Pawn Shop Parking Lot TD-125 mkII

Just bought an TD-125 mk II from a guy in the Pawn Shop parking lot for $150!

It looks average for its age, and is missing the dust cover. I've never owned a Thorens before, and would appreciate any suggestions regarding what initial maintenance and service I should perform as I try to nurse it towards its full potential.

I'll post pictures shortly.

This find will allow me to sell a Denon DP-1200 that I found for $0 at the dump electronics recycling center!

My luck is definitely on the upswing, time to buy a Powerball ticket.

Thanks!

 

http://www.vinylengine.com/library/thorens/td125.shtml

 

Wow, great link including service manuals. Thanks!

 

Additional inspection reveals a Shure SME 3009 tone arm and Shure M91ED cartridge. How do you tell if it's a Mk I or Mk II tonearm ?

 

http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/sme_3009___3012.html

You lucky guy!

 

Well, in this respect I guess so. :>) Thanks for the link. It appears to look like #4, which would make it a 3009 Series II.

 

We're patiently waiting.................

 

Very very nice......Jico makes a few stylus for that cart, including the SAS model. It sounds damn fine too.....Here's another link for you..... www.Vinylnirvana.com

Dave is a member here and he tuned up my 166 mkii. He's one of the best....might be worth it to ping him and see if can tune yours up as well.....unless you're a tech too.

 

It IS a Series II, it must be. An SME 3009 Series I is more difficult to find than an Apple I, and Series III SME were later and different animals, rarely seen on a TD125mkII. Matter is, you could have there an SME 3009 Series II, which is an arm suited to almost any cartridge and slightly more valuable OR an SME 3009 Series II Improved, which is an arm made on purpose for high compliance MM cartridges and slightly less rare. A good and noble find anyway.

 

Score of the Year! Congrats!

 

Figuring out picture upload, sorry for the delay. Linking to Gdrive doesn't seem to work.

 

Gotta clean this baby up!

 

Quite the score. That's an SME 3009 Series II.

D

 

You have what was considered the best consumer turntable/arm unit available in 1972. Congrats again!

 

Great score You might want to adjust the rubber sheet on the platter ;-)

 

Thanks guys and/or gals! Yeah, I've got some spit polishing >) and and leveling and oiling and aligning and listening to do yet!

I would like to get a dust cover for it, but the hinges appear to be a rare commodity. I know some people prefer to not use the cover at all due to potential vibrations or resonances it may introduce. Just sitting one on top when not in use would be better than nothing to keep the dust off.

 

Which easily makes it the best turntable I've ever had! Early on I had a Phillips 212 with a Shure V15 MkIII (which I still have), which was replaced by a Phillips 312. After selling it, I've haven't had a turntable even remotely considered to be 'audiophile'.

Beetlebum, signing off from the 20th century circa. 1972, audiophilically speaking.

Current system:
Oppo BDP-103
Marantz DAC1
Cary Audio SLP-88
Odyssey Stratos w/ Kismet Upgrades
Vandersteen 2CE Signatures

 

Good! Mount the V15III on your new old table and you're ready to go. A new stylus is not a bad idea.



This is Marvin Gaye somewhere in the early 70s, look at his turntable...

 

Cool, Marvin was clearly enjoying a 'soul' moment with help from McIntosh, Thorens and Koss(?).