Turntables, Tonearms: Rare Finds

Elliott,

Here's one for sale near(ish) me...

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1589084939016130?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A1d0aa424-0b8d-4410-b108-5002d1443580

@reubent 

good find, I forget to look on Marketplace. I've sold a few things there.

Well first and foremost, yours is an idea of great merit.  Secondly, I still haven't taken time to learn the lessons you so patiently provided to me about posting photos.  Not long ago I bought a minty Mitsubishi LT22 for not much money.  I think about $700.  It is a whole bunch better than that Rabco you started this thread with.  I know of what I speak because back when these were current items, I was still in the business and sold both products and set many up.  Anyway, that is neither here nor there today.  Finally, I guess I am in old curmudgeon mode today, but harking back to my days selling hifi, I was the principal turntable set up guy at two separate McIntosh dealers, one in Seattle, and one in San Diego.  This experience, with time out for deployment overseas serving in the Navy, spanned about a decade from 1970 to 1980.  I worked on and serviced a lot of turntables.  Still do for that matter, but these days it is as a hobbyist.  Anyway, we took in on trade both Thorens 124s and Garrard 301/401s all the time for TD 125s.  Once in a while a Rec-O-Kut too.  We considered these old dogs.  How times and perceptions change!  For me they are beautiful to behold, but they are still noisy, rumbly, clunky damn things to listen to.  I really do not understand what the appeal is in terms of listening.  Beautiful to look at they may be.  But for playing records?  Not my cuppa. 

WOW! A Rare "Platterless" Meitner AT-2 Record Playing System

The Harmon Kardon that you listed is from a time when most most turntables had mediocre sound, and it created an environment in which CDs (which started out with bad sound, but have improved a lot) were able to thrive.  

The Garrard TT with SME tonearm and Koetsu cartridge is worth considering.  Turntables have improved a lot over the years, but Garrard made quality TTs.  Likewise SME tonearms are good quality.  Koetsu cartridges are handmade high-end cartridges with a magic sound.  This one is local pick-up only.  The seller has low feedback, but it's due to one buyer with a questionable history.  I would want to listen to this carefully before I purchased it, but it might be a good buy.  

This being said, you can get a VPI Prime Scout TT from Upscale Audio for under $4,000, and you can add a discounted cartridge for between $345 and $2125.  VPI makes very good turntables for the money.  The cartridges that they offer on discount are from Ortofon and Hana, and they are good cartridges.  I bought a VPI TNT III in the late 1990's, and it's still wonderful.  You won't have anything to worry about if you get a VPI.