Technics 1200 1210 buyers guide

did you ever had a mk4 in your shop?

Hi Jay (my name is Jay as well), I appreciate you doing this video. I just purchased a SL1200 MKII from my local record shop, the owner sold it to me for $325 USD! Before I purchased it I made sure to watch this video. This certainly helped me to ensure the 12 I was about to purchase was in good tip top shape. Indeed it is, and I'm honestly shocked for as old as this particular unit is. What the record shop owner shared with me is, the deck was a spare unit that a DJ he knows from NYC, the DJ was not a hip hop DJ, he only spun EDM, strictly for EDM. The only thing that had to be "updated" was switching the power cable from UK to US 110/120. The strobes are perfect, pop up lamp still functions as it should and the lamp is stll working! The motor is in excellent condition. The VTA was seized because it was never adjusted, so I just took a heat gun, ran it over the VTA moving the height up a notch each time to loosen the grease and low and behold it's working as it should. I took the platter off, removed the dust cover and the internals are completely clean! I also made sure to check the bearings in the gimbals and no issues at all there either. I can't believe just how lucky I got on this unit. Your video certainly helped me know I was purchasing a solid deck.

when the tonearem is leveled floating, and antiskate is 0 the tonearm has to move out,

How frequently should the arm pivot bearings be oiled, generally? For good maintenance.

Question, a straight arm versus an S shaped tone arm. Which is more preferable if not using as a DJ turntable?

Like 👍👍

Thanks for the detailed information. I want to buy an SL1200 mk2 from a person I know well. The record player has been in an attic for at least 20 years. I was given the device to take home to see what is no longer working or not working properly. Thanks to this video I know what to look out for. There are a few small issues that I think I can solve myself. I can now determine a good acquisition price. Thanks again. (and thank you Google Translate😄)

Great resource, thanks for putting this together.

I've got a nice pair of MK5's, I wouldn''t change them to buy MK7's but I would buy some MK7's as a second pair, having said that I'd want the LTD Blue ones but they are silly money.

Any ideas if the GR2s would be suitable for DJ mixing, as opposed to the previous GRs, which were only really suitable for HiFi usage. (I know SL1200 MK2s were aswell technically)

Don’t want to get rid of my MK5s , but was just thinking for the future. As parts will get harder to source and be far more expensive…. I can barely find an original replacement tonearm assembly for a MK5 for instance.

Possible review incoming? 😉 👀

Love the channel, keep up the good work! 👍

Any advice on the double zero issue with the pitch. I have fixed once by adjusting pentimeter under the pitch (with a lot of trial and error). Hoping for a better option.

Hey man, i just picked up a mk5, in great condition but the sound sounds off, like its muffled and kind of cutting in and out slightly (and getting brighter and dimmer). I changed the cart around with the other deck and still the same issue. Is it an easy fix or should i return it ?

1 hour buying guide on these... damn lol... like buying an expensive old used car... i'll stick to my brand new Fluance

How can you tell if the gimble etc at the arm is original as opposed to from a mk7?

I have a problem where the if I float the arm from anywhere around the outer grooves it slowly (like this one) floats back to armrest (on 0 antiskate) it doesnt do this on the outer or middle grooves. could I try tightening the pivot screw a hair? I hope its not bearings..

Just paid for. I haven't had a problem and it was used. Love it.

wow man> you seem to live Technics, and want to share you knowledge. thank you! How can I go about finding a true representative on servicing my 1200mk2's in my own city,,? hard question i would think*

Hi my friend! I would love to buy some decks from you! How do I go about it?

Awesome guide 🤜💥🤛

Hi there. I bought a mk2 recently and it’s black but the markings and everything says “1200”. Do you know when black 1200s were made or why they became “1210” instead and any major differences between them? Thanks

anyone know if the mk2s that were made in the 2000s are of similar build quality to the old ones? I could get my hands on a couple from 2007, but they are quite expensive

Great info. We need more people like yourself, who know what they are doing!

Could you please tell me your opinion of the SL_1600 mk2, and is it a sensible buy? thanks.

Is it possible to convert my mk5G's to analogue pitch trim?
Or should I say, is it economically feasible to do so?

too many ppl wearing black rubber gloves on the interweb: mechanics, furniture restorers, chefs, dog groomers, hifi repair?

Hey man, can you recommend someone in the London area that does servicing?

Great commentary thanks for the work you have put it to this good lesson!!

Just found your channel. Great info! Subbed. One of my decks, the anti skate doesn't seem to work but the arm moves completely freely and there's never any skips. Is this likely to just mean the anti skate needs calibrating? I see you say to leave it on 0 for mixing while others say to set it with a blank record to stay where it is. This is what I do but it only works with one of mine.

Look for the caps if they are leaking.

Can you contact me need mine serviced

nice video. one thing that i would like to know is. what to do if your tonearm lifter is moving slowly. can it be dust? or is it bad? or is it a easy fix?
I have seen that on quite a few SL-1200/1210 s

Thanks Jay very informative, I wish everyone well in there search for an honest 1200

really appreciate putting all this years of experience in a video!! all the best

Do you know of a seller of quality Technics replacement parts in the US?

Thought my mk5 I just picked up had a bogus tonearm, it's 100% perfect, my table top was not level (off by 1/2"). while floating it stays put (balancing act) and smoothy goes home when using the anti skate. smoothly travels in each direction, feels light as a feather.

I had my MK2 SL1210 serviced by Jay just before Xmas. It wasn't cheap, but he really is the Don when it comes to these decks...

great video. thanks for this

I wouldn't mind having my 1210s serviced & LED pop up lights done

No sound🤔