Technics all the way... my SL-family is growing !

[JohnnyDrama]

Went to check the 1200's yesterday

The seller was an older couple, they bought them from a bar that was only open for 10 weeks (in the early 80's).
After buying them they were never used and had been in storage for more then 20 years (very dirty).

The were not used much, but looked very dirty...

First assessment:
- dustcovers not damaged, some scratches but that was all
- a few blemished on the paint
- arms 100% (lift, bearings, anti-skate, ...)
- 1 broken needle lamp
- pitch 100% on '0'
- no wobble in platter and no oxidized strobe dots
- 2 shure M55E carts with bad needles

I could see they had potential and at first glance his story checked out (these are early production ones, end 70's)
After a great conversation I took home the pair for 375 !

Driving back home (+200 km) I also pick up an old army (medical) vacuum pump for 30 euro. Working on a record cleaning machine (WIP). It looks awsome and is working great (almost no noise).

[JohnnyDrama]

So....

Yesterday after arriving home and checking the decks....I started working on the worst looking one.

To do:

- disassemble unit (done)
- wash, clay and wax/polish all metal parts (done)
- clean & check all pcb's (done)
- clean & check tone arm (done)
- clean & lube start/stop & 33/45 piece (done)
- clean & lube spindle, still like new (done)
- disassemble, clean & lube pitch (done)
- clean pop-up light (done)
- clean & polish/wax platter (to do)
- calibration pitch & brake (to do)
- polish dustcover (to do)

So after I finish the platter, I'm ready to build it up again...

Not shure what to do with them ?

Keep all stock ?
Do minor tweaks (new rca / led pop-up / internal grounding)
Do all tweaks (new leds / RCA / internal grounding / custom colors)

If I keep 'm stock, I can flip them fast and sell them separate
I could also keep them and start renting them out
I could also add them to my current collection (1 MKI & 3 MKII's) and set up a dedicated scratch set (with 909)..still have a sefour stand laying here....

What would you do ?

Ps. these are 100% early production ones (serial / rca / black bottom plate tone arm / rubber base & bottom plate in one piece / special hinges / ...) I love these units, like opening a time capsule

[JohnnyDrama]

When it rains, it pours....

I bought 2 more SL 1200's (85 euro a piece !)

[johney]

mk1s?

[JohnnyDrama]

Nope, MKII's (already have one MKI for hifi)

These are the typical dj-set tables...

A lot of work (change arms, respray, leds, ...) but I'm looking forward to it
Need some parts, but for that price I couldn't leave them.

Will post more pictures asap

[JohnnyDrama]

Have been working a lot, still I made some progress on the 2 sets of 1200's.

I finished the one I started on, that one is lookin' nice after the work

DSC07830.jpg
DSC07831.jpg
DSC07832.jpg
DSC07833.JPG

Then I started with the pair I bought for 175, a lot of work before they are finished:

Ordered

- 2 new pitch knobs & dust filters
- 2 new tone arms
- 2 pitch ornaments black & 2 silver ones
- 1 missing metal ball for on/off & one missing circlip
- 1 target light ornament (the one in the deck)
- 200 leds (3mm, 5mm & 2x5mm in blue, white, red, green, ...) + resistors
- a lot of spray cans (satin black, alu silver, primer, filler, satin varnish) & sandpaper from 200-2500

To do:

- disassemble units (done)
- disassemble feet, sand & respray rings & reassemble (done)
- wash all metal parts (done)
- clean & check all pcb's (done)
- disassemble, clean, lube & replace both tone arms + new cables (done)
- clean & lube start/stop & 33/45 pieces (done)
- clean & lube spindles, still in excellent condition (done)
- disassemble, clean & lube pitch faders (done)
- replace green with red pitch led (done)
- clean pop-up lights and install red led (done)
- respray rubber bases (done)
- sand, fill, sand, prime, ... decks (to do)
- strip paint platters & reface (to do)
- brush & respray bottom screws
- reassemble everything + calibration (to do)

I have been experimenting with spray cans and managed to respray 3 rubber bases with succes.
They are looking like new, liking the result so much that I'm going to do the bases of my first two decks after these are done. (see pictures above for result)

I also tried to sand & respray the old pitch knobs and also like that result... will post some pics later.
Now, I have to start sanding & preparing the decks for painting... and then I'm going to tackle the platters. First time I do this, so I could use some help (info, pictures, ...) if you have some experience with that.

Still not sure but now i'm going with alu silver & red leds...

I also went to a PA-sale in Holland, could have bought a pair of LTD's (275 a piece with flight) but both arms were shot and I'm sure there are no more replacements available. Besides that, more $$ to replace parts that were not ok so I declined... If it was a pair of GLD's then I would have bought them both...

I did buy a behringer SRC2496 (ultramatch) for cheap (50 euro NIB) with a free mic stand for my RTA mic and a very sturdy beamer mount (5 euro). Last week I bought another DEQ (60 euro NIB).

Now I have my SRC/DEQ/DCX line-up complete....

Thanks for reading, will post updates when work is progressing...

In the works:
- pair 1200's (painting, platters, ...)
- single 1200 (cleaning & maintenance)
- build record cleaning machine
- refurb my pair of flight cases
- installation beamer
- installation SRC
- set up my battle ship: sefour stand with 1200 / 909 / TSP2

[Nicadraus]

^^ Those are very fresh looking 1200s. Keep it up.

[amadeus]

Great work on that 1200, very nice indeed.

Need to have a go at cleaning mine up. They need a bit of work.

[ImNotDedYet]

You're a sick puppy man. Recently saw a set of Tecs for cheap in my local craigslist and considered it. Then I let my common sense get in the way.

Mine probably need some cleaning up as well, but I'm too intimidated and figure I'll screw something up then be sans one of my techs.

[JohnnyDrama]

Thanks for posting fella's, I thought I was on global ignore

I really appreciate the complements, like I said before...DIY is so rewarding.
Gave up all my other hobbies (except kite surfing & poker) and building a man cave / home studio is my time to relax. Not in a hurry and things are coming together nicely.

Will post more pictures this weekend.