What was everyones first turntable when starting out into Audio?

Glaser Steers GS 400



Real POS. High rumble, lots of flutter and wow, antique, high friction tone arm. Replaced it with an AR Turntable.

Braun PS 420

JVC QL-7

Yup, still have it.

Garrard Zero100.

Had one of those too. Replaced my AR TT with it. It was not exactly the best TT so eventually I sold it and got another AR TT.

1978 Fisher Price Record Player #825

LOL

My first TT was a Denon 26F.

Dual 508 back in the early 80's


sold it to friend and purchased a

JA Michell Focus "S"
then added a used Oracle Delphi (Mk 1)

since I rarely listened to vinyl then (and now), I sold the above two and purchased a
Rega Planar 3 to save space about 10 years ago. I probably put less than 5 hrs over 3-4 years on it so I let a friend borrow it indefinitely and I just got it back a few months ago (still sitting in its box)

Whatever turntable came in an old Magnavox console. Doublessly ate records.

Then a Garrard (I think). This one definitely ate records. Then a Connoisseur. Then a Linn, recently supplemented by a Rega RP1 (a great bargain).

You aren't saying which year, but odds are that the old Maggotbox used a VM turntable with a crystal or ceramic cartridge. Yup, it ate records but the speakers were rolled off enough on the high end that the damage it did was't all that audible.

Heah!! Like and appreciate you going back to the early seventies !! Mine was a Dual 1214,,, Next up was a Thorens td-160 with a Stanton 681-e cartridge, next was two Techinigues ( SORRY, I forgot the model and cartridge used ) brain fart, as I'm now 58 and that was when I had two of these as I became a DJ. Also used a mixer and blended one tune into another and recorded as such on my Pioneer 1011L 10 1/2 in. reel to reel... That was one of the very best times of my life as no worries, music,music,music, made money doing and creating compilations and so on!! I played alot of obscure stuff back then as Early Genesis, Yes, Wishbone Ash, Quicksilver, and on and on and even some great local bands here in Fl. like GAME, best tune they did was MAKE SOME MUSIC, I have searched and searched for this recording as they did get it produced and out there but to no avail so far.. Thanks, as You Bring Me Back To A Good Time In My Life"""" Bobby G

1973 bought an ar xa and still have it. a little oil and new belt is the only thing it needs to rise from the dead.dont use it anymore guess keeping it for nostolgia

BSR > Yamaha > Thorens and no did not keep any moved to CD,SACD and DVD-A with current Oppo BDP-103.
If I still had my albums then the VPI Scout would be my choice.

My first turntable was a cheap Realistic belt drive, next a Technics 1200. The realistic was crap the Technics lots better.I stopped listening to vinyl shortly after CD came out and the Technics 1200 developed problems.

About eight years ago I got back into vinyl and turntables. I learned how to build a fine sounding turntable from old Lenco heavy platter idler drive turntables. I built a few with plywood plinths and now use a slate plinthed Lenco with special made top plate and bearing. I have a Technics EPA 100MKII Tonearm and several vintage cartridges I enjoy. Technics EPC P100MKIV and Empire 4000DIII are two of my favorite cartridges.

Check out lencoheaven.net if you want to learn more of the DIY approach to fine turntable performance.


Edited by Todd68 - 1/23/13 at 10:09am

My first TT was an old Collaro RC54 record changer, given to me by an older cousin when I was around 13 years old. The changer mechanism was not working, and there were spots where the paint was cracking. I stripped it down, removed the changer mechanism, turning it into manual, sanded and repainted the chassis in battleship grey. I carefully separated the clunky plastic tonearm from its pivot and made up a new DIY arm/headshell from aluminum tubing and a piece of 1/4" plastic sheet, making sure to maintain the original stylus position. Its puck drive produced noticeable rumble during quiet music passages, yet it served me well for several years before I purchased a modern belt drive turntable, a BSR Quanta 500 belt drive.


Edited by Glen B - 1/23/13 at 12:01pm

Technics from Service Merchandise, circa 1983. I don't remember the model number. My parents have it now to play mom's old albums.

AR TT, then an Ariston whos model number eludes memory, then the greatest piece of overrated TT junk out there, a Linn LP12 (+Ittok).

Technics SBl35....now have a Numark

Something similar to this, except mono instead of stereo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAW-6nijoVE

Dual CS 606 with adaptor, I restained it shortly after this pic



And just for fun, here's what I got from my local goodwill yesterday

A POS Soundesign system similar to this

WOW, I had that as my second TT when I was about 14 or 15.

My first TT was a Garrard - don't remember the model - hey! That was back in 1966. Then a BSR - that was a half step or more backwards! Talk about rumble!!! Then a Realistic - yup a rat shack TT. It was better than the first two and IIRC was made by Technics/Panasonic. I've had several between the Realistic and the one I have now - a Phillips 'electronic' 312 with a Bang N Ollie 10E cart. The one that you can't replace the styli on! Its in great shape - for now! The 212/312 is a decent turntable for anyone looking to get into vinyl for cheap. They run from $25-200 on ebay depending on condition and cart. I forget the differences between the 212 and 312 but it isn't much. Easily adjustable and no TT rumble.

I buy a lot of second hand vinyl from Goodwill and Salvation Army - stuff like the old Reader's Digest multi record sets. Most of them were engineered and pressed by RCA and Columbia on heavy vinyl. No corners cut with those pressings. Some of the old Big Band era stuff and classical music are really great to listen to. I picked up several more today. One is a multi record set of Hawaiian music. Haven't had the chance to listen to them yet but if they are like the others they will play near perfect. I've seen one or two of these 5-10 record sets that were scratched up - most of them look near new.
Edited by Knucklehead90 - 3/14/13 at 7:37pm

Technics SL1600 MK II

My first record player was some sort of combo unit with a receiver and speakers...think it was a very entry level Panasonic, gift from the parents. When I used my own money first one I bought was a Dual, think 1218 or 1219 sounds about right but it's been so long now I could be off on the model number. Next one was a Technics 1200SLMkII which I still use some 20 some odd years later.

Dual 1229Q, purchased new. Wish I still had it, more or less abused it in a series of moves and eventually trashed it.

1980 I bought a combo turntable/receiver from Radio Shack and some Realistic speakers, at the time it sounded great! Then I sold it and a few years later bought a huge Magnavox console with built in turntable and two extra "end table" speakers for Quad sound........
I have been without one from 1984 until last year when I picked up a MH 2.2, but I kept my vinyl, and am very happy I did.