linear trackers with P-mounts were one of the last ditch efforts against the emerging CD invasion.
these are great and usually gotten for cheap. P mount, as much as people look down their noses
at them, offer super low weight, auto tracking forces, and cheap replacement needles -although
they come in conical shapes - the ellipticals are rare but can be found. the fixed specs for P-mount
means great replacements without the religious anal aspects of VTF, berwald/Stevenson fanatics,
angle of the needle dangle, and effective mass arguments of the 80-year FordvsChevy feuds.
I've had several (pioneer, technics, Carrera) and they all work beautifully with track selection,
and programmatical track sequencing that no one talks about except the kings of the AccuJack
4000.
look for the last generations of the low-end Pioneers, they used the same mechanism and usually
all that is necessary to fix if at all, is the tone-arm up-down belt. rubber band will work in its place.
if you are the flippers in this line, I'd buy them all day long.
Avoid the high-end since they are the holy-grailers - you will overpay to buy it, overpay to fix them,
but you get bragging rights.
ever have a turntable you can rest a receiver/amp/preamp on top of?