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Technics 1200 MKII Quartz Speed Strobe Issue Video

Ok, this is my first post, so be nice. I am a hardcore record collector and I am slowly trying to step up in the world of sound. I don't plan to go all the way into full on "audiophillia" and funds are limited. I am just working at creating a nice solid good sounding system.

I have a Marantz 2552b and some vintage Technics SB-6060 speakers. Nothing "special" but I'm happy with them for now.

Anyhow, I recently got a pretty good deal on a used Technics 1200 MK2 Quartz and brought it in to a local hi fi repair shop. Essentially what I got back is kind of a "Frakenstein" between parts of my original TT and parts of one the shop had that had many parts in better shape. Now, I am OK with this because It looks much better and didn't have a dust cover before. Now it looks good and has a dust cover and a much nicer face plate etc...

Now, I don't know if my mind is playing tricks on me but it appears to me that the strobe dots slightly wobble back and forth slowly. I am including a link to a video that shows this. I don't seem to notice it on playback but every once in a while I think I hear fluctuations and quite frankly I'm just paranoid now that something is wrong. Below is a link to a video of the strobe. It is locked into the 0 position. This TT does have quartz lock. I am sorry for the bad video but I'd like to have other eyes inspect this and let me know what they think. I am going to bring it back to the shop and ask for a proper zero point calibration.

I am also considering changing the tone arm. Does anyone besides KAB do this and what kind of price range am I looking at? I'm already like $300 into this TT! My budget is limited but I'd like this TT to be "pimped out" to some degree...

Thanks

DivShare File - Strobe1200.avi
greenfuzz
greenfuzz OP
11 posts
 
Nick,

I appreciate the insight but I actually sent the table off to KAB today. If there is a deeper problem I'm assuming he will find it before adding any upgrades etc. I would think the first shop would have noticed a bad motor as well?? Let's hope that's not the case!

I am wondering , did you watch the strobe video I posted? It played fine and I wasn't hearing any fluctuations. It was just the dots that concerned me. The DJ that I bought it from was definitely not a scratch dj. He played more dance and house stuff in the 90's.

I'm willing to put some more into this table. I also think that if there are deeper issues that KAB will certainly notice them and alert before moving on.

I sure hope it's not a motor issue!
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
05-03-10: Greenfuzz
I decided to send the 1200 off the Kab for the Cardas re-wire & the tonearm dampener as well as have a look over. Look forward to hearing the results.
Good show! The SL12x0 series has lots of potential but you have to start with the tonearm rewire and tonearm damping. The other things are to get better feet and wrap the tonearm in plumber's thread sealing Teflon tape. The fluid damper helps a lot, but the arm wand still rings and the tonearm wrap fixes it for next to nothing.

Currently I have low cost threaded brass cones to replace the feet, sitting on large diameter floor savers, sitting on a set of Vibrapod Isolators. I suspect you'd get as good or better results by using vibrapod cones siting on top of the Vibrapod Isolators, with the turntable base's foot threads resting on the metal balls of the Vibrapod cones.

Review and pictures here.
edtrout
11 posts
 
I asked Kevin at KAB. He confirmed that it is only a defect in the casting of the platter, and that the speed is fine.
I figured as much, but it never hurts to ask.
greenfuzz OP
11 posts
 
I'm hoping to get that same news! He should have my table now. I'm pretty excited to have him work on it. I gather this has been talked about to death but since I'm new to the board... How many people have had the Cardas re-wire and Tonearm Dampening done and what are your thoughts as far as before and after??
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