare on Elm Street and was curious what model it actually is - and landed here.
Me too! lol
@@toddteagarden2200 Great minds think alike!
My brother had this boom box when we were kids in the 80s. Might has well have been mine, I used it all the time, made many radio mix tapes with it, hours and hours of listening with it. Absolutely loved it.
The only 80s boombox I currently have is an Montgomery Ward GEN 3965 from 1983. I got the boombox last summer for $3 at flea market and for that price I could not leave it. All the boombox needed was the old belt tar cleaned and new belt. Which took me sometime to find one that worked. The boombox is in ok cosmetic coundtion do to looking like it had been used a lot.
37:49 - Ohnoes, you taped over StarLord's Awesome Mix! You baaad bear, you! XD
It looks similar to Sharp GF series, but with double cassettes like 767, 777, 919, 999 etc.
Excellent! I really wish I had one of these “block buster” boom boxes (though I think one of my neighbors has one, but I’m not entirely sure).
This video exemplifies why I subscribed to your channel.
First, you aren't unboxing pristine vintage electronics that have never seen use, glorifying peeling protective film and saying "look at these stickers over the tape deck window and speaker, I think I'll keep these on for eternity"
Second, you get into the history of the particular models origin, get your hands dirty repairing.
I once had a GE boom box very similar to the modulette it was one of the more expensive models with MLS, soft touch and onkyo speakers and that thing was loud.
A great unit, with decent bass. Biggest issue is the black nylon bracket holding the tape head. It often cracks, preventing the heads from going up and down correctly. There is someone who sells a 3D printed replacement.
Yup, and this one I was able to repair with epoxy (found the issue after I had made this video.)
I did order said 3D printed replacement for the 3-5258A boombox, and it works great.
Another common issue I am seeing is that tiny idler gear I showed in the video, and seems dependent on how the unit was stored: it likes to shrink then crack, also causing 2 of the teeth to push out. I have already designed the gear in CAD, and am going to send that out to be printed so I can test it.
Nice boombox - a true classic. I had this boombox and wondered who the OEM was for GE on this model - I thought it may have been Hitachi, but the Funai unit is a dead ringer. I always thought the Realistic unit from Radio Shack had a resemblance to this unit as well. Thank you for the background info.
I Have A GE Mono Two Way Speaker With Bass and Treble Boombox Cassette Rec/Player Model 3-5280A, From Early 80's And Has A Super Tuner Too, And Chrome & Normal Tape Selector For Recording, It's Heavy Too You Should Do A Video Of It 😁
Broadcast hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic, so they are airing as many low cost ads they can. I keep hearing erectile dysfunction ads on the radio or extended car warranties. I still hear MyPillow ads, but those are PI ads, so they flood stopsets with those. At least for Big Radio, it's the same bunch of overheard burnt-to-a-crisp songs that have been playing for 4 or 5 years. I guess that's why my little radio station on the balcony gets listens.
99% of the problems with modern-day broadcast radio is solely because of the company I disaffectionately call "iHateRadio".
@@IAmNotAFunguy Your statement isn't without merit but only in part. If not for Docket 80-90, market revenues would have not been diluted to the point where some radio stations went from being profitable to struggling almost immediately. Some markets were already over-radioed before Docket 80-90, which took a bad situation and made it worse. Finally, the broadcast lobby got their wish and got higher ownership caps from the FCC. That isn't a consequence of iHM or any other radio company, but they certainly helped along with Jacor, CapCities/ABC (Disney) and Citadel, among many others who were stuck with a ownership cap per market to 2 stations. iHM ruined radio? Yeah, they did in their own way, but they are far from the only company responsible for it. Rate cards haven't increased in a good long time and that's hurting the smaller independents. If iHM sold most of their holdings in the top 100 markets to independents (I know of a few owners personally that would love that), it would make a small dent, but rate cards would not increase to the point of making radio profitable again. At least not like it was in the 1980s.
That so-called China-heap you referred to in your video,is the GPO Brooklyn so-called “boombox” I have of those,and it was the most expensive,disappointing,piece of rubbish,I ever bought,tape deck is seized up,and overall low-quality sound,and radio reception,Bluetooth has also packed up-so so disappointed with it !!!!
You are so right,mending and restoring those 80s boomboxes-when brands such as you mentioned,were at their heyday-compared to the expensive garbage,I have just referred to above !!!!
I never learn !!!
That’s my problem !!
The only “classic” Boombox I have is a JVC RCM70JW also from 1982. I got that sucker for free back in 2006! I’m astounded how much they go for on eBay! The cheapest one rn on eBay is like $600! 😮 I haven’t been able to find them in the wild hardly at all, and the prices for those on eBay scare me off! I can easily say that it’s probably one of the most valuable radios in my collection. Even though it doesn’t work too well…(both antennas are broken)
I dig this video and have watched it about 10 times. I might be getting a Blockbuster so I am doing some preliminary research. Would a regular person be able to change the belt drives and clean the unit including the tape deck without advance knowledge. Would I need to source the service manual? I’m in CA so if you were nearby you would be the person to service one. Thanks to your video I know what issues to look for I’m just worried about disassembling - any tips? Sorry for the incredibly long message.
Yes, anyone can change the belts without any special tools. You won’t need a service manual. Most you’ll need to do is clean all the controls with contact cleaner.
However the tape deck may also have a spring that causes the plastic mount it is on (for the heads) to break from age. I’ll be doing an upcoming video on the Realistic Powerhouse boombox where I show how to fix that with JB Weld.
@@spatsbear Thank you! I can’t wait for the new video. I’ve read that someone has a 3D printed replacement part for the piece that breaks from the spring . I hit that subscribe button 😎👍.
@@spatsbear Last question, I promise. What product did you use to polish the Blockbuster? The boombox looked great after a polish. I’m gonna get the plastic scratch product you used for meters window. Thank you.
Thank you for your video! I successfully changed all the belts on my Blockbuster and cleaned all the switches and knobs. Mine had a tape from 1987 stuck in the deck and wouldn’t eject, I slowly turned the drive by hand and viola, I was able to eject it! The drive belt was stretched out and a new belt brought it back to life. The only two things I’m still working on is finding a tape counter reset button (you wouldn’t know if there is something from another model that will work?) and trying to get my vu meter needles in sync. I barely touched the right needle and the white paint came off! I’ll fix it. Without your video I wouldn’t have even attempted the repairs - thank you so much!
You're in pa aren't you? I noticed alot of Pittsburgh stations that I can pick up myself. I live in southern pa not far from the wv state line.
Have this one but the tape deck on mine doesnt work. Will fix it someday.
The GE 3-5266 B is said to be just as good sounding. And has led
Just scored that model. Expect a video shortly as well.
@@spatsbear I got one at good will thrift store for $3.50!!! It was missing the power cord and the antenna. Got an antenna off an old portable mini black n white TV and figured out that on laptop computers they have power cords with 2 parts. The part that plugs into the wall and goes into the power brick and the brick that leads into the laptop with a DC peg the part that goes into the wall outlet to the power brick is the EXACT connection for the boombox. And since it's direct into the wall to the classic 8 shaped boombox power inlet. It works perfectly and cost me 3.50 and an half an old laptop power cord that was in a junk box as the Laptop is old af and no good any more. Score!
@@spatsbear I prefer the 66 B. It's bigger and more classic urban boom box looking. It is an awesome 6 watt/ channel. It's my favorite one I own and I got it the cheapest. I look forward to the review. I know u will love it too. It had magnetic speaker connections so if they are on the box they don't need the rcas plugged in. Only if you take the speakers off the body. And when apart u get a 6 foot wire spread!!!
I got another Blockbuster and everything is cool except I’m not getting any movement on the cassette drive. I changed all belts and replaced the cracked piece that holds the heads with a 3d printed replacement. I’m now gonna try replacing the R264 resistor like you did. Anything else I can try? Thanks!
Is the motor getting any power? Or the correct voltage?
@@spatsbear The motor in circuit reports 9volts but no movement.
The new motor solved the power issue - But, i have that cracked tiny gear near the idler tire. It won’t advance past the crack in play mode. Did anyone ever 3d print the gear? So Close!
Love these videos, I see that you have exploded views of the tape transport. Would you be will to share your images? I'm willing to pay.
A lot of newer music is smashed to death and it's only gotten louder. Broadcast audio processors don't like smashed music. There's nothing to work with. It only sees a nearly constant envelope of power and as a result, the audio is quieter. So the audio is clipped when radio gets it, then clipped again on the back end of the processor. It's doubly bad.
Don't forget, 99% of the problems with modern-day broadcast radio is solely because of the company I disaffectionately call "iHateRadio".
@@IAmNotAFunguy iHeartMedia hires recording and mastering engineers at recording studios? iHM doesn't have much input, if they do at all, on the recording label's output, at least when it comes to mastering awful clipped and smashed recordings. Why would they? It would be a huge conflict of interest.
@@IAmNotAFunguy I love to hate iHateRadio. Absolutely terrible.
🤔 What's The Name Of That Song On 35:13, Please.
Evil Boys & Evil Girls by I've Made Too Much Pasta.
Thank You 😁 I Luv That Nutty Music 🔊🎵🎶🎼👍
I have Toshiba and aiwa boomboxes .....two brands sold in Italy italian named products
Do you like Slugbug?
ok.. these cassette decks allow you to remove the flywheel cover by providing holes to get to the screws.. explain to me why they cover up one of the screws to allow you to remove the tape motor.. seriously.. so you have to basically remove the plastic surrounding the cassette mech.. which is a pain.. when they could have just left a courtesy hole to remove the screw.. grrrr... great video BTW!
What a tune for that beauty ghetto blaster Dude looks like a lady!
Was that kat country? Lol