What's your next idler going to be? [Archive]

take5

12-12-2013, 11:05

Well, I have had a Garrard 401 for about 6 months now, and really like it. So, I though I would try another vintage t/t.

I recently got a Thorens 124. It is in really great condition, but isnt working properly and I need a plinth for it. It is my little project for the winter.

PaulStewart

12-12-2013, 11:49

Well I'm driving to Kent this evening to pick up a Dynatron music centre that contains a Lenco GL75, so I guess it's going to be a......... :) This brings the current tally to 5 75s and a 78 :) :) :) I've now source the right bearing oil and 25 grade ball bearings of the right size, so the refurbs are going well. Going to keep one as a demo and take some to the next audio jumble.

The Barbarian

12-12-2013, 13:22

For me it's got to be the EMT 930st. I don't really fancy any of the bigger EMT's as I have no room for them, the 930 sure does look the daddy.

That all great if you want to stick with the EMT Pick-UP arm.. Fitting a different arm just wouldnt seem right to me!

Wakefield Turntables

12-12-2013, 13:25

That's the main reason for picking EMT they have solved everything for you, no messing around trying arms, platter mats, cartridges etc etc.

Barry

12-12-2013, 13:53

To answer your question - there isn't going to be a next idler. I already have four: an EMT 930st and three Thorens TD124/II decks. There is no room for any more, despite the fact I do admire the Garrard 301 (grey version only, preferably oil bearing) and 401 decks.

Regarding your interest in the EMT 930, André is right - you are more or less obliged to use the EMT929 arm with any of the EMT cartidges. The EMT 929 arm is, despite the hype it receives from EMT enthusiasts, only of average construction and performance; it is easily bettered by any of the 'superarms' now available. If you want to use cartridges other than the EMT designs, then the only arm carrying the SME/EIA bayonet fitting that can be fitted to the 930 is the Fidelity Research FR64. This has the same effective length as the 929 arm, and can be fitted into the 929 arm-base socket on the deck.

Why do I have one? - well I'm a bit biased towards EMT cartridges, so went the 'whole hog' with the 930 deck. Owning one is a bit of a labour of love, though spares are still available (at a price: a replacement idler wheel will set you back £80 - £100).

Wakefield Turntables

12-12-2013, 15:19

It would be nice to have one but I feel at the moment that I just want to enjoy the old 301.

Beobloke

12-12-2013, 15:28

I still have a Gates CB-77 that needs restoring but, other than that, I feel that it is high time I had a play with a Thorens TD-124. Of course, a TD-224 is top of the list but they are rare and growing more and more expensive every time one does crop up for sale.

I probably wouldn't say no to an EMT either. So many turntables, so little time...:D

Canetoad

12-12-2013, 17:35

A Garrard 401 I think. :)

take5

12-12-2013, 19:32

Of course, a TD-224 is top of the list but they are rare and growing more and more expensive every time one does crop up for sale.

Adam, I didnt know about the 224 until you flagged it up, so had a quick look around and found this. :eek:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-NOS-1962-Thorens-TD-224-TD224-124-TD124-Turntable-Record-Changer-Xtras-/310775136202?hash=item485ba43fca#ht_272wt_988

You/ I had better start saving

Barry

12-12-2013, 23:57

Adam, I didnt know about the 224 until you flagged it up, so had a quick look around and found this. :eek:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-NOS-1962-Thorens-TD-224-TD224-124-TD124-Turntable-Record-Changer-Xtras-/310775136202?hash=item485ba43fca#ht_272wt_988

You/ I had better start saving

I wouldn't bother with the "ultimate cuckoo clock" if I were you - do you really want a glorified autochanger? And one that is now almost impossible to maintain?

Best use that £2,600 to buy an EMT 930st complete with TSD cartridge in good condition.

anubisgrau

13-12-2013, 01:17

hopefully elac miracord 50H II - just spotted one at local ads......

Marco

13-12-2013, 07:56

I wouldn't bother with the "ultimate cuckoo clock" if I were you...

Soz, apart from the fact that Thorens are Swiss, I don't get the cuckoo clock reference.... It don't look like a cuckoo clock, daddee, does is sound like one, den? :ner:

Marco.

AlfaGTV

13-12-2013, 08:41

I wouldn't mind this:
http://www.artisanfidelity.com/IMG_5650-1400-web.jpg

:stalks:

Marco

13-12-2013, 08:48

Well, the arm and cartridge (which of course are rather familiar to me) are things of beauty, no doubt, but the rest is a little too bling for my tastes...

I think it's the mainly the shiny 'rosewood' plinth that does it, which I hate with a passion (and, to an extent, the polished platter). Black and rosewood just don't go together! :spew:

The cork mat also 'shouts at one', somewhat... If it were in a nice ebony (or some type of black) plinth, with a black mat, it would look a damn sight better, IMO! :)

Marco.

AlfaGTV

13-12-2013, 09:43

Wakefield Turntables

13-12-2013, 09:48

The platter isnt original anyway. I think it looks ok but I prefer mine :D.

Marco

13-12-2013, 10:07

:lol:
To me it's understated!! And works beautifully with the black top plate and lush reddish veneer!
And personally, i dont often see the mat, as i mostly use mine with a record on top! ;) (My record player that is!)

Regards /Mike

Understated? Lol... I wouldn't like to see what you consider 'overstated'! :D I guess it could always have some wanky gold bits on it :eek: :spew:

As for the mat, yes of course one doesn't normally notice it, but I was simply judging the picture you posted in its 'au naturel' state.

This is my idea of the perfect looking (and possibly sounding) idler T/T, belonging to Tony L on pfm:

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/286/u0ez.jpg

Now *THAT* is understated! :exactly:

Visually, it has classic 'lines', with everything complimenting each other, and just the right size of plinth, in order that there are no ugly gaps on the top, which is another pet hate of mine, when folk put idler motor-units in ridiculous 'oversize' plinths - even when a 12" arm isn't being used!

Oh, and no tacky, shiny, faux 'rosewood' either! ;)

Marco.

PaulStewart

13-12-2013, 10:19

Soz, apart from the fact that Thorens are Swiss, I don't get the cuckoo clock reference.... It don't look like a cuckoo clock, daddee, does is sound like one, den? :ner:

Marco.

Err I hate to be a pedant, but cuckoo clocks as we know them, came from the Black Forest in Germany, so :ner: yerself... :) I would like a 224 just to marvel at the ingenuity.

take5

13-12-2013, 10:25

Marco, I agree. Tonys 124 is stunning in that plinth. Just beautiful.

I have just recently bought a 124 and am looking at plinth ideas now. My problem is that I am looking to put a 12" arm on it.

Now, I dont like the look of one of those larger arm boards which kind of hang off the edge, looking like a diving platform at the swimming pool. It doesnt look right to me.

So, I am having to look at a bigger plinth. Something like this may work. Not sure if I want quite so shiny though!!

http://www.theanalogdept.com/dmitry_tektonidi.htm

Barry

13-12-2013, 10:41

Err I hate to be a pedant, but cuckoo clocks as we know them, came from the Black Forest in Germany, so :ner: yerself... :) I would like a 224 just to marvel at the ingenuity.

Not according to Harry Lime in 'The Third Man':

" Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long Holly."

Anyway I used the term disparagingly to express sarcasm of a piece of complex engineering necessary to perform a task because the user is too lazy to change the record. I also don't like the idea of the records, when not being played, being stacked one on top of another.

Apart from that the 224 is an ingeneous design.

Barry

13-12-2013, 10:52

Understated? Lol... I wouldn't like to see what you consider 'overstated'! :D I guess it could always have some wanky gold bits on it :eek: :spew:

As for the mat, yes of course one doesn't normally notice it, but I was simply judging the picture you posted in its 'au naturel' state.

This is my idea of the perfect looking (and possibly sounding) idler T/T, belonging to Tony L on pfm:

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/286/u0ez.jpg

Now *THAT* is understated! :exactly:

Visually, it has classic 'lines', with everything complimenting each other, and just the right size of plinth, in order that there are no ugly gaps on the top, which is another pet hate of mine, when folk put idler motor-units in ridiculous 'oversize' plinths - even when a 12" arm isn't being used!

Oh, and no tacky, shiny, faux 'rosewood' either! ;)

Marco.

Apart from the plinth, that looks like one of mine! My plinth was made for me by my late father. It is no larger than it needs to be: but does have some additional width on the right hand side to accommodate the record cleaning brush and additional tracking force weight (if needed).

Using a 12" arm with the TD124 does pose aesthetic problems. The use of a larger 'rectangular' style arm board helps, rather than the 'triangular' version. I use a plinth made for me by plinthmaker Jason Chong. It is large but looks OK; I'll try and post a photo or two of it.

AlfaGTV

13-12-2013, 20:03

Understated? Lol... I wouldn't like to see what you consider 'overstated'! :D I guess it could always have some wanky gold bits on it :eek: :spew:

:lol: As it happens, iv'e just got meself a nice Gyrodec with golden platter weights :D

This is my idea of the perfect looking (and possibly sounding) idler T/T, belonging to Tony L on pfm:

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/286/u0ez.jpg

Now *THAT* is understated! :exactly:

Visually, it has classic 'lines', with everything complimenting each other, and just the right size of plinth, in order that there are no ugly gaps on the top, which is another pet hate of mine, when folk put idler motor-units in ridiculous 'oversize' plinths - even when a 12" arm isn't being used!

Oh, and no tacky, shiny, faux 'rosewood' either! ;)

Marco.
I do admit that TT look very, very tidy!, Just a litte funeral procession vibes, but i can live with that! ;)

Regards //Mike

awkwardbydesign

26-12-2013, 21:11

I recently picked up a GL75 for £23 on ebay, so I guess I'll be playing with that. I had one 40 years ago, but now I might be able to make it work properly. Get rid of the arm. the top-plate, the brake,.............:lol:

hal55

26-12-2013, 23:03

I'd like a massive "Commonweath" but the prices are insane and so far out of my league it's ridiculous.

Hal55

anubisgrau

27-12-2013, 12:04

just bought myself a lovely ELAC miracord from early 70s. wonderful!

i would like to interfere with its classic looks so all the mods will have to be invisible. luckily frank shroeder does the magnetic bearing which reduces motor noise by 20db and another mod has to be a custom made headshell.

pure sound

26-01-2014, 19:12

I heard Franks Miracord at the ETF in Berlin. It sounded spectacular., very dynamic but very refined as well. We first listened without realising what it was. The sort of deck you might ignore at a flea market. But it was immediately obvious that it was something special.

pure sound

26-01-2014, 19:13

I'd like a massive "Commonweath" but the prices are insane and so far out of my league it's ridiculous.

Hal55

Keep an eye out for a 16" McCurdy.

Marco

26-01-2014, 19:32

Yes, those are awesome! :eek:

Marco.

Wakefield Turntables

26-01-2014, 19:34

I'd probably go for a Goldring G99 next.

dantheman91

26-01-2014, 19:35

Dual 1019 as per avatar not the best but not the worst.....

walpurgis

26-01-2014, 19:57

I'd probably go for a Goldring G99 next.

Yes, nice and the G88. I've owned both. Very capable units.

chelsea

26-01-2014, 20:17

New plinth

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd493/pilpil2/gwp002.jpg

loo

26-01-2014, 20:27

Dual 1019 as per avatar not the best but not the worst.....
The Dual is a great deck enjoy
Paul

I need to get my Neat NP-7819D running before it turns to scrap in the shed especially after this wet winter

The Barbarian

26-01-2014, 20:33

'G88'/'G99' are mad prices you may aswell buy a Garrard.

Wakefield Turntables

26-01-2014, 21:34

i already have a 301.

The Barbarian

27-01-2014, 08:50

A Trio '400M' but they are very rare.

Ammonite Audio

27-01-2014, 09:07

A Trio '400M' but they are very rare.

Inspired by the Thorens TD-124? Looks interesting.

Wakefield Turntables

27-01-2014, 10:55

A Trio '400M' but they are very rare.

It's not a pure idler I spy a belt under the bonnet!

The Barbarian

27-01-2014, 11:26

It's not a pure idler I spy a belt under the bonnet!

Yeh best way imho that's why i prefer the Thorens 'TD124' over the Garrard '301'/'401' ;)

Wakefield Turntables

27-01-2014, 11:57

Ok, fair point.

walpurgis

27-01-2014, 19:57

'G88'/'G99' are mad prices you may aswell buy a Garrard.

I've owned two 301s, a 401, a G88 and a G99. I actually liked the Goldrings better. The sound quality seemed just as good as the Garrards and the controls were less clunky. Admittedly the Garrards are a bit harder wearing. The plastic panel at the front of the Goldrings can get battered if they are not treated with respect.

337alant

28-01-2014, 12:44

I bought this Leak delta GL75 about a year ago and haven't even plugged it in yet
Its got sprung suspension as well:eyebrows:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/9018191078_f60be596b7.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/9018191078/)
leak delta (http://www.flickr.com/photos/69508926@N05/9018191078/) by 337alant (http://www.flickr.com/people/69508926@N05/), on Flickr

Alan