Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?


I have just acquired a 32 year old JVC/Victor TT-101 DD turntable after having its lesser brother, the TT-81 for the last year.
TT-101
This is one of the great DD designs made at a time when the giant Japanese electronics companies like Technics, Denon, JVC/Victor and Pioneer could pour millions of dollars into 'flagship' models to 'enhance' their lower range models which often sold in the millions.
Because of their complexity however.......if they malfunction.....parts are 'unobtanium'....and they often cannot be repaired.
128x128halcro
Halcro,

Good to hear your 101 has once again, a 'clean bill of health'! Who would of thought it could have possibly been a solder joint. You got a good tech. I will keep this information close to heart if something goes wrong with either of my TT-81's.
Regards,
Yes Griff,
I have a really good Tech.
I don't think you have so much to worry about with the TT-81s as they are so simple compared to the TT-101.
But you're right....if ever you DO have a problem.....look at the solder joints first...😜
Whoa. Congratulations, Halcro. Did your tech miss a joint on the first go around? Or did an already resoldered one break anew?

When my tech redid mine, he said he had to very carefully inspect each joint with a magnifying glass.

Get your magnifying glass out, Lewm.
Banquo, Between me and Bill Thalmann, I daresay about 70% of the solder joints on my TT101 have been re-done. And the ones that have not been re-done are OK by inspection, not that that means they actually are OK. Every time I fiddle with the TT101 I re-do a few perfectly good looking solder points. Eventually they all will have been re-done. Will the damned thing work then? I doubt it.