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View Full Version : 2nd hand, DIY and luvvin it!


rusty bearing
28-02-2012, 17:36
It doesn't cost the earth to build a decent system, which, given that our mice are so poor they taken in lodgers, is really just as well.:)
Absolutely every bit of this is pre owned or hand made, The TT which I rebuilt recently (thread in DIY) is the classic TD150 MK2, Tandberg badged, with the SME 3009 S2 imp arm and Shure V15 MK3 cartridge. No surprises but an excellent combination and I think would not disgrace itself in expensive company.

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/6912/artysme.jpg
By rusty_bearing (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/rusty_bearing) at 2012-02-28

The arm I rewired in copper Litz through to a small panel made from aluminium sheet. This has two phono and 1 earth fitting to make it easy to change IC's, cunning eh? :eyebrows: The IC's themselves are made from Klotz AC110 cable with neutrik connectors.

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/9359/p1020927s.jpg
By rusty_bearing (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/rusty_bearing) at 2012-02-28

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3471/p1020925p.jpg
By rusty_bearing (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/rusty_bearing) at 2012-02-28.

Its been made Linn size and used hinges found. Lid was by a plastics company and made to size. The feet are the bits left after using a 45mm holesaw on some oak, threaded bar gives adjustment and some 6m ball bearings mean minimal contact with the rack. On some bits from Vic at Transfi to stop it slipping.
Naturally there's one of Stan's Gaitored Caiman creations in here, bought from an AoS member who regretted selling in the end. Roksan Candy DVD (used) as transport and a Musical Fidelity X150 amp (ex demo) at the heart of it all.

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/3897/p1020923z.jpg
By rusty_bearing (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/rusty_bearing) at 2012-02-28

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3172/p1020924d.jpg
By rusty_bearing (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/rusty_bearing) at 2012-02-28

Speakers are PMC GB1 which I got from a lad in Liverpool with Black Mamba cables bought , yes, on AoS!
The rack is one I made some years ago when I had a garage come workshop, now we run a bicycle repair company so I've been exiled to a shed in the garden :(

AoS has been a great source of info since I joined it not so long back, so give yourselves a pat on the back and have one of these from me :cool:
ursus262
28-02-2012, 18:06
Nice system you've got there. I'm intrigued by the choice of Shure V15 Mk 3. What is that like and what is its sound like then? I have a Thorens turntable and it might go with it very well.
snuffbox
28-02-2012, 18:08
That plinth looks so much nicer than the standard thorens.
I've just acquired a td125 with siii arm(fixed headshell) with v15 which I've just ordered a SAS stylus for.
rusty bearing
28-02-2012, 18:26
Thanks guys....
The shure sounds very clear and open to my ears, I often find I'm sitting quietly with a coffee and hearing very subtle detail in the music. It's had very low use so in the interest of resale value (reality has to be considered) I've stashed the original stylus and got one from Ed Saunders in the US.
I would have liked to try the Jico SAS but with import charges and VAT I couldn't justify the cost. Supposed to take the Shure to the next level.

I'm told the 125 is more desireable than the 150 and very well made, what it sounds like I couldn't say, cetainly they attract a higher price.

Anyway for me the journey starts again, this time with a Lenco L75.........:)
snuffbox
28-02-2012, 18:57
Actually for what it is the 125,s are remarkably cheap at the moment,one went on the bay for £280 with an sme on it too.
Should imagine they'll start creeping up now the 405 have got really expensive.
Did you polish the platter up yourself,looks very nice.
DSJR
28-02-2012, 20:04
The 125 isn't as easy to set up suspension wise, unless you have three good springs. All is not lost though, since LP12 springs, which are very good these days, work perfectly - NOT with a 150/160 as the suspended mass is lower.

ONLY look at a TD125mk1 though, as all the mk2's I've seen have sloppy main bearings and don't sound as "together" as they otherwise should..
snuffbox
28-02-2012, 22:54
The 125 isn't as easy to set up suspension wise, unless you have three good springs. All is not lost though, since LP12 springs, which are very good these days, work perfectly - NOT with a 150/160 as the suspended mass is lower.

ONLY look at a TD125mk1 though, as all the mk2's I've seen have sloppy main bearings and don't sound as "together" as they otherwise should..

Well Dave some tips on setting up the suspension would be gratefully received,unfortunately I've got a MkII but I'm not going to worry unduly about that as I'm sure it won't sound horrible.
rusty bearing
28-02-2012, 23:09
Yep, platter polished on the bench grinder with a Cotton wheel and some buffing paste, I've got enough to do loads as it didn't come in a small size!

Looked at 125 as a possible but I got the 150 so cheap I couldn't resist, didn't know that about the 125 bearing though Dave......

Set the springing up on both decks as per LP12 I would imagine?
Slippershod
01-03-2012, 13:43
you've made a very smart job of that 150.
rusty bearing
02-03-2012, 08:57
Thanks Marc. Enjoyed doing it. The plinth is version number two, wasn't happy with no1, partly dimensions didn't work for the eye, partly it had gone ever so slightly out of square :doh: which frankly was always going to annoy me intensly as these things do:)
DSJR
02-03-2012, 09:50
The way to check the main bearing is to remove the outer platter and belt. Hold the sub chassis/top plate (in a TD125) with one hand, place palm on the top of the inner platter and *gently* try to rock it. The early AR "The Turntable" as well as the later XB77 model also suffered compared to the earlier XA/XB model. Any slight rocking will be clearly felt if it's an issue. The 150 didn't seem to suffer so and only early 160's had this issue too I remember, but the 125mk2 and many 126's did suffer for some reason. Having heard just how much better the AR Legand model was - main difference was a newly tooled main bearing - I think a TD125 would benefit hugely too from attention here.

All is not lost though. My favourite hypoid EP80 gear oil - available in two slight differences of viscosity I believe (in Halfords) is great for such bearings and it's also been suggested that a dab of LM grease in between the bearing sleeves helps close the gap and helps prevent rocking, although for a "wobbly" Thorens I'd suggest part filling the housing a la Linn but with gear oil (not sure if the thicker EP90 is still available) - Thorens used a high speed turbine oil I understand which is like a light viscosity version of EP80 and this lubricates the bearing tip well.

Hope this ramble makes some sense.
rusty bearing
08-04-2012, 18:16
Well I did say that I'd got hold of a Lenco GL75, one that Dantheman was selling here a while back. Anyhow as it weren't a day for getting the bike out I did a bit of final work and soldered it all together and as the french say.....voila!
I tried to do this one using whatever was in the cupboard so the only thing bought was a 5x5 sheet of birch ply.
The pan was cut out of the TT to leave this:

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/8464/p1030035cj.th.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/p1030035cj.jpg/)
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/6509/p1030034br.th.jpg (http://img189.imageshack.us/i/p1030034br.jpg/)


With the the new plinth built the remains dropped in a treat. The arm is from my old pro-ject 6 TT and sports an Ortofon 2m blue.
I've had to reset the speed slots as this is one of the rarer 110/220 motors that were made for the forces abroad, when I rebuilt the motor it was wired for 110 so of course it would run faster than for the 220 setting
The old chestnut of getting the tracking angle was close but not close enough. Transfi's resomat is probably 2-3mm thicker than the stock mat and did the job.

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/9366/p1030046av.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/p1030046av.jpg/)
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/9974/p1030048v.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/826/p1030048v.jpg/)

I've just finished playing Gordon Lightfoots 'If you could read my mind' and i am definitlely feeling positive and looking forward to a direct comparison with the TD150......time for a glass of red methinks:)
keiths
08-04-2012, 18:27
Wow :stalks: - looks great Mike.
rusty bearing
08-04-2012, 19:49
Thanks Keith, I bought Robs electrocompaniet phono stage to go with it. Looking forward to plugging it all together later this week. Whoopee!

Apart from the tracking angle I think the resomat suits the Lenco, how do you find it?
And no its not "Oh I lifted up an LP and there it was":lol:
keiths
08-04-2012, 19:51
Like you, I think the Reso-mat works very well on the Lenco.
Macca
09-04-2012, 10:25
That looks a million dollars. Great job.
rusty bearing
09-04-2012, 12:30
Thanks Macca. Now, what to do next?