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Beogram 3000 linear tracking worth resurecting?

I'm not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination. I have a cheap circa 1991 Kenwood turntable and amp that I use to listen to my LP's.

I just found a Beogram 3000 with the linear tracking arm (circa 1986?) from Bang & Olufson being thrown out on the sidewalks of the upper east side of Manhattan. It looks spotless. I''ve yet to try and turn it on, let alone try and play anything on it. I won't be able to even fool around with it for awhile. But in the meantime...

I was wondering what anyone could tell me about the quality or value of this thing. Is it worth trying to get up and running?

I read the thread on linear tracking, and it makes it seem as if the cheaper linear tracking tables are problematic. What might I expect from this table if it's in working order? What kinds of things go wrong with it? Is it serviceable by me, etc.

Steve Zerby
mmoogie
kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
You absolutely must use a B&O MMC serier of cartridge. No other one will work to the bet of my knowledge. The $125 price isthe standard price for the MMC 4 currently. (I know this because 6 months ago I sold my B&O 3000 to my brother in law and that is what he paid for his MMC 4.)
sktn77a
41 posts
 
Actually, the Absolute Sound ranked the B&O parallel trackers very highly in the '80s. If I recall correctly, this was with one of the "super rubber" mats to damp platter resonance.

As most people have pointed out, though, the cartridges would likely be a big limitation (distinctly mid-fi when you can find them) and 20+ years of mechanical wear and tear probably haven't done them any favors (if you can find one in working condition - most that I've seen "need work").

Keith
joycecavallo2154
1 posts
 
I was looking on this website because I recently inherited my father's beogram turntable. My dad purchased this one in the late 80's and hardly ever used it because he became enamored of CD's. Anyway, classical music was his life and he researched this turntable with care and bought it because it was "the best". I was looking forward to trying to use it only I can't figure out how to get the arm to drop on the record. I seem to remember you just lifte it over and it would drop. Does anyone know this or have a users manual that would explain what to do? The B&O website was pretty useless. Thanks
Joyce
dirtyragamuffin
213 posts
 
Joyce, is that a Beogram with a linear tracking arm, or the usual pivoting tonearm?
sktn77a
41 posts
 
The arm was automatic. Just press play and it should spin, position the arm and lower it. If it dosesn't, then the autoplay isn't working. Repairing might be very difficult.

Keith
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