Your turntable history

@pryso “All (very) interesting”

As you say, mentioned many times…..“BSR” when lamented over normally means the person is UK based, and very old.

The company produced many of the utility home entertainment record players found in carry about auto-changers, or living room radio-grams. A cheap and cheerful design, with just a rudimentary uncalibrated long spring under the arm pivot to adjust tracking. From my “old memory” a sapphire flip over 78/LP or 45/33 stylus tracking at a heavy 3-5 grams. 
 

Garrard’s slightly better SP25 was a much better starter deck.
 

I am glad to see that I am not alone in this journey...

I don't remember the original turntable I had back in the early 70s, but I started down this road in 1981...

Rega Planar 2 which was a huge stretch at the time 

When Covid arrived, I was stuck at home and decided to start upgrading everything 

Rega Planar 6

Pure Fidelity Harmony 

Palmer 2.5i

Kuzma Stabi R

CS Port TAT1M2

I can't see myself making another move from here, but I am pretty sure I have said this before as well...

@mylogic, if you saw my first comment then you'll know how long ago that was.  At that age I knew nothing about it except basic operation.  While mine had 4-speeds I  used 33 and 45.  It did come with a 45 "stacker" which I used most of the time.  Also, mine had the flip-over styli for 78 and 33/45.  

Somehow I learned later on it was a UK brand.  That was in the name if I'd only known it.

Following the BSR I've owned close to 30 other tables but doubt I could remember them all now, and certainly not in proper sequence.

At 60yrs old now, I've had many CD players, speakers and amps, but ONE turntable that has avoided upgradeitis since 1987 (nearly 40 years!).... and that's my SOTA Sapphire.  For whatever reason, it just sounds and feels right! 

I'll admit though in recent years, wanting to get a Technics 1200G variant, just to experience something different, and maybe a bit easier to use.  

@mirolab On the subject of, “…. it just sounds and feels right”

l started nearly 60 years ago with a BSR and have been through many classic 70s and 80s gear. The weird thing with being a Hi-Fi enthusiast (as those like us in the UK were called back then), is that after owning some top vintage gear, most has now been sold off in favour of less expensive equipment that surprisingly is more pleasing.
 

l took the Garrard path first with an SP25 mk3 through to a Garrard 301 and 401, along with the obvious choices of top end SME arms and Shure cartridges.

l eventually ditched all of these after l found my ideal “sounds and feels right” turntable and there’s no turning back. A 40 year old restored Logic DM101 mk3 Electronic with an Audio Origami rewired Syrinx PU3. What was just a turntable project ended up a more musical experience.

Sometimes what is considered the best surprisingly gets beaten by one of the rest.