Upcoming Technics SP-10R (100th Anniversary Model)

Anyone can share the drawings of the custom made tonearm pods for Technics EPA-500 or EPA-100mk2 tonearms?  

Chakster, I don't understand your predicament, quite.  Over the course of time, some of the best quality LPs ever produced came to us from Europe.  In the good old days, my buddy and I used to look long and hard over here (typically at the now defunct Tower Records in downtown Washington, DC) for British, German, and even French pressings of US-made LPs or LPs that wholly originated in Europe. (Columbia recordings labeled "CBS" or Capitol recordings labeled "EMI", for two examples.)  I cannot imagine why you feel dependent upon imports of expensive used LPs from USA to Europe.  Moreover, I do not give a fig for the rarity or collectability of an LP.  The proof of the pudding for me is only in the playing quality and the musical content.  As a result, I own very few wildly valuable LPs, and I don't feel the need to accumulate them in my collection.  I would probably sell off (or more likely throw out) any $1000 LP that played badly or sounded awful.  In a few weeks, I will be attending the Capitol Audio Fest here in the DC area.  There will be a large room full of LP vendors and their wares.  I expect to load up on mint to mint minus LPs, at no more than $15 per LP or less. Yes, there will be $50 and $100 LPs on sale, too, but I resist them easily.

Guys, I am getting worried about Raul.

It depens on the musical taste, i like so called "black music", recorded and pressed in the USA in the 60s/70s, not in Europe. Shipping is $23-25 for 1 LP even if the record cost $10. Anyway, i pay for what i like. But taking shipping in count just prove that there are no more cheap records if they are not around the corner in the local recordshop or on the record fair, but they just don't have what i like. This is what my post is all about. Records that i like cost much less in the USA and prices for rare original pressings are getting higher every year on auctions (and they are not reissued). But this is just my situation with music that i like, can be different for those who're in the different music.     

The more expensive NM records are the better for me, to the point of course. Less competition. And since I need very few I won’t starve. Just today I bought from Japan a historical and groundbreaking record by McLaughlin/de Lucia/di Meola - Friday Night in San-Francisco-. Original Japanese pro. This is the best you can possibly get except master tape dub. Not NM but EX, should be very listenable, I bought from this man before. $80 including registered shipping from Japan. Big bargain. A few months ago I bought from the same man another great record by this trio - Passion Grace&Fire. Again, original Japanese pro in Mint condition, $90 including shipping. Big bargain. Digital recording and mastering but sounds so much better on Japanese vinyl. But I have $5 records too, not many though.

My criterion for condition of a used LP is flawless surfaces on both sides, and they should reflect light pretty well, too.  Early on in my purchasing of used LPs, I would tolerate a scratch here and there or other signs of wear, but that proved to be a bad idea.

Inna, the term "original Japanese pro" is kind of an oxymoron.  The LP you describe was probably first issued in the USA and then re-issued by a Japanese company, albeit the Japanese re-issues are very often superior to the originals in sound quality.  Because one of our sons lives in Japan, I am fairly often there.  Prices on jazz are a bit higher than in the US, but on the other hand the condition of just about any used LP you pick up is usually mint.  The Japanese really take good care of their LPs, based on my experience purchases from audio stores in Tokyo.  Then too, such stores probably pre-screen the LPs before placing them on sale.  Anyway, I begin to understand what you guys are up against in buying used LPs.  On the other hand, we have Trump.  I'd rather pay $100 per LP and not have Trump.