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New Aquisition: Thorens TD126 MKII

MaxSeven

MaxSeven

Word Skeptic
My 'audio agent' just sold me this Thorens TD126 MKII. This is the same guy who sold me the HK ST8 and the Bozaks. He has tons more to go as well and I'm eye-balling his Marantz 2130 (with scope), which I hope he will sell to me as well.

Anyway the table is great, and weighs a ton. It has what appears to be the original tone arm (the TP 62?) and a Grado ZF 3. The cartridge has a weight attached to the front.

Everything seems to operate perfectly, although the speed that the arm descends on cue, seems a bit too rapid.

I spent about an hour cleaning it, and I polished the aluminum platter with some orange hand cleaner (worked quite well).

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A great great great table. I've sold over a hundred tables the past few years, and the 126 MKII is still at number one on the list of ones I wish I hadn't sold.

I recently bought a MKIII at a song, but it had so many electronic issues, I could not fix it. I just parted it out on eBay...something I generally don't do, but in this case, seeing how rare they are, I wanted to help out some people.

Dave
 
Great table. Luckily the MK-II seems to avoid all the troubles the MK-III is known for.

I´m very curious about the arm, or rather the headshell. Never seen that before. Looks like a DIY affair, and that could explain the added weight on the cartridge. Could you possibly post a close up pic?

Jorge
 
The headshell is a Thorens and appears to be made of tempered steel. I think the weight attached to the cartridge is the extent of the DIY. Curious why the previous owner did that, as the counter-weight has to be all the way back on the arm end, to obtain the appropriate tracking force.

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ddarch said:
A great great great table. I've sold over a hundred tables the past few years, and the 126 MKII is still at number one on the list of ones I wish I hadn't sold.

I recently bought a MKIII at a song, but it had so many electronic issues, I could not fix it. I just parted it out on eBay...something I generally don't do, but in this case, seeing how rare they are, I wanted to help out some people.

Dave
Click to expand...

I obtained the Thorens and the Harman Kardon ST8 for 225. Prior to that I bought an AR (The Turntable). This Thorens seems to be right up in the league of the AR, if not slightly better. It has great isolation, and I was able to hop up and down in front of it with no ill effect. The dustcover and assembly are in good shape as well, minimal scratches and no cracks. I didn't realize the MKIII was so problematic.

Perhaps the only modifications I'll make, is a new armboard from some type of exotic hardwood and perhaps a new cartridge. How does the ZF 3 rate?
 
Looks nice! Yup, I believe it's a TP16 Tonearm and a TP 63 armwand. I've got the same setup on my 145 and it's great for swapping carts (swap the whole armwand).
 
MaxSeven said:
Ah ha. Thank you for identifying that. I have nothing to compare the mod to, but I assume that the sound must be better than without this mod? I wonder what stylus force should be set to?
Click to expand...


There are a couple of guys over at audiocircle using a longhorn cartridge if you do a search "thechairguy" is one i think he may be able to help and there is some more info there if you look around.

Ed
 
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