Buying used Technics

[Giovanotto]

I found someone nearby selling custom painted red techs 1200 for 500/pair. I have never owned turntables and have barely messed around with some at GC. What should I be looking out for? He says they are in great condition... but you never know with people sometimes.

[nabjab]

Before you get a bunch of people "yelling" at you for posting this in the wrong section. I advise you read the thread where I got "yelled" at

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showt...nic-Turntables

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showt...ittle-guidance

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showt...ht=#post104569

A lot of good information in those threads, and a couple links to test out the tables when you see them.

You'll have to dig a bit, but we all do.

[Giovanotto]

Thanks nabjab, but I was looking for threads more specific about checking components/functions of the turntables. I am not new to DJing, I am new to turntables.

[Giovanotto]

just found this... yay
http://www.djforums.com/forums/conte...rntables-guide

well, that didn't help, I wish there was like a youtube video of what to look out for. I might just have to bite the bullet and risk it when im there. Hopefully, its common sense.

[DTR]

just found this... yay
http://www.djforums.com/forums/conte...rntables-guide

well, that didn't help,

Why doesn't that help? I was about to type pretty much the same thing.

[nabjab]

I wasn't assuming you were.

There are some good comments on Technics hidden in all the bickering.

Primarily the holy grail on what to look for in technics (and I assume any other turntable)

[Panotaker]

Not too many people take a perfectly looking 1200 and paint it red. They usually paint it because it looked like crap. How good is the paint job? Does it look like a pro painted it, or does it look like a rattle can paint job. You can always repaint it, but that is a lot of trouble you may not want to tackle. If you can live with the paint job, the rest of it can usually be fixed. The three major repairs are, new tone arm, new pitch control, new spindle bearings. There are youtube videos that show you how to check all three. Personally, I wouldn't buy painted tables unless they looked fantastic. Keep in mind that original 1200's came with a dust cover, 45 rpm adapter, a headshell, and a headshell mounting gauge. If it is missing any of those, you may need to buy them separately.

[Nicadraus]

Here's a guide I wrote and posted here:

http://www.djforums.com/forums/conte...rntables-guide