OK, Sentimental theme….. get ready for a long story:
When I was getting ready to go to college, back in 1978, I took my summer job money, and invested in a “real” stereo system, components vs “all-in-one”. A real rite-of—passage back then, probably like getting your first iPod today!! The heart of the system was a JVC Receiver, with the coolest blue display!! My older brother and I both had the same receiver, though I bought mine as a floor model, saved a few precious bucks.
I loved that receiver. Maybe it’s a “guy thing”, but love it I did….
During the summer between Junior and Senior year, my apartment got hit by lightning, and my dear JVC was one of the casualties. A buddy of mine worked at the tech service department, I was a budding electrical engineer, we decided to try to fix that sucker. We spent days and days, pulling transistors, testing them, finding them bad, and replacing them. Eventually, we got it so that at full volume, you could hear the music… IF (and only if) you put your ear right next to the speaker. Alas, a lost cause.
Through the years, I’ve had several other music systems, none of which captured my fancy. And every time I’d visit my brother, there was his old workhorse, still cranking out the tunes. Then I discovered the joys of eBay, and one day found another same-vintage JVC receiver! Not an exact match, but close enough. And it now sits proudly in my “study”, still hooked to a turntable, ready to do my bidding. And just looking at it brings a smile….
