[orthobiz]

I have a "new" turntable on consignment of sorts. Someone at work had this sitting around for years. It has a separate power supply, has a Grace 707 and Grado cartridge (stylus could have lost its bounce, don't know yet). I am going to fire it up and see if it works. If it's good I may make an offer.

Unfortunately it's not a "barn find" or "garage sale curio" that I'm gonna get for five bucks. The fellow selling it would like some money and I don't know yet what to offer.

Today I'll post pictures but would like to update the thread over the next several days to see if it even works. Then maybe ask for some forum consensus as to value.

Thanks!

Paul

[orthobiz]

[planet10]

The table is modest but good. The 707 is worth some money ($125-150), If the cartridge is a Grado F1 i could have sold that table (except that you are closer to the other side of the continent).

If in reasonable shape, i'd expect $150-$250 would be a good value.

dave

[planet10]

Here is a pic of a BD1/Grace i did up in a custom plinth.



dave

[orthobiz]

The cartridge is a Grado G1. Not sure what that means, though.

Paul

[TheChairGuy]

Other than curiosity or that the guy is hard up and you want to lend a helping hand to him - why buy it, Paul?

Your VPI MkIII with SAMA and SDS will stomp it.  If you were to try something 'different' buy an old DD or Idler drive to see how you like a very different drive system.  Unless the Sugden is $5, it's not worth the space it will take up in your house.

On the other hand, if it's a working Grado G1+ cartridge, you're in for a treat.  The G1+ is a nude, shibata made by Grado 25+ years ago.

I don't know if there was a Grado G1 also or what stylus shape, et c it takes.  But, if it's a G1+, it's got the potential for doozy 

I have bought 2 NOS from ebay in the past (I think I paid $80...but have noticed the price of these things climbing as word runs around and stock dwindles)....I do the Longhorn mod to today's Grado Gold, yank of the gawd-awful bonded elliptical that comes standard on it and I have the best sounding hi-output cartridge I've ever had the pleasure of hearing in my home.

So, the Sugden ain't worth beans, but if it's a working G1+ stylus, it might be worth $50.

John

[planet10]

G1 was just after my time in hifi. Better than an F1. You can still get stylii if it needs. A good combo

dave

[orthobiz]

Other than curiosity or that the guy is hard up and you want to lend a helping hand to him - why buy it, Paul?
John

As usual, it's for the kids. Now it's gonna be for their friends.

As the vinyl word gets out, people shower me with opportunities. Seems like everyone knows I'm into vinyl. Could it be the constant barrage of "where's your turntable" and "do you still have some records?"

The same fellow has 29 MoFi albums he wants to unload. The older ones from the 70's and 80's. Right now I'm looking at Ziggy, American Beauty, Magical Mystery, Abbey Road.

I'm personally sticking with my Linn and my VPI. This Sugden does, however, play 78's, hmmmmmm......

Paul

[orthobiz]

Dave,

Are there other things about the BD3 that are better than the 1? Like the outboard power supply for the motor, maybe the plinth or arm mounting?

Paul

[planet10]

The BD3 was Sugden's hi-end table, everything is better than the BD1 (and despite its modest price etc, was an overachiever, we sold hundreds of them)

dave

[BaMorin]

As usual, it's for the kids. Now it's gonna be for their friends.

As the vinyl word gets out, people shower me with opportunities. Seems like everyone knows I'm into vinyl. Could it be the constant barrage of "where's your turntable" and "do you still have some records?"

The same fellow has 29 MoFi albums he wants to unload. The older ones from the 70's and 80's. Right now I'm looking at Ziggy, American Beauty, Magical Mystery, Abbey Road.

I'm personally sticking with my Linn and my VPI. This Sugden does, however, play 78's, hmmmmmm......

Paul

I have a NOS grado 78E stylus that will plug right into that G-1 body if you're looking to keep it for your 78's.   

Marc

[orthobiz]

Thanks, Marc. I'm not into stuff old enough to start actually collecting 78's (maybe I'll leave that for retirement!). I was so busy I didn't get a chance to plug this thing in, but I'll start looking more into it this week.

Seems like Dave knows about them...How much did they go for new? Was the 707 a common pairing?

And John...how many tables do you have now? Four? And isn't Wayner up to 8?? Gotta tell you, that silver Grace tonearm brings me back to listening to Elvis Costello Armed Forces on the Linn...before the wiring went bad and I sold it on eBay. Just wait till you see the pics of the Dual 1216 I had refurbished by Bill Neumann!!!!!

Paul

[planet10]

Seems like Dave knows about them...How much did they go for new? Was the 707 a common pairing?

We only ever got a couple of these in, somewhat arounf or a bit less than a rega 2. The Grace 707 was a common pairing with anything we sold, we bought these 100+ at a time and sold thousands of them.

dave

[TheChairGuy]

And John...how many tables do you have now? Four? And isn't Wayner up to 8?? Gotta tell you, that silver Grace tonearm brings me back to listening to Elvis Costello Armed Forces on the Linn...before the wiring went bad and I sold it on eBay. Just wait till you see the pics of the Dual 1216 I had refurbished by Bill Neumann!!!!!

Paul

Yeah, I'm down to 4 working ones (I have doubles of the JVC QL-Y66F as one is broken - so five if you count that).  Wayner's got me beat handedly at 8 I think

Tho I poke around looking at new tables to acquire, given the limitations of my room and aging ears ....the VPI Classic and the (working) JVC QL-Y66F sound divine to me with the tricked out Grado Gold1.  Sensational actually, to me.

The completely tricked out Technics SL-1200 Mk.II with Origin Live Illustrious Mk. II arm never sees the light of day these days (I have to decide what to do with it now  )

Bill Neumann / FixMyDual.com does an exemplary job.  Did you buy the upgraded base from him?  He's a woodworker by day, so his new wood bases are stylish and improve the performance markedly of those old DUAL's   

John

[TONEPUB]

Got me beat too.  Only seven here.

[neobop]

This BD-3 looks a whole lot better than the BD-2 I had. Man, that was a long time ago. The BD-2 had an integrated arm. If I remember correctly it was kinda short, like 8 7/8" eff length. It had a bad habit of starting up backwards. LOL, the platter would sometimes go in the wrong direction. Bad cap or something.

I think the arm might be worth a hair more than indicated. The 707 was probably Grace's most popular arm. Mass is 7g and sounds good with high cu carts. Should be real good with a Grado. The 704 unipivot would be even better with a Grado, but they go for $500 or so, by themselves. This thread brings back some memories. That must have been over 35 yrs ago, a time of defective record players, for me. I bought a Dynavector 10X MK 3 or 4. It was defective too.

neo

[planet10]

BD2 was a BD1 mounted on a steel baseplate with the arm added

I think the arm might be worth a hair more than indicated. The 707 was probably Grace's most popular arm. Mass is 7g and sounds good with high cu carts. Should be real good with a Grado. The 704 unipivot would be even better with a Grado, but they go for $500 or so, by themselves.

New we sold 707s for $150 or so, only ever did a few 704s, we preferred the (similar) 714, they were something like $250 when sold new.

dave

[neobop]

BD2 was a BD1 mounted on a steel baseplate with the arm added

New we sold 707s for $150 or so, only ever did a few 704s, we preferred the (similar) 714, they were something like $250 when sold new.

dave

Dave,
The power supply wasn't separate in the BD-2. I bought that new, but I didn't keep it long. I was really disappointed with the whole thing. The arm was too short and starting backward got tired, fast.  The Dynavector was the icing on the crapcake. I'm pretty sure it was a 10X MK4 - just came out. It had no bass and much of the info was missing. Looking back, it probably had mislabeled pins - out of phase. But I didn't think about that at the time.

A 707 is worth around $200 - 250 or so today. For some strange reason a Black Widow is worth a little more. It must be the name or the sexy look. I don't think it's a better sounding arm. There's a 704 on Agon now for $600. He's having trouble selling it though. If it were $75 less, he'd prob get it.

It's all relative I guess. In the '50s gas was $0.23/gal.

neo

[planet10]

The power supply wasn't separate in the BD-2. The arm was too short and starting backward got tired, fast

What power supply? I just gave away 2 BD2s (sans arms), Same AC syncronous motor as the BD1. The little on-off lever at the front with the rubber kickstart knobule was very effective at getting them to start the right direction. Maybe yours was lost?

A 707 is worth around $200 - 250 or so today. For some strange reason a Black Widow is worth a little more.

Black Widow wasn't as good as the 707 IMHO.

Grace 714



dave

[neobop]

I thought that power supply on the BD3 was a separate unit. I never saw one. Maybe my BD2 was missing the rubber kickstarter? LOL, I vaguely remember something like that, but mine would start in the wrong direction much of the time anyway. Initially it would go in the right direction until the motor kicked in.   

That AT P-mount on the 714 looks like the tail's almost dragging on the record. The 704 has more of an aerospace look. I don't have much experience with either one. I don't think I'd pay $600 for one.
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtnrm&1295205733&/Grace-G-704

neo