I've been a lurker for some time, reading this forum along with a Facebook group to which I recently subscribed. Now I made up my mind to open an account here, so thank you for admission. Computers, CD and mp3 made life somewhat easier along the path of time but my heart is, and forever will be, within the realm of analog audio where a stylus vibrates inside a groove and a head tracks a magnetic ribbon. My occupation is related to making music and servicing/restoration of musical instruments but my basic training in electronics from high school days somewhat helped me to understand other than appreciate. Back then I gave up because the course's orientation was aimed to train radio / TV service personnel whereas my real interest was in the other end of frequencies... Anyway, in the end my life found its path through the realm of sound. Justice has been done. Due to accumulation of failures in close succession, which made any restoration attempt unworthy and time consuming, in 2014 I had to recycle my beloved stereo music center, a top-of-the-line Crown bought in 1980. Presently I haven't bought a new record player yet however a handful of excellent decks, either stereo or 4-track, fulfill the task of managing my collection of cassettes - several hundreds either live recordings, rehearsals, home studio productions, radio broadcasts and vinyl transfers. The main reason I signed up here is, I'm a longtime walkman lover - perhaps the kind of analog device to which I've always felt a most peculiar affection. I had several units from 1983 to 2004, none of which survived. After a too-long hiatus I recently stepped back to my old love for tape portables and bought two identical, preloved, cheap Sony walkmans - decent even if decidedly not the best. I am now in the process of getting me a really good one.
Welcome to the forum! All you members from overseas make me really miss travelling, Milano is such a wonderful city, I remember a "junk" shop along a canal with some amazing antiques, the cool stuff like old lights, signs and radios. Of course it was closed when I was there but the pizza shop down the street was open, I had my first "za" with capers and tuna, with some beer it was amazing. Good luck in your quest, we've had members from Italy here that have found some really nice equipment locally over the years.
