Building high-end 'tables cheap at Home Despot II


“For those who want the moon but can't afford it or those who can afford it but like to have fun and work with their hands, I'm willing to give out a recipe for a true high-end 'table which is easy to do, and fun to make as sky's the limit on design/creativity! The cost of materials, including 'table, is roughly $200 (depending, more or less), and add to that a Rega tonearm. The results are astonishing. I'll even tell/show you how to make chipboard look like marble and fool and impress all your friends. If there's interest I'll get on with this project, if not, I'll just continue making them in my basement. The next one I make will have a Corian top and have a zebra stripe pattern! Fun! Any takers?”

The Lead in “Da Thread” as posted by Johnnantais - 2-01-04

Let the saga continue. Sail on, oh ships of Lenco!
mario_b
Thanks for posting that, Gp49. It sounds like a lot of work, but I've gotten this far, I'm sure that I'll be able to figure it all out. I've learned to trust the Lenco experts. Hearing is believing.
I got my top-plates from Reinderspeter, beautiful work Peter!! Won't be working with them until late summer though, as currently I am swamped, and then I'll be out once again somewhere on the globe, perhaps having some Lenco adventures, as some of you might soon discover, or not.

After a prolonged absence (a few days) from my system, I returned to Music Heaven, ah, these vintage systems sound soooo GOOD, especially when backed up by big idlers :-)!!

Great to read such detailed work on main bearings, and evidently from an expert, kudos to Sander!! Though I have never yet found a Lenco bearing which was not pristine, I'm sure they are out there, so I'll add the instructions to my "Lenco Lore" against future need (for other 'tables too:-))!! Speaking of which...Huh?!? What happened?!? Something stank in the State of Denmark, I heard a noise, then it all disappeared. A Mystery ;-).

Anyway, I'll be playing with my Lenco this weekend, have to say, so far, I LOVE those Rega tonearms (especially the RB-300)!! They do so much right, and have such a warmth and musicality, and seem to work well with all cartridges!! Perhaps it's my Cardas/Music Boy (especially Music Boy) wiring recipe. Highly recommended. Now it's mounted on my Garrard (with my Ortofon Jubilee), but I think I must set it up again on my Lenco and hear it, once again, there. More reports to come, have fun all!
I agree Johnnantais...I'm totally blown away by my Rega 300 arm. I've got a very mediocre Ortofon cartridge on it, but...the music is sooo alive!! It leaves the Decca International arm at the starting grid. my god, what would it sound like with a decent cartridge on it??? I'm using it with a homemade (not by me I hasten to add) valve amp,volume control is via a Marantz 2230 tuner and have two sets of speakers linked up- Spendor BC1's and a superb pair of prototype Tannoys ( a friend of mine used to design speakers for Tannoy and gave me a pair).Every musician is right here in the room with me, the music is part of me, every instrument is playing just for me, a very intimate connection...lying here, totally immersed in the music..every note, every breath is here in the room with me. No boundaries, i am right in there with the music, its resonating with every cell of my being. This is how recorded music should be....alive, present, ...am so grateful to gilbodavid for introducing me to the Lenco..thank you David!
This may have been answered in years past, but here's the question - I have a european motor and want to use it - So I need an american spindle - 60hz - Has anyone actually done this? And if so, does it sound as good as the correct combination? Does the motor generate too much heat? Someoen told me that if I have a motor that is 220v/50hz and run it on 110v/60hz, that it'll get really hot and potentially burn out? Is this motor designed to just switch spindles? Or did they actually make different motors for different areas of the world? I have a Braun mixer that is rated for both 50 and 60 hz, so it is possible right? I don't know enough about this stuff - so a listening test between correct shaft and motor and replaced shaft and motor, and some idea of heat is all I'm looking for...

And of course, if anyone has an extra 60hz spindle around, I'll happily buy it from you - I'm also looking for another Platter, so if anyone has one of those lying around...

and Michael - I got the plinth veneered and it's coming along great - this new deck is very exciting...
Hmmm....everyone seems to be sleeping, so I'll jump in. The motor voltage is strictly a matter of wiring: make sure the AC goes to positions 1 and 4 on the barrier strip at the back of the motor, and the switch to positions 2 and 3. Look under my "system" for an idea. The NA spindle does indeed simply pop in, the only difference between the two is machining of the sloped part against which the wheel spins. Just pop it in, wire correctly, and it'll work. Problem is getting a NA spindle, as it will necessarily come from a whole Lenco. You can always consider buying one of the cheaper light-platter Lencos for parts. Good luck!

Great post Helen: an object lesson to detail-fixated audiophiles out there in how to listen to Greatness. Not that the Lencos and other big idlers don't also rule at detail/information-retrieval, just a matter of musical priorities. While the Lencos and other large idlers rule at detail and everywhere else, where they REALLY get stupendous and downright supernatural is in the intensity of their musicality/musical POWER. Go back and read Helen's post all, and think "Kundalini Effect" ;-). Can anything but vinyl (available in the here and now) do that?!? Vive la Vinyl, and the Idlers which realize its potential!!