Restoring a GE Kubrick Stereo Console with Porta-Fi, Model 522g

[@juanvillanueva5267]

As a teen in late 70's, I would hang out in friends house. This very GE console was the center of our entertainment. We played disco over FM into the night. The sound was magnificent! The times............. 😊

[@David-wy9jl]

Thanks for this video. I purchased a new GE console stereo with a Kubrick unit for my parents as a Christmas present back in the 60's. There are gone now, but the stereo console lives on with me. It needs some updating as the controls have a lot of static. You've made me feel optimistic that I can remove the electronics and have a shop professionally go thru it. Thanks again.

[@Psychedelicxylophone]

These units made me freak as a child during the 1980's These are only one of the reasons i still love playing vinyl records. The fluted speaker designs made my head turn. The control facia panels and turntables totally draw me in. They look and sound like nothing else. Speaks volumes of nostalgia of the period like nothing else!!!!

[@jamiemerrill9451]

me to

[@hestheMaster]

Great job Steve! I wondered how the GE Porta-Fi system worked. Now I know.

[@regalt1987]

had the porta-fi speaker with ours

[@ChristianPinnock-u5c]

Basically it's a amplified FM speaker

[@2packs4sure]

I think that's one of the rare instances where the completely changing the grille cloth made it better,, it's a cleaner sharper crisper look...

[@simonehernandez1781]

Hey Steve, great video, i own this exact same model and i just checked out your website! your not to far from me!

[@klarmeyer2]

Hats off to you Steve! I love the way you explain things so clearly so that even someone like me can understand! Now if only I had the courage to do my own recap! My luck, I would blow up the unit plus the garage!

[@elgustoesmiochupaki6119]

Although I grew up with The graduate console, one of my aunts had this Kubrick. This model is from 1967. It sounded ok. But the Graduate had some designs that made it slightly better. For one in the graduate speakers were a closed in a sound pod and the tweeters were hot loaded. Also the amp on the graduate was more powerful. The Mubrick”s amp is 60 watts per Chanel. The graduate was a bit higher. It think is was 100 watts per Chanel. There was a slight improvement on the graduate III. Thanks for the video. You are a talented man. I hope the console finds a new home soon where it will be appreciated.

[@Foxonian]

I used to have one of those Porti Fi transmitters and the same speaker. Couldn't make it work no matter what I did. Ended up selling both units to another collector. Nice restoration on that stereo.

[@Graneka]

I just bought one of these and this has been instrumental to helping me understand how to restore it! Thank you so much for making this.

[@SteveScarlet]

My pleasure... 🙂

[@genehammond7239]

Love the channel Steve I'm looking at consoles and did not know that I was looking at a Kobrick Thanks !!!

[@michaelbyrne8860]

Love that you do all the upgrades and the Fit & Finish! I don't understand the Porta Speaker? It's a mono speaker? But that's, a beautiful console! I liked the striped speaker cover better? But As you said it's now a Mrs. Kubrick! CMTFU! I love the 60's Stereo Console Systems, but when I was able to afford stereo components in the 70's everything was modular very hip! But I now believe those systems you refurbished sound as good? If not better than the hip systems I could afford! But those Consoles were hell to move in a car by yourself??? Nice work!

[@ChristianPinnock-u5c]

Inside the console is a small transmitter so you can listen without all the trailing wires all over the place pretty neat if you think about it basically it's a intercom system

[@larrydaniels6532]

Looks great!

[@geraldford6409]

Gorgeous MCM piece

[@brettkaufman2299]

I like your cloth choice better than the original.

[@garygrant.5311]

Hell yeah fix it up brother it's a,really nice cabinet be way with it when your done I'll buy it from ya LOL

[@juanvillanueva5267]

I am very familiar with this console. Back in mid - late 70s I enjoyed the sound of this bad boy listening to disco over WBLS, FM in Brooklyn, NYC. The sound was fantastic! With time the power on/ pilot light in bottom front of cabinet died. Eventually one channel died as well. The original GE changer was also swapped out for a BSR. Soon after disco met its demise as did large imposing stereo hi fi consoles. Then the dreaded 80s arrived, disco gave way to Boy George and the world went to Hell. (Sorry, I can babble for days!).....😅

[@SteveDave29]

I would be inclined to red-eye the original. And Have you ever taken an air compressor to grill cloth?

[@dxiong5]

Thanks for the awesome video! Would the danish oil change the tone of the wood/veneer if you were to use a light walnut? I have a GE C523 console and the wood looks a bit darker than the Kubrick in your video; I’m hoping to restore and lighten the color a bit.

[@SteveScarlet]

No it will not lighten it, you would have to completely remove the finish to do that.....

[@bmccarty2012]

The grill covers frequently look warped in the pics I see of these. I'm wondering if that influenced GE go to the wooden louvers in the the very similar-looking C443m cabinets. I'm not sure which style came first.

[@dxiong5]

What do you use the clean the glass/lexan and the knobs/switches?

[@TheGolden_A]

Hey man great unit, great video. Whats the cloth used as grill, how do you find it online. Really good looking!

[@SteveScarlet]

Acoustone Cloth, sold by Newcastle Fabrics.....

[@SteveDave29]

What makes it a Kubrick? Is there a delineation in the William Tell Cabinet like from GE?

[@mazdaminitruckin]

Is there a source for this same turntable that shows the tonearm mechanism? I have this same console and can not get the tonearm to swing to the record at all. It just lifts and sets back down on the rest. If I manually move to the record, it just flops to the center. I'm trying to learn everything I can about it. Or maybe a suggestion of a drop in replacement that is better? Thanks!

[@SteveScarlet]

This Photofact has what you need: www.ebay.com/itm/116007430409?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=dUekBthDRHq&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=ZEPMFTt7TM2&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@christopherleadingham8774]

Thank you so much for this video! I purchased one of these a few months ago and have been slowly working on it. I was able to put new capacitors in it but was stumped by the giant filter capacitor. What size did you replace the original with? I tried a 1200 uF 450 V but it caused a moderate hum, compared to the original 1000 MFD 35 VDC filter capacitor.

[@addyboyze123]

That 450v is a bit overkill, just use a 1000uf 50v....they are readily available

[@cliffordstaten2082]

Witch year is this stereo.

[@regalt1987]

Makes me so sad to see this unit, Grandparents gifted it to me... I lost it when I could not afford a storage payment in my 20's... Ive been looking for one ever since.

[@toddcooper7660]

What’s the best way to get the knobs off? I’m trying to restore a GE transistor stereo. Still not sure what year it is.

[@SteveScarlet]

Pull them off....

[@bertroost1675]

Man! they barely left any room for the speakers to be heard, lol.

[@garygrant.5311]

If I was you brother I'd take egg crate and cover the subwoofers that way it will push all the bass out the front instead of the cabinet give it a try

[@adambowman6401]

Whats that worth?

[@ZyllAvatar]

My father had one exactly like this my sister is selling now.

[@marktubeie07]

These USA GEs look fantastic and good quality. Trouble is here in Australia, these GE Stereograms were generally crap and built to a low price point, so I have to remind myself that these are American models as I immediately cringe at the mention of GE !!

[@d35martin1]

Bought new one in 1967

[@koolstuff69]

Another great video but skipped a little detail but loved it.

[@garygrant.5311]

Hell yeah fix it up brother it's a,really nice cabinet be way with it when your done I'll buy it from ya LOL