hello and good luck with your purchase, i have an lp12 after tinkering with many other decks, a roksan xerses and a gyro se plus many budget decks, rega 2 and 3 dual 505/1 sansui 222 mk 5 and various others but none of them is a patch on the lp12. it has it's critics in as much as it's not easily servicable and it need's a solid platform to site it on but once set up right it sings like no other. just a bit of advice to help you along, depending on where you purchase it from try and collect it yourself, don't get it posted. if it has a linn arm i.e ittok akito or basik check the bearings by balancing the arm to zero and just nudge it towards the centre spindle, there should be no play and float smoothly over without any friction. if it comes with a cartridge good if not trust me on this and one buy an at95e it works a treat with a linn, in fact i would advise anyone who is thinking of buying a new cartridge to invest in this little beauty, it's that good.i have just upgraded to an ortofon 2m blue and i must say it's great, more detail than the at95e deeper bass and less surface noise and it's yet to break in but the at gives it a close run much more so than the grado black i used before. a service every 3 or 4 years from a good linn dealer for about £150.00 which should include a new belt and bearing oil and it will last for years. as for upgrading dont, just listen to the music then upgrade the amp in a year or so, i loved my 3020 and still hanker after one and the little missions will still go along after an amp upgrade. good luck, gregory.