My First Turntable Build

by **Timoteo** » 09 May 2012 02:41

Hours?...shoot I don't know...I spent the good part of every evening on it for a solid month.

That is not a veneer on it. I layered Birch Plywood & 2 layers of MDF (8 layers total) After routing the edges & a ton of sanding I stained it (Minwax: "Ebony") then applied a 2 part ultra high gloss bar top epoxy. From across the room it looks piano black but once you walk up on it you can see the grain. I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

Thanks for the compliment!! No I'm researching a couple different cartridges so I can swap them back & forth to find the sound I like best. Technically the Ortofon 2M red is not the bet match for the stock tonearm. It's a high compliance stylus & since the arm is med/heavy I should have a low compliance cart on it. I didn't know anything about that when I got the Ortofon. While it sounds amazing as it it is I would still love to try some different types

by **Timoteo** » 15 Jun 2012 07:38

Ok...a little progress since my last post. I wanted to get a second platter & run stacked platters as many Lenco owners do. However i was not able to locate a second platter, so i did the next best thing, I had one machined out of solid aluminum! Its 1" thick & is the diameter of the mat. I also had a brass spindle extension press fit & milled flush into the platter. This way i just set the whole new platter on the old platter, it fits like a glove & has the spindle tip to place the record over.

I also had a record clamp machined out of aluminum. The specs were taken off the internet from a guy who designed this clamp back in the 1980's. It looks great & works even better so im very happy with it!

Once the new platter was placed on top of the original i had to raise the tonearm...no problem, raise the cradle...no worries, raise the arm lift...big problem!! The arm lift wouldnt reach the tonearm at its new height. So i ordered a coupling nut, a threaded rod & a smooth rod in order to modify the way the arm lift mounts to the table. Now it works perfectly!!

by **Timoteo** » 15 Jun 2012 07:44

So after a lot of planning, designing, sweating & machining I have finally finished the Lenco L75 that my dad gave to me a few months ago!! Here she is, I hope you all enjoy the pics!!
To view my complete photobucket album of the build: Http://photobucket.com/timoteosl75build

by **def420** » 15 Jun 2012 13:09

Awesome job there :-]

by **alternativeroute** » 15 Jun 2012 19:21

Excellent job!!!

Did you keep a list of your costs? Would be interested to speculate how your table performs against a modern table of similar cost...

BTW. You happy with the sound?

by **Timoteo** » 16 Jun 2012 01:13

I am more than happy with the sound!! It's transformed the way i listen to music. The first time I dropped the needle after building the plinth & installing the new cart it sounded so much better than a CD that my jaw literally dropped. So yes very happy!!

I also love how now I know every single nut & bolt of this table. If ANYTHING goes wrong I know I can fix it. Plus the fact it used to be my dads but is now a one of a kind among so many great Lenco tables out there. Honestly I'd rather have this table than a new one costing twice what I put into it. I really do think it'd do great paired up against a similar priced new table. I'd love to try that someday!!

Just going over everything I spent on the table itself, I'd have to honestly guess that it cost me about $500-$550. That's including things like sandpaper, stain, router bits etc.

So I guess it would have to be put against something like the Rega P1 or P2...

by **alternativeroute** » 16 Jun 2012 12:38

Timoteo wrote:Just going over everything I spent on the table itself, I'd have to honestly guess that it cost me about $500-$550. That's including things like sandpaper, stain, router bits etc.

So I guess it would have to be put against something like the Rega P1 or P2...

my guess is that the performance over a P1 or P2 would be quite considerable!!!

If you got the time (and the tools/inclination) DIY is the way to go...

by **Bran Kulez** » 16 Jun 2012 17:26

Absolutely stunning! Beautiful job... =D>

by **hoolio** » 17 Jun 2012 08:15

Timoteo wrote:So after a lot of planning, designing, sweating & machining I have finally finished the Lenco L75 that my dad gave to me a few months ago!! Here she is, I hope you all enjoy the pics!!
To view my complete photobucket album of the build: Http://photobucket.com/timoteosl75build

This is a seriously gorgeous turntable! =D>