SL1200 target light
I recently found a Technics that’s cheap enough to get me interested. the problem is, the target light is busted.
Is this thing important or I can do without it? I have searched the net for instructions to change the target light and i know it only shines light for the needle. any more function of the light to be of great importance? let me know please.
thanks.
If ever, this will be my first Technics and Turntable 
You should be able to get it repaired, dunno how much it would cost though.
Its not really important unless you mix in the dark, then its really important.
Its only to shine light at the needle/cart/headshell. Not a very big issue. Just get it!
Do rmb to check the other aspects of the technics though
They’re not worth worrying about, mate.
A broken target light is a great excuse to get a bargain.
They are completely unnecessary.
so I got ahead and bought the turntable. it feels amazing, that I should have bought it sooner.
now, only if i can sell my controller to get a mixer and another table.
Nice 1200, mate! 
Thanks! will try to clean it on the weekends while the wife is not around! the hunt for the 2nd Tech is on.
as i found out it’s excellent to light your cd wallet in complete darkness
^^ makes sense. will fix it once i get a hold of a replacement.
It isn’t necessary when using time code vinyl but it’s very useful when using vinyl records as you can clearly see the grooves especially at dark lit places.
What kind of caves are you people playing in???
To be honest, even in well lit rooms, the target lamps could still be useful in looking at the precise position of the needle in the grooves.
Now if you really think it’s unnecessary, then go ahead and bust your target lamps off your decks. 
the light in my little corner suddenly went out. so it looks like a cave even in broad daylight.
I actually have a led light mounted on a small tripod that acts as the target light for the mean time. those old record breaks that I recently bought had small gaps between tracks. its impossible for me to see without the light.
fuck lights and strobes tbh
could you elaborate why? they are placed there in the first place, surely they are needed as well.
Only if you need to calibrate, I cant think of any reason why you’d need to see the percentages on the strobe otherwise (Note: Vestax’s dont have strobes)
Lights on the other hand are necessary to see the breakdowns etc on “real” records, but just pretty when it comes to timecode.
Target Lights definitely come in handy when youre using real vinyl records in a typical club setting. A lot of clubs around here are dark as #$^#^ in the DJ booth.
It is relatively easy to replace the target light. you can easily do it your self with a soldering iron or remove it and take it to any electronics shop and they’ll switch it out for a few bucks.
With the turntable unplugged…
remove the platter and the six screws holding the plastic guard under it down. remove the guard and then flip the turntable back over. luckily it looks like you have the dust cover so you can rest it on that.
remove the feet and the 16 or so screws that hold the base on.
now you’ll see the black insulator base. remove the 6 or so screws that attach that to the body.
now you’ll see the underside of the target light housing. its held on by two screws. take those off. now you can remove it and disconnect the connector from the main board.
once you have it out you can replace the target light or take it to an electronics repair shop.
I get my LED kits from ice cold customs. They sell them on Ebay for 5 bucks.
