The 'Cult Classic' Columbia GP3 Turntable
Wow these weeks are really flying by now.
Anyone who's been here for a while will know that following one of the marathon efforts like the Dataplay demonstration last week, the subsequent videos usually end up being a bit simpler to give me a chance to get back on track.
So with that in mind - here's a look at a portable record player.
I did find enough time to add on a silly outro though for those that are interested.
Hope you're having a good day.
RetroTech: Columbia GP3 Portable Turntable - Don't believe the hype (YouTube)
Comments (46)
Speaking of turntables, you should review this one, a pretty strange product :P <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/soundmaster-NR545DAB-Bluetooth-Cassette-Turntable/dp/B01EKB6HLU" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/soundmaster-NR545DAB-Bluetooth-Cassette-Turntable/dp/B01EKB6HLU</a>
Unfortunately there are a whole load of record players that use the exact same cheap mechanism, turntable/arm/stylus (it comes as a bundle) and they all perform identically as a result. I don't like this mechanism. You can always recognise it from a picture of a product by the red 'cartridge' on the end of the tone arm. That red is a sign of danger - a warning to stay away. Here's the only video where I encountered that mechanism. <a href="https://youtu.be/bEkj4BVaD0s" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/bEkj4BVaD0s</a>
I really only watch techmoan in the hope of a sketch at the end.
I wish I could do more - but an idea needs to pop into my head first.
Opening with Bobby Womack... and it seems to be from the Jackie Brown soundtrack. Big thumbs up!
Finally, I can cast off my shame. I’ve never seen Top Gun either.
Really funny sketch! Thanks for putting in the time to do them.
Gold. Thanks.
"Not includes Tom Cruise". Bet you were one disappointed bloke when you opened the package, Matt.
"You need to speak up!" -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu0R96OZy6w" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu0R96OZy6w</a>
Funny and interesting Mat... Thanks. Although the 8 gram tracking force made my gut clench. I'm one of those old-school guys with a cartridge that tracks at one gram. (Even my first record player, a 1968 RCA Victor portable, only tracked at 5 grams... then again, it wouldn't play hanging from a wall either.)
That eBay noise sure got me all tingly! I thought I was being outbid. Strange thing is, i'm not bidding on anything. It's that unnerving.
Exellent as always. Cornelius' albums are brilliant, though, not that you'd tell from that noise.
I was late to learn that I shouldn't close the video as soon as the credits roll because I sometimes miss out on the puppets! It was a hoot for me this time as I watch a lot of ASMR vids for relaxation & tingles.
There don't seem to be many people here who have watched ASMR - I'd expect the humour of the outro would play better if you're aware of it. I've listened to the first ten seconds of one of the videos once - but the thought of some stranger whispering to me, creeped me out - and then the fact they had millions of subscribers and been on youtube about a month, added a feeling of failure and despair.
The end of the puppet sketch gave me a good belly laugh for a solid minute. Well done as always! 👍
If anything I make can bring some joy then I know I'm doing something right.
Awesome! Cornelius was such a werido haha I didn't know about this until now, but he put out a 5" record of "I Love Love" b/w "I Hate Hate" which was the same 1.5 minute on both sides. He definitely put out some quirky/kitschy stuff. His albums were pretty good though!
The most famous ASMR video of them all: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RjhsY06mOI" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RjhsY06mOI</a>
Amazing - that young woman's channel has 2 million subscribers and that video has >28 million views! What gives? I had never even heard of ASMR until Mat's video today. Mat, maybe you should try whispering your way through your next video - seems to be the way to get the really big numbers of viewers ;-)
I love some of your throw away lines, Mat. "... at least it's stereo rubbish..." :)
"If this is considered a cult classic, it's another reminder to avoid cults." :D
Love the music you used.
Hey ... so ... the clip ... the keyholes on the back ... will it really play vertically? How is the tone arm held to the disc?
Yep - see the section around 07:27 - as far as what’s holding the arm to the record - springs.
On first listening, it sounded like you said that the flexidisc was intended to also be used as a slip mat, as opposed to "what looks like a slip mat at first glance is actually a flexidisc".
Was that record the Jackie Brown soundtrack?
Yes it was.
what! no kirkland batteries this time :)
No, I was tired of all the ‘You have Costco in the UK?’ questions. I also made sure to use matching batteries. Last time I mixed makes you’d have thought from reading the comments that I’d demonstrated how to construct a dirty bomb.
Note the Top Gun quote on the box?
Which one?
Great review of a retro toy with an interesting 2018 price point . Loved the puppet sketch too 👍
The cacophony in the puppets video made me laugh. A reasonably nice ASMR is the one situated in a barbershop. There’s also a video with a guy walking through downtown Manhattan. That’s about it for me regarding that subject. ;)
Ah, Corneilius he shouts... I know about him due to featuring in a MUCH more chilled out fashion on the much missed Coco / DaBank BBC Radio 1 late night vehicle 'Blue Room'. I strongly recommend the Blue Room album released early in the shows several year run, for Mat and indeed anyone that likes to take a walk to the left with their tunage. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Room-Various/dp/B0000CE1T0/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1541941913&sr=1-3&keywords=the+blue+room" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Room-Various/dp/B0000CE1T0/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1541941913&sr=1-3&keywords=the+blue+room</a> It's a 15+ year old compilation that perennially sounds as if it were released yesterday!
Based on my flexidisc I think I may have heard enough. I’d have more fun playing a chapatti (on a Crosley) at the wrong speed.
By the way I have the Gemini from the same folks doing the Cosmo. Admittedly I don't use mine as a phone but as a PDA replacement for my old Psion organiser, being sort of Psion and miniature laptop in one. I think the folks who are really getting the most out of it are folks who write or edit lots of documents when out and about which can't really be done on a phone. It can save carrying a laptop for some. If however viewed just as a phone with a keyboard I think it might not score so well. For me personally I think it's great.
Great box - shame about the contents. ASMR - I had look that up and, well, it was a revelation. It’s a funny old world.
Interesting review as always Mat. Love the Muppets, think I'm getting a tingly sensation
Great video, as always! I appreciate the time you took to use your stable of specialized tools to measure the tracking force, speed, and flutter. You have any other cool tools which you haven't covered and might warrant their own videos?
I don’t think I’ve got any more...but if anyone can suggest something that’s easy to use and looks understandable on camera then I’ll add to the list in future.
Thanks Mat. I really enjoyed the video. It is a shame the GP3 is mono. The wall mounting feature is facinating. I like you talking over the Patreon supporters part. I admit I used to fast forward to the end hoping to see 'The Moans'. The sketch today made me really laugh! Best wishes, Tez. (Do I get a star for being the forst Patreon comment?)
You can have a ‘heart’ for being second. Hope that’s ok.
ASMR is so ripe for a send-up that I don’t think I really did it justice. However it’s so silly in its own right that you’ll have fun. As far as the original price goes, I don’t know. However when people convert historical Yen to current prices they often fail to take into account the flat inflation over that period in Japan and the average disposable income at the time, and also the price of other similar devices. It’s not as easy as just popping a price into XE.com. e.g. After the video on the Sony tape winder there were so many who converted the yen price listed on the 1980s box for the winder into USD and said ‘wow it cost $60’ ...it didn’t, it was probably more like $40. But if your average bloke in Japan had earned the equivalent of $500,000 a year then $40 would be peanuts to them.
Eeeeh, in my day we called ASMR, 'The Orb...'
Great video which just goes to show that back in the day, a lot of 'Fi' was Lo-Fi! Any idea how much these were when they were current, and how that price would have compared to, say, a basic mono cassette player? As to ASMR - never heard of it until your puppets mentioned it, so starting to look into it. Thus far, it seems to consist of pulchritudinous young ladies whispering about nothing in particular. I may have to investigate more thoroughly. If I'm not back in 3 days, send a search party.....