The Technics SL-1200 GAE/G/GR general questions thread

That takes all of a minute on a 1200.

 

Which is fine you're the only one touching the thing...

 

I agree, I switch between cartridges regularly.
It's one of the reasons I find that detachable headshells are an important feature on a turntable.

 

I do as well. I have one for recording and one for DJ use. I do wish cartridge manufacturers took this into account when designing stylus protectors, the one on my Nagaoka is an accident waiting to happen!

If switching between two headshells is something you’re planning to do regularly it’s worth making a note of the difference between the two so you can instantly change the counterweight between the correct settings without having to go through the balancing process every time.

 

I still love my SL1200GR

 

I just wrote down the settings for each cartridge.
You'll get the hang of it, once you've done rebalancing a few times.
I always check using a VTF scale though.

 

That's what we were doing before. I had my VPI Scout 1.1 that I would use when I was home visiting, and my mom had her Technics SL-1300 that she used when I was away. She didn't like my unipivot tonearm, and she was afraid of my expensive cart. Finally she said, "I'm tired of using this turntable, it doesn't sound nearly as good as yours". So we decided to sell both and go halvsies on the 1200g, and I will swap out my headshell when I leave so that she can continue using it when I'm gone. Also looking forward to the potential to swap in a mono cartridge as we have about 200 mono records here.

More personal info than I was hoping to share, but it seems like the questions were getting a bit judgey.

 

Anyone with a GR or G, since the stock headshell azimuth is adjustable via a small screw does Technics include the small flat head tool needed to adjust it?

 

Mine's not adjustable? GR
You do have a little play in the locking collar, but iirc that's it.
Is it in the manual?

 

It's the screw on the bottom of the black part, near the SME connector.
I think it's actually meant for assembly, so using it as azimuth adjustment is function creeping, but apparently it works for some folks.

 

Ok, I see it, I thought it's just a locking screw.
Need a jewelers screwdriver.

 

Thanks for the tip on the satin black. I’m usually not to picky, but the silver paddle does look out of place on the 1210GAE. Kevin recommended a wide tip magic marker. I think the spray pint will give better coverage.

 

Don't adjust the azimuth with the stock headshell. It should be fine from the factory.

I say this because adjustment is by a grub screw which digs into a soft aluminium collar. Once an indent in the collar is made, it will always return to the same indent, making small corrections impossible. A proper headshell with azimuth adjustment will have a split outer collar which tightens on a centre core, thus allowing infiinite adjustment.

 

It's great to have a tonearm with a detatchable headshell. However I try not to change too frequently as I feel repeated releasing and tightening of the locking collar puts strain on the arm bearings, no matter how much you protect the arm from the rotational forces.

 

Yes, don’t bother messing the the adjustment on the headshell.
There is enough slack when tightening the head shell to get the azimuth correct.

 

What's the name of the group? Want to see the post.

 

Nice
Is there an indent/dimple the set screw recesses into?

 

Correct. That's why I assumed that it's meant for assembly, not azimuth adjustment.

 

Technics Turntables

Hartmut Rottweiler asked a question and a dude named Shane Bradley answered and talks about his poor Malaysian made GR.

 

Yep
Just a set screw to fasten head shell to arm.

 

The grub screw could be used for azimuth adjustment if it is just nipped up. Mine had been hamfistedly overtightened at about 5 degrees off verical. It rendered the headshell unuseable so it went in the bin long ago.

 

I also don’t think it’s true. McDonald’s menus vary around the world, and I would imagine Big Macs may be different in some countries...

 

yeah... I'd like to see pictures before I'll believe it. ..EVERY one of these turntables - like any consumer product - is going to have fit/finish imperfections. ..And now that Technics has moved production to Malaysia, it's predictable these imperfections will be attributed to this.

I'll dig up pictures of my Japan-built 1210GR (now gone - sold) and see if I can find a stray mark, an imperfect silkscreened letter, etc... You can always find something.

 

I got bored and had a few seconds:

"Hartmut Rottweiler: Hi all, I own a SL1210 MK2 and am thinking to get a newer one additionally. When I got the chance to see a MK7 I was a bit disappointed from the haptic of the start button. How is the 1200 GR in comparison to the MK2 or MK7?"

"Shane Brandley: I bought a GR yesterday and not very happy , I have a M5g also which have been using for hifi use only . The gr are also made in Malaysia as I seen it on the boxes so I asked for a jap built which they had in a warehouse .. The start button on the gr is wobbly compared to the M5g , also the pick up lever needs attention. Too much hype over the GR decks in my opinion"

I have a Japanese made GR and it does not have a "wobbly" start button.

 

So he asked for a Japan made they had in the warehouse but got the Malaysian? Is there a photo of the GR back showing Malaysia?