CL Find: Pioneer PL-L1000

[Aerobat]

Just picked this up -- it had one owner since new and is nearly perfect. It had the usual worn out cueing belt which is fixed already. This will displace my trusty Technics as my main table. I'm psyched!

It has two issues: The tonearm clamp button is missing, and the headshell was a lightweight AT, so light that I couldn't get more than a gram of VTF. It now has a Technics shell until I can get an OEM unit.

Looking forward to your comments and suggestions! I plan to upgrade the interconnects and maybe replace the caps.

 

[eis01]

WOW!!! That's a nice find:drool:

 

[Tarl Of Gor]

Great score! I still have the one I bought while in the Navy in 1980. I still use it to this day but not as much since I picked up a PL-707. Check the auction site for the correct headshell - they do pop up every once in awhile.

 

[Pio1980]

Usual stuff, download the manuals from TVE, make sure glide rails and rollers are clean, the rear single roller is supposed to turn with 'gummy' feel BTW, do NOT clean it out and oil it! TT is level when the rails are level, this is important for proper operation.
You have read the entire "The best Japanese SLT turntables, A comparison" thread, yes? This TT is upgradeable.

 

[reneborg]

Nice table, Mark. Congrats on such a nice find and I hope you enjoy it. What cartridge are you running on it?

 

[Aerobat]

I'm running a 440MLa, a Signet AM20 with a AT155LC stylus, and a Pickering XV15 (not all at the same time )

I did read that thread Pio, but there is so much great info in it I need to print it for reference.

I need to locate the correct headshell, there are several on the auction site but the right one is supposed to weigh 10.5g.

I spun some vinyl on it, and I'm impressed. More solid bass than my 1600MK2. Some upgrades will no doubt improve on it. All seems to be working well, the carriage movement is so slight I can't see it.

 

[dnpainting]

Nice Score! I love the one I got at a local thrift. Here is a pic of the headshell that was on mine. I believe it is the original>

And this, stolen from "hakaplan"

 

[reneborg]

Not 100% sure on this, but I believe you want to mount your cartridge so that the stylus is lined up with the middle of the record spindle. At least that's how it is on my Mitsubishi LT-20, a linear tracker that looks similar to this Pioneer.

As Pio mentioned, the OM is at VE, perhaps they've got info on the mounting in there.

EDIT: I just took a look at the OM and in the specifications page they list the overhang as 0mm.

The SM is there as well.

 

[dnpainting]

Not 100% sure on this, but I believe you want to mount your cartridge so that the stylus is lined up with the middle of the record spindle. At least that's how it is on my Mitsubishi LT-20, a linear tracker that looks similar to this Pioneer. EDIT: I just took a look at the OM and in the specifications page they list the overhang as 0mm.

You are correct in the mounting. Using the 49mm spec will put the stylus right in the center of the spindle.

 

[Audiowhat?]

You can also double check with string - a simple knot with some give around the spindle, when pulled tight finds the exact centre of the spindle. then to the radius of the platter.

 

[Bucky Badger]

This is what I use on my Phase Linear 8000 and Mitsubishi LT 5V and it works well. This seems to do what reneborg is suggesting. Just go a bit down the page and it's a free download.


Heybrook Universal alignment protractor
Universal two-point protractor that uses Heybrooks chosen null points of 63.5 and 120mm

http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-alignment-protractors.shtml

courtesy of vinyl engine. Thanks ve.

There are also weights that will go in between the headshell and Cart,( a flat piece of metal with the appropriate holes drilled in) if you choose. You can definitely get more than 1gm of VTF. and with the ability to adjust the arm height, you can dial the cart. in to get the very best sound.
That's a beautiful TT for sure and the jog wheel is a very nice feature to have and easier to use than the 1000A push buttons.

Congrats.

 

[ETI_5000]

This is what I use on my Phase Linear 8000 and Mitsubishi LT 5V and it works well. This seems to do what reneborg is suggesting. Just go a bit down the page and it's a free download.


Heybrook Universal alignment protractor
Universal two-point protractor that uses Heybrooks chosen null points of 63.5 and 120mm

http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-alignment-protractors.shtml

You don’t need an alignment protractor with a linear tracking turntable – once it’s aligned correctly, it will be aligned correctly all the way from the edge to the centre of the record, not just in two spots. The protractor you are suggesting is only for tonearms which pivot. There was a special overhang gauge to set it correctly which Pioneer supplied with the turntable, but if that isn’t available, then someone here should know the correct distance from the back of the headshell washer to the stylus tip, and that will always be correct. Two of the other members have suggested that the distance is 49mm, and that will always be right, assuming it’s the correct distance.

 

[Aerobat]

Thanks all for your feedback. :yes:

Alignment will be easy and I believe 49mm is correct. The issue is, I need a headshell that allows the cart to move back to 49mm and that has the correct amount of weight. The Technics shell is about 3g light and can't quite get back to 49mm.

I'm making good progress on this with the helpful folks in Bartertown.

dnpainting, is your arm lock button missing as well? Can someone post a pic of what this should look like?

 

[Aerobat]

I also need replacement rubber boots for the springs. After searching, I see the boots from other Pioneer models work, and some are using rubber o-rings.

 

[Arkay]

CONGRATULATIONS! That TT sure is in beautiful shape. :thmbsp:

I have its bigger and older brother, the PL-L1, and it is one of my very favorite TTs. Mine wasn't in as good a shape as yours, though (although not too bad) and needed a bit of TLC at first. If the PL-L1000 is anywhere near it performance-wise, you should enjoy it very much.

If you have or can find or borrow the Telarc Omnidisc box set, it has one side of an LP with a radial groove (runs along a radius/diameter line through the center of the spindle) and perpendicular marks that are specifically designed for setting-up a linear-tracking arm. Makes it pretty quick and easy to get the headshell properly aligned on these TTs.

 

[Ed in Tx]

..the headshell was a lightweight AT, so light that I couldn't get more than a gram of VTF. It now has a Technics shell until I can get an OEM unit.

You might have the larger heavier counterweight, these were originally supplied with two, and/or you might have the sub-weight in the end of the arm behind the counterweight you can remove to get more VTF range.

I also need replacement rubber boots for the springs. After searching, I see the boots from other Pioneer models work, and some are using rubber o-rings.

Neither of mine have those rubber boots any more. They rotted years ago. Looking at them I don't think they added much if anything to spring damping anyway, being as the rubber was nearly paper thin to begin with.

 

[Aerobat]

CONGRATULATIONS! That TT sure is in beautiful shape. :thmbsp:

I have its bigger and older brother, the PL-L1, and it is one of my very favorite TTs. Mine wasn't in as good a shape as yours, though (although not too bad) and needed a bit of TLC at first. If the PL-L1000 is anywhere near it performance-wise, you should enjoy it very much.

If you have or can find or borrow the Telarc Omnidisc box set, it has one side of an LP with a radial groove (runs along a radius/diameter line through the center of the spindle) and perpendicular marks that are specifically designed for setting-up a linear-tracking arm. Makes it pretty quick and easy to get the headshell properly aligned on these TTs.

Thanks Arkay, once I get a proper headshell I'm sure I'll get it dialed in perfectly.

You might have the larger heavier counterweight, these were originally supplied with two, and/or you might have the sub-weight in the end of the arm behind the counterweight you can remove to get more VTF range.

Neither of mine have those rubber boots any more. They rotted years ago. Looking at them I don't think they added much if anything to spring damping anyway, being as the rubber was nearly paper thin to begin with.

That's what I thought, but per the manual, the larger counterweight puts 1.5g of force per 1g mark on the index. The one I have does 1g exactly which I verified with my scale. I think the problem is the headshell is 3g light. I'll check for the sub-weight.

As for the boots, if the bottoms aren't rotted I'll probably leave them. Thanks for the feedback.:thmbsp:

 

[Ed in Tx]

As for the boots, if the bottoms aren't rotted I'll probably leave them. Thanks for the feedback.:thmbsp:

:thmbsp:That's how mine are. The rubber that fits around the end of the springs is still there, but the thin sleeve part over the springs is rotted and gone.

 

[dnpainting]

Thanks all for your feedback. :yes:

Alignment will be easy and I believe 49mm is correct. The issue is, I need a headshell that allows the cart to move back to 49mm and that has the correct amount of weight. The Technics shell is about 3g light and can't quite get back to 49mm.

I'm making good progress on this with the helpful folks in Bartertown.

dnpainting, is your arm lock button missing as well? Can someone post a pic of what this should look like?

Yes, my arm lock is missing on mine too, don't really need it. Mine does have the swing over lock for the tone arm that prevents it from lowering though.

David

 

[koseltri]

...the rear single roller is supposed to turn with 'gummy' feel BTW, do NOT clean it out and oil it!

Did you write that in my honor? The 'arm lock' is a thin plastic plunger. I have only seen one still intact. It is not strong enough to keep the tonearm carriage in place for transport--you're supposed to screw down the carriage from underneath. Evidently most people have not done that.

ps. Welcome to the club.