Thinking about the good old days...


I'm definitely  an old geezer, and have a lot of experiences and memories to reflect on.  Lately, I've been remembering the enjoyment of "audio" back when I was just starting down this path: the music was just so amazingly enjoyable and fun.  I think my greatest satisfaction with my own audio stuff was when what-passed-for-my-system was a Fisher 90T tuner/preamp, Fisher 80AZ amp, a University speaker enclosure that I built ftom a lot fitted with 12" University woofer and some University tweeter (I forget what).  The only source was a Lenco turntable with a GE VR2 cartridge.  Dang, that stuff was just so wonderful to my young self!
pinkyboy
I built my first system. Dynaco PAT4 and stereo 80 amp, AR turntable, and AR 4x speakers, tandberg reel to reel.. Took them to college with me! Everyone came into my room for the music. I spoofed everyone into thinking I was receiving WOR fm 250 miles away in Ithaca! I was playing the reel to reel....
I grew up in Ft Worth, first “system” was Heathkit fold up “record player in a suitcase” I got for Christmas.
Can’t remember now which Beatles album was the first, “upgraded “ to Radio Shack BSR turntable, receiver & speakers, I remember drooling over gear at Marvin’s Electronics on University Blvd, but couldn’t afford anything, bought used Tecnics gear when I was at A&M- loved it, have up - graded over the years- I’m happy w it, but damn- does anything really live up to the memories of your youth- on any level?
Very little was better in "the good old days" except age. Medicine, cars, household conveniences and audio were all grossly inferior to today. Nostalgia creates a massive and cloudy filter. Back in my youth I thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if the world could be like Scotty on Star Trek and I could just tell a computer what to play?" Well guess what? Now I can. And no snap, crackle, pop or hiss.
Very little was better? How about 1950's Fender, Gibson, and Martin Guitars. Gretsch and Radio King drumsets, K. Zildjian cymbals made in Turkey. Big ol' Cadillac El Dorados and Lincoln Continentals (just yesterday I saw one with a black paint job and white leather interior, dropped a few inches. Wicked cool!