Hey! Been DJing for a while, but just now getting into vinyl (planning on doing traktor control vinyl), mostly because of this forum. I picked up a pair of gemini PT2000 II’s. I know tech 1200/1210’s are the be-all-end-all, but these were $50 together from some guy that found them (in retrospect, may have been under sketchy circumstances..)
My question is: Exactly how much better are technics than gemini’s? I’ve heard gemini’s are pretty low-quality, and I know Tech’s are the best there is, but I just don’t know the difference yet. Some help? If it’s a thing you can quantify, I’d appreciate that too.
My second question is about “needles”. I don’t know anything about headshells, cartridges and styli. The pair of PT2000 II’s came with only one headshell/cartridge/stylus. I took a couple of pictures of it for you guys.
What is it? Is it any good/worth salvaging? Should I look for a matching headshell/cartridge? What would be my best bet for a second one? I’ll mostly be doing control vinyl, and I won’t really be doing much scratching.
As long as they’re direct drive, they’ll do fine for DJ use. The difference between the Techs and Geminis would be build quality, wow and flutter, and maybe tracking ability. The 1200s have been in use since '79 so that’s why they’re revered. As long as the Geminis hold their pitch well, they’re more than fine to DJ with. As for needles, the Gemini headshell is usable but I’m sure the cartridge is crap. My number one recommendation for any DJ cartridge is the Shure M44-7. You can buy one M44-7 and mount it to your existing headshell and also buy a Shure M44-7H meaning it comes pre mounted on a Technics headshell. Have fun with your decks!
Pretty much all of that. Eventually the pull of the technics will come. But in the meantime those will be fine, I mean I was one belt drive stantons and it was awful, but I could do it. Learn on those, just don’t go play on techs, or else you will never go back lol.
I’ve been noticing a lot of skipping… Any tips on that? I’ve got the weight all the way forward and the tone arm height all the way down so it’s resting as heavily as possible on the record, but it still skips with any kind of bump, or even when i messaround and scratch the record forwards and backwards hard. Is it user error, or do i have the tone arm settings off, or is it because the cartridge sucks?
I also have an opportunity to buy 2 technics 1200’s for $360 that come with the stock cartridges… What do you guys think? would it be more worth it just to do that than buy a pair of the aforementioned M44-7’s for $170?
absolutely get the techs that’s cheap as. and you can get the standard M44-7 carts heaps cheaper, when technics were discontinued their headshells went up in price from $20 - $40AUS so take $80 off the purchase price, the gemini headshell’s will be fine, the only difference is a tiny technics logo on the front
Ah. but is it binary…? Either they work or they don’t? Is it true that if they spin and make sound, that i should by them, or is there more to it than that?
and you mean the Gemini’s are worth nothing, right? shucks…
yep the gemini’s, don’t feel bad I still have my first set of decks pioneer dj3500 in the shed, only cause I couldn’t give them away as any of my mates I offered them to didn’t want them after using my techs
Things I would check
pitch adjustment
They play audio. Left & right channel
On & Off twist button works right & is not loose or broke.
Tone arm adjustment moves
Weight on tonearm adjusts correctly
When you hit stop the platter stops quickly & starts quickly as well
All the lights work
The 1200’s are tanks. A commen problem with them are the rca cables & thats a easy fix. One of my 1200’s are from the
80’s & still going strong.
Alright, talked to the guy about selling me the techs for $360.
Got a festival gig this weekend, then I’m going to check them out/maybe pick them up on monday. Now I know what to look at when I check them out. I’ll report back. Thanks a ton guys.
Learning to mix solidly on a pair on crap decks is actually very good. I had some awful numark belt drives and when i eventually got some technics it was a breeze to beat match and totally effortless. Technics will come eventually but start with something affordable and dial in your skills, they will go a long way later
