vintage turntables

[a/fxcomet]

Yea, I know if off-topic, but I know there are some vintage hi-fi nuts on here, and I'd like to pick your brains.

I am looking to buy an old turntable. I just picked up a Marantz 2245 reciver and a pair of JBL L100 speakers from the origional owner who bought them new in 1974 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. Now I need to get a turntable worthy of those spekers http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Dont really want to spend too much (less than 200?), but it is an investment.

What should I look for? What brands and models were the hot setup?

Technics?
I hear good things about Duals, but they always seemed kinda flimsy to me.
I grew up using my dad's Pioneer PL-518.
There is one of those Harman Kardon Rabco's (st5 or st7, cant remember) with the linear arm at a local store- would it be worth all of the adjustment fuss?

[a lost cause]

I bought a Technics SL-1700 ('70's era) on eBay a few years back for about a $100. It's direct drive and solid sounding (got a modern cartridge and needle for it). From what I've been told, they're complete work horses and the precursor the high end DJ Technics today.

I've only owned a few turntables but it's by far the best I've ever had.

[BELLM]

I bought a new linear turntable 15 or 20 years ago, didn't like it. Some of my older albums are kinda warped, didn't play them well.

[four-thirteen]

I use a technics SL 1300 on my home system, the whole setup is budget (for a hi fi setup), and i am happy with the sound out of it. For under 200 you aren't going to find much for hifi stuff, but technics is a good buy for the money. you gotta realise that some of these nutcases will spend 5 grand on a turntable, and might have 50 grand into a stereo....

My current project is a pair of amps with a pair of KT-88 power tubes with 6SN7 drivers. Nothing beats the quality of sound out of vacuum tubes. David

[DrJ]

I bought a Technics SL 1300 new, about three decades ago.
Best damn turntable ever made!
I lift the turntable off, (it's just lifts off,) and oil the bearing two or three times a decade and that's all the maintenance it ever needs.
No unobtanium, uninstallable, (without taking the whole damn chassis apart) belts taking a shit like the cassette player and the many bucks CD changer/player already did in just a few years.

[a/fxcomet]

[ QUOTE ]
For under 200 you aren't going to find much for hifi stuff, but technics is a good buy for the money. you gotta realise that some of these nutcases will spend 5 grand on a turntable, and might have 50 grand into a stereo....


[/ QUOTE ]

Notice I didnt capitalize HI-FI http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif har har. I just want good stuff that isnt cheep and will last a long time (forever if possible).

[ QUOTE ]
I bought a new linear turntable 15 or 20 years ago, didn't like it. Some of my older albums are kinda warped, didn't play them well.


[/ QUOTE ]

I was wodering about that. I have quite a few records that are a little hilly. I usually have to dial in a bit more weight on the arm on a few of them.

[ QUOTE ]
I lift the turntable off, (it's just lifts off,) and oil the bearing two or three times a decade and that's all the maintenance it ever needs.
No unobtanium, uninstallable, (without taking the whole damn chassis apart) belts taking a shit like the cassette player and the many bucks CD changer/player already did in just a few years.


[/ QUOTE ]

I like that idea.



Anyone want to tell me a little more about fancy cartridges? All I know is stock oem stuff. What to look for? Shure etc???

[cadlights]

I got one from the early 70's, been wrapped in plastic for the last 20 years or so. Is a real good one, I'll dig it out tommorrow and see what it is. Memory's not what it used to be.

[safariknut]

My setup consists of two turntables:a Marantz TT2200 Direct Drive and a Garrard Zero100c Belt Drive table with an MCS 3233 Tuner and a Pioneer CT-310 tape deck.Speakers are R.S.cheapies.I actually prefer the belt drive as it seems to maintain proper speed more readily than the direct drive(I usually watch the strobe pretty closely even though I can usually tell if the speed is off by ear).
My system was bought strictly at garage sales except for the speakers.The Garrard cost me $20 about 15 years ago and had a new cartridge at the time.I've never replaced it.The Marantz I paid $2 for(I also bought a Marantz receiver and tape deck at the same time but they were no good but only $2 apiece so I didn't lose much).The tuner/amplifier I paid $15 for this year and it has all the bells and whistles and works great.The tape dack I think I paid $5 for but I don't use it much.I actually think I paid more for the junk speakers than everything else combined.

[Smokin Joe]

Technics was pretty much the best back in the mid 70's.
That's the brand all the sailors brought back for turntables. Stay away from the linear arm jobs. They always seem to drag harder on one side of the groove than the other. They'll wear out your records.
Shure cartridges and needles are good ones.
I'm still useing my Sansui speakers I bought back then. Gotta turn it up a bit to get those 16" woofers going tho.
My Sansui 9090DB reciever finally died last year.
That sumbitch was heavier than a Muncie 4 speed but had great specs.

[Mojo_AL]

A few years ago, one of my friend's clients offered him two sound systems (a Marantz and a Fisher) two Technics turntables, many speakers, two TV's and a tape deck for the princely sum of 0$!

So I ended up with a FREE Technics SL-D2 that works like a charm for my FREE Sansui system (another story).

I love free stuff!

[Gracie]

Mojo Al!!! I love to play Mille Bornes! Too funny... I have a deck with the old graphics... too bad they changed them...

[Mojo_AL]

Yes, I do prefer the old graphics too. I think that some kind of collector's edition is available now, with the old graphics.