Is this a good deal? (Vintage Technics Turntable)

[unratonlaveur]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and wanted to ask if anyone could give me some advice. I'm thinking about buying my first turntable--this turntable on Craigslist:

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/for/2905706700.html

I emailed the owner and he said he'd consider $100. Do you think that's a good deal or not worth it? Thanks in advance for any help

[Alec124c41]

It looks like an SL-23. This is a nice, solid turntable, made before they started making the bases out of plastic, so quite non-resonant.
For $100, it should have a decent cartridge included, and be in excellent condition.

Cheers,
Alec

[nat]

I agree with the 'it should have a decent cartridge included and be in excellent condition' part of Alec's post. Everything depends on what the market is in your particular area, but where I live, that is a high price.
Look on Ebay at completed listings to see what the general trend is, but recognize that shipping, and the risk of damage, mean that selling prices are significantly lower than the real final price.

[Van_Isle]

Well, if you don't mind a bit of a project, there is also a Denon DP-40F for $50:
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/ele/2939931811.html

[zambembe]

Hi unratonlaveur... May I hitchhike your topic just a bit? Please? I must act quickly and the title of your topic is so absolutely perfect...




This SL-1100 is being offered by $600 (in Brazil), so in the "outside world" it would be a $150 or $200 deal. The seller said it is working great, and that the cartridge is a "Shure V15 type III".

I'm about to pay $1.100 (plus taxes) for a brand new SL-1200, so I really don't think the SL-1100 above would be a good deal. But any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Alec124c41]

Looks good. Very solid. This was the model previous to the SP-10. The tone-arm is easily replaced. I don't know that a 1200 would be twice as good, but I've never owned a 1200.

Cheers,
Alec

[MR F]

The SL-1100 is good, however it is also about 40 years old now, and probably in serious need of servicing. It is also a servo drive, more risk of speed issues than the quartz-locked SL-1200MK2. I think the SL-1200 would be more reliable and last a lot longer. I don't know, the SL-1100 could be great, but the price seems quite high. I do love that wooden base though.

[Van_Isle]

There is a SL-1100 for sale here in a vintage audio shop for (if I recall correctly) about $500. They use it on a daily basis ... all day long ... to spin vinyl in the store which might attest to their robustness. However, I take it that it has been for sale for quite some time at that price.

For perspective I purchased a used SL-1200Mk2 in very good condition for $350 (not a DJ 'junker'). They are solid! I sold it because I just wasn't sold on a fully manual turntable. Don't forget one big benefit of the SL-1200's is parts availability - many parts may also fit a SL-1100 but perhaps many others might require modification or are unobtainable. Also I would bet that a SL-1200 is one turntable that many repair shops have experience with.

[whitesmoke]

Maybe it's just me - but I prefer a manual turntable ( well, not with the hand crank on the side I suppose). Have repaired enough semi-auto/full auto models for other folks and all that stuff seems to be the weak link. Having said that, if the automated stuff floats yer boat well then mo' power to ya!