[mcrespo71]

I've always loved the sound of the LP12 and they appear to be a bargain on the used market, so I'm thinking of picking one up.  I realize that the newer the Linn the better, but is there a certain year I should use as a cutoff (e.g., no Linn LP12's manufactured before 1985).  Any recommendations for acessories I should look for- Cirkus, Lingo, Ittok tonearm, etc?  

Michael

Belle and Sebastion- Full Catastrophe Waitress- LP

[Tonto Yoder]

I've never heard a real Linn, but I dated a girl name Lynn and I've got two CD's by Shelby Lynne.

I have a copy of Hi-Fi News from 1997 that compared the original Linn to the 25th anniversary issue. I scanned it and posted it to my ISP (it turned out kinda crappy but readable??):
http://home.comcast.net/~brighter/linn4.pdf

Substitute "linn1," or "2," or"3 for the whole article.  It reads better if you print it out, but it's still not crystal clear.

[zybar]

Mike,

You just missed a great chance to get a mint Linn table w/ Benz Glider cartridge at a reallt good price (mine).

I sold it a few weeks ago to a guy on the upper East Side.

I believe you don;t want to go much older than mid 80's (so that translates into serial numbers 54,000 or so and higher).

The minimum config I would get is Ittok LV II arm and Valhalla suspension.  I would also find out the last time it had been tuned up and had things like the belt replaced.  If neither of these have been recent, you will need to spend a few hundred getting tuned and setup.

If you can get a good deal on a Lingo equipped unit, go for it.  Otherwise, you can buy a Lingo separately and install it at a later date.

Hope this helps.

GW

[mcrespo71]

Thanks guys!  Yeah, it's too bad I missed out on your Linn, George.  Did you post on the audiocircle?  What was your price- BTW- so I have some sort of benchmark to use when I go shopping.  Can you do the tuning yourself, George?  I realize they are tweaky beasts, but damn if they don't sound good and I recently decided that as a vinyl lover, I'd be remiss if sometime in my life I didn't own the LEGEND.  For the used prices I've seen, I think it's worth a try.  George- may I send you links of LP12's I'm looking at, and you can tell me if they are up to spec in the Linn world?

Michael

Tutti- CD

[mcrespo71]

I just got this link over at the asylum.  Extremely helpful for the used LP12 shopper.

http://www.nakedresource.com/version14lp12faq.shtml

[zybar]

Mike,

I let mine go for $1150.  Mine was recently tuned, new Valhalla board, ringmat, Benz Glider cartridge with about 700 hours, and Target wall shelf.

Send me a PM and I will give you my number and we can talk.

GW

[Psychicanimal]

I think belt drive transports go better with a direct drive TT....

[orthobiz]

I just upgraded my Linn. I bought mine for 600 bucks in 1981, used unit from 1979. It had a Grace 707II arm and a Grado MM cartridge. Then, got married, moved, had kids (sound familiar anybody?) and sat in my basement for 14 years.

Now resurrected, I will probably plug it in (FINALLY) this weekend and can hardly wait.

So, I brought it in to my Linn dealer, only 1 in Michigan, excellent service.

Tonearm dead (bad wiring), fixable...
Cartridge, who know? Old, suspension could be bad.

I did a "midrange" updating:
Cirkus suspension was considered the ONE thing to do if I decided to keep the arm/cartridge. It has a new subplatter included.
I have a Basik power supply, 60 Hz motor. Basik will run forever (I'm told) and Valhalla upgrade (I believe no longer available new) is not as reliable, it was not recommended. Told to upgrade to a Lingo when I can afford it.
I switched the arm out for a Rega 600.
Got a Linn MM Adikt cartridge.
Got a 45 RPM belt adapter. New belt comes with the Cirkus (whoopee!). I think it also comes with a new armboard, mine was predrilled for the Rega.
Got a trampolin base (my turntable didn't even have a base! But maybe it's even more outrageous that I thought it came with a naked bottom!)
Couldn't resist a new dustcover, the old smoked one was ragged and had broken hinges.

All told, I think it was about 2K. Ask me in a week if it was worth it. I'm just blown away by the fact they still make the damn thing and everything is upgradable.

Also, if you go with the Lingo, a new motor is necessary, ?140 bucks? to run at 50 Hz. I've been thinking about a Power Plant from PS Audio to keep my 60 Hz motor, you can put the Hz up to 81 and achieve 45 RPM.

But then again, I just completely redid my DQ-10's, I'm some kind of vintage nut.

[mcrespo71]

Let us all know how it sounds once you plug it in.  

Michael

[orthobiz]

My odyssey is coming to an end. My redone Linn Sondek is now plugged into a new AVA T7 ECR preamp, AVA 550 EXR amp and my rebuilt Dahlquist DQ-10's. I am in back-to-the-seventies retromodern heaven! Listening to Street Life (Crusaders), one of the few jazz records I own. I am normally a pop addict, but thought I should check out some strings and horns and it is glorious!

There's a quote from HG Wells about seeing someone on a bicycle and knowing that the world is OK. I feel the same way wathcing the warm glow of the tubes from the AVA and the spinning platter. My kids just can't believe that sound comes out of those "giant CDs."

I don't see how you can go wrong with the Linn. You can build it up one upgrade at a time to be whatever you want. Lingo next, somebody stop me!

biz

Once I figure out how to sneak my new Loricraft record cleaner into the house, I'll tell you how it works.

Meanwhile, BLUR ROCKS, have you noticed how much "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" sounds like Love "Forever Changes?"

biz again

[michael w]

Michael,

Any prospective Linn buyer should read the Linn FAQ which is full of useful information.

For example; it's a fallacy to believe any old Linn can be brought up to latest spec.

Amongst the Linn cognoscenti, many (including top UK writer Jimmy Hughes) believe the optimal LP12 was from the the pre-Valhalla, pre-Ittok arm era.
Something along the lines of the classic LP12/Grace 707/Supex SD900 combination.

http://www.n.mackie.btinternet.co.uk/linn/tlp12faq.html#upgradett


cheers,

[orthobiz]

Michael W,

That Linn FAQ site has a lot of great info. My plinth has a hole in it, from the old dustcover with the flip-down foot, I guess pre-Ittok, pre-Valhalla. I'd be interested if you have a link that says my really old table might be in an elite oldies league that is sought after.

Even if it's missing a corner brace or two, or an additional mounting screw, or whatever, it's still pretty amazing how upgradeable the basic table is and how close you can get to a more modern spec.

Certainly way different than CD players! How many 1982 players are worth futzing with today...

biz

[mcrespo71]

Meanwhile, BLUR ROCKS, have you noticed how much "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" sounds like Love "Forever Changes?"

You know, you are right!  I'm gonna put on my Sundazed vinyl reissue of Love Forever Changes and do the comparison.  

You must be stoked to have that Linn up and running again.  Hit the used record stores and buy 30 records for $60 and realize why VINYL RULES!

I'm having trouble finding a Linn on the net right now.  Too bad I didn't grab Zybars!!!     They are going for really high on ebay.

Michael

[orthobiz]

Speaking of vinyl on the cheap, I'm going to Manhattan late next week. Lived there from 1977 until 1986. Used to go to Second Coming records on ?Thompson St in the Village and get cheap cut-outs. Hated Village Oldies (too much confusion, plus too many new purchase opportunities, didn't need it). Bleeker Bob's was a little better, but expensive. Couple of places on St Marks Place, but one upstairs on the south side of the street is gone now, I think. A little place on the north side got me p.o.'ed a couple of years ago when they wouldn't let me throw out my empty coffee cup so I could browse two-handed!

There was also a little place on the east side of Fifth Ave I think between 34 and 42nd, I picked up the Idle Race CD compilation for 15 bucks about 5 yrs ago.

Are any of these places still around? Where should I go?

[michael w]

Michael W,

That Linn FAQ site has a lot of great info. My plinth has a hole in it, from the old dustcover with the flip-down foot, I guess pre-Ittok, pre-Valhalla. I'd be interested if you have a link that says my really old table might be in an elite oldies league that is sought after.

biz

Hi biz,

I don't have any links but checkout the article on used LP12's in
Hi Fi+ #17 May/June 2002 by Jimmy Hughes.

Some of his key comments were;

* The best sounding Linns were always those that were well setup, regardless of updates and mods.

* The pre-Valhalla LP12 with Grace 707 and Supex  900 was a combination that clearly worked being greater than the sum of the parts.
But with Linn dealers and users being so partisan, this combination all but died out when the Ittok/Asak arrived.

* The lightweight Grace was a better match for the LP12 than the bass heavy Ittok.

* The Valhalla board was hugely complex and probably more trouble than it's worth.

The following issue (#18 ) looked at various upgrades for Linns.

Lingo and Naim Armageddon power supplies and the full Russ Andrews Torlyte plinth and chassis mods.


cheers,

[mcrespo71]

Are any of these places still around? Where should I go?

Used in Manhattan has gotten really expensive.  I've pretty much stopped buying used here and buy all my used records at Princeton Record Exchange in NJ or when I return home to my parents house in St. Paul, MN and go to the ridiculously inexpensive vinyl shops there (i.e., cheapo and root cellar).

In Manhattan, for classical I recommend Academy Records- I believe it's on 17th St. and for Rock/Jazz I'd go to Carmine St. in Greenwich village- a lot of record stores here.  There are also stores in the E. Village- St. Marks Place and around 8th St.  For new, I would go to Rocks In your Head on Thompson St. in SoHo.

Good luck!

Michael

[orthobiz]

Mainly interested in rock,
will check out St Marks Place and Thompson St.

Thanks! Will tell you how I make out.

biz

[Tonto Yoder]

There was a $700 Linn that sold quickly on Audiogon--
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1083473320

Technically, the sale is pending, so I guess there's some remote chance that the deal would fall through.
_______________________________________ _______________
Actually, I e-mailed the seller that I have a CD antitrust check for $1386.00 and would send it to him if he would refund the difference in cash concealed in the base of the Linn; I'm still waiting for his response.

[StevieM]

If you want to read a bit about LP12 set-up there's a good article on the Origin Live site. Go to
http://www.sondek-turntable.com/
I've had an LP12 for about 15 years and would advise the following:
1/ turn off at the mains socket when not in use. The power supply board will last longer (tip from repair engineer!) as the switch on the plinth does not isolate the power from the circuit board.
2/ Site on a lightweight support/table/whatever as a heavy cabinet or table buggers up the bass.
good luck
Steve

[JoshK]

Mike,

Head's up!

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/auc.pl?anlgtabl&1078887397