Hi Peter,

There are many out there that will douse the 1200 camp. Some will do it because they are involved with the industry and retailers do not sell the modded. If the reviewers did, then they would be supporting the "buy it direct from the cottage" and where would their advertising come from? Sometimes though, it can be out of confusion or worse still, arrogance.
I completely agree. Why do you think I continually give the middle finger to those with that type of mentality, and who have vested interests to protect?

One of the things I enjoy most about championing the Techy is I know that, with the influence of a large and popular site like AoS, the word gets out there pretty quickly in Internet land - and it stays there - and so acts continually as 'one in the eye' for those, who for commercial reasons, would rather see the Techy disappear into the sunset...

The concept of taking a basic SL-1200/1210, and modifying it to become something rather special, is becoming more popular with the enthusiast T/T market all the time, as more and more people hear about it, and so try that route for themselves. AoS will continue to be at the forefront of promoting that concept, so the folk with agendas can go and take a hike!

As there is a car analogy, here comes my spanner.

Modding anything will always give different results, whether the engine, suspension or bodywork. The product will get further away from the original. The Porsche in standard stock form is a known result. By spending a lot on mods to any car will take it off in a different direction than nthe initial performance criteria. (No pun intended) Some better, some worse.

The problem with 1200's and modding as I see it, is that there are variations of SL1210, plus by mixing the pieces (several each of the following)
Mats
Platters
Bearings
Power Supplies
Arms
the end result will not be the same. There would be a terrific number of variant SL1210's. Which route to go down?
That's what a forum like this is for. If one takes the trouble to read through threads, one gets to know who's opinions are based on genuine experience, and thus have validity and are worth considering, or the 'wafflers', who simply invent things to justify their own position, and ultimately therefore who, amongst the assembled membership, are on our own wavelength.

There are people whose opinions here I trust enough to audition equipment, which they recommend, without hesitation, providing of course that said equipment interests me sufficiently in the first place.

For me, that's what proper audio communities are about: sharing experiences and learning from each other to our mutual benefit, not the willy-waving, tedious point-scoring and endless, circular diatribe about 'what science can and can't prove’ in audio, and the intolerant behaviour towards each other shown by those from their respective 'camps', as is often seen elsewhere.

Sadly, pfm is currently being infected with this disease, simply by allowing a minority of vocal 'objectivists' (who really offer little constructive input and are there simply to justify their own dogma) to take over the place. I really do hope that Tony and his team nip it in the bud soon, or pfm could slowly go the way of the old Zerogain forum, or turn into Wigwam MKII. Anyway, I digress...

There already may exist on this forum a chart with two possible avenues to go down, but I am unaware of it. This would help people to mod their 1200 in a logical path knowing the final outcome.
That's a great idea! Perhaps that’s something for The Library to consider?

Whether you are a "Hot Rodder" or a "Plonk & Player", there are always going to be different opinions. Personally, I am a P&Per because the final result is consistency, however, at heart I am a rodder when I see a weakness in the basics.
Me too! It's also another valid point. I firmly believe that people shun going down the modded Techy route, simply because they can't be arsed with the fiddling. Like you say, they want "plonk & play".

What, however, if they had a tried and tested 'solution' to buy into in one hit, based on their available budget? If that were the case, I think that more people would be inclined to give it a go. Various tried and tested options, outlined accordingly in The Library (or as a 'sticky' thread in Analogue Art), in 'black & white', as it were, might just be the ticket!

BTW If someone with the tech skills wants to rip apart a 1210 to be left with the guts, I can supply the slate cut platform for the exercise. A total rebuild from the ground up resulting in a SL2100
Most interesting... I'll bear that in mind!

Marco.