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Post by jstas on Oct 26, 2021 15:08:03 GMT -5
Coming across a Technics SL-QD33 in decent shape for nothing because someone says "it's broken". Looking at it before taking it and seeing right away that it's stylus is broken but it's a P-mount so easy peasy on the replacement.
Get it home, get a new stylus for like $20 and it still no worky.
Crud.
Check new stylus, A-OK.
Check P-cart...hmmmm. Kinda sketchy.
Grab the multi-meter, start testing leads.
Old P-cart has no continuity where it's supposed to.
Open it up, corroded to high heaven and a crack in the base that holds the stylus.
This thing got kicked around a bit.
So I checked the tone arm, it's straight. Balance is a little off but that's probably due to the broken stylus.
Guess I need a new P-cart.
Go searching online...cheapest one is a junk Chinese Audio Technica knock-off on Amazon for like $45. A real AT is a hair under $70.
Guess I didn't get a cheap Technics SL-QD33 after all.
At least it's a P-mount so if the turntable really is shit I can at least unload the stylus and P-cart and recover most of my cash.
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tonyb
Guns
The 5 Star General
Posts: 2,662
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Post by tonyb on Feb 10, 2022 16:36:03 GMT -5
I've been looking at used TT's myself. Either beat to shit or nicely serviced...and overpriced. Some nice older TT's like Duals, Technics, Pioneers, all fully serviced and lubed up with newer carts for around 250. Not that bad considering a new decent cart can be 80-150 bucks of that cost. Some are wanting like 3-400 for those older tables, I don't think so.
Newer entry level tables though are cheap but from what I'm reading, don't sound as good as those vintage 200 buck serviced tables. You need to start in the 800 buck arena in new tables to start comparing. Project evo or MMF 1.5. But, if your anything like me and albums are going to get little play time, why spend alot on that muffler, know what I'm sayin' ? It's nice for vintage and nostalgia's sake, which is why I can't see myself throwing alot of coin at it.
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Post by jstas on Feb 11, 2022 9:12:12 GMT -5
Eh, I got that SL-QD33 for a friend to put in his "Backroom of Trust" so he could have a decent stereo instead of the soundbar bullshit he had.
I ended up replacing p-cart and it worked to play records but the controller board was not playing fair. It needs to be repaired. So I found another SL-QD33 on eGhey that was beat to shit with a busted tone arm for like $65 shipped. I pirated the board from that and swapped them out.
So now I got another SL-QD33 that needs a tone arm but Technics used the same tone arm across multiple lines so the tonearm assembly is everywhere for about $25-$30. The board needs to be fixed with a simple procedure, I just didn't have time to do it before getting the setup to the "Backroom of Trust" since I had to refoam the woofers speaks and had to clean up all the contacts on the receiver.
But I will say, I am SOOOOOO glad that George slid me a deal on the Micro Seiki DD35 many years ago now! I have a very sought after turntable that I gave George $135 for. They are going for $450+ in poor condition. I've seen ones that are either in very good original condition or perfectly restored and serviced for over a grand now.
I'll have the other SL-QD33 repaired by this summer too and those in good shape are going for $300+. Not that I'm going to unload it but if one of the kids gets a vinyl hair up their ass, I'll have a decent turntable for them. I have a pair of vintage ELAC EL60's that need some help too. Dude around the corner was throwing them out 'cause they're all funky and the dust caps are damaged. They need to be cleaned up and probably replace the contact posts but they work. I just need to get a decent receiver for them and there's a whole 'nother rig, easily. Unless I use the Oinker pre-amp and the NAD stereo amp for them. Eh, either way, it's pretty cool what you can end up with for a couple bills, patience and some "junk" the other people thought was trash.
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Post by polrbehr on Oct 27, 2022 7:34:07 GMT -5
Speaking of turntables, I finally got most of my 2 channel rig up and running this past week, and can say without shame that I am ecstatic that the SDAs are singing again! Anywho, about a year ago I saw a deal on an AudioTechnica TT for not a lot of coin so I bought it knowing some day it would be put to good use. Well, last night was "some day", and it's a nice little table. Certainly nothing fancy, and I was not expecting a lot, but it sure sounds good to my ears. Now I have the task of getting my LPs all cleaned up - I bought an ultrasonic cleaner even before the new TT...
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JC
Member
Balls
Posts: 192
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Post by JC on Dec 6, 2022 22:32:36 GMT -5
Pics of this table, or it didn’t happen.
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Post by polrbehr on Dec 8, 2022 10:12:23 GMT -5
Pics of this table, or it didn’t happen. Not sure if this was pointed in my direction but here goes…
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JC
Member
Balls
Posts: 192
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Post by JC on Dec 8, 2022 21:27:23 GMT -5
Nice. You happy with it?
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Post by polrbehr on Dec 8, 2022 22:26:58 GMT -5
Jury is still out, but it's better than the table it replaced.
I got back into vinyl years ago thanks to George Grand and his sales - most of the albums I got from him were duplicates of albums I owned/used to own, many of which were damaged when my basement flooded. I just wanted to be able to get that analog sound that I used to love when I was younger. This TT seemed to fit the bill nicely without spending a lot - and since I have their clamp, I figured it should work fine. It does.
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