Buying a second hand turntable

[MrTeroo]

In quite a few posts now I've seen comments along the lines of it is fine to buy a second hand turntable from eBay, but only if you know what to look for.

Does anyone fancy posting a checklist of what to look for? Also what to avoid maybe.

I have recently been watching a few Thorens turntables, but I really don't know what to look for.

 

[stevebrock]

In quite a few posts now I've seen comments along the lines of it is fine to buy a second hand turntable from eBay, but only if you know what to look for.

Does anyone fancy posting a checklist of what to look for? Also what to avoid maybe.

I have recently been watching a few Thorens turntables, but I really don't know what to look for.

and as long as they are packed in the original packaging

I sold my RP6 on ebay - buyer receieved it in original Rega packaging all fine !

 

[lindsayt]

Main things that I watch out for when buying 2nd hand TT's:

How much does it weigh?

How much did it cost when new?

How much does this particular example cost now, inparticular when compared to other examples of this model?

Is it fully working? If not, how easy / expensive would it be to fix?

Can I pay cash on collection? What sort of feedback does the seller have? Where is the TT located and could I plan any holidays or business trips to that area in the near future?

When I google this model of TT, what do owners say about it?

Is it belt, direct or idler drive?

 

[Al ears]

As lindsayt says, look for reputable dealer or someone with very good feedback. Google the model and look for any potential problems. Belt drives are easier repaired than idler drives.

Check how much particularly model has sold for in the past along with general condition and state of tonearm if one comes fitted.

If you can always go and collect as posted turntables can be very susceptible to damage particularly acrylic dust covers.

 

[MrTeroo]

Ok, so mainly general things that apply to most ebay purchases then? I usually only look at nearest items in my searches with a view to collect.

I was thinking there was some things specific to turntables.

Al Ears, you say check the tone arm condition. Obviously spotting major damage is fairly easy but are there any subtle things to look out for?

 

[MajorFubar]

I was thinking there was some things specific to turntables.

When I talk about 'knowing what to look for' I'm talking about signs of user-bodgery, missing parts you might not even be aware are missing unless you are familiar with the model, and problems you won't know about until you get it back such as flatspots on idler-drives, main bearing wear and speed-instability on models with electronic/quartz-locked speed controls. There are lots of other potential problems because turntables are mechanical devices not electronic and sadly it takes a bit of insider knowledge sometimes.

Lots of used kit on eBay seems to be sold by either second hand shops, house-clearance specialists or young sellers flogging old cr'p from their granddad's loft. The former two are utterly disinterested and the latter are often clueless with regards to anything they can't plug an iPod into. Case in point a few weeks ago I saw what was advertised to be a 'mint' GL75, but straight away I could see it was missing the anti-skate bias weight, but unless you know your vintage turntables you probably wouldn't know. Additionally, I'd be prepared to bet half my month's salary that it also needed new V-blocks on the tonearm pivot, because these are common wear items on the standard tonearm. Replacing them is not hard but it is fiddly, and buying them costs between about £20 and £30 depending what replacements you buy. But again that's insider knowledge you wouldn't necessarily know, and you wouldn't think of checking for even if you collected in person unless someone told you.

So when I personally say, 'unless you know what you're looking for', that's the kind of things I'm talking about.

 

[Chris Munden]

Hi, we can thank CD's for the large ammount of used turntables on the market, Vinyl has seen a huge increase in sales over the last couple of years and thus people want good equipment to play vinyl, You have got plenty of good advice from the members but buying off E Bay must carry the 'Buyer beware'. I have noticed a few Audio Hi Fi dealers advertising used decks, there were 2 in my local shop but never stayed in the window long, both Pro-jects. At least if you can get to a shop and look all the better and normally the shop will give a short warranty. Hoope this helps

PCMB

 

[Al ears]

Ok, so mainly general things that apply to most ebay purchases then? I usually only look at nearest items in my searches with a view to collect.

I was thinking there was some things specific to turntables.

Al Ears, you say check the tone arm condition. Obviously spotting major damage is fairly easy but are there any subtle things to look out for?

I guess checking condition of the bearings etc is not possible unless you collect in person but general state and markings where cartridge has been removed can be spotted from photos. You can always as for more photos to be uploaded or emailed if in doubt.

General wear and tear is what I'd be looking out for along with age of forearm. My feeling is anyone who spends out for a decent tonearm generally takes good care of it.

 

[bigfish786]

with items like turntables off eBay have not been good. I've had five. And every one of them either arrived damaged or was in poor condition ( not meeting item discription) .

if you are a novice, my advice would be to buy a new budget turntable from either rega or project.

You may have to pay a couple of hundred quid, but you will have a guarantee, a warranty, and a product that can be easily set up and optimised.

forget second hand, or used turntables. Do yourself a favour, the odds against you buying a used "bargain" are slim.

 

[MrTeroo]

I suppose I would describe myself a novice regarding the setup and mechanisms of a turntable. I already have a Project Debut Carbon, i just like turntables and Old things in general. I love Celestion Dittons for example.

i'm just generally watching turntables on eBay that are close to me. I love a bargain too! I can be very patient, like a big cat stalking it's prey

no better feeling than swooping in on something at the last few seconds and nabbing what you know is a bargain.

 

[Al ears]

I suppose I would describe myself a novice regarding the setup and mechanisms of a turntable. I already have a Project Debut Carbon, i just like turntables and Old things in general. I love Celestion Dittons for example.

i'm just generally watching turntables on eBay that are close to me. I love a bargain too! I can be very patient, like a big cat stalking it's prey

no better feeling than swooping in on something at the last few seconds and nabbing what you know is a bargain.

This sort of practise is OK as long as you are not ussing all your funds and still have a fair bit in reserve for possible repairs / servicing. I'd advise buying from dealers but this way you aren't going to get the 'bargains' as they know what the thing is worth and price accordingly. Bargains come from the lone-seller so be sure to check their ratings and, if at all possible, pay cash on collection.

 

[dtmark]

I think I've probably been very lucky with my old Thorens TD150 - spent 15 years in a cupboard, resurrected, needed some TLC and a new belt. The expensive thing was the stylus at £215 (A Goldring 1042).

My original logic was - buy new. With many things you get more for your money than was once the case. And that's why I bought the Rega RP3 and that was a poor buy, possibly faulty, possibly not, with an atrocious cartridge - the Elys 2 is dreadful and gets nowhere near what the RP3 might achieve. So I would have had to spend money having the cartridge swapped to the Rega and would have had to buy the new stylus anyway.

In my case, the motor on the ancient Thorens seems fine to me, and it all works as it should. If that one were for sale, I think you'd gert a good buy with the SME tonearm it has (but it isn't) yet I imagine that many of these won't have been cared for quite so well and so it's a bit hit-and-miss.

Since the TD150s go for next to nothing - compare the value - maybe £50 for a really good Thorens versus £560 for a new Rega. It's not a difficult choice. But then you don't know until you get the thing working and try it.

I did sell my RP3 for £250 to someone last week who came to hear it and its "fault" (earth hum) but that was a relative bargain for something almost brand new with a saving of £300 to spend on a decent cartridge.

I think the key is to monitor the listings closely and wait for one you're interested in to come up within sensible driving distance.

 

[lindsayt]

bigfish786, I've bought 2 turntables off ebay. Both were in better condition than described when they arrived at my house.

I've been absolutely delighted with both. They both sound significantly better than my LP12 that I bought new off a dealers. They have both gone up in value a lot since I bought them. They have both given me many hours of listening pleasure. Neither have needed any repairs nor servicing that I didn't fully expect before buying them.

From ebay I've also bought 3 cd players, 2 active crossovers, 1 pre amp, 5 power amps, 5 pairs of speakers, 1 turntable table, 1 cartridge. They have all arrived at my house as described, or better than described. None of them have required sevicing or repairs that I didn't expect before buying them - apart from 1 active crossover that was less than 10 years old when I bought it. I replaced it with a 40 year old active crossover (for about £150) that has been fine, and sounds a bit more transparent. Plus 1 of the (valve) power amps needed a couple of repairs (costing a total of £160) after a lot of use - which I semi expected as it was a prototype amp (that power amp was less than 10 years old when I bought it too).

I've also been buying valves off US ebay too, with the idea of building up a lifetimes supply. These valves have ranged from about 50 to 80 years old.

I was pretty much a novice too when I started buying 2nd hand off ebay. We all have to start somewhere. Since then I've found that the more I find out about hi-fi, the more I realise how little I've explored so far...

 

[MajorFubar]

I've bought 2 turntables off ebay.[snip]They both sound significantly better than my LP12

There's places out there where that kind of language is fighting-talk lol.

 

[lindsayt]

Yes, indeed. But over time these places are getting smaller / fewer as more and more LP12 owners find something else that they prefer - often for less money.

 

[Al ears]

Yes, indeed. But over time these places are getting smaller / fewer as more and more LP12 owners find something else that they prefer - often for less money.

That's understandable when you look at the costs involved in updating the deck to get it to sound halfway decent. There, I said it!