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Technics SL-1200 MK2

Tucker99

Tucker99

Super Member
I am looking at getting one of the above TTs. i know that they are spoken/written very highly of here.

The one I am looking at has no dustcover. Are they still available?

Also, what are the "be very careful of .... " when buying a 1200 MK2?

And do they take a standard headshell? Is there a recommended replacement, i.e. right weight etc.?

Thanks
 
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kabusa.com is the place to go for Technics accessories, and yes, the dust cover is still available. It does accept Standard headshells such as Stanton's headshell.

If the table has been used in a DJ environment, tonearm damage is quite possible. If the tonearm feels loose at the pivot - rocks from side to side or moves forward or backward - this is a sign of damage. The tonearm should also move freely at the pivot when the arm is moved out over the record. To check this, zero out the tonearm so that it floats, and see if the arm moves back and forth over the platter on its own without any hitches or obvious friction. With the arm floating, you might even try gently blowing the tonearm toward the spindle and noting how freely the arm moves. If there's any hitch, stopage or friction, it may be a sign of damage, or a tonearm that is loose or out of adjustment.

You can replace the tonearm, but unless the sales price is way under market, I'd pass.
 
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To add what Whell said-

If the table was an audiophile deck, no worries, usually.

If it was a DJ deck, the arm bearings as well as the spindle bearings/thrust plate suffer damage from roughshod shipping and handling to and from gigs, and an occasional pitch control gets a drink spilled into it.

Add $30 for the cost of a new spindle/bearing assembly if damaged.

Add $50 for the tone arm/bearing assembly if the tone arm is borked.

Pitch switch around $20 if sticky with cocktails and brews.

All are easy to replace, all are readily available.

In a way, I kind of like buying the DJ tables. A good cleaning and replacement of the arm and if needed, center spindle and pitch slider and the table now has been given a new lease on life and has fresh mechanicals where needed.

But- frugal minds should consider the total end cost- all three items above add from $20 to $100. Dust covers are about $40.

Consider cosmetic condition and make your call.


Best of luck!
 
Oh come on you don't want to buy one of those. I mean come on they have such a crappy arm and they don't sound good as well. Why not get a Rega P3 why it will run circle around a 1200 all day long:D
Boy did that pain me to write the above in in jest.
 
For quite some time I wondered what all the fuss was over the 1200 mk 2 until I got one. #1, it is built like a tank; #2, I truly love the tonearm; #3, great features; #4, probably the best, if not one of the best, popularly marketed turntables of our time. And this from a devoted Pioneer t/t fan.
 
I would suggest considering that 1200's with no dustcover are more likely to have been DJ turntables and will have more wear than audiophile-owned 1200's.
 
I just purchased a dust cover for mine from KAB. Looks to be OEM. Remeber to that if the dust cover is missing you will probably need to purchase hinges too at ~ $20. I picked mine up as a first TT because of the same reasons noted above and the quantity of after market parts and tweaks available for it.
 
NoClue48 said:
Just purchase a new one from KAB, USA or some other reputable on line seller...
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Ya know.... that is really good advice....for what I want right now, that advice is spot on the money!

I have looked at the kabusa.com sight and apart from the fact that the really nice SL-1200GLDSE is no longer available, I can still get the pretty sweet SL-1210M5GSE or the SL-1210MK5SE and even after you add the shipping to Canada, the economics are still OK.

I'm gonna sell off the Thorens TD160C and TD166MkII and just buy a new SL-1210M5GSE.....

Other than kabusa, which ther on-line sellers are good??
 
KAB does a thorough check of the tables before you get them- one of the best places to buy.

Guitar Center carded them too.


The M5G features lots of cosmetic extras and DJ extras and the only audiophile extras are the tone arm wires (internal and RCA).

Food for thought-

You could instead have Kevin at KAB upgrade these two items or even have KAB add the external power supply or tone arm damper.
 
beej said:
For quite some time I wondered what all the fuss was over the 1200 mk 2 until I got one. #1, it is built like a tank; #2, I truly love the tonearm; #3, great features; #4, probably the best, if not one of the best, popularly marketed turntables of our time. And this from a devoted Pioneer t/t fan.
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+1 :yes:

I have had my SL 1200 for about a year and a half and it is my main TT in my listening room and I would be hard pressed to look at anything else near it's price range. The only other TT I am using is my Pioneer PL-707 and it is doing duty in the bedroom.
 
Tucker99 said:
Ya know.... that is really good advice....for what I want right now, that advice is spot on the money!

I have looked at the kabusa.com sight and apart from the fact that the really nice SL-1200GLDSE is no longer available, I can still get the pretty sweet SL-1210M5GSE or the SL-1210MK5SE and even after you add the shipping to Canada, the economics are still OK.

I'm gonna sell off the Thorens TD160C and TD166MkII and just buy a new SL-1210M5GSE.....

Other than kabusa, which ther on-line sellers are good??
Click to expand...

I can't tell if you're being facetious or sincere, but the background on my suggestion is simply this: one can certainly purchase a used 12xx model from a source that may or may not have abused it. If you're lucky, it'll be just fine. If you're not, you will need to go through it and hope whatever is damaged can be fixed at a reasonable price.

When I replaced my old Technics SL-220 belt-drive, I considered used and then decided to just bite the bullet and purchase a new one. I found the 1210M5G at a very fair price at Beach Audio (through Amazon.com)--I just checked Beach Audios and they don't seem to stock Technics any longer, but Amazon still has them available.

I recommended KAB USA because I've dealt with them for some hinges, head shells and other parts and have been pleased with the service. If I hadn't found the 1210M5G I did, I'd have purchased from KAB.

Regardless, I guess it comes down to do you want to be a TT mechanic and try to fix one up or just buy a new one, unpack it, plug it in and enjoy??? I like tinkering, but I don't like fixing other peoples' problems.

As for getting it into Canada, I can't help and I apologize for missing that if it was in your post.

Bottom line... I think you'll like the Technics. I have really enjoyed mine. I have had it for nearly two years and it worked flawlessly out of the box and I'm looking forward to years of service.
 
NoClue48 said:
I can't tell if you're being facetious or sincere...
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Not one bit facetious. I was looking at the Technics and I was concerned because one sees so many "For sale. Two Technics in carry cases, no dust covers, DJ carts and extra styli, will add in mixing and FX boxes for X$ more" then they go on to claim "Never used outside my bedroom"

Honestly, when I saw a reputable seller at a price not much more then the used (abused) ones go for here, then new really does seem the way to go. I'm not looking for another project right now.

I thought you were reading my mind.
 
thedelihaus said:
The M5G features lots of cosmetic extras and DJ extras and the only audiophile extras are the tone arm wires (internal and RCA).

You could instead have Kevin at KAB upgrade these two items or even have KAB add the external power supply or tone arm damper.
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thedelihaus .... which model would you start with then and which 'extras' would you add...??

The two extras that you mention are the KAB special here http://kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/
 
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Tucker99 said:
thedelihaus .... which model would you start with then and which 'extras' would you add...??

The two extras that you mention are the KAB special here http://kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/
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while the M5G has a great finish, the one I'd go for is the MK 2.

Any model after adds features more pertinent to DJ needs.

I'd replace the RCA cables first.

Some of the other mods I'm going to mention have been argued and contested but here's a few more.


Replace the stock tone arm wire- also bypass the pcb in the tone arm wire path.

Dampen the tone arm tube- clear shrink wrap or black shrink wrap will work. The claim that the arm is he weak link is only partially true. The bearings are of high quality and tight tolerance and the arm is good but tested it shows resonance issue with the tube and possibly end stub/weight. Can't do much about the weight but cheap and easy to dampen the tube. SME damps some earlier models internally with balsa or batting. Audioquest externally sleeves the arm in rubber-like materal. Sumiko used batting inside some arms.

The external power supply seems a great option for many.

There's a few aftermarket bearings you can purchase, ranging from $200-$250 for a stock model that's modded, to a freshly machined $480 model.

Try a Herbie's platter mat.

Later, fancy isolation feet.



But really the Only thing the M5G has, sonically, over the MK 2, is the RCA cables and tone arm internal wire.

I'd play with it stock first.

If anything, go with better RCAs.

The rest, do as you see fit or want to.



The stock arm is very good, and little tweaking goes a long way. But if you get the urge to experiment later down the road, options are plentiful, from SME 3009s to SME Vs to Jelco to Rega RB-250 to Sumiko to Acos to Grace to ADC to Linn to Audioquest.

It's pretty easy to build arm boards and experiment. The SL-1200 MK 2 plinth/motor/platter offers a great base for loads of arms, including a slghtly tweaked stock arm.
 
Tucker99 said:
Not one bit facetious...
I thought you were reading my mind.
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Good to know and I appreciate the reply... just so you know, I've given up on the mind reading thing--t'was getting me into way too much trouble:D

As for your perceptions of the various used offerings, I'd say we're on the same page. I don't really believe any claims on line as to how something may have been used and once you arrive at that place, it's easy to make the leap to buy new.

Piping up on some of your questions to thedelihaus, I'd say his responses represent the general consensus on the 1200s on this board and most others. The ONLY reason I opted for the 1210M5G was because of the tonearm wiring--and maybe the cool dark gray metal flake finish on the plinth:thmbsp:. I'm no expert and my ears are well past their optimal stage, so I don't discern all the nuances that others claim they hear with many of the other upgrades he suggests. Nonetheless, there are many and I've rarely seen any negative comments from those who have installed them. The only upgrades I've made are the 1/4" turntable mat that KAB sells for US$21.50 and the hinges for the dustcover--the 1210M5g comes sans hinges.

Good luck in your search. I'd be interested in hearing which way you go once you decide.
 
Tucker99 said:
Honestly, when I saw a reputable seller at a price not much more then the used (abused) ones go for here, then new really does seem the way to go. I'm not looking for another project right now.
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I bought a used (not too abused) SL-1200M3D from a guy in Van. last year. It's obviously seen some DJ duty, but there's nothing wrong with it other than some cosmetic issues. The table came with a nice cover and some hinges that don't fit, as the M3D's didn't come stock with hinges, I didn't know that at the time. I just bought a 5mm Herbie's mat for it which sounds very good. I also have some litz wire for the arm when I get the urge.

FWIW, I'd keep the TD-166MKII and put a better arm on it.

Jeff
 
I've had my 1200MK2 for years now with no trouble, it's a great 'table and I'm sure you'll enjoy it... in fact I've recently been enjoying some albums that my friend in Vancouver sent me in a trade :tresbon:

If you decide to get the KAB upgrades, so much the better, but they're not absolutely necessary for good listening. (Mine is still original/stock). Either way, enjoy!
 
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