Can somebody please help?

[polypetalous]

If the tonearm is the metal rod that the little bracket thing is on, then no... there was no space between the bracket and the bottom. The bracket was on and when the tonearm goes up the bracket just sits at the bottom, unmoved...

Anyway, the seller is trying to trade the whole machine out with a Fisher model that is more recent but it as an industrial look to it whereas the Philips looks very vintage.
If I was ONLY worried about functionality, I could just buy one of the modern (cheap) ones that surpass these vintage ones in every possible way (aside from aesthetically).

I like the Philips because it has character and adds more than just music to the apartment... it's beautiful!

Really hoping the seller can get it in tip-top shape while he's getting it repaired but he is already doubtful and just telling me to sacrifice looks for durability and that's a shame.

Get your $ back and shop around...
These type of units shouldn’t be too hard to find.

As always, IMO


Ben

 

[S Sylva]

Actually, I'm thinking if he can't repair this model, I'll just swap it for the more modern version he is offering as a replacement, then I can avoid causing him a hassle and just find somebody willing to make a trade.
The whole journey is exciting, either way. I can definitely see myself getting lost in the world of vinyl collecting. I'm already waist-deep in Chrome tabs, trying to prioritize this heap of Chet Baker albums to figure out which ones will be first on the shopping list.

 

[AudioFeline]

If the tonearm is the metal rod that the little bracket thing is on....

The tonearm is the arm which has the cartridge/stylus on the end that plays the record.

 

[S Sylva]

The tonearm is the arm which has the cartridge/stylus on the end that plays the record.

Thanks.

 

[S Sylva]

Well, they "fixed" it for $40.
Now, it plays everything at a really high pitch (similar to the old Alvin & the Chipmunks show) and skips every other second of the song.

Do I need to give up the dream? Is this really the everyday struggle and expense of vinyl?

I feel totally defeated.

 

[MisterDK]

Well, they "fixed" it for $40.
Now, it plays everything at a really high pitch (similar to the old Alvin & the Chipmunks show) and skips every other second of the song.

Do I need to give up the dream? Is this really the everyday struggle and expense of vinyl?

I feel totally defeated.

You just got the wrong record player. Old stuff often needs fixing, that’s all. Don’t give up yet - find something better.

 

[AudioFeline]

...Do I need to give up the dream? Is this really the everyday struggle and expense of vinyl?...

You just got the wrong record player. Old stuff often needs fixing, that’s all. Don’t give up yet - find something better.

Well put, MisterDK. Most good old turntables will work for decades, some may need a service and then run for decades more. If you really have the dream, invest in something of reasonable quality that will run without problems for years and give you much better enjoyment than what you bought (and because you are starting I'm not suggesting high-end audiophile). Otherwise, you are compromising the ability to really enjoy the music.