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BIC Turntables?

So, I picked up my 1000 from the repair shop today. For $116 it was completely overhauled, new motor, new belt, cleaned up etc. Much to my surprise there was cartridge on it, I didn't remember noticing it before I dropped it off. Anyway its a Shure 681EEE cart and the shop said it was still in good shape and didn't think I needed a new one right away and that I'd be good to just plug it in and play.

I did and it sounds great. A very nice upgrade from my older table. But, before I really start to log some hours on this table I just want to make sure all the adjustments are good. I didn't touch the arm, anti skate, or tracking force and right now it seems to be dialed in at about 1.75. Now, on needle doctor under the specs for the 681EEE it says .75 to 1.5 grams for tracking force.

So I guess my question is, is it better to go low or high with the force? And should the anti skate be the same as the tracking force?

thanks.

ps- i hope to have some pics up soon.
 
"Shure" that's not a Stanton cart? I'm not a 681EEE expert but in general little too high better than too low. Lot's of 681EEE fans here so you should get more info soon.
 
I'd set TF to 1.5 and listen....if it's good, try 1.25...if all is still good, you could try 1 gram...although I'd probably stay at 1.25. Too light is no good. Set anti skate the same.

Congrats...great TT!
 
My father actually just pulled out an old BIC from his closet. He said the motor may be going out, or the belt needs replacing.

I am going to help him fix it, it should be interesting.
 
Does anyone have a manual for a 1000. I'm having some trouble understanding the auto drop feature. I don't need it and I have the single play spindle. What do the program selector numbers mean? Oh, and when a side is over the arm returns and then goes back ready to drop.

I hope that made sense.
 
Program slector - I'm assuming you mean the slider that says Man, 1, 2, 3, 4... - is for multiple play eaither when using the stacking spindle or playing a single ablum multiple times.

If you have it on 1 or manual, after play it whould return to rest and stop the TT. If it doesn't something is amiss with the auto mechanism. That may not be something a generic shop would know how to fix.
 
Well, here are some photos.

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When stacking records use that close pin attachment at the rear left to hold the albums in place and then place the index shift lever on how ever many albums that you have stacked, works like a charm.:thmbsp:
 
Bumpy,

I will write more tomorrow but for starters, the top of the cartridge headshell should be level with the record surface. It's tilted way too forward now. You adjust it by loosening the locknut and turning the eccentric screw in the headshell.

1.5 grams is just right for the Stanton 681EEE.

The numbers 1 through 6 refer to the number of records you have on the auto spindle. You set this control to the number of records you have on there and it will play all of them and then shut off when you press the cycle button.

Set it to 1 to play just one record and have it shut off. Set it to man. to play one record by setting the stylus on the record yourself and then it will return the arm to the rest at the end and shut off.

Oh yeah, secure the records with the clamp at the left rear as markl said.

Doug
 
Yes. After you balance the arm with the cartridge (with brush) in place, you set the VTF dial 1 gram higher than you normally would for the cartridge alone. Thus, to have the cartridge track at 1.5 grams, you would set the dial to 2.5 grams.

I have been thinking about this lately though and wonder if this is really true. Since the brush is on its own pivot, would it really put an upward force on the cartridge/stylus? I could see it would work that way if the brush were mounted securely to the stylus housing but with a pivot on there...?

Prolly is true though since a Stanton or Pickering cartridge doesn't track too well if you set the VTF to 1.5 grams with the brush there.

EDIT: Also, above I said the top of the headshell on the BIC should be level with the record surface which is an OK way to put it I guess although parallel is a more accurate term \:^)

EDIT II: That repair shop obviously was NOT familiar with BICs (the headshell angle thing).

Doug
 
There's always something!

I forgot to specify that the top of the headshell should be parallel with the record surface with the stylus resting on the record surface. Duh!

Doug
 
I've had a BIC 980 for about 2 years now. best 35 bucks I've ever spent. The speed is steady as a rock.
Just went through it and cleaned and lubed all the guts and re-gooped the cueing mechanism.
The whole thing works perfectly now. It has an Audio Technica pro11 cartridge with brand new at11e stylus which I spent a fair amount of time setting up with a protractor. Sounds fantastic even with my budget cartridge!
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if I come across one.
Many parts can still be had. try (turntableexperts.com) there others out there as well. I'd say go for it.

Good luck

Taylor
 
BumpyJohnson said:
Does anyone have a manual for a 1000. I'm having some trouble understanding the auto drop feature. I don't need it and I have the single play spindle. What do the program selector numbers mean? Oh, and when a side is over the arm returns and then goes back ready to drop.

I hope that made sense.
Click to expand...

Hey man, good to see another RM-AK crossover. FOr the manual, did you check out vinyleninge.com?
 
goldwax said:
Nice-looking rig, man. What's that piece of gear to the left of the TT?
Click to expand...

McIntosh C29 Preamp. Alas I've sold it. Spent a little too much on audio in December and had to cash it out. Beautiful phon section that will surely be missed :tears:
 
Over the weekend I picked up a few turntables from the local Free/Recycle board, and a complete and not too beat BIC 920 was in the lot. The 920 is a lot less sophisticated than the 980, but it seems to be cleaning up nice, and needs a belt. The funny thing is I would swear the tonearm is a Philips 212/312 type, albeit with a bargain bin headshell. Anyone else got one and notice the similarity?
 
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