** I originally posted this on Sunday night but it got lost in the forum move to the new server **

Decided it was time to give the good old turntable a spin again after it had been "in storage" on top of my bedroom wardrobe for over 5 years.

This is a Linn Sondek LP12 that I bought secondhand in 1987 (paid about $700 from memory), it had a cheap arm and cartridge fitted when I bought it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Sondek_LP12

Replaced the arm shortly after I bought it with a Linn Basik arm (which I still have in storage) then further upgraded it with a Linn Ittok arm in the early 1990's (cost me about $650 secondhand) and a new Ortofon MC30 Super moving coil cartridge ($900).

Here's a few pictures:

Turntable:



Outer platter removed and belt fitted:



Outer platter, mat and 45rpm adapter:



45rpm adapter (fits over motor pulley):



All my old record and stylus cleaning gear, plus a rare Goldring cartridge alignment protractor:



Bearing shaft on bottom of inner platter:



Bearing housing where inner platter sits, has oil in it:



Setup on stand (turntables like the Linn prefer to be on a separate stand but I don't have room, at least all the shelves on this stand all sit on small spikes in the corners:



The small box with the silver front on the shelf below the turntable is an Ortofon T-20 "step up transformer" to increase the MC30 moving coil cartridge level to the higher moving magnet level - the Denon amplifier at the bottom only has a moving magnet phono (turntable) input.

All I had to do when I was setting it up was top up the platter bearing oil a little, adjust the 3 point spring suspended subchassis to level the platter and arm board (both are attached to the subchassis) and check the arm height and stylus pressure, etc.

If I wanted to I could probably spend around about $10,000 bringing this up to the latest specification (but, I won't). The only upgrades I've done since I bought it in 1987 were new arm and cartridge, new armboard, new suspended subchassis, new clear lid and hinges and new suspension springs, nuts and bolts and grommets, etc. all in the early 1990's.

I always remove the outer platter and belt when the turntable is not in use to reduce belt stretching and pressure on the suspension springs. I also spin the platter by hand when turning the turntable on to reduce stress on the motor and belt (the platters are HEAVY on this turntable).

Haven't had time to play a record on it just yet. Might get around to it in the next few days.

Lovely

Great. Now you have something to play those Kamahl records on.

rhino wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2021 at 5:56pm:


Funny you should say that.

Looky what we have here:





Double album personally autographed by Kamahl for my Aunt (Pat) around about 1984. 

Might have to give it a spin later. 

Thanks, Lols.

These sorts of things do bring back memories, after getting the turntable out and set up again I'm reminded of a friend of mine - around about 1984 we used to ride pushbikes from the city (where he worked) to his place in Maylands on a few Sunday nights and he would have his brother come around with his turntable and we'd have the "Battle of the Linns". They both owned Linn Sondeks and they would be always competing with each other as to who's sounded better.

My friend had an awesome setup with his expensive amplifier and speakers and I'd sit there listening (and judging) while they made small 'tweaks' to their cartridge alignments and tonearm heights, etc., etc. and then playing a record to try and hear which one sounded better. Good times.

Their 'reference' LP for the testing and comparison was this (and they played it quite loud):

https://www.soundtrack.net/album/star-tracks/

Of course, I never found out what the neigbours thought about this seeing as my friend lived in a block of flats. Couldn't imagine them being too impressed hearing movie themes blasting through the building at 9 o'clock on a Sunday night. 

My turntable is working quite well, I don't have any speakers connected to my amplifier at the moment so I'm just using headphones but so far, so good.



Oh, and just for rhino:

Haven't been into the secondhand shops for a long time but I do agree with you.

This Kamahl record is the only one in my vast collection and I've probably only kept it all these years because it has sentimental value for my aunt, of course.

Made in Britain - nice   

Do you have much vinyl?

Carl D wrote on Jun 29^th, 2025 at 11:52am:


Hmm, maybe not   

I have an original pressing of Sgt Peppers, in fairly good condition, and even that's not really worth all that much.

I bought it years ago from one of those antiques shops in Guildford - when CDs came out some guy sold his entire collection of records and I managed to get his Sgt Peppers.