[Indiansprings]

I picked up my one owner Thorens on Craigslist for $200. I have since had a little work done to it.

[shadowlight]

Is Luxman PD-289 a good starter turntable?  It is listed for 100 on craigslist locally.

Also, there is a Empire 598 listed for 550 which is a lot more than I am willing to spend for person starting out.

TIA

[doug s.]

shadowlight, here's your deck - add your own tonearm:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170923701634


this deck has no suspension, but has a better platter than the 598, and is much easier to adapt a better aftermarket arm to - the 598 needs a specially fab'd sleeve to mount to the suspension to accept a different arm.  (the very rare 498 has a one-piece heavier platter similar to the unsuspended decks, but w/the suspension of the later empires.)  as the empire arm, tho good, is not up to the level of better modern arms (like o-l modded rb250 for example, or jelco as suggested in the auction), getting a deck w/o arm is not a bad idea...

i am not familiar w/the lux, tho it's probably a decent deck; lux decks have gotten respectable comments.  it reatailed for $300 in ~'82-'85.

info here:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/luxman/pd-289.shtml
one sold in the canuck audio mart in june; asking was $265...  one was offered f/s on a/c in 2009; dunno if it ever sold...

doug s.

[shadowlight]

Thanks Doug.  If I go for the Empire without the arm, what arms are available and keeping the cost of the turntable under 500 with arm, cartridge etc.

[orthobiz]

If I am not mistaken, the Luxman 289 has two motors, one for the arm and one for the platter. I opened one up for a friend, the arm had locked up, all I had to do was manually turn the gear and it started working perfectly. Had to lube the speed adjusters and it was rock steady after that.

The anti skate system was quite finicky, someone had broken off the bar that holds the weight, so I fabricated one out of a pop rivet and some fishing line and washers. Rube Goldberg but very functional.

It's a nice looking deck. A clear dustcover when smoked was all the rage (maybe?).

Paul

[doug s.]

Thanks Doug.  If I go for the Empire without the arm, what arms are available and keeping the cost of the turntable under 500 with arm, cartridge etc.

a used rega rb250 (or one w/mods), used jelco, etc., would be what i would suggest.  patience will find you a decent arm and keep it at your budget...

doug s.

[shadowlight]

Heard back from the seller about the Luxman which was sold.  Will continue to keep looking.  I am not in any hurry

[shadowlight]

Well I picked up a non working Empire as winter project but when I plugged it in and turned it on the motor was spinning.  It is missing cartridge and belt.

Some pictures.






Not exactly sure if the belt area is setup correctly, the motor had fallen off.




Working power light.  Initially I thought something was wrong, until I realized that the light was also the power button 

[SteveRB]

Beautiful.

[shadowlight]

Now if anyone has a spare cartridge shell for the tone arm let me know.  I need one since the tone arm did not come with one.

[doug s.]

excellent score, deepak.  as you know, this is my choice in the bargain deck dept.  put a better arm on it, and it will compete w/anything new up to $3k, imo.  the other way to go, for wintage, i understand, is to mount a heavy-platter wintage lenco into a heavy solid plinth, w/new arm.  many folks have ditched their multi-kilobuck set-ups after doing this.  but, it's heresay from me - i have never tried one...

doug s.