First Jukebox opinions

PrepP

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Seeburg STD-4 Mardi Gras Questions

I am going to pickup my first jukebox tomorrow. It's a Seeburg STD-4 Mardi Gras. I have no knowledge of jukeboxes at the moment but I do like to learn and tinker. I got into the arcade hobby a few years ago and have been looking for a good deal on a nice looking jukebox for the last year or so.

I just wanted to get some of you guys opinions on this particular jukebox. Give me any info you can or just your opinion of it. Is it known to break alot? Are there any problems this model is known for? Is $100 too much for this machine? Please let me know what you got.

I have not seen it in person but it looks to be in good shape cosmetically. The only problem that the owner mentioned was that the amp makes a hissing noise. I am guessing it needs to be recapped. What do you guys think?

Thanks for the help.
 
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Cool looking machine. If it functions I'd feel lucky to get it for $100, even if the amp needs to be capped.

Only problems I can recall was the clutch tower seizes up and it won't advance to the next record. And the Tormat memory boxes get funny sometimes. Usually trip circuits.

I've no idea what the market value is but I can tell you this, I've seen people asking a lot more for a lot worse.

Good luck!
_)
 
Picked it up this morning! Very cool machine. Needs a good cleaning, a little rewiring, and some work to fix the amp. Got about 50 or so records and a few extra parts with it too. Pretty happy with this pickup. Time to start researching and trying to learn about this thing.

One thing I was wondering about is replacing the two subs. Is it as easy as buying two new subs from Walmart? Or do I need to look for any specific type of subs?
 
Thats a cool looking seeburg.. for a$100 bucks thats a great deal. Sounds like a good start up project. I bought this mini file set at home depot. its perfect to clean the contacts. its width is 1/4 inch long and thin. comes with 5 other files with a slight different shape for 9 bucks and use I sand paper to clean contacts on top and under the frame.. I take my time cleaning all contacts and lubing. I just bought my first seeburg less than a year ago and now i have 5 alltogether. Keep us posted on progress. I like filling up the juke with 80's jams... cheezy and cool ones. Can you believe i found pac man fever for a whopping dollar. private collectors sell 80's for about a buck a record, i saw whip it from devo for 9.00 yikes.
 
Picked it up this morning! Very cool machine. Needs a good cleaning, a little rewiring, and some work to fix the amp. Got about 50 or so records and a few extra parts with it too. Pretty happy with this pickup. Time to start researching and trying to learn about this thing.

One thing I was wondering about is replacing the two subs. Is it as easy as buying two new subs from Walmart? Or do I need to look for any specific type of subs?

What you're calling subs, may just be large speakers designed to produce a wider range than a dedicated sub woofer.

The key figure to know is impedance, usually they're 4 or 8 ohm, just be sure replacements match the originals. This value is usually marked on the back of the magnet.

It would be even better if you knew the frequency range of the original speakers, most collectors have their original speakers re-coned instead of replaced outright. Personally I wouldn't replace the speakers unless they were damaged.
 
I'm afraid it's NEVER just that easy.

I don't really know the Seeburg stuff that well, but would bet the speakers are fine, most likely the amp needs caps or your cartridge is dying. What's the problem with the sound?

If you do need speakers, I can recommend MCM Electronics. 1 800 543-4330 Always get good service from them guys.


Elnuno - If you're looking for Devo's Whip It, I may have a spare copy, much cheaper than $9!
 
Thanks for the replies.

I haven't hooked up the juke yet to see what the problem with the sound is myself. The guy I bought it from wired it so that he could plug it into an external amp (like a guitar amp) to play the records. He said that the reason he did this is because when he played it out of the jukebox speakers there was a hissing sound. I have not hooked it up to hear it myself just yet. I plan on cleaning it up some and then figuring how to wire it back up to the original amp to test it out myself. Just have to find the time to start on it with all this other stuff I got going on.

You mentioned that the cartridge could be bad. I am a complete noob when it comes to jukeboxes so could you explain what the cartridge's function is? Unfortunately I did not grow up with this technology so I am reading and researching as I go to learn.

A couple of you guy's mention keeping the speakers in there if they are working. As far as I know they are fine. They look ok to me. I was just wanting to replace them due to their age. I figured that some newer woofers would have better sound than the 30 year old ones in there now. Were you guys saying I should keep the ones in there just to keep it original and intact or would some newer woofers give me better sound quality once I get it working? If I did replace them I would keep the originals.
 
Hi PrepP,

If the speakers are intact the cones have no holes in them and move without any scraping noises coming from the coil then leave them alone, the speakers were designed for the cabinet and the cones would have been designed to give the best sound available.
If they are damaged then send them away to be reconed with the correct paper type.

The cartridge should be ok but you would be best to change both the A side and B side styli.

If you want advice on Seeburg jukeboxes then the late Tony Millar's website.
Also get Tony Millar's and Ron Rich's Books on Seeburg jukebox trouble shooting.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
 
Getting some good info from you guys. I took this thing apart last night and gave it a really good cleaning and started putting some of the pieces back on it. When I took the front cover off the subs looked just fine visually. I saw no holes or anything. I haven't tested them acoustically yet though. I still have to undo the last owners rewiring it for an external amp.

A few people have mentioned cleaning the "contacts" with sand paper. What do they mean by contacts? And how do I know where they are in my machine? I have a manual. How many contacts are there total?

I also read about lubing and greasing some parts. What parts do I need to grease? What do I use to grease them? What is the best method of greasing the parts?

Sorry for all of the noob questions. I am reading and researching everyday more about this machine. It is slowly sinking in a little at a time. I appreciate all the help and resources you guys are offering. Can you guys link to any videos or step by step instructions on doing some of these tasks that may help me?
 
Hi PrepP,

For the oil/grease lubrication check out the lubrication chart if there is one usually on the rear panel. Needless to say Ron Rich and Tony Millars books should cover lubrication.

If you use sandpaper or emery paper you will damage the contacts, there is burnishing tools you can use or use one of those fibreglass type pencils.

Regards
Alan Hood
ami-man
UK
 
So I finished cleaning her up last night and re-installing all of the painted panels that go behind the glass. Nice to see it all back together. I cut off the 1/4 inch plugs that the last owner put on so he could hook it up to an external amp. One of the plugs had a red and a black wire. I think these were for the left speaker according to the manual. I looked in my manual and wired the red to the "50" and the black to the ground. The other plug had 3 wires on it. A black, blue, and red. I wired just the blue to the "50" and the black to the ground for the right speaker. I am not sure where that extra red wire is coming from. There was also a green and a yellow wire not connected to anything. Unsure on where those go also.

Anyway I fired it up after wiring the left and right speakers up as I described above. I left the other red, green and yellow wires unconnected. When I powered it up I got a loud, constant HUUUMMMMMMM noise. I tried playing a record and it picked the record and was playing it, but not out of the speakers. I could hear it playing very very faintly if I listened close. I think that was coming from the part that plays the record though. Can any of you guys offer any ideas?

I will be looking into purchasing those Ron Rich and Tony Millars books when I can save up some extra cash.
 
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Maybe the first thing you should try is removing those wires you just connected. Consult a manual and make sure you are hooking thing up properly. Don't blow up your amp!
 
Have a chance to pick up one like this. Did you ever get it running and if so did you get a manual or paperwork with it?
Thanks
 
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