[Cheeseboy]

My friend bought a used SL-1200MK2 and seller indicated that it needed a new tonearm cable. 

1) What type of cable is required?  RCA to RCA- Straight Din to RCA - 90 degree DIN to RCA
2) Any advice on taking off the bottom plate?  It looks like quite a chore.
3) He has a low budget as he is a starving student and the unit that appears to be a best value is the Audioquest Tonearm Cable at $89.00 for sale at the Needle Doctor.  Is there a "Best Value" cable for this application. 

I would really appreciate any help I can get on this problem.  He is new to the hobby and has the ears and passion to be a great listener and collector of vinyl.  We all started somewhere.  I wish my first table was a 1200. 

Steve

[dimkasta]

Unfortunately the SL1200 does not have a socket for the cable.
It has to be soldered on the pcb right below the tonearm.

I would get a budget interconnect and cut the RCAs on one side.

As he is more and more into the SL1200 madness, he can start thinking about his options about rewiring the tonearm and so on and perhaps getting a better cable.

The rubber bottom is removed by removing the one gazillion screws
Just make sure that the arm is secured and the platter removed

[el34]

My friend bought a used SL-1200MK2 and seller indicated that it needed a new tonearm cable. 

1) What type of cable is required?  RCA to RCA- Straight Din to RCA - 90 degree DIN to RCA

Cable inside the tonearm, or the RCA cable out the back?  If it's the cable inside the arm, you'd better know what you're doing, or get someone to do it.  RCA cable, it connects inside the turntable.  Possibly you can splice a cable on to what's there depending where the break is.

2) Any advice on taking off the bottom plate?  It looks like quite a chore.

Yes, but manageable, with care.
1. unplug
2. remove record mat, and lift off platter with a finger in each opening.  Sometimes requires a bit of force.
3. find a way to support the table by the edges of the platform so the arm doesn't get any pressure on it, maybe some thick books or something.
4. Unscrew 4 feet, then about 20 screws.  There are vids and pictures on the web for this.
5. Lift the bottom off.
6. There's a circular plate covering the cable inlet that has to come off too.

3) He has a low budget as he is a starving student and the unit that appears to be a best value is the Audioquest Tonearm Cable at $89.00 for sale at the Needle Doctor.  Is there a "Best Value" cable for this application. 

Don't go too cheap on cable, it will have poor shielding, which is crucial on a turntable.  Low capacitance is a bonus, but that also depends on your cartridge and phono preamp.  You can probably find something for $30 or so that fits the bill.
Check out KABUSA.com, for 1200 parts/mods of all sorts (no affiliation, satisfied customer.)  They also have tonearm wire if you unfortunately have to go that route.  Also a variety of cables.

I would really appreciate any help I can get on this problem.  He is new to the hobby and has the ears and passion to be a great listener and collector of vinyl.  We all started somewhere.  I wish my first table was a 1200. 

Steve

[Cheeseboy]

Thank you both for the response. 

El34:  It is from the bottom of the tone arm to the RCAs.   We believe!  We'll have to open it up and find out. 

Would an interconnect from Blue Jeans cable with plenty of insulation be the route to travel?  Less or more capacitance.  Would it be a good thing to tear up a nice Kimber Kable set of Hero Interconnects? 

I have a soldering iron and some silver solder. 

Regards,

Steve

[johsti]

Get the factory Technics M5G cable from Kabusa.com for $30.  Very low capacitance, oxygen free copper, inexpensive and keeps the table looking stock somewhat.  From the website:
Technics Original SL-1210 M5G
Hi Fidelity Cable. Is a beautifully constructed cable featuring OFC conductors, crimped and soldered to fully over molded connectors. The handles are square shaped allowing these connectors to fit onto RCA jacks with spacing as little as 1/2". 45" long. 90pF capacitance.

[Cheeseboy]

You are so correct. 

Kabusa.com is the place.  What a wonderful place we have here in Audio Circle.

[JackD]

If you or your friend are not comfortable soldering those small signal wires and don't have a competent tech nearby you can send it to Kevin and he will do it for you. 

[el34]

Steve:

Actually I put blue jeans LC-1 on my 1200, which is a big fat cable, the lowest capacitance they offer.  Also the shield is complete, no voids at all.  I would use something else though if I had to do it again, it was too large for the strain relief clamp where the cable exits the base. Maybe a smaller blue jeans cable, (they use Belden cable, and full specs are available) or something from KAB, I'm sure Kevin could give you a good recommendation.  I wouldn't worry about stock appearance too much, it's not a collector piece, and a cable upgrade won't affect the value other than maybe upwards.

Before opening it up, I would cut off the RCA's, leaving several inches of cable, and strip to the bare wires.  Then remove the headshell and test continuity of all 4 conductors (might as well test ground wire continuity too, to the tonearm itself) If all wires are good to that point, you can save yourself a lot of work by either splicing there, or get KAB's add on RCA jack panel, then you can use any cable you like.

[johsti]

I wouldn't worry about stock appearance too much, it's not a collector piece, and a cable upgrade won't affect the value other than maybe upwards.

Installing a new cable may or may not affect the value, but if the 1200 isn't considered a collector piece, I don't know what is.  It's no longer in production, they typically sell used for more than their retail price and a new one in a sealed box will sell for $1k-$2k or more.  Several years ago you could find one in decent shape on just about any given day by looking at local craigslist ads.  Not anymore.   

[lazydays]

Installing a new cable may or may not affect the value, but if the 1200 isn't considered a collector piece, I don't know what is.  It's no longer in production, they typically sell used for more than their retail price and a new one in a sealed box will sell for $1k-$2k or more.  Several years ago you could find one in decent shape on just about any given day by looking at local craigslist ads.  Not anymore.

I just saw two of them at a music store going for $569 a piece new. Before I'd dump $1500 into one, I'd be buying a better table at near the same price range.
gary