The single best upgrade you can perform on the NWV 387 is adding wireless streaming capability. Because this is a solid-state (transistor) unit, it is relatively easy to do a "non-destructive" mod.
Method 1: The Aux Cord (Easiest) Look at the back of the chassis. Many N WV 387 units have a pair of RCA jacks labeled "Tape In" or "AUX." Buy a Bluetooth receiver (Logitech or Anker) for $20. Plug it into the wall and connect it to the RCA jacks with a 3.5mm-to-RCA cable. Set the radio dial to "Tape." Now you can stream Spotify through the vintage cabinet.
Method 2: The FM Transmitter (Zero Solder) If your unit has no AUX input, buy a cheap FM transmitter (designed for cars). Plug it into your phone. Tune the radio to 88.1 FM. This is wireless, but sound quality is poor.
Method 3: Internal Hardwiring (Advanced) Solder a Bluetooth stereo receiver board directly to the volume pot wipers. This bypasses the radio tuner entirely, giving you a clean signal path.
Assuming you find one of these units in the wild (a rare event, as production numbers were likely low), here is what you would typically discover: nu west leda miss crosley nwv 387
The rubber pinch roller has turned to goo. Fix: Replace the pinch roller (available via eBay or vintage electronics suppliers) or simply abandon the cassette deck and use the auxiliary input (if equipped).
Searching for “nu west leda miss crosley nwv 387” on price guides yields little. That is the point. This is a deep-cut collectible.
Compare this to a restored Zenith Trans-Oceanic ($300-$600) or a Dynaco ST-70 ($800+). The Nu West is not an investment piece; it is a conversation piece.
This is the model name. "Leda" likely refers to the classical myth of Leda and the Swan, suggesting elegance and mythological beauty. "Miss Crosley" is the affectionate branding used by Nu West to market their smaller, console-style units aimed at a female demographic or for use in "lady's parlors," bedrooms, and kitchens. The "Miss Crosley" line was known for being more decorative than technical. The single best upgrade you can perform on
Most collectors know the major players—Capitol, RCA, Decca. But the West Coast in the late ‘60s was littered with tiny independent labels trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Nu West appears to have been a short-lived imprint, possibly out of LA or Fresno, operating for less than two years (1967–1969).
Catalog number NUV 387 suggests a late-era pressing, likely 1968. Unlike the polished Nashville sound, Nu West had a grittier, more intimate production style—lots of reverb, a wandering pedal steel, and vocals that sound like they were recorded at 2 AM in an empty VFW hall.
We may never know who Miss Crosley was. Maybe she got married and left music. Maybe the single was her only statement. But for two minutes and forty-seven seconds, she captured something perfect and strange.
So next time you’re flipping through a dollar bin, keep an eye out for that faded Nu West label. Look for NUV 387. And if you find it? Pour a glass of whiskey, drop the needle on "Leda," and tip your hat to a ghost. Compare this to a restored Zenith Trans-Oceanic ($300-$600)
Have you ever heard of Miss Crosley or Nu West Records? Let me know in the comments—I’m desperate for any leads.
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Let’s be brutally honest: The Nu West Leda Miss Crosley NWV 387 was not a hi-fi component. It was a low-fidelity consumer appliance designed for teenagers and casual listeners. The sound is:
However, for playing old 45s of The Beatles, Motown, or Herb Alpert, it is a time machine. The distortion is period-accurate.