Vintage turntable for under $100

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by 199211, Oct 20, 2018.

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  1. 199211

    199211 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    I was just wondering if anybody knows where I could find a vintage turntable of decent brand name (Kenwood, Technics, etc) in full working condition for under $100.
     
  2. harby

    harby Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR, USA
  3. Nephrodoc

    Nephrodoc Forum Resident

    I often see them on Facebook marketplace and craigslist.
     
    PhilBiker likes this.
  4. PhxJohn

    PhxJohn Forum Resident

    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    eBay. Look for return privileges.
     
    SandAndGlass likes this.
  5. rodentdog

    rodentdog Senior Member

    I'd look locally. Shipping turntables can be problematic.
     
  6. patient_ot

    patient_ot Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    You'll have to scour locally and be patient. A lot will depend on your local market. If you have a decent local record store, ask about used gear. They may know a good source or someone looking to sell on some equipment. I hope you already have gear to go with the turntable and a budget for new stylus or cartridge. If not, prepare to increase your budget a bit.
     
    Sneaky Pete and PhilBiker like this.
  7. McLover

    McLover Senior Member

    You need to troll craigslist, your local area used record store, estate sales, etc and be patient. Bigger cities, easier done. Small towns and rural areas more challenging. Try larger Pennsylvania cities.
     
    389 Tripower, PhxJohn and patient_ot like this.
  8. SandAndGlass

    SandAndGlass Twilight Forum Resident

    You are understanding that owning vintage anything is not trouble free. Buying a vintage TT in this price range, mean buying an original un-restored turntable. Which means, that either you or someone else will likely be servicing it sooner or later, probably sooner.

    Buying anything "vintage" is a crap shoot. Know what you are doing.
     
    macster, 911s55 and PhxJohn like this.
  9. PhxJohn

    PhxJohn Forum Resident

    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Great suggestions. About a decade ago, I got a mint Dual 1237 at a record shop here in Phoenix for $65 !
     
  10. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana
    Comb Craigslist for 50-100 mile radius. Something will pop up in the next 30-60 days.
     
    McLover likes this.
  11. BrentB

    BrentB Urban Angler

    Location:
    Midwestern US
    Look for a Project/One DR-770. An extremely well build table that is relatively unknown for now. I have had one since 1981 bought used. I see them now for 80-110 and am tempeted to buy another one just because they are so nice.
     
  12. DyersEve726

    DyersEve726 Schmo Diggy

    Location:
    Michigan, USA
    As others have said, scour Craigslist daily and be patient. There are apps you can use that will let you save keywords and get a notification when something new pops up. I got my Realistic Lab 400 for all of $20. I needed to clean the speed pots and a couple drops of oil on the spindle, but it was otherwise fine. These go for $200-300 on eBay. Probably the best find I've ever scored.
     
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  13. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana

    This.
    And really the best advice anyone can get is to scrimp and save EVERY penny you can until a great deal pops up.
    No Coffee away from home. Bag it for lunch. Get frugal and save those dollars for your turntable.

    Whenever I have done it I have usually saved as much as I was planning to spend. Usually a bit more.
     
  14. SonOFJames

    SonOFJames Forum Resident

    Location:
    SoCal
    Find a local or day trip drive working Dual, Garrard, AR then have it gone over and greased by a local tech. Watch CL, thrift stores, estate, yard & garage sales.
     
    SandAndGlass likes this.
  15. 199211

    199211 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Thank you all for the suggestions! Long live the LP record!
     
    PhilBiker likes this.
  16. Socalguy

    Socalguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    CA
    Japanese direct drives from the 80s are bulletproof, cheap and fairly easy to find on craigslist.
     
    PhilBiker, JohnO and SandAndGlass like this.
  17. Socalguy

    Socalguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    CA
    Good luck finding a working AR for under $100
     
    SandAndGlass likes this.
  18. SonOFJames

    SonOFJames Forum Resident

    Location:
    SoCal
    Not on Ebay, Got mine for $100 locally.

     
    PhilBiker likes this.
  19. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana
    You can do it. But it takes patience and usually a bit of a drive.

    I bought one a few weeks ago for $125 (with a NOS Stylus and a V15iii).
     
    PhilBiker, timind and SandAndGlass like this.
  20. jazon

    jazon A fight between the blue you once knew

    Location:
    ottawa
    i picked up a technics sl-q2 for 50 bucks from online classifieds.
     
  21. Socalguy

    Socalguy Forum Resident

    Location:
    CA
    Let’s see it.
     
  22. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana
    When it gets back from the shop I will post a pic or two of it. Guy I got it from already pulled his ad or I'd steal his from the listing.

    Here's a Marantz I bought a few months back at a yard sale. It has since been restored/modded.

    [​IMG]

    And here's a $100 Dual 1019 sourced off / from local CList

    [​IMG]


    Like I said. They are out there.
     
    389 Tripower and SonOFJames like this.
  23. SandAndGlass

    SandAndGlass Twilight Forum Resident

    I think the main thing here is to understand, it that they are out there. It will take some looking and patience.

    But, understand anything old and vintage, is likely to need a restoration and a little TLC.

    Although you might buy an old TT for $100, expect that you may need to put in another $100-200 (maybe more) on a restoration.
     
    Guitarded likes this.
  24. DyersEve726

    DyersEve726 Schmo Diggy

    Location:
    Michigan, USA
    The plinth is beautiful on that Marantz!
     
    SandAndGlass likes this.
  25. SonOFJames

    SonOFJames Forum Resident

    Location:
    SoCal
    $100 local AR XA here. Someone did tell me recently there are less bargains on the west coast for some reason.

    [​IMG]

     
    SandAndGlass and Guitarded like this.
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