View Full Version : Getting my Lenco back into the Fold!
I have changed my setup and the new rack will not fit my last Lenco build so decided to dismantle it and due to pressures of time, cheated and bought a ready made plinth from Don :)
Plinth is very good to be honest so extracted the Lenco from the old plinth and resprayed the top. I had some old boiled oil left over from the previous build so used this on the new plinth (was a bit to bright for me) and here is the fruits:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180720_184851_zpszlnkc7w8.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180720_184901_zpsdmlqmu5z.jpg
Doesn't look to bad. Will give another coat of oil to make it a little bit darker then will finish it off (needs feet, some more rods to connect it properly to the plinth and *put a proper power connector on the back) then check everything over and give it spin.
Here it is in its new home - looks pretty lush:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180720_184915_zpsbinylfuq.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180720_185003_zpsy5zjhlvy.jpg
Oh and will look to make a perspex cover also.
Cheers
I have changed my setup and the new rack will not fit my last Lenco build so decided to dismantle it and due to pressures of time, cheated and
Nice T/T, Andy. I'm sure it'll sound fab. Also love the plinth, but who is Don?:)
Marco.
hard1175
21-07-2018, 06:55
Nice equipment Andy the Lenco plinth looks great.
Have you got a link to Don?
Stryder5
21-07-2018, 08:04
Have you got a link to Don?
Donmarrisse on this forum
Donmarrisse on this forum
Thanks
Donmarrisse on this forum
Yep - thats the one ;)
Anyhow - got it all screwed together. Bunged some feet on (took about 5 minutes to make) and hooked up to the mains and the phono stage and so far, so good :grin:
Just got a slight rumble on the drive so will look for my perspex line-up tool and make sure it is correct but happy with the sound so far - a few action pics :wink:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180722_155645_zpsfljjewkc.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180722_155707_zpseognrojl.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180722_155715_zpsinp1s6qr.jpg
donmarrese
22-07-2018, 15:45
the beauty of what Andy has done here is that it looks cracking, with very little effort and time..simples!
One Birch Ply left for sale...:cool:
donmarrese
22-07-2018, 15:48
Ps. Andy, that platter rim edge could do with some T-Cut + rag + elbow grease...will come up looking pucker!
Is the wife busy?:eyebrows:
Ps. Andy, that platter rim edge could do with some T-Cut + rag + elbow grease...will come up looking pucker!
Is the wife busy?:eyebrows:
I would want it doing properly so the wife will be out of that equation.......
When it arrived my wife said "did you see it before you bought it", to which I replied yes, she then said "hmm" - she wasn't taken with the very light finish but now it's all together and the wood oiled she is happy with it now :)
Still a few things to do (may even double platter it yet) before its totally finished but sounding very nice.
speedracer
23-07-2018, 09:38
Looks very nice, this is my GL75, also in one of Don's plinths, this is one of his MDF ones.
https://i.imgur.com/GLlC8ILm.jpg
Looks nice - what arm are you rocking there?
speedracer
23-07-2018, 12:52
Looks nice - what arm are you rocking there?
Thanks, it is made by a guy over on Lenco Heaven, Brian28, & uses the original arm tower but everything else is replaced. Good value, sounds great & has been a pleasure to use.
Thanks, it is made by a guy over on Lenco Heaven, Brian28, & uses the original arm tower but everything else is replaced. Good value, sounds great & has been a pleasure to use.
Picture was small so hard to work out - yes, seen them on Lenco Heaven and do look like good value - might look to get a 12 inch one and have a play (the fat versions look really nice :))
Firebottle
23-07-2018, 17:38
I have just done the very same with my GL 75. A fantastic improvement, even the boss agrees.
Much more solidity and weight to the sound, particularly the lower registers. Thanks Don, t'was a great buy :)
http://i67.tinypic.com/16lle2x.jpg
The underside showing how I have made provision for any TT to phono cable (Spotfire in use).
Note also the temporary feet, I have some 'propa' ones on the way.
http://i67.tinypic.com/i2k60p.jpg
In action:
http://i65.tinypic.com/2aeusds.jpg
By crumbs it's good! :D
Bigman80
23-07-2018, 17:45
Looking nice fellas.
Looking good Alan.
Like what you did to terminate the phono cable.
They are good even in there standard plinth but so easy to be taken to the next level.
(The Orbe still has the extra edge for me though but it is close)
Decided to try the double platter on the Lenco
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20180727_173304_zps0wgekkkc.jpg
To be honest, didn't really notice anything that would make me leave it like that so changed back to a single platter.
donmarrese
27-07-2018, 22:11
I have just done the very same with my GL 75. A fantastic improvement, even the boss agrees.
Much more solidity and weight to the sound, particularly the lower registers. Thanks Don, t'was a great buy :)
By crumbs it's good! :D
Nice one Alan, looks ruddy good....
that natural wood look does help prevent divorce proceedings!
Could be beneficial to experiment with other platters.
Just a thought.
Could be beneficial to experiment with other platters.
Just a thought.
Such as?
Wakefield Turntables
01-02-2019, 16:13
The '75 bearing and platter are perfectly balanced for each other. You will get a bigger bang for your buck experimenting with platter mats and even damping rings.
gninnam
Quote Originally Posted by curry49 View Post
Could be beneficial to experiment with other platters.
Just a thought.
Such as?
----------------------
There are very many options - the sky's the limit. I'm currently experimenting with a thorens platter, with good results. But I'm also considerig trials with a Techie platter or slate, and anything I can get my hands on. Not sure if a platter from a Gyro or Orbe could be tried without destroying it, but that could also be interesting.
However, to further illustrate my point, I'll simply paste a segment from a piece published elsewhere. Kinda lenghty, though. :)
Hope this is helpful:
Regarding my stacked-platter experiment, there also seems now to be added advantages in noticeably increased dynamism, and in detail-retrieval, and also in definition/separation of notes, among other gains. Others make similar claims, while some claim not to reap any benefits.
One or two have posited that perhaps the results with stacked platters depend on how good or bad the unit was at the outset, with the more dramatic results showing up on the more ‘challenged’ units - like mine. All are not equal, apparently – and whichever second-platter is used apparently also has a bearing on the resulting sound. For instance, one user remarked, “…I now have a slate double platter and I must say it is fantastic.The lenco double platter was good but the slate is more dynamic with all the lenco goodness; great bass, midrange to die for, and good treble also…” https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=20356.0
Despite some who reaped no benefits, it seems many who’ve tried stacked-platters are tickled pink with the results. Another user is so happy with the benefits that he stacks an expensive ($1200) VPI ‘Super-Platter’ and claims a “huge” improvement over the single Lenco platter and even over stacking another Lenco platter. https://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=7871.0
He could be right, and this (i.e. whichever platter is used, plus other factors) might partially explain why some get slight results, while others get dramatic results, and why some don’t get any results at all, as perhaps the properties of the second platter matter greatly. I also believe it might be more beneficial to use something other than a second stacked Lenco platter so as to avoid the same resonances. Nevertheless, it seems arguable that this mod alone (for those who get it to work) is worth more than all the other popular mods put together. I’ve certainly never heard of any claims for any other mod even remotely close to the magnitude of the claims made for this one (by those who get it to work optimally). Moreover, I can now attest to the veracity of some of these claims.
I’d also go so far as to advise any new Lenco user to experiment with various combinations of (stacked) platters and mats until the maximum benefits are reaped – the results are absolutely worth the effort, potentially lifting a Lenco to seriously higher levels of performance.
Spent the last few weeks building a plexiglass bending contraption as I thought my Lenco TT needed a nice hood.
Today I created the first part but I need a new jigsaw as mine had trouble cutting straight but as a first attempt it should be OK.
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20190209_172405_zps5ybj6q7l.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20190209_172413_zpsywxzuaea.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/New%20Lenco%20Plinth/20190209_172430_zpsxvpqb0ue.jpg
Next task will be to make the sides but not until I get a new jigsaw!
New cart added to the Lenco tonight:
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/Denon%20103M/20200306_173653_zpsriaco2if.jpg
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/Denon%20103M/20200306_173659_zpsfgjutem9.jpg
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/Denon%20103M/20200306_173720_zpssz2jxyga.jpg
https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a373/gninnamag/Hifi/Denon%20103M/20200306_173813_zpsvv3na9p8.jpg
It's a Denon 103M (thanks Rexton) and just had time to listen to a couple of sides of an album - first impressions are the amount of detail produced which seemed very good.
Need some new bolts as one only just connects to the nut and the other is not a good looker (domed head) so that will be on the list next
Will update the thread once I have had chance to listen to more tracks!
Wakefield Turntables
06-03-2020, 20:02
Glad to see the old beast on the lenco I still use a shure m55e
Made in 1968
07-03-2020, 18:48
You can fold Acrylic Easy enough if you have an old electric fire element.
You can fold Acrylic Easy enough if you have an old electric fire element.
OK
Made in 1968
07-03-2020, 22:41
How does it sound against the 'orbe'? I guess the bass is improvement on the '75'
How does it sound against the 'orbe'? I guess the bass is improvement on the '75'
Just listening to Brand X on the Lenco now and with the 103M, very impressed - seems to be pulling out so much detail.
Regards comparing to the Orbe. I have found that some artists seem to work better on the Orbe than the 75 - 75 is better with more simplistic tracks (with the 103M cart now) while the Orbe seems to work really well with more complex works.
Although, the Orbe is having an upgrade in a few weeks so will see what happens then.
More than welcome to pop round for a comparison.
Made in 1968
07-03-2020, 23:50
Ive never had or heard an 'Orbe' but i have had ever other TT they made & everyone i have had the same issue with Bass. I sold my last 'Michell' because of a Modded Lenco 'L70' I bought.. Gave it all up these days & just bought a cheap Vintage Jap deck.. Was all doing my head in, i was even imagining things :lol:
The Orbe does bass (had a Gyro before and no issues with bass)
Like anything in hifi, depends on the partnering equipment and your room.
The 2 best things I bought over the last few years are the Reiver Jenna speakers and the Pure Sound A30 amp - seem to work so well in my room.
Used Lenco 75's for the last 20 plus years and used Michell TT's for the last 35 (first TT I bought was the Mycro in '85 - can't believe how much these go for now!) so have warmed to the sound that both manufacture's can produce.
Nothing wrong with cheap vintage jap stuff as in the day they seemed to know what they were doing ;)
Made in 1968
08-03-2020, 00:30
I had a 'Focus One' for 35 years, Always kept it for some reason, Even won me best AOS Turntable award a few years back :D
I think i kept it for so long because it was my first proper turntable but i have to say out of all the Michells ive had i totally loved the 'Syncro Mk.1'
Fantastic Engineering & design but it was nothing to do with partnering as i have had tons of different gear throughout my Michell buying Saga..
Re: Jap gear, They made the best Hi-Fi in the world imho.. Im trying to get back into using a British amp but it just is totally not working for me, Im afraid im gonna have to switch back to my vintage Sony amp..
Too many beers and totally knackered (my birthday yesterday) - first TT was the Syncro (MK1) not the Mycro. DOH
Yep, some of the Jap stuff was great, seemed to fade in the 80's, 90's then started to creep back again.
First proper amp was my Audiolab 8000A, bought new in 85 (still have it now) - sounded so good and right.
You can borrow it if you want and see what you think (volume pot needs some servisol or something as a tad noisy before it warms up)
Brother had a Luxman integrated amp when I was growing up in the 70's and that was lush from what I can remember.
Made in 1968
08-03-2020, 00:58
Ive got an Audiolab '8000a' a very early brown one but some of the RCA chassis sockets are knackered, seemed to be a common issue. Ill get around to sorting them one day. My first proper amp was A&R Cambridge 'A60' Kept that for around as long as the 'Focus One' TT. A lot of Jap amps are lush but not as bad as some Brit amps. This Arcam amp i just bought is way too much for me although it does sound like to my old 'A60'.. Be ok in the spare room i guess.
Just listening to Blancmange, Happy Families.
Very simple with its arrangements and percussion and sounds epic at the moment.
Will finish this album then off to bed.
Don't have a spare room so all my unused gear is in the garage - such a shame :(
Bought a 12 inch wooden tonearm from a chap on the LencoHeaven forum to try on the Lenco.
Yesterday spent an hour in the garage knocking up a plywood holder for the arm and a perspex holder for the connectors (both scraps)
Using my 3d printer created a tube and base so that it can be at the right height for the Lenco.
OK, the tube and base were part of a 3d printed vice so the cylinder has a thread on it so I can use this to alter the height in small increments :)
A few pictures of the end result sans cartridge.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201224_103951.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/6f342343-5c99-4206-abe1-a438491afa61)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201224_104023.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/6eda798f-5b57-4a56-80d5-bb2a1f5c9131)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201224_104040.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/4ae1aaa1-6f43-4128-ae61-f122a9b6bdc4)
I started to mount the cart (a A&R P77) but can only find 1 2.5mm bolt long enough (have loads of them but too short) so will have to source some and will be unable to try it out yet :(
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201224_105612.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/aa545f0d-f010-4aa1-ad06-5787c4e8beb2)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/20201224_105624.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/89689f45-5f28-42f7-a4fd-17347df6e521)
Cheers :)
looks pretty snazzy
Thanks Grant
New bolts arrived today so I could fix the cartridge on the head-shell (ordered nylon bolts and nuts with washers as only £4 for 10)
It works and sounds pretty good so far. A little tweaking with the pivot to spindle distance (running at 295 at the mo).
A few pictures:
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/IMG_20210102_113425.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/ddebc4f1-849a-4899-b5d5-c8d9c7cd1995)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/IMG_20210102_113453.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/391aadb4-ed53-4623-bed7-432e94f6fe78)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/IMG_20210102_113519.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/19460158-0498-4824-a39a-a06444c99edf)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/a373/gninnamag/IMG_20210102_113605.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds (https://app.photobucket.com/u/gninnamag/a/eb8db2c5-cebd-4c59-ab55-f6b55636342e/p/19b8c847-4410-465d-a056-18b7b6e366aa)
More tweaking to come no doubt :)
I am soon to be a Lenco GL75 owner I have had it for a great price my only plans in time is upgrade the arm and a new plinth and perhaps the double platter mod :):)
walpurgis
10-01-2021, 08:32
I am soon to be a Lenco GL75 owner I have had it for a great price my only plans in time is upgrade the arm and a new plinth and perhaps the double platter mod :):)
Why not leave it standard? It's a good sounding deck anyway and nice examples that haven't been butchered are becoming scarce.
Why not leave it standard? It's a good sounding deck anyway and nice examples that haven't been butchered are becoming scarce.
Good point. I have a Swiss transcription / hmv, best parts etc one thats practically mint, and its saying like that. Understand the desire to upgrade to best sound, of course.
Nice one Andy.
walpurgis
10-01-2021, 09:00
I recall somebody on here using a ZYX R100 in the standard Lenco arm with good results (was Ali Tait or Firebottle I think).
Shovel_Knight
10-01-2021, 12:15
The Lenco arm is viable as long as the tonearm wire is not corroded. In my Lenco, the tonearm wire was literally green with oxidation, and they're next to impossible to rewire because the headshell socket can't be removed from the armtube without destroying it in the process. The socket is epoxied into the tube and additionally fixed with a pin which is also epoxied in place.
Why not leave it standard? It's a good sounding deck anyway and nice examples that haven't been butchered are becoming scarce
I am going to leave it std for now If I do get a new plinth made it will look like a std plinth but be better built.I have been told that`s one of the main let downs of the gl75 .
The turntable has been totally rebuilt new v blocks in the arm upgraded bearing system the top plate was in a right mess so it has been powder coated but in time if i can find a mint original top plate there is that option to return it original .Any recommendations for a cartridge ?
walpurgis
12-01-2021, 21:57
Any recommendations for a cartridge ?
I'd avoid Deccas and Grados, they can hum in Lencos.
How about the high output version of the Goldring Eroica MC? It's not a well known cartridge, but reputed to sound rather good. I have the low output version which I like a lot.
Firebottle
13-01-2021, 10:13
I recall somebody on here using a ZYX R100 in the standard Lenco arm with good results (was Ali Tait or Firebottle I think).
That would have been me, a while back now.
Don't underestimate the standard arm capabilities, I have used a re-tipped Lyra Clavis. No distortion and no mis-tracking but on the limit for compliance compatibility.
The Lyra is resting now and I am using a Dynavector Karat Ruby, the detail retreival is astounding, best vinyl sound ever here.
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