So many moons ago i bought a Victor M70 from Japan, what a kerfuffle that was. It eventually arrived and was a poor stinking wreck and didn't work at all, there was a bit of a hiss on radio but it had promise as the line in sounded fantastic. There were no aerials (or posts for that matter), tape deck showed no signs of life and it generally looked very very tired.
I shelved it and hoped to find some inspiration later on.
A few months later (or 8 actually) i spotted this very poorly looking M70 on epay:
Although it looked poor i hatched a plan to use my good front, the back and most of the internals to make one good one. Sounds easy enough right?
Umm no. What followed were weeks of working on it here and there to try and solve all issues. I did have many pictures of the tear downs and rebuilding but apparently the wife thought i didn't need them any more (probably my own fault for nodding vacantly when she talked to me).
I ending up using the JDM M70 case front and rear and combing the internals to make a working one. This sounds far simpler than it was. I had so many issues i don't know where to start, suffice to say i now am unsure of the JDM to UK parts ratio but it all combined to make one beautiful working M70.
The tape deck took so much work, i have combined the UK tape mech with the board for the JDM speed controls etc and have made a working deck. Amazingly, "working" undersells it.
I combined the original UK deck with all the best parts from the JDM one, all belts and rollers changed, all work parts exchanged for the best from each deck and the result is truly amazing. Probably my finest deck on any of my boomers, it sounds so clear and sharp. It took me nearly 3 weeks just on the deck.
I procured some aerials from Geoff (great to deal with time and time again) and the little spring clips. THe only issue i have left is that it is hard wired as the original UK power board had an issue i guess (this is how it came) but i dont want to use the 110V transformer and board as its too much hassle. I will try to turn up an EU spec board at some point.
Yesterday i finally finished her. Clipping in the BluFuzz strap i have had here for months was quite emotional !! A fitting end to.
This JDM mutant bangs way harder than my other M70 to for some reason. Anyway here she is:
I shelved it and hoped to find some inspiration later on.
A few months later (or 8 actually) i spotted this very poorly looking M70 on epay:
Although it looked poor i hatched a plan to use my good front, the back and most of the internals to make one good one. Sounds easy enough right?
Umm no. What followed were weeks of working on it here and there to try and solve all issues. I did have many pictures of the tear downs and rebuilding but apparently the wife thought i didn't need them any more (probably my own fault for nodding vacantly when she talked to me).
I ending up using the JDM M70 case front and rear and combing the internals to make a working one. This sounds far simpler than it was. I had so many issues i don't know where to start, suffice to say i now am unsure of the JDM to UK parts ratio but it all combined to make one beautiful working M70.
The tape deck took so much work, i have combined the UK tape mech with the board for the JDM speed controls etc and have made a working deck. Amazingly, "working" undersells it.
I combined the original UK deck with all the best parts from the JDM one, all belts and rollers changed, all work parts exchanged for the best from each deck and the result is truly amazing. Probably my finest deck on any of my boomers, it sounds so clear and sharp. It took me nearly 3 weeks just on the deck.
I procured some aerials from Geoff (great to deal with time and time again) and the little spring clips. THe only issue i have left is that it is hard wired as the original UK power board had an issue i guess (this is how it came) but i dont want to use the 110V transformer and board as its too much hassle. I will try to turn up an EU spec board at some point.
Yesterday i finally finished her. Clipping in the BluFuzz strap i have had here for months was quite emotional !! A fitting end to.
This JDM mutant bangs way harder than my other M70 to for some reason. Anyway here she is:
