How easy is it to put a new plinth on a Sondek LP12???

[Weeman1973]

I have a mid 80's Sondek LP12 which to my ears sounds great.

It has a Sumiko MMT arm (Jelco for all intents and purposes) with a modified Denon DL103r and a Lingo Power Supply.

It is currently in it's original Rosewood fluted plinth which is the stumbling block now that everything else in my office (where it resides) is Oak wood so stands a bit too much for my liking.

Is it worth getting a new Oak plinth to match my speakers and office furniture and if so, how easy is it to transfer over?

Another option would be to paint or wrap the original plinth but again I know nothing about this so would need some professional help I guess?

Anyone got any tips / ideas they can share?

[Bigbird]

Honestly it’s a piece of piss mate. A lot of the linnies would have you believe that there is some sort of voodoo and only one or two people out there that can do it properly which is none sense. Yes it takes an hour or two and takes a bit of patience and savvy but if you can use a socket set and a screwdriver you will be fine .

If you can undo u few nuts and bolts , and clips and know how to use spirit levels then there is nothing to it. It’s so basic inside you really can’t go wrong if you take your time. When you see it you will wonder why they cost so bloody much. I’m speaking from experience as I built my own from parts as I wasn’t paying linn prices . I’ve since done it numerous times as I upgraded the TT with better parts .


I just leveled up a couple of stools on my table to allow me to get underneath the TT easily then clamped my santos rosewood plinth to those . I then remove everything and bagged and labeled the bits, or just neat piles the second time to keep it organised , then clamp the new plinth on and Releveled again off of the plinth top and sides , then you are good to go if the plinth is well made .

Just systematically rebolt everything back on In reverse order you took it off in. Just as you go , make sure you get all of your spring bolts hang level too.

Don’t over tighten any bolts, just nipped up tight with an extra quarter turn will do otherwise you can deform the thin linn top plate . I had a thick aftermarket top plate so this wasn’t an issue for me.
Then using the spring bolts level up the platter ,subchassis and armboard until everything is bang on level and plumb and flush with plinth and top plate and that you have a nice even pistonic bounce on the springs .

Then make sure that the tonearm cable is not fouling anywhere or affecting the bounce of the chassis, same goes for the cable from the PSU.

Once that’s done just put the baseboard back on and level it up to your rack. DONE.

It’s just taking the time and effort to get all things leveled that make the difference .

It seems daunting but there is only about 5-10 bolts to undo and some clips for the cables and PSU so just write everything down in order you remove things then retrace your steps when reassembling. And level everything spot on mate .

Happy to help if you need it.

Just depends how valuable your time is as you can probably get a dealer to do it for 100 quid or so


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ReggieB]

I thoroughly enjoyed stripping my LP12 down to fit a new sub-chassis (https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?60119-Incompetent-turntable-fettling). As Karl states it's straightforward, and even a fool like me can managed it.

I built my own maintenance stand to hold the deck while I stripped it, which I think made the job a lot easier. Stack Audio (https://stackaudio.co.uk/) where advertising a rental service for a stand recently - though I can't see it on their site now. I'd suggest contacting them to see if the stand is still available. I'd also recommend Stack Audio upgrades as making a significant improvement to my deck without breaking the bank ... while you've got the deck apart.

[fordy]

I’ve got the stack audio jig for the LP12 and it works really well and allows the build to be simple. There are some good YouTube vids on setting up a Linn and the Peter Swain/ Cymbiosis LP12 setup guides are invaluable. The hardest part is getting the bounce right and dressing the arm cable on a Linn but its doable with some study, patience and practice. Join up on the Linn Sondek LP12 facebook group for support. Lots of home builders on there and despite what you may imagine, it isn’t full of evangelical Linnies. Well it is a bit but there is a peaceful co-existence of die hards and progressives :-) They are hugely knowledgable and massively helpful to folks attempting this kind of thing themselves.. All the setup guides available are in their files section too.

[Weeman1973]

Thanks all.

Apologies but I’ve had it bought to my attention that I don’t have the Rosewood plinth currently. Not sure what it is so any help on this as well would be appreciated

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201026/d8ded1da73d2714edb34b36f45e6be90.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201026/f4be7c6a90940b1b8fab008c440a4063.jpg

[WullieD20]

Looks like Afromosia to me, a type of Teak alternative that I believe Linn used in the earlier days. But I'm happy to be contradicted.

Looks very much like mine:

https://i.postimg.cc/gkcKFPmm/Linn-LP12.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

[Pigmy Pony]

Looks like Afromosia to me, a type of Teak alternative that I believe Linn used in the earlier days. But I'm happy to be contradicted.

Yes I'd say that is Afromosia, the same as my old LP12 from the 80's. I spray painted mine black as Mrs. P didn't like that teak colour. I made a right bollocks of it :(

[WullieD20]

I made a right bollocks of it :(

:lolsign: . . Never a good result, eh? Out with the Nitromors!!

[Pegwill]

Hi

At the expense of being obvious but nobody has mentioned it, take loads of pictures with your phone or such like of the insides, as this gives you a reference to refer back to, just to make sure you put all the bits back in the right place.

Hope this helps

Regards

William

[WullieD20]

In addition to all the help that's available from members and other forums, you can find the Linn user and maintenance (set up) manuals, which are very comprehensive, available in the Vinyl Engine web site. (as are many other LP12 associated documents).
Also, it's advisable to have a couple of tube (box) spanners ready to use on the sub-chassis mounting nuts, which are designed as an interference fit, so not quite so easy with standard spanners. Sizes available in the 'set up manual (https://www.vinylengine.com/library/linn/lp-12-sondek.shtml)' from Vinyl Engine.

G.

[Pigmy Pony]

:lolsign: . . Never a good result, eh? Out with the Nitromors!!

:D Nah, I kept it like that for a couple of years, then p/exed it against a new deck from Inspire Hifi. Got £500 for it (only paid £300 originally, so that was ok :)

Which made me think Russell; Inspire have an LP12 modification service - maybe you could buy one of their plinths for reasonable money, or even one from their pile of discarded original plinths. Avoid the one with the shitty gloss black finish though ;)

[Weeman1973]

:D Nah, I kept it like that for a couple of years, then p/exed it against a new deck from Inspire Hifi. Got £500 for it (only paid £300 originally, so that was ok :)

Which made me think Russell; Inspire have an LP12 modification service - maybe you could buy one of their plinths for reasonable money, or even one from their pile of discarded original plinths. Avoid the one with the shitty gloss black finish though ;)

Thanks for this, it’s a great idea.

As to say if they offer me a dodgy Black one I’ll know to avoid!

[Weeman1973]

Thanks everyone for their input however I think crisis averted for now as I’ve moved the Sondek into the lounge which my Gato and Davone’s and although the plinth isn’t Walnut, I don’t think it looks too out of place here so will how we go for a bit

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201027/0f875d5fbf10081cf5178d24d79a3fa2.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201027/952536ae4a2c1e6c02b6d0c25cf6f73e.jpg

[ReggieB]

One day, I'll get around to getting one of these (https://ebay.us/Hocezz). My current plinth is black, a little tatty, and pretty uninspiring.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6S0AAOSwM4JbL589/s-l1600.jpg

[walpurgis]

My current plinth is black, a little tatty, and pretty uninspiring.]

You could paint it, veneer it or vinyl wrap it (admittedly vinyl wrapping could be tricky with any fluting :))..