• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Custom Technics SL-1200MK2 arm

thedelihaus

thedelihaus

Nocturnal transmissions
AKer Andy H's work in progress, a Custom Technics SL-1200MK2 arm.

Rewired with Litz wire, tone arm damped with cotton (as in certain SME arms and as Kevin at KAB has been doing as of late), external sleeve dampening (my cleanest work yet), foam damped end stub shaft, new tone arm rest, new arm lift lever, disassembled, cleaned, lubed with white lithium grease, awaiting shipment of new KAB end stub dampner, new M5G harness, and new tone arm end weight.





362deb8f.jpg
 
Register to hide this ad
Nice! I gots questions:
- what headshell is that and do I want it?
- got an estimate on the mass increase?
- where/how is there foam in the end stub shaft?
 
The headshell is nothing fancy- I actually use it as a heat sink when soldering!

The added mass is, I'm guessing, maybe a gram to a gram and a half? The dampening material is pretty dang light. I'll measure it once I replace my scale.

The end stub is hollow. Remove the screw that holds the end weight clamp spring in place, the end stub brace for the aux. Weight drops out. Lightweight expanding foam is inserted, and unit is reassembled.
 
Delihaus:

Did this actually start life as an SL-1200 Mk.2 arm or is the tubing custom as well? All of this Technics chatter of late has gotten me thinking...
 
Spalls said:
Delihaus:

Did this actually start life as an SL-1200 Mk.2 arm or is the tubing custom as well? All of this Technics chatter of late has gotten me thinking...
Click to expand...

The arm tube is stock- it has been filled with cotton batting per some SME arms and what Kevin at KAB does. The outside of the arm is a quality shrink wrap I apply, after disassembling the arm, with a heat gun.:thmbsp:
 
Even if one does nothing else to their SL-1200, the heat shrink tubing makes an enormous improvement! Highly recommended!
 
Beautiful.

How do you think that this would compare to say, an EPA500 or a Jelco 750E? Being re-wired alone, has got to better?

Regards
Peter
 
Oooooh, i am just slightly jealous, the heat shrink on mine is slightly wrinkled ( practice makes perfect eh paul), also i don't have the cotton "stuffing" but it sounds great.
Super nice work .

John
 
Last edited:
Oh man am I psyched about this! :banana: It will be going on my 1200 MkI. It looks awesome Paul and I'm sure it will perform wonderfully. :tresbon: :thmbsp:
 
MWalt said:
Nice! Best looking stocker I've seen. :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

thanks, Mark. Yours next!

beatcomber said:
Even if one does nothing else to their SL-1200, the heat shrink tubing makes an enormous improvement! Highly recommended!
Click to expand...

agreed.

bogle111 said:
Beautiful.

How do you think that this would compare to say, an EPA500 or a Jelco 750E? Being re-wired alone, has got to better?

Regards
Peter
Click to expand...

Jelco should edge it out slightly- but these mods are not expensive. They are a tiny fraction of the cost of a 750.

The EPA 100, 250 and 500 will still trounce both.

Zodia said:
Oooooh, i am just slightly jealous, the heat shrink on mine is slightly wrinkled ( practice makes perfect eh paul), also i don't have the cotton "stuffing" but it sounds great.
Super nice work .

John
Click to expand...

John- the cotton is a new thing I've been trying. And yes- I've gotten good getting the shrink to come out "just right".

Andy_H said:
Oh man am I psyched about this! :banana: It will be going on my 1200 MkI. It looks awesome Paul and I'm sure it will perform wonderfully. :tresbon: :thmbsp:
Click to expand...

It's gonna be a killer!

KrisM said:
Nice work.
Do you think the cotton tweak would work with other "tubed" arms?
Click to expand...

Yes- if the arm needs it. Most seem to benefit from damping- some aftermarket tweak shops even damp the venerable Rega RB series.

MWalt said:
I would have to hear it to believe it.
Click to expand...

Send me your MMT and FT-3 too, buddy!
 
Paul,
That looks awesome!!! I would love to hear the difference these tweaks make .
Your patience and attention to detail is evident . Though I don't post a lot , I always
am interested in the threads you start and comment on.
So much to learn......

Russ
 
As I reported earlier Paul/thedelihaus rewired a Audio Technica APT12T tonearm for me, he spent quite a few hours getting it perfect and it functions/sounds terrific. Maybe not quite up to the highend Technics EPA-100/250 tonearms in materials/design the SL-1200 arms have a fair amount of trickle down technology that went into its big brothers (EPA 100/250). With Pauls modifications the performance of the 1200 arm will take it quite a few steps closer to its big brothers. With these improvements to the tonearm the 1200 will be capable of a higher level of performance when mated with a really good phono cartridge.
 
Last edited:
gimmieshelter31 said:
Paul,
That looks awesome!!! I would love to hear the difference these tweaks make .
Your patience and attention to detail is evident . Though I don't post a lot , I always
am interested in the threads you start and comment on.
So much to learn......

Russ
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that Mark Walters sends me his to do this- he's got a sumiko FT-3 I hot-rodded for him, and he's got an MMT I want to re-wire, too.

He'll be able to run a good comparison of the Sumiko MMT in stock or modified form, FT-3 in modified form, and the modded Technics stock arm.


I trust his ears.:yes:
 
majick47 said:
As I reported earlier Paul/thedelihaus rewired a Audio Technica APT12T tonearm for me, he spent quite a few hours getting it perfect and it functions/sounds terrific. Maybe not quite up to the highend Technics EPA-100/250 tonearms in materials/design the SL-1200 arms have a fair amount of trickle down technology that went into its big brothers (EPA 100/250). With Pauls modifications the performance of the 1200 arm will take it quite a few steps closer to its big brothers. With these improvements to the tonearm the 1200 will be capable of a higher level of performance when mated with a really good phono cartridge.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words, Rich.

I currently have Nailer's Alphason HS-100 arm here- looking at what can be done to that.

I love this Alphason arm.
 
thedelihaus said:
I'm hoping that Mark Walters sends me his to do this- he's got a sumiko FT-3 I hot-rodded for him, and he's got an MMT I want to re-wire, too.

He'll be able to run a good comparison of the Sumiko MMT in stock or modified form, FT-3 in modified form, and the modded Technics stock arm.


I trust his ears.:yes:
Click to expand...

So do I. :thmbsp:
 
I'm not a Technics guy, but that really is nice work, looks awesome, and from what I know of these arms the improvement is likely night and day. Neat post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom