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Best vintage DD turntables from the 70's and 80's?

Howdy folks-

We’ll I’ve got the vinyl bug for sure. 6 months ago, I bought my first TT, a nice Technics 1200 GR along with some killer vintage MM carts like Audio-Technica, Stanton and a few Grace. I love my GR! I love that little silver bastard A LOT as a matter of fact. A couple weeks ago, my second table arrived, a minty fresh Luxman PD-444 from Japan. This is a Micro Seiki built TT and was the "tits" in the mid 70’s. I can mount 2 arms on the Luxman. I’ve got a nice Victor 7045 arm coming soon along with a Victor X-1IIe MM cart which work quite well together.

I’d like to add another Vintage TT from the 70’s or 80’s and probably phase out the GR. I like the look of the old Pioneer, Denon and Victor tables. I’d like to get a vintage table that can be serviced if needed, something I can add a sweet vintage arm too. 3 arms are better than two!

I’d like to hear suggestions and comments on some fantastic, cool as crap, vintage turntables that you think should sit next to the Luxman.

Thanks again for your help!

Brent




128x128knollbrent

Showing 4 responses by glupson

glupson
7,842 posts
 
sleepwalker65,

Thank you for your answers. I copied them as a separate file for future reference.

Luckily, for now, everything works but I feel that an old turntable, or anything old for that matter, is like a car. It runs until it does not and you should not be caught by surprise. That story about stop/return ceasing function was about thirty years ago and it fixed itself and has never been a problem ever since. I have no idea what Kryptonite these turntables were made of, but if my lowly SL-Q2 still works no wonder higher grade models are exemplary.

Thanks again, I truly appreciate it.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
I wonder how it works. It does seem like something useful.

sleepwalker65,

You mentioned that semi-automatic mechanism uses belts. Was that what Technics used to do? You got me worried, I have SL-Q2, low-fi by standards of serious listeners and have never replaced anything. I was, obviously stupidly, imagining there were some cogwheels doing the work.

When it comes to reliability, some thirty+ years ago, the stop mechanism ceased to work and arm would not return. I had to start and stop it with on/off button. It lasted for 6 months, maybe even a little more, and then it started working again for no apparent reason. It worked this afternoon, too. The turntable is close to 40 years old so I figure if I do need to replace some belt now and then it goes for another 40, I am set for life. Literally.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
knollbrent,

"Why not a 1200 mk2? If friends come by you can say that you DJ on the side:)"
Be the coolest kid on the block. Tell them you use it as it was initially meant to be, for listening to music alone, and have been doing it since before it became cool to be a DJ. Except that you may need to go for the original 1200 without all these Mk-somethings.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
Dear chakster,

"I need this one for Christmas."

Your letter should be postmarked by December 23, 2018.

I will know if you were good.

Sincerely,

Santa
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