Hacking a Peanuts Crosley RSD Record Player

I am embarrassed to admit this, but my name is Christopher and....I bought a Peanuts Record Player last Saturday on RSD.

The audiophile in me CRINGED when I even debated buying it. I KNEW that it would never play my trusted and expensive vinyl collection. Everything inside me said, "Do NOT be fooled by this charlatan who uses your favourite colours and comic book character from your childhood to steal $130 from your wallet".

"Maybe my two children - ages 14 and 10 - would finally get into playing records if they used it?"

SO yes, I did it. I bought one of these plastic monstrosities...because I think it triggered something from my childhood. Peanuts have always represented a happy time in my childhood (my Aunt would always bring back groovy Peanuts things from the States for me because she knew I loved them). And orange is not only my favourite colour, it is a mission statement. Enough said.

I thought I would begin a thread on this, as I was thinking..."how hard would it be to simply replace the table portion on this small player with an older model table - with some modifications - and then actually have a decent table, with the ability to set the weight on the tone arm, change carts, etc. that wouldn't ruin my records?"

So, I am going to start a thread for all of us who bought one of these things to see if we can save the case of this toy player and make a frankenstein turntable. It might be an exercise in futility, but if it COULD happen, I know the best place to ask for advice would be here on the sh forum.

My first question is this (and I have just begun looking): are there any old SMALL tables with these dimensions: 9 x 13 x 2 that one could plop into this case?

Worst case scenario: I have a ton of old vinyl that I would never play on my Rega tables, and this allows me to play them for fun (as well as some beat up 78s that I won't play on my Elac Miracord designated for 78s). If it is relegated as a piece of furniture in my studio so be it. I was ok with that when I bought it

Let the fun and the dreaming begin!

 

GOOD GRIEF... (jk)

 

Have you asked Lucy?

 

i haven't seen one photo of this thing

 

How much did these go for?

 

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rsd+peanuts+turntable

 

List was $119.99

 

LMAO!

 

In some sick way I really like that.

 

I'd start off by putting an SME 309 arm on it.

 

Meh. Keep it as is. Nice collectible, not necessary for playing.

 

i'd blow apart a Rega and take the arm, motor and platter assemble and mill a new mdf insert to replace the crossly plastic bit and make a "Sleeper" out of it

 

can't really pull the arm unless you put another crystal cart on the new arm for the internal amp/phono

 

I had one of these in-hand Tuesday but didn't bite because cute as it is , the quality is for crap. There is no scenario to drop anything into that case that makes any sense at all unless you wanted to spend silly four-figure money to have someone hand-build something modified from other components. Enjoy it for what it is... Cute Crap.

 

I bought one, too. It will likely forever be a decoration. Unless I have kids and introduce them to records. Or maybe to take to record shows.

 

I would have purchased one, but my local store didn't have one.

P.S. Actually I would have to pass if the charge was $119. I was thinking $50-60. They got 'em for up to $300-400 on ebay now. I'll somehow extra pass on that.

 

I looked at it.
wanted to buy it.
left thinking it would be weird walking out of the shop and by 200 people waiting to get in with one in my hand.
What if I saw someone I knew??
They had 20 so figured Id buy one on Monday when no one was looking.
Yeah, they sold em all....

 

I bought one but have not received it yet.

Mine is for my 3 year old. He has records and a record player currently but he shares his player with his mother (ProJect Debut III) and right now it is too high for him to reach. My thought is that he can have his beat up Disney and Raffi records in his room with this suitcase player and if anything gets more trashed, well, so be it

Edit:

I have no plans whatsoever to modify it and my record collection is not going anywhere near it or anywhere near a 3 year old's hands.

 

Is this it ? Ugh don't risk your precious vinyl. Worth about 1/10th the retail price.

 

Nice and very informative reply.

 

I wouldn't bother.

Just use it for non-rare, beat up, thrift store or dollar bin records.

 

Since it runs at 78rpm, one could get a 78 stylus for this unit and use it for some beat-up 78s. The heavy tracking weight of these Crosley arms should inflict much additional wear on some already-worn 78s.

Those tiny speakers probably make all records sound like a telephone recording, however.

 

This is Crosley's generic player. I've seen the same model with other brand names on them. The plain jane design lets other people tart them up, design-wise. I came across one in a thrift store for $6 and examined it and passed. Not that the peanuts theme isn't cute, but its certainly not worth the effort trying to make something real out of it.

 

But seriously, out of all the amusing sheepish "I bought a _____" confessions I've read here at The Hoff, this one may be my favorite