help me get a record player

Cafe Society
1

ok, i guess this belongs here since it pertains to music, but don’t blame me if i’m wrong.

i’m looking for a record player, and i’m kinda hoping some of you have one. firstly i have a couple questions.

  1. since i want to listen to a bunch of 7" and 12" releases from punk bands, i need a record player that plays both. standard ones play both 7" and 12", right?

  2. if i get one from a flea market (which i probably will), where can i get replacement parts, which i’ll probably need.

  3. hi opal! (always wanted to do that)

  4. anyone here have one they don’t want/has up for sale?

any other general info would help, thanks.

(ynh)

2

Well, let me be the first up to bat here…

Most turntables made, both new and vintage, play 33rpm (most 12"s) and 45rpm (most 7"s). Some older models will also play 78rpm, but it doesn’t sound like you’ll be listening to too many Bing Crosby shellac records, so that’s moot.

Be careful of flea market turntables. Cartridges tend to be junked, and drive belts tend to be stretched beyond repair. Ebay might be a better bet.

My advice depends on how much you want to spend. If you only want to spend $20 or so, flea markets are pretty much your only bet. Be aware, however, that aside from the problems you mention above, some replacement parts for some older tables (i.e. Bang and Olufson) are impossible to find. As well, a flea market turntable is likely to do actual damage to your precious vinyl, especially if the TT has a ceramic cartridge.

If you are willing to go up to about $100, you can find a reasonable selection of 20-year-old Pioneers, Sansuis, Hitachis, and the occasional Marantz on Ebay. These were build pretty solidly, and are common enough that you can get replacement parts easily. Be aware, however, that you are going to want a new cartridge anyway. A Grado Black cartridge will run you $40–it’s pretty much the best in that range.

If you are willing to spend $250-300, you have a few other options. A new Music Hall (www.musichallaudio.com) or used Rega 2 will fit the bill, and sound a hell of a lot better than anything mentioned above. Sounds like this might be a little more than you want to spend, though.

One last thing–you might need a phono preamp if your receiver or amp doesn’t already have a phono input. Radio Shack’s the cheapest game in town–their $30 battery powered unit is amazing for the money.

Oh, and links:
www.needledoctor.com
www.elusivedisc.com
www.ebay.com
www.amusicdirect.com

But if you do decide to go the flea market route, get a Garrard or Dual if you find one. (I definitely wouldn’t go playing an ultra-rare first print Misfits single on one of those, though.)

Hope this helped.

3

It would be overkill for your needs, but i LOOOOVE my Technics Sl-1200s!!!:slight_smile:

4

If you happen to come into some money, the Vermont Country Store sells a two-speed record player with built-in amplifier and speakers for $130. They also sell a $40 kit for cleaning records that includes a brush for the records, a bottle of distilled water and three replacement needles for the record player itself.

5

I wish Music Hall would make a turntable that didn’t require you to manually shift the belt to change speeds. I’m willing to drop $300 on a nice turntable, but I won’t do that every time I want to listen to single after I’ve had an LP on.

6

Try Restoration Hardware. They have been selling a basic record player with variable speeds for under $ 100.00 as I recall.

They’re nationwide. A fine store. A nice store. Go, shop.

Cartooniverse

" This posting brought to you by the American Committee To Insure That Every Town Has At Least One Restoration Hardware Store, or the A.C.T.I.T.E.T.H.A.L.O.R.H.S.". :smiley:

7

Until I figured out you meant the difference in speeds (thanks, Amidar!), I was really laughing over this line.

Crutchfield has some quality turntables available for reasonable money (one’s $149.99). If that’s not what you call reasonable, I’d recommend looking at open box or scratch & dent sales at Circuit City, Best Buy, or some online stores.

Also, peek in at Steal It Back. They have interesting opportunities from time to time.

8

Your local Circuit Shitty should carry the Kenwood R-505, or whatever the current model number is. It’s a decent starter turntable for around 80 bucks. Since you’ll be listening primarily to punk records, you don’t really need a higher-end table.

Be warned, though: the salesgoons will look at you with a blank stare when you ask them about it.

If you do want to get a better set up, I suggest hitting the pawn shops. They usually have rigs from audphiles down on their luck. Plus, you can haggle with them.