I-shen Soundboy wrote:
Not a steal, it cost that new... However prices have gone bananas recently, mostly because of the hype around the "new" technics.
If it's boxed + lid and has all the bits (7" center, balance weights, headshell, feet etc) and works (check the arm bearings and smooth speed control) then £290 is a fair price. If it's in a flightcase and missing bits, walk away... |
+1 !!!
other details to check: - needle light functional? (probably isn't, they tend to break over time and it's not a big deal, but it's a good point to make when haggling )
- tone arm rest and lock are not damaged (-> both are serious turn-offs! -> serious haggling) - tone arm is not bent !!! (check for scratches/dents at the point where the tone arm rests on the tone arm rest. Any obvious damage to the tone arm is a deal breaker, or at least a huuuuuge haggling point; 100€ price drop!)
- tone arm base lock can be easily opened - tone arm base height can be adjusted all the way up and down; mechanism runs smoothly - pitch fader zero position should have a mechanical "click"/rest point where it locks. if it doesn't, it means a previous owner has modified the pitch fader and removed a part -> HAGGLE MORE (techno DJs hated the click because supposedly it "reduces pitch sensitivity"/adjustment precision very close to zero point; this is not a big deal either, but a great point for haggling, the other person will think you are an expert )
-check the rubber feet, unscrew at least one, and verify that the rubber has no cracks or other signs of aging. If it does, again….. -> HAGGLE (this is actually important for the performance of the turntable; if the feet are crumbling, you have to replace definitely them -> added expense)
- electrical contacts inside the tone arm. Check if they have any sign of wear, or dirt on them etc…. Lot of idiots "clean" headshell contacts by licking. Result is more dirt and degradation of contacts. - RCA cables. Make sure the ground wire is present (If it's missing, again someone has modded/"improved" -> haggle!)
download the manual and read it, and then go check the item in real life before purchasing!
If possible, plug it into a mixer/hifiamp (don't forget the ground cable), with a headshell/cartridge on the tone arm. listen with headphones for noise or hum. Wiggle the RCA connectors and cables. screw and unscrew the headshell. Verify that the headshell contact is good, and that there is no intermittent buzzing or channel dropout when you handle the tone arm. Audition some records if possible.
that's all the SL1210 MK2 buyers 101 guide points I remember atm
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