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I am a music lover.
Should I say, I am a music connoisseur?
I will be a tad more honest and say that, when it comes to music, I am a hoarder.
I've always loved music. I don't just enjoy listening to the radio though. I like having music. I don't want to listen to whatever the disc jockey decides to play. I want a collection to choose from to listen to what I want to listen to when I want to listen to it.

Remembering way back, I remember borrowing a tape recorder much like the one shown in this photo from my grandmother. I would sit it on the floor in the bedroom between two speakers attached to an old console stereo to record the weekly top forty countdown.
During high school, I made payments on a huge, loud, and at the time over priced, Fisher stereo system. It has stereo, record turn table, and a CD player. Soon after that, although I had hundreds of cassette tapes, I bought my first CD. I still have that CD in my collection. If you take care of them, they last.
Fast forward to today. The town I live in does not even have a music store. Most of my music is bought online and downloaded. It is cheaper this way, but I still like having the actual physical CD. So in my collection are many store bought CDs, but also a lot of burned CDs.

Some time back I built a new chest type CD case to go along with a similar one I already had. You can read more about that project here if you'd like.
As it goes with a music hoarder though, I recently realized I had outgrown this chest type storage for my CDs. Actually I had outgrown it by about five smaller store bought CD boxes and one box that a ceiling fan came in that were all completely full.
So it was time to build something different. To be honest, I've been thinking about this project for over a year now. I just finally made up my mind how I wanted to do it and got everything I needed to decorate it gathered.

For the base of the cabinet, I wanted my stereo in it. On the left is my stereo unit and the right is my five disc CD player. The middle holds accessories that I use, such as my IPod that I listen to often and the charger for my phone and IPod.
Yes, I know they make smaller and more modern stereo units. I like my old system though. The one I bought back in high school finally burned out and quit working about a year and a half ago. So I found this one at a yard sale for ten dollars.
I started this build and was about to start making legs to get it up higher than the floor. Then I thought about it and decided to build it atop this desk in my shop. This is a very old, very sturdy, desk that sits in my shop. It was given to me. It was once in the First National Bank here in Vicksburg. I guess they just threw stuff out when it was shut down. When I got it I cleaned out papers that has stationary of the bank's president.
Anyway, moving on.

Above the stereo compartment I started building the CD compartment. Since it was thinner than the bottom section, I decided to move it forward for easier reach. This leaves space behind the top part. I made holes in the back of the top on the stereo section. This allows all wires to be hidden behind the upper section without hanging down to create an ugly mess or interfering with the desk sitting close to the wall.

The top of the CD compartment and the doors is decorated with old musical instruments. The trombone is attached to the top of the cabinet. The guitar and banjo are attached to the doors.

Then I scattered old eight track tapes all over the doors.

In my opinion, these decorative items is what makes it more than just a simple media cabinet and sets it apart, which is exactly what I was trying to do.

I was sure to leave enough space inside the cabinet for further growth of my music collection, because I know I can't stop my obsession.

Gallery

Comments

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Great cabinet. Love the banjo. That is a lot of CDs.
 

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Good to have all your CDs in one place and at arms length.
I too, love the instrument cluster!!!

8-Tracks bring back memories….
Always had to stick a book of matches under the tape, to get them to play right!!!
 

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What a visual treat! The instruments on the outside are a stroke of genius.
Well done, buddy.
 

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hey that is a great cabinet, music sooths the soul and also rocks it when that occasion comes, this is certainly a one of a kind and as always you did a great job…just so you know i tried to call you back when you had called, but never heard from you after that, i hope your well…as can be…
 

· In Loving Memory (Eddie)
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Williams that's a big collection of music, love the cabnit and the outside decorative items ,
 

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Did someone say cd!? Nice one william
 

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That is fantastic William! WowZa!! Those 8-tracks….lol, ........ I think you forgot the reel-to-reel… hahahaha. I'm sure ya had one o those. I did.
 

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Very awesome sir. Wow what a collection.
 

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First off, I'm jealous you have so much shop space to have this luxury cabinet - but second - it's cool and you did it your way. Lot's of memories in there sure….looks like a fun one. Just never know what we'll see next William….Carry on….

And Roger - I always dreamed of having a reel-to-reel (back in the day) but alas, it never transpired. I have a musician friend that just bought an old school Tascam (I think) reel-to-reel to lay down his music…...it's really cool…...
 

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William- very cool. The eight tracks are a great touch.
 

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Great cabinet, William!! Fun design! Thanks for sharing.
 

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A question begs to be asked.
Were you to play each & every CD, in order (only once)....
How long would the bar stay open???
 

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Heck of a collection… Nice cabinet, love the 8 track decor.

CtL
 

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Thank you all very much.

Grizz, I tried a couple more times to call when I was down. I've been so busy lately I haven't gotten a chance. I hope to catch up to you one day soon.

Randy, that is the question, isn't it?

Roger, I've never had a reel to reel. I have at different times in my life though had collections of records, eight tracks, cassettes, and CDs.
The records and eight tracks are long lost.
The tapes I dubbed and burned to disc, but with a loss in sound quality. I've slowly replaced most of those with higher quality versions.
The CDs I still own every one.
Now most of my music is bought as digital files, but I hope to be able to keep them in physical form of CDs for as long as I can.

As for the eight tracks, they were all non-playing. However, I have some interesting ones on there.
Kiss
Bob Dylan
Fleetwood Mac
Among other oldies but goodies.
 

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Sweet cabinet William…..

Randy, Did you light the matches before sticking them under???
 

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Yay to having the hard copy! I'm really annoyed at the amount of commercials my favorite radio stations play. It's like one song, 10 commercials, another song, 10 more commercials. I should follow your lead and just burn everything onto CD for my personal enjoyment. The cabinet looks great, and I bet it sounds even better!
 
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