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Yamaha PF-1000 - Great TT!!

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Dogman

Active Member
Hello all,

I recently acquired a Yamaha PF-1000 turntable with nary a scratch or mark on it (even the dust cover is scratch free!). Came in the original box with all accessories (strobe disk clamp, spare headshell, even the original spare belt still in it's foil package!). Also included is the original Yamaha MC-5 moving coil cartridge. Apparently the table had been used just a few times by the original owner before being stored back in it's box for the last 20 years or so.

I hooked this unit up in place of my YP-800 which I considered a decent table, and what a difference! The PF-1000 was far more revealing with better separation, bass response, and beautiful highs. Don't know if this is Yamaha's best, but it sure is a sweet sounding unit!!

I have a few questions about this TT that I thought the more experienced Yamaphiles might be able to help with:

1. I can't seem to verify the speed using the strobe disk, and I don't have a flourescent light source nearby - any suggestions for checking speed (or do I need to take the table to my garage!!)? Is the strobe disk clamp a useful addition, other than for verifying speed?

2. I suppose the original belt should be replaced as it takes about three revolutions to get up to speed - any recommendations on where to source a good quality replacement unit (I think I'll keep the spare belt that came with the table unused and unopened in it's foil pack).

3. Websites I have checked suggest that the PF-1000 came with the MC-705 cart, but this unit, which was purchased in Canada came with the MC-5. Are these carts any good? How do the MC-705 and MC-5 compare? What other cartridges would be a decent match for the PF-1000?

4. The user manual instructions for adjusting the floating suspension are a little sketchy - is the idea to adjust the three springs so that all gaps to the wood base are even?

5. Any recommendations for cleaning the aluminum outer and bronze inner platters?

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions!

Barry
 
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Barry-

Nice 'table. I've had a PF-800 for a bit and always liked it. As for your questions:

1. The "Strobe" disc doesn't use an external lamp...the markings are spaced so that at exactly 33 or 45 rpm the little marks will appear to stand still....at other speeds you'll just see a blur.

4. Just pop a level on the platter and make your adjustments. A 6" level will work great...just remember to level front to back AND side to side.

ENjoy!
 
Some pics for you

Thanks redcoates7 - I think I got the speed set correctly with the strobe disk. I have a small bubble level that shows the table to be very close to level - I'll pick up a 6" level as you suggest and finish the job.

Haven't had a chance to clean and dust thoroughly, but here are a few pictures of the PF-1000.

Barry
 

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Hi there Dogman, nice table.

The PF-1000 was the TOTL TT from Yamaha in 1984-1989, after that the 1000 was dropped and only the PF-800 was sold (until 1994). The table is a tweeked 800 with sligtly better performance and it might be considerd the best belt driven tt from Yamaha only some of there top DD models are better.

2. It is a belt driven TT so do not expeckt it to be on speed instantly, on the other hand replacing the old with the extra one you got worn't hurt either. New belts can be found on the net

3. The MC-5 suggests that this PF-1000 is one of the early units since the MC-5 went out of production in 1985. The cart itself is a really good one, third in line after the MC-1000 and MC-3 (Yamaha changed thire MC line in 1983 and this line lasted until they stopped selling carts in 1998), it is much better than the MC-705. The only bad thing is that it can not be retipped (maybe a new diamound can be fitted), since the entire housing is molted plastic.

About what cart to replace it with you can easy go into the $500 market or more, it is a good table. I think the MC-5 was around $200-250 at the time (if any know the exacte price it is welcome).

Oh and I have bough the PF-800 and 1000 :)

A late note: You have one of the seldom ones and what a buity, normaly the PF-1000 was black
 
the-real-mandak said:
A late note: You have one of the seldom ones and what a buity, normaly the PF-1000 was black
Click to expand...

Have to disagree.. I've owned two PF-800's and a PF-1000. Had the manual and sales paperwork with the 1000. Looked for a long time for the 1000. Only saw one black one, all others were silver and walnut. In fact thought it was so unusual that I snagged the picture. Also attaching a picture of my old system with an 800 and 1000..

Dogman.. notice you are using the hinges for the dust cover. Many I looked at had stress cracks or were broken at the hinges. I took my hinges off and just set my dust cover on top when not in use.

Nice tables, but I got upgrade fever and got an Oracle.
 

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Thanks for the nice comments guys!

Great info Mandak! I had the feeling that the MC-5 was a decent cart as the PF-1000 sounds much better than my YP-800 with a Benz 20E2 cartridge. I have no pricing information on the MC-5 but do have the original box and mounting instructions in English and Japanese. Are these Yamaha carts still available on the used/NOS market?

You are bang on in terms of production date - states October 1984 on the back of the table, so this is one of the earliest production units.

I will pick up a couple of new belts for the unit as the original unit is 20+ years old and I suppose exposure to the elements (if not playtime) would have softened it up some. Any recommendations on a vendor that sells quality belts?

On the colour, the Vintage Knob suggests that the silver and walnut version is North American only and is rarer than the model finished in black, but like Punker I have seen more of the silver units for sale. Perhaps we see more of these as they were more prevalent in NA while many more of the black units were sold elsewhere in the world? Was the PF-800 available in both colour schemes?

Punker - thanks for the advice on the dust cover hinges. The dust cover is truly in immaculate condition. I will take your advice and remove the hinges to keep it that way!!

Mandak - what Yamaha DD turntables would best the PF-1000 (YP-D10??)
Punker - How much improvement did you notice in your upgrade to the Oracle?

Again, thanks all for the comments, suggestions, and info!!

Barry
 
Dogman you are right; as TVK sayes the silver PF-1000 was NA only, in the rest of the world it is black.

DD's - the high ranking YP-D models, the PX-1, 2, 3 and the GT models (Japan only).

Carts - you can still find the MC-9 and 21 around on the net, but don't bather. They where the low-end part of the line, get an Audio Technica cart instead. Note: The MC-21 is a high output version of the MC-11.

About belt; I thought you said that you also got a spear belt in closed foil, why not use that one (unles you are planing to re-sell, it will look good in an auction to have an org. spear).
 
Dogman said:
Punker - How much improvement did you notice in your upgrade to the Oracle?

Barry
Click to expand...

Sticky question to answer.. knowning the mindset here on AK.. Like compairing a Fisher Price to your Yamaha. Got my Oracle set up slightly used and at 1/3 retail, but if I were to have to replace it it would cost me 10K. That's table/Arm and cartridge.
 
Mandak - I have no intention to flip the PF-1000, but do like the idea of keeping the original spare belt intact in it's foil package. Kind of adds to the authenticity and originality of the table. And new belts are so cheap. Thanks for the tip on Audio Technica carts - I'll check them out.

Punker - I get your point, no comparison (and my Yamaha tables are the Fisher Price units!!). I love vintage stuff for the looks, build quality, and sonic performance, but am not one that believes that the vintage era was the pinnacle of audio fidelity.

My main system includes a bit of both:

Vintage - Pioneer Elite F-91 Tuner, C-90 Pre, M-90 amp and the Yamaha tables
Modern - CDT80 Shanling CDP and PMC OB1 floor standing speakers
 
Just picked up a Yamaha PF-1000

:music:Just picked up a all black PF-1000 of CL in TN. Lovely table. I think I like the black better as it matches my other Yammie components. It is in decent shape, has the original stobe pattern clamp. Only a few tiny nicks & the cover will need a polish, and a new belt. Every things seems to work except the knob that adjusts the tracking force. I just used the rear adjustment knob & set the TF with my digital scale. The optical end of play lift works great. Came with a AT211EP that did not sound bad, but is no match for my Ortofon OM 30 cart. I been hoping to find one in the local thrifts or pawns (Fat Chance), so I jumped on this one when I saw it On CL, Put about 250 miles on the van today to go get it. :thmbsp:
 

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PF-1000 tone arm drops a little too fast.

The tone arm drops a little faster than I like. Anyone know how to add silicone fluid to it? The service manual at vinylengine does not mention it. :scratch2:
 
I have a PF-800 which uses same belts as yours.I got them through eprey, some folks feel the belts made in Japan are of better quality?I agree with the hinge removal.Mine came with a Shure V15 type IV set-up.I really like it but I bought a Denon DL-160 which I have yet to try.Enjoy a solid performer!
 
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