need turntable restoration expert

Nick B · « **on:** 25 Jul 2018, 03:21 pm »

I’m thinking of getting a vintage table...rather than a new one. Can anyone recommend an excellent restoration expert and one who is very knowledgeable about the old tables and arms? I would want as quiet a table as possible and an arm that has the ability to extract lots of detail.
Thanks,
Nick

Elizabeth · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 03:49 pm »

What sort of money are you spending? Nothing is as important for anyone to give you some direction as how much are you wanting to spend? (total)
Then, what are the reasons you want vintage?
There are already really nicely restored Garrard 401/ 301 in beautiful plinths avaiable.
Also Thorens.. Several over on Audiogon around $3500.
Getting one and then having someone restore it is fraught with possible problems.
Time for one.
Then the desire for vintage vs current designs?
WIth a really good vintage restoration, you are spending the same amount.

Also, do you want unusual? the best? the usual?
Do you want to go with an arm with removeable headshell?? one cartridge? The ability to swap cartridges?

Nick B · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 04:02 pm »

$1,000 would be the max. I’m getting back into vinyl and it would be for very occasional use only. I’m selling my current table as it’s way too heavy, but I do have a Graham 1.5t arm and new AT ML 440 cart that are available.
I’m looking at an excellent performer....a table that’s well built and with tight tolerances to extract as much detail as possible. The table doesn’t need to be vintage, but I thought it might be the most cost effective way to proceed. I can likely handle restoring the cosmetic aspect of a ratty looking table, but changing parts etc is something I haven’t done before. I doubt I’d want an extra cartridge capability although I have an extra Graham arm wand. I’m unfamiliar with new tables as I am with vintage ones other than having read up on the subject a bit online. Restoration would be considered if I find I couldn’t do it myself.

timind · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 05:38 pm »

Here's a well known,and well reviewed seller: https://vinylnirvana.com/vintage-turntables-for-sale

soulforged · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 06:17 pm »

Keep a lookout for Lenco L75. You should be able to get a well restored one for about 800. The more sought after ones like Garrard 301, Thorens TD124 or Linn LP12 could run you up by a couple of thousand.

rollo · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 07:25 pm »

My bet would be a new inexpensive TT will out perform the vintage ones. I own, Linn LP12, Kuzma and Garrard. Kuzma wins. Look at used VPI, Kuzma, Thorns.
IMHO better off spending more on cart/arm combo.

charles

orthobiz · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 08:47 pm »

Bill Neumann at fixmydual.com

For less than a grand you can pick a 701 direct drive or
a 12 series idler drive. Get a Shure V15 cartridge, too.

Paul

Nick B · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jul 2018, 09:28 pm »

I’ve sent out some emails and was able to speak with Bill Neumann. Super nice guy and very knowledgeable.
He sure likes the 701 and gives very specific reasons why. Looking at other tables as well.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 12:12 am »

Vintage tables are a labor of love for people that like to tinker. That doesn't sound like you. You'll get much better sound quality and reliability from a new table. An AC acquaintance likes his $700 Pioneer PLX 1000 better than the $1500 VPI Traveler he had previously. One of the mid priced Pro-Ject's or a Rega in your price range, P2 or P3, and of course anything late model used opens up a host of other options. Those vintage tables look nice, but are outclassed by modern designs. Good luck with whatever you decide, it's hard to make a bad choice in what you're looking at.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 02:13 am »

Nick, I tend to agree with Letitroll and Rollo that something new with mfr support and a warranty will be more satisfactory than some vintage oddity with parts made of unobtainium. You might want to take a look at the Orbit TT from U-Turn Audio. It's a ridiculously reasonable $289 new, fully optioned with upgrade acrylic platter and upgraded Ortofon cart, and has acquired a rep for punching well above its weight. That's not much more than some big-name el cheapo USB TT's.
Hell, that's almost enough to get me spinning vinyl again.

Don't spend $1K just because you can. Get the Orbit and spend the savings on records and dinner for wifey so she can hear about how smart you are with money. If you do want to drop the extra cash, Well Tempered's basic models start somewhere around your budget IIRC. They are renowned for detail retrieval.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 02:42 am »

At least it has a belt.

ohenry · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 02:53 am »

Another vote for the upgraded U-turn.

A friend has an upgraded U-turn tt and a Schiit Mani phono preamp ($129) and they are both stupid good. I tried the Mani with my turntables for grins and it is surprisingly good... highly recommended whether you get a U-turn or not. The U-turn may deserve a better cartridge, but the stock offering is a good place to start.

Have fun...

dB Cooper · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 03:10 am »

Quote from: FullRangeMan on 26 Jul 2018, 02:42 am

At least it has a belt.

Which is easily replaceable. Much more so than idler wheels.

Nick B · « **Reply #13 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 03:37 am »

I’ve heard of U-turn and that’s about it. I’ll look into it, but it would be hard to imagine putting a Graham arm and AT 440 ML cart or Shure Ultra 500 on it. For that price, I wonder how good the machining and parts quality can be.
As to just getting a Well Tempered without an arm, I’d love to, but it looks like that’s over the $1,000 I’d want to spend.
I already have a Don Sachs phono and a new pre with a probably excellent phono stage as well, so I’m all set there. Kuzmas and the like are unaffordable.
I was thinking vintage because of the excellent build quality of some of those old tables. If I can get just a table, I’m sure I can find somebody or even a local shop to drill the armboard for the Graham.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #14 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 03:59 am »

A TT have to be beatiful, if vinyl had no wear I would have a Technics 1200 series table, it have excellent build quality and is know to robust and nice sound aside to be good looking, beauty not a strong point in this U table.

dB Cooper · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 05:04 am »

Quote from: FullRangeMan on 26 Jul 2018, 03:59 am

A TT have to be beatiful

Why?

Anyway...Obviously you don't get to many audio shows... I see very few TTs I would describe as 'beautiful'. Most look like props from some 'mad scientist' movie.

Some of us find beauty in functionality and simplicity.

Personally I think this is a very nice looking table. Admittedly, this version comes at the princely sum of $459:

ohenry · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 05:22 am »

Quote from: dB Cooper on 26 Jul 2018, 05:04 am

... Admittedly, this version comes at the princely sum of $459...

And this one comes with the rather good Ortofon 2M Red. I haven't seem the solid wood plinth before, it must be a pretty new offering.

BTW, my friend uses an AT 440ML cart. with his U-Turn and it's sounding nice.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 05:28 am »

Quote from: dB Cooper on 26 Jul 2018, 05:04 am

Why?

Technics SL1200 stay in the market since 1972,
this Ugly TT may reach some couple years due the low price.

Nick B · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 02:31 pm »

The wood U-turn looks nice enough (although I’m not a fan of clear acrylic) and that’s great pricing. Part of the fun of vinyl is extracting as much information as possible out of those grooves. I doubt that’s possible with that inexpensive a table. It may well be very musical sounding, though.
It’s also great to get a bargain like with my ICE1200as2 amp and KEF LS 50s. They perform way beyond their price point. So I’m all for saving money when possible.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Jul 2018, 03:12 pm »

You can save almost $100 by ordering the same table without the upgraded Ortofon cartridge, if you have other cartridges to mount. The U Turn is very nice looking with the upgrades, but you still get the substandard motor and tonearm. The bearing seems decent, but you get a much better motor and arm from Rega and somewhat better from Pro-ject.