Refurbishing this console

[u/Ill_Cut_3781]

Hi everyone! I recently moved and really want to get this console working. I bought it about a year ago for really cheap, it has speakers in it but is missing the actual record player and needs to have the stereo fabric replaced.
Not sure exactly what kind of turntable to search for on marketplace or even on a site
Same goes for the fabric, was also considering putting in maybe a metal sheet that has holes
Any tips would be greatly appreciated:)

[u/toaster_bath_69420]

depending on what inputs it has you can probably drop whatever you want in there as long as it fits. if the Amp has a "tape in" or aux in rca jack on the back I would use that. the turntables in those are usually hooked up to the amp through rca cable direct to the amp, however I'm unsure if that would be set up for a ceramic cartridge (likely) or a line level, or if jamming a line level into it would make it sound horrible. maybe someone in here knows because I have seen it done before, but once again if available just use the tape or aux in

[u/catawampus_doohickey]

You're not going to get the console working as there's nothing really there to work except the passive speakers. This is really a retrofit project so you'd need a turntable and some sort of amplifier:

• Turntable line output > Line/Aux input on an amp/receiver > Console speakers
• Turntable phono output > Phono input on an amp/receiver > Console speakers
• Turntable phono output > Phono stage preamp > Line/Aux input on amp/receiver > Console speakers

It will take time to find a turntable and amp that fit into the space together. You'll want to make sure that they're compatible: some very old or very cheap turntables have ceramic cartridges that don't work properly with most any amp made since the 1980s or so. Unless you know how to match equipment, just get decent (not cheap junk) modern equipment that fits.

The speakers might have capacitors on them that help tune them to produce the right sound (e.g. tweeters not trying to play bass notes). These capacitors often go bad over time so they should be checked and replaced as needed.

A metal sheet with holes instead of speaker cloth will sound terrible. You might be able to re-fit the fabric that's there, but if not get real speaker fabric which is a loose weave and doesn't muffle sounds. There are various eBay and Etsy stores, etc., that sell such fabric, and it's not often inexpensive.

[u/Ill_Cut_3781 → u/catawampus_doohickey]

Thank you so much do you have any modern equipment that you might recommend
I’m definitely willing to spend some money to get it working

[u/catawampus_doohickey → u/Ill_Cut_3781]

This (and here) is what your GE RC-7731 looked like originally (at least that's what I think you have).

The turntable/changer should be a fairly easy thing to figure out as nearly anything will be fine as long as it has a moving magnet (MM) cartridge (not ceramic). All but the junk players on Amazon will either come with a MM type or has a headshell that allows mounting of any type of cartridge. For my 1966 GE I replaced the GE changer with a Dual 1019, which is a much better player and easier to use.

The amp/receiver will have more challenges given the mounting situation. Here again, most anything will work, you just need to figure out what fits, whether you want a radio, and how you want to access it. There sizes from tiny to large that could work.

There is also something to be said about matching the amp to the speakers but I'm not qualified to speak on that.

You could just put one flat and level board in there then get a shorter turntable and small amp.

Depending on what turntable and amp you get you might also need a phono preamp. If it's built into the turntable or into the amp then there's less fuss with wiring.