Turntable

[drummerman]

 

[drummerman]

Got this (liked the look)

Garrard 86SB. Apparently in w/o with a Sure Cartridge (MJ75EJ) in good condition ... whatever that means..

Is this thing any good and useable?

How do I get sound out of it? Do I need to buy one of those round black things?

regards

 

[nopiano]

Not sure if you are serious. In the unlikely event it has been carefully maintained it might sound as dreadful as it did when it was new.

You can still get a replacement stylus for the cartridge. And, yes, an LP will sound better than playing the mat.

But only just.

 

[CnoEvil]

Not sure if you are serious. In the unlikely event it has been carefully maintained it might sound as dreadful as it did when it was new.

You can still get a replacement stylus for the cartridge. And, yes, an LP will sound better than playing the mat.

But only just.

Are you saying it actually sounds worse than it looks. :O

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Not sure if you are serious. In the unlikely event it has been carefully maintained it might sound as dreadful as it did when it was new.

You can still get a replacement stylus for the cartridge. And, yes, an LP will sound better than playing the mat.

But only just.

Are you saying it actually sounds worse than it looks. :O

Bad boy Cno... :rofl:

 

[CnoEvil]

Not sure if you are serious. In the unlikely event it has been carefully maintained it might sound as dreadful as it did when it was new.

You can still get a replacement stylus for the cartridge. And, yes, an LP will sound better than playing the mat.

But only just.

Are you saying it actually sounds worse than it looks. :O

NP started it!

Bad boy Cno... :rofl:

 

[CnoEvil]

Not sure if you are serious. In the unlikely event it has been carefully maintained it might sound as dreadful as it did when it was new.

You can still get a replacement stylus for the cartridge. And, yes, an LP will sound better than playing the mat.

But only just.

Are you saying it actually sounds worse than it looks. :O

Bad boy Cno... :rofl:

NP started it!

 

[nopiano]

NP started it!

No, it was drummerman... :shifty:

 

[CnoEvil]

------------------------------------------------

 

[RobinKidderminster]

My sig includes an 86sb. BooHoo. Was/is it really that bad? I have not used it for some time but always felt it was a reasonable deck. BooHoo.I stripped out the auto components back in the 80's and its well oiled. BooHoo

 

[RobinKidderminster]

I bought mine in late 70's when WHF found it highly recommended. How it stacks up with a modern spinner I have no idea. I tried Shure & AT cartridges finding back then the Shure best. FF15E? M95?? from bad memory. I keep saying I will give it a burn comparing dsotm or Dire Straits with cd/sacd. I will report findings when I get round to it.
I do suggest removing all the auto bits / an ingeniois array of cams & springs. I stripped down the arm and made sure it floated in both planes. I used a test record for bias since the scale markings seemed inaccurate. Ammusing, looking back, the time spent tweaking the deck including rubber glued to the tt and variois felt mats. Nothin much changed then!
Excuse me while I wipe away a tear. I know u understand dm.

 

[drummerman]

No really, did get this one.

Story goes like that ... Had a look at Bowie's new release and noticed it is released on vinyl too (with CD included).

Thought if I get that version I probably need something to play it on as the microwave platter probably wouldn't do. I have an aversion to burned plastic but reading into your answers ... I may should have opted for this solution.

Romantic as I am I concluded that a period piece would be appropriate and this little wonder of english technology caught my mascara clad eyes.

I actually quite like the look, especially the, what seems, unusual tone arm.

From the replies I take it this is not the pinnacle of turntable creations ...

regards

 

[drummerman]

... Excuse me while I wipe away a tear. I know u understand dm.

Oh I do.

By the way where is the fast forward button?

regards

 

[nopiano]

By the way where is the fast forward button?

Next to Eject!

PS. I think you'll get more from Bowie's CD than by wrecking a beautiful LP with this. A good used Rega or Project should be your realistic minimum for decent LP sound.

 

[RobinKidderminster]

DM .... Fast forward, back in the 70's was marked 78 & bass boost marked 16. Nopiano ... disagree. Garrard 86sb knox the sox off any modern tt at a sub 1k price point. Fitted with no5 knitting needle it works a treat. Using ME75ED currently. Fight on ... setting up cd/tt comparison as we speak tho need to put batteries in my hearing aid one day. More boohoo

PS. Where can I source a decent video LP in HD format to compare my BD player?

 

[drummerman]

DM .... Fast forward, back in the 70's was marked 78 & bass boost marked 16. Nopiano ... disagree. Garrard 86sb knox the sox off any modern tt at a sub 1k price point. Fitted with no5 knitting needle it works a treat. Using ME75ED currently. Fight on ... setting up cd/tt comparison as we speak tho need to put batteries in my hearing aid one day. More boohoo

PS. Where can I source a decent video LP in HD format to compare my BD player?

Ah, interesting.

Joking aside, I had a quick google and although there is not much information it does seem this is not one of the brands better tables. Apparently only 301 and 401's are worth considering.

What I know about turntables fits on the back of a fleas eye ball but I got a few mags here which feature TT tests. To be honest, I never really looked at those until yesterday but one thing I have noticed that measurements of these, which include wide price differences, are all over the place despite 'new' technology ...

Wow/flutter (is that a winning bet?), rumble break through from motors, headshell and arm resoncances are differing widely. Some no better (worse) than turntables made 40 years ago so I dont quite understand where the progress is.

regards

 

[drummerman]

DM .... Fast forward, back in the 70's was marked 78 & bass boost marked 16. Nopiano ... disagree. Garrard 86sb knox the sox off any modern tt at a sub 1k price point. Fitted with no5 knitting needle it works a treat. Using ME75ED currently. Fight on ... setting up cd/tt comparison as we speak tho need to put batteries in my hearing aid one day. More boohoo

PS. Where can I source a decent video LP in HD format to compare my BD player?

And ... how does it sound (make noise)?

Still waiting for mine

regards

 

[floyd droid]

Apparently only 301 and 401's are worth considering.

Aye thats the way to go. So thee best put one of yer kidneys up for sale on Gumtree to finance a half decent 301/401 chassis. Then your left leg for a slate plinth etc etc.

Dont bury yourself in blurb at the min mate ,tis a ruddy minefield if you are green behind the ears.

 

[toyota man]

Hi DM my Dad had one its still in his loft from what I can remember it sounded pretty good back in the day it has a goldring g800 catridge

I borrowed it about 15 years ago to record about 200 45s singles onto minidisc and it did a good jod I burned them from minidisc onto cd for audio its as good as any but its not an audiophile product enjoy it for what it is

 

[Petherick]

Right drummerman, let's be a bit serious for a bit!

If you really are as green as you say you are in the ways of turntables, be VERY careful what you do otherwise your new LP will be trashed in no time at all. I suggest you persevere and try reading up here - http://www.vinylengine.com/ before making any rash moves.

If you don't already have an amp with a phono stage, you'll need to get one (either an amp with one or a separate one). Then you'll need to set up the TT properly, and you should probably get a new stylus too.

If you're really not that green and you are trying to illicit laughs, then good on you; I particularly like the Wow/Flutter question

 

[RobinKidderminster]

Not sure what audiophile means really but the deck sounded ok back in rhe 70's to me. Removing the auto helped as it only lifts the arm at the end of the record. Careful lubrication is always a good idea and accurate setup. Cant do it now since away from home but will do asap.

 

[drummerman]

Well, I am still waiting for the Garrard. Should be here in the next few days.

However, spurned on by your comments I won a what looks like absolutely mint Thorens TD115 with Ortofon VMS 20E MK11 (?) Cartridge. Even comes with the original instruction manual.

Is this a decent table? - One thing I didnt notice is that it has Linn connections. I guess I can change those to conventional RCA's ...

I still hope I like the Garrard though. One of them will go back on the bay

regards

PS. Just sorted the connection issue. Even comes with good leads ... like I think

 

[drummerman]

Well good and bad news.

The Garrard arrived ... damaged. Both plint and lid broken in transit if the seller description is correct. Still, in the process of contacting the carrier to try and get some compensation.

Other than that (!) it looks in good fret with a nice tone arm and cartridge/stylus. - This TT will be taken apart, all linkages and bearings cleaned and freshly lubricated and the belt replaced in the process. I will probably discard the damaged plint rather than repairing it and either make a new one or leave the chassis 'naked' but suspended. Like I said, I like the look of this one.

Now to the thorens; I went and drove a couple of hours to pick this one up and glad I did. - It is in superb condition and has been well looked after. A good cartridge and clean stylus is part of the package as is a lovely cnc machined aluminium lightweight clamp with locking collar. This table too will be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned/lubricated as well as receiving a new belt. I love the unusual looks and it seems very well built.

How do they sound? No idea. First things first but whichever is the keeper will probably receive a cardas tonearm rewiring and the other one probably sold off in good working condition to hopefully do service for many years to come.

regards

 

[respe]

the 86sb. along with its cheaper brother the 25, where horrible when new, but to be fair no worse than a stack of the competition. The deck at the time was a Sansui SR 22, or maybe a Pioneer PL12 D. Both a tad more expensive but a good bit better. Then this thing from a little UK company came along and wiped the floor with them, It was called a planer, from some cowboy outfit called, err Rega. They were hard to buy though. The Sansui and Pioneer, well you just walked into Comet and ask for one, and they gave you a box, the Rega, they made you listen to it, and usually a Linn as well, when you said either I prefer the Rega, or can not afford the Linn, they said OK, took a deposit, and 12 weeks (ish) later, you had a deck.

 

[nopiano]

...the 86sb. along with its cheaper brother the 25, where horrible when new...

I already told him that; no need to rub it in!