Tell about your experience with your old Audio-Technica SL-1200s..

All KAB mod, except for external power supply, is pretty cheap mod, I did it myself with better parts (cardas wires for tonearm, zu audio mission phono cable, isonoe feet). I removed KAB fluid dampers, they are not necessary if the compliance of the cart is not very high.

You can count inflation rate, but SL1200mk3 always available in Japan for $150-250 used and parts are very cheap. Restored units goes for higher price from resellers for sure.

But the G is another level, even it’s finishing. For those who can spend $15k on a belt drive this G is a great value DD at $4k.

I do not see a relation between SL1200 mk2 series and the new G series, internationally it’s completely different turntable, only dust cover is the same.

People should look for SP-10 mk2 if they want reference class from Technics classics, not the SL1200mk2 for sure. I paid $1200 for SP-10mk2 in mint condition including shipping, now they are a bit more expensive, but this is a great value, not the SL1200 mk2 with all the mods. The SP10mk2 is superior without any mods, the EPA-100 tonearm is superior without any mods.


The SL1200 mk2 is great for $450 today, at this point this is a great value.
For $900 Technics already made brand new Mk7 and for $1700 they made new GR model. The old SL1200 mk2 for higher than $450 is nonsense in my opinion (I bought mine in 1995 and still have them with mods).


But this is what I use in my main system now .

Very good, appreciate the information and pictures that everyone is sharing.  I'm always on the lookout to upgrade whatever pieces of my system I'm focused on at the moment, and right now I'm going through a treasure trove of used LPs I picked up at a Goodwill - my kind of music, and in pretty good condition, one of those they-just-rolled-a-cart-of-the-back moments.  I'm not sure I'm going to stay with Technics for my next upgrade even though there would be less adjustment to a new table - I did in years long ago use the pitch control to make mix tapes and slow pieces down to hear certain portions when learning songs in my band days, but not all in on going for an admittedly better GR (can't really justify the G right now after the money I've recently spent on other pieces) with the pitch adjustment/cue light/strobe - maybe one of used SP's or a VPI table might be the ticket.  Any SP models to stay away from or not worth the trouble?  I know nothing about those, except some have the separate power unit and others that do not.  I see used SP-10's going for not that much but they look kinda cheesy to me, like the ones with the separate speed control wheels.  Better to stay with the SP-10mk2 and above?

It’s not necessary to stay with Technics, but if you want to keep the cost lower than new G then SP-10 mk2 and EPA-100 tonearm is the way to go, you need at least ‘10.5 inch (or longer) tonearm for SP-10 mk2. You can look for ‘12 inch Thomas Schick tonearms (they are new) if your cart is not high compliance. SP-10 mk2 does not have a pitch control of any kind. You will have to make a custom plinth for this drive. 

You could look for PD-444 turntable if you can spend about $2k (probably nearly $3k with tonearm). Two arms can be used, you don’t gave to think about plinth or mods, and this is beautiful turntable.

For the record the VPI HW40 is also a direct drive turntable.  With that said, direct drive or belt drive in high level turntables is not a big difference anymore.  I would not encourage anyone to base a decision based on turntable drive mechanism these days.  

HW-40 costs $15k, but what do we know about that DD motor?

Technics made the best DD motor and SP-10R drive cost about $9k , there are $6k left for assembling a custom plinth and tonearm for SP-10R drive to make a total cost on par with VPI Hw-40, but it’s not necessary to go that high.

Direct Drive motors are not the same, there are very cheap dd motors and very expensive dd motors, high torque or low torque, old and new. The reference is coreless DD motor, now it’s Technics. 

However, I think even $4k for the G is too much for the OP (and I wouldn’t pay more for any turntable too).