Panasonic announces Technics production to cease in February 2010
The Technics SL-1200 and Technics SL-1210 turntables have shaped the world we know today. Featured in the London Museum of Science and Technology they are regarded as a major stepping stone in how music is played and presented.
We have just heard the sad new from Panasonic (the manufacturer of Technics) that production of the world famous Technics SL-1200 and SL-1210 DJ turntables will stop at the end of February 2010. This marks the end of an era - Technics have been the industry standard for over 35 years with this turntable and the SL-1200 is synonymous with the DJ culture. It has been released and re-released over 9 times with different models and numerous other manufacturers have tried to compete with this deck, but above all, the Technics SL-1200 & Technics SL-1210 are the undisputed number one deck in the world.
On one hand I imagine turntablists will have a plethora of used parts to work from so won’t be affected for a while, but what about booths in clubs? Surely a lot of owners are going to be reluctant to put 2nd-hand equipment in that has been discontinued? If so I wonder if we’ll see turntables disappear from clubs…?
Definitely, but if say there was a new club with no equipment and the owners had to buy it all, what would the owners buy then? (that’s what I’m worried about, although it’ll take a while for it to have any effect)
Yup its not as if old clubs will be getting rid of their turntables, but new clubs might think twice about putting in second hand turntables.
Its also hard to see that there will ever again be an industry standard for turntables - so maybe the scene will go the way of the CDJ where you will find different CDJ’s in different clubs.
Yeah i got an email from DMC as well i was quite shocked :eek: didnt ever really think turn tables would get discontinued lol well i guess Midi will now be taking over the scene
I heard this story last week from a guy who services Technics, he said they will continue because they reckon they can still make money on the back of parts being that there is something like 3 million tt’s around the world ah well maybe he got that wrong
I supose this is just logical… other companies like vestax have jumped in the train of the controller era… but technics just does cdjs and mixers (which are great) but times are changing and 1200 sales must have dropped fown…
Anyway I checked in google and there are no official announcements, so it may only be a rumor to boost sales or something…
I can see this being true. As mentioned theres 3 million out there.
Plenty go round and be sold and re-sold for decades.
Technics are like any business. They probably think “right we done that for years. let stop and do something else”
Theres a huge trade in second hand decks. I suppose technics arent making that much money anymore on the 1210.
Whilst us that have Techs might get a bit teary eyed , Technics are probably thinking “Meh… so what” . Lets face it they dont need to keep going round in circles, they will be legendary forever.
people will naturally assume that its down to the popularity of Vestax (yummy) and Numark (shudder) and Technics have been left behind. Thats always an accusation when someone poplular decides to pack in.
Theyve got nothing to prove.
There probably already inventing the next breed of Cyber Toasters or Robot Dogs.
wait… its just the 1200 and 1210 mk2 that are discontinued. there are still more turntables in their product line that are good also, if not even better. just thinking out loud.
(that’s what I’m worried about, although it’ll take a while for it to have any effect)
ah well maybe he got that wrong