The scout is a tough table to beat for the money without question.
Couldn’t agree more. As long as the basics were right from VPI (many versions out there!).
I can’t help but indulge . . .
The best ones featured those big 4-hole flange Hurst motors and platters that were properly machined with a recess for the thick record label allowing for optimal record contact.
Another necessity would include the silver metal arms including the ones with black heat-shrink damped tubes (Thanks Steve)
Absolutely no rubber-tipped cone footers need apply as the metal ball tipped cones sounded better.
These preferred Scouts were easily hot-rodded with improved lubrication on their inverted platter spindle bearing and with a 3-set screw motor pulley & VPIs adjustable “lash” bushing on the output shaft, the preferred Hurst 600 rpm motors were easy to access for cleaning & more importantly to apply better lubricate. An improved motor snubber capacitor is also desirable as long as no external motor controller is used to rob PRaT killing precious torque.