vintage turntables?

got ya buddy.

Emailers: For those requesting the address of the vintage audio restorer it is, Audio-Visual Services,3401 Chestnut Avenue(@ W34th Street intersection), Baltimore , Md 21211, phone # 410-467-3620, Attn; Eric Falkenhan. Eric's father will likely answer the call.

Eric also repairs vintage tube guitar amps for the "cream of the crop" Audio houses in the Country. I believe your experience will equal mine. Please mention " Charlie from Audiogon referred you". The only reason for that is that I would like to track how many actually use the referral. Thanks

If you're still looking for used and affordable 'tables, I would like to recommend the Thorens TD-125 and the Yamaha PF-800.

The Thorens is a wonderful 'table when fitted with the usual SME 3009 arm - stable pitch, big soundstage, refined top end.

The Yamaha 'table was a major surprise for me - suspended, heavy platter, decent arm. When I bought it from a friend, another acquaintance -a stereophile reviewer- expressed consternation - he'd wanted it!

Just for reference, here are the best tables I've heard, in order:

1. Kuzma "Classic"(? unsure of model) With Cardas Heart cartridge - George Cardas brought this to the Stereophile Hi-Fi show in 1995 and told us it was "$1200"... but I've never seen another one under $2500.

2. VPI TNT / ET linear arm/ Benz Micro MC3 cart

3. Well-Tempered Turntable/ Arm/ AT (?) cartridge

4. Linn 25th anniversary LP12 w/Benz MC3 cartridge

5. Thorens TD-125/SME 3009/ Ortofon unk cartridge

6. Yamaha PF-800 with variety of cartridges. I regret selling it.

7. Un-modified Technics 1200MK2/Standard Arm/Ortofon 2M Blue cart - hoping KAB modifications will move this rating up a few notches.

I have to state that I've heard one Sota Star Sapphire, and probably like James1969, found it to be utterly uninvolving. Same with the older Rega Planar 3, Planar 2, and the Music Hall 7.1.

Good luck, I am very interested to hear what you end up with!

Joe, could the Kuzma "Classic" you heard have been the one with the oak plinth and cover? If so, it was the Stabi table. Two arms were available, the Stogi and Stogi Reference. I was not aware that Cardas used a Kuzma but the Stabi/Stogi was reviewed in Stereophile and given a B recommendation about that time, and was used at Acoustic Sounds for several years. As far as I know it remains in production but may not be part of the current line up in the US.

I've owned a Stabi/Stogi Reference for over ten years and still believe it is one of the best at it's price point (well above George's price quote).

Relevant to our subject, even though these Kuzma designs are more than 10 years old, I would not call them "vintage".

man...thats great...i have an old marshall guitar amp that needs to be retubed and somethings messed up with the inputs...ill have to have him look at that as well.