JVC L-A11, pretty sure it was early 1980. Found some baseball cards at a local flea market for $10 and sold them to a local baseball card dealer for $100 to fund the purchase.
When I was 15 years old, back in 1968, my Mom got a bonus from her boss. She spent it on the first component audio system I ever saw. The turntable was a Dual 1010. Quite an upgrade from the suitcase RCA stereo I had.
Pioneer PL-12D Belt drive, cool entry level drive for a kid with a paper route making $35 a month... Around 1972/73
All original Technics SL1350 with boxes and accessories including the stacking spindle; Acquired in April 2019. That got me started on this journey, and its been fun and $$$$$!
It was a cheap grey 3 in 1 (ie records, tape and radio) Sanyo or Sharp I bought with my own money in 1983, I knew at the time that it wasn't great sounding but I loved it, can't find any pics or mention on line. The speakers were the worse part because I remember I taped an album and played it on a Walkman and it sounded way better than through the speakers. Edit Actually think I found it, one of these Sanyo Music Center G1005 For Sale in North Circular Road, Dublin from glenn_b
Nothing wrong with a Pioneer PL 12-D in any fashion. An excellent turntable for the price, still a nice performer in excellent condition today. Excellent value for the dollar when new.
BSR something-or-other included with my Columbia Masterworks component stereo... made mostly of fiberboard, even the speaker backs were perforated, like I was gonna hang "S hooks" on the back.
Which it was and still is today. And I can say I've owned both to back it up. The AR still holds court.
I bought my first turntable, and complete system (turntable, receiver, speakers) in 1971 while in the USAF serving in South Korea and it was all Pioneer gear.
Rega P1 with a really cheap NAD phono pre, around 2007. I was so excited for it but highly disappointed. I decided to drop a larger wad of cash to avoid the upgrade cycle of doom - that did the trick (VPI Classic gen 1, Sumiko Blackbird, PS Audio pre). I’ve swapped a few phono pres since then so maybe I didn’t really avoid the cycle, but that initial gear splurge sounded awesome, even better now but more just different to suit my tastes.
First one I actually owned was my Rega P2, a gift from my wonderful wife. It will also be the last turntable I own!
My first turntable was a cheap Skytec (copy of the 1210). Now I have a Micro Seiki Solid-1. and hopefully I’m picking up a Nottingham Analogue Ace Spacedeck, with the Ace Space 10” on monday.