How to Use Your Old Motorola Solid State Record Player: A Step-by-Step Guide
Are you one of the lucky few who still have an old Motorola solid state record player collecting dust in your attic or basement? If so, you’re in for a treat! These retro record players may not be as sleek or high-tech as modern devices, but they still have a certain charm and can provide hours of entertainment. In this article, we’ll show you how to use your old Motorola solid state record player and get it up and running in no time.
Before You Start
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- Your old Motorola solid state record player
- A power source (if it’s not battery-powered)
- A selection of vinyl records
- A pair of headphones or speakers
Step 1: Dust and Clean the Player
Before you start playing your records, give your player a good dusting and cleaning. Use a soft cloth to wipe down the exterior and remove any dust or debris that may have accumulated. Use a can of compressed air to blow out any dust or dirt that may have gotten into the player’s mechanisms.
Step 2: Place the Record
Carefully place the record on the turntable, making sure it’s centered and not touching the edges of the platter. If your player has a tonearm, gently lift it and place it on the record, making sure it’s not touching the grooves.
Step 3: Adjust the Tracking Force
The tracking force is the amount of pressure the tonearm applies to the record. You’ll need to adjust this to ensure the needle doesn’t dig too deeply into the record and cause distortion. Check your player’s manual for the recommended tracking force, which is usually around 1.5-2.5 grams.
Step 4: Turn on the Player
Plug in your player and turn it on. If it’s battery-powered, make sure the batteries are fresh and installed correctly. You should hear a gentle hum or whir as the player warms up.
Step 5: Adjust the Volume
Use the volume control on your player to adjust the sound level to your liking. You may need to adjust the volume multiple times as you play different records.
Step 6: Play Your Records
Place the needle on the record and start playing! You should hear the music coming through the speakers or headphones. If the sound is distorted or skips, try adjusting the tracking force or cleaning the record.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure the record is clean and free of scratches or cracks, as these can cause distortion or skipping.
- Use a record cleaning solution and a soft cloth to clean your records before playing them.
- Experiment with different tonearm settings to find the optimal balance for your records.
- Consider investing in a record weight or clamp to help keep the record stable and prevent warping.
Conclusion
Using your old Motorola solid state record player is a fun and rewarding experience that can provide hours of entertainment. With a little care and maintenance, you can enjoy your vinyl records for years to come. So dust off that old player, grab a record, and get ready to spin some tunes!
How do I use the old Motorola solid state record player
That arm over the record is not the arm with the needle in it.
Well, you can use it to get an audible interpretation of the lumpy features in the spiral groove… At one of 11/20, 3/4 and 1 1/4 rounds per second
Pictures of the rest of the cabinet would be helpful but I’ll try to help. First, make sure there is actually a needle in the arm to play the record. If you’re missing the needle, you’ll need to find one. Second, there’s probably some kind of selector knob to switch inputs on this cabinet, not sure what else this cabinet does? 8 tracks? Am/ fm radio? The input you want is most likely labeled “Phono”. Next is to determine what speed record you plan to play. The record currently on the table is 33-1/3 and is most common. There are also 45 records that are smaller and only have 1 song per side. You’ll likely never encounter anyone else. Flip the switch at the corner to corresponding speed. Now you’re ready to pick up the needle arm and gently place on the outside edge of the record. Usually the record will start to spin once you swing the arm over. If that doesn’t happen, you’re probably out of luck, unless you want to dig into the mechanics of this thing. If it spins but you don’t hear any music, the speakers could be shot. You may be able to hook up your own speakers to this somewhere but they likely need to be amplified to around right.
Additionally, this is set up with a stacker spindle. You can load a few records on the spindle to hang above the playing arm, and they will automatically drop and play once the current record is finished. Just saying that second arm over the turntable out of the way, load the records, and swing that arm back on top of the stack.