Does a SL120 have any benefit over a SL1200 with the tonearm removed?

[hugz]

Well, does it? If you had a spare arm to mount, is there any reason to chose a SL120 rather than a SL1200 (assuming that they're the same price)?

edit: I mean a tonearm-less SL-1200

 

[Pio1980]

Well, does it? If you had a spare arm to mount, is there any reason to chose a SL120 rather than a SL1200 (assuming that they're the same price)?

The advantage to the 1200, given same price, as it is plug and play resellable if one wants to keep the aftermarket arm.

 

[hugz]

Obviously having a spare tonearm is handy- but the essence of the question is whether the SL-120 has any inherent benefits over a tonearmless 1200 (or vice versa). Maybe the chassis is somewhat different.

This is a purely hypothetical question. I'm not currently trying to choose between buying a 120 and 1200

 

[theophile]

Look for an SL-150 Mk2

 

[hugz]

Again- hypothetical question. I'm not wanting to buy any turntable. I'm just curious if a SL-120 has any real difference to a 1200 with the tonearm removed. I'm asking purely out of a desire to learn.

 

[ETI_5000]

Again- hypothetical question. I'm not wanting to buy any turntable. I'm just curious if a SL-120 has any real difference to a 1200 with the tonearm removed. I'm asking purely out of a desire to learn.

No.

The SL-120 is an SL-1200 (MkI) with the tonearm removed - the 120 and 1200 share the same user manual, and the specifications and construction are identical - the only slight difference is in the tonearm mounting plates. So if you remove the tonearm from an SL-1200, you've effectively got an SL-120, but with a tonearm mounting plate that's designed for the Technics EPA-120 tonearm that you've just removed. Not all tonearms, particularly those of different lengths or which need strangely-shaped holes (e.g. SME) will be direct swaps, unless the mounting plate is changed to suit the tonearm you want to fit.

There are instructions from SME for how to fit an SME tonearm to the SL-120 here http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-120.shtml . The SL-120 used to be supplied with two arm mounting plates, one of which was cut for the SME 3009 Series II, SME's latest tonearm from the early-70's when the SL-120 and SL-1200 were first released.

 

[majick47]

Agree with Theophile re the SL-150Mk2 if your referring to the SL-1200Mk2, in the past I'v seen some very good arms mounted on the SL-150Mk2. Same with the SL-120 and SL-1200 early version.

 

[hugz]

No.

Thanks mate

 

[Starquest]

I played around with an SL-1200 a while back. I gotta say, I was not that impressed with the stock tonearm. This particular table had a Grado cart and the stock, original, silver-topped Technics headshell. I couldn't back the counterweight out far enough to float the arm.

There's probably a good reason why they switched to the standard rotating counterweight in subsequent models. I think it'd be cool to have an SL-120 with a 1500 tonearm.

 

[virak]

No.

The SL-120 is an SL-1200 (MkI) with the tonearm removed - the 120 and 1200 share the same user manual, and the specifications and construction are identical - the only slight difference is in the tonearm mounting plates. So if you remove the tonearm from an SL-1200, you've effectively got an SL-120, but with a tonearm mounting plate that's designed for the Technics EPA-120 tonearm that you've just removed. Not all tonearms, particularly those of different lengths or which need strangely-shaped holes (e.g. SME) will be direct swaps, unless the mounting plate is changed to suit the tonearm you want to fit.

There are instructions from SME for how to fit an SME tonearm to the SL-120 here http://www.vinylengine.com/library/technics/sl-120.shtml . The SL-120 used to be supplied with two arm mounting plates, one of which was cut for the SME 3009 Series II, SME's latest tonearm from the early-70's when the SL-120 and SL-1200 were first released.

+1. I have both an SL-120Mk2 and a bunch of SL12x0Mk2's, and there's two things that's differerent. The SL-120Mk2 have 4 threaded holes for mounting an armboard instead of 3 unthreaded, plus an extra eternal grounding point. Otherwise it's the same as the SL-1200Mk2. Worth noting: Early SL-1200Mk2's does not have a layer of composite damping material between the top plate and rubber bottom. The armless SL-120Mk2's are from the same period.

 

[hugz]

Early SL-1200Mk2's does not have a layer of composite damping material between the top plate and rubber bottom.

Do Are you refering to the bakelite-ish layer that sits between the rubber later and the aluminium layer?

Thanks for your very informative post btw. fascinating

 

[virak]

Do Are you refering to the bakelite-ish layer that sits between the rubber later and the aluminium layer?

Yes. Can't remember what Technics called the material, but it's not in the early plinths.

 

[losthorizon]

I replaced mine with a gasket made from Sorbothane rubber.

 

[tabarddn51]

Yep, The older 1200 tonearms were the weakest link in the chain. Buying the 120 would allow you to fit a decent arm & allow you to choose from a wider choice of carts.

Cheers