New Technics vs. old

DJs have been using Thorens TD-125 mk II belt drive turntables in the late 70’s, here is a picture of the dj booth in Studio 54 (NYC) with Diana Ross on the mic. Same turntables with Infinity Black Widow tonearms and Stanton cartridges were in use at the Paradise Garage club in 1979, but replaced with Technics SL1200 mkII by the early 80’s, here is the picture of updated dj booth, the club was closed in 1987.

The only reason that the SL-1200mk2 has an almost cult-like following is because of hoards of brainwashed rap-“DJ”s that think only a SL-1200mk(x) will work with their serato record scratching toys.

Don’t try brainwash us here with your comments like the one above.

Serato was launched in 2004 by Rane, the majority of the professional DJs never use Serato or anything digital, they play original vinyl only. There are good and bad djs. Every dj shop is full of real vinyl and it sells well today.

DJs have been using Technics SL1200 since the it was made in the 70’s, then every club worldwide was equipped with SL1200 mkII by the 80’s when it became a world standard for professionals for all genres of music and all kind of DJs. We’re talking about nearly 40 years of constant use of SL1200 mkII by professionals everywhere in the world. The reason why Technics SL-1200 mkII was so popular among the djs for decades (and still popular) is because no other turntable can offer such powerfull motor with pitch control fader in a small cabinet with a nice tonearm for professional needs. This is why it was a choice of professionals since the late 70’s !

It has nothing to do with Serato or any other digital BS, for teenagers there are plenty of cheap as chips direct drive turntables available on the market for decades (gemini, stanton, vestax etc, none of them even assemblen in japan).

Technics always was a choice of professionals. And SP-10 mkII was a high-end broadcast turntable since the 70’s. Much cheaper SL1200 series was a djs choice in the clubs and studios. I remember when a brand new SL1210mkII was no more than $450 in the mid 90’s here in the Panasonic shops and i think in the USA retail price was even cheaper at that time.

There is a distinction between real deejays and rap-“DJ”s that just scratch records and fool with faders and pitch controls like they know what they’re doing. The rap-“DJ”s don’t can only use a turntable that has no suspension. That is why in the 80’s when rap came out, the SL-1200mk2 sales took off. Note that the lack of a proper suspension makes the SL-1200mk2 very prone to problems from vibrations, hence it is not a good turntable for audiophile applications. On the other hand, rap-“DJ”s have never been concerned with quality and vibration isolation. 

Isonoe made this long time ago, believe it or not, but it was made for DJs, so an old Technics stock feet is no longer a problem for audiophiles or djs if they need suspended table (it's a matter of choise). Isonoe feet can solve bass feedback problem even if 20 000 Watt stereo sound system is near the stage with a pair of SL1200. 

People you call "rap djs" can't affect the sales of Technics more that some other djs and professionals with completely different musical taste.

P.S. Rapping came out in the late 70's as the rhyme (by MC) over the Disco beats played by DJs. But in Jamaica they been doing it much earlier in a different way over reggae and rocksteady music. Funny, but a guy with a mic was called a "deejay" in Jamaica, a person with records was called a "selector". 

You always refer to some bad taste digital DJs and blame them in everything regarding Technics. I just don't get it.  

The SL-1200mk2 standard feet are pretty good for rubber feet. In fact they’re so good that I’ve retrofitted my SL-1700mk2 turntables with them, as they are better than the stock feet. 

The fundamental flaw with the SL-1200mk2 is it’s relatively non-compliant rubber base. 

Sleepwalker, you mention that one difference between the SL1200 and the SL1700 is that in the latter unit one can access the pitch control with cover down. Do you actually listen to vinyl with the dust cover down? If so, we come from different planets audio-wise. The differences you cite between the old 1200 and the old 1700 pale in comparison to the differences between those two and the new G, GAE, or GR. That’s my point.