Lenco L75 buying advice needed
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mfrench
Addicted Member
A fantastic price, and definitely an upgrade. Grab it!
pamfletty
Active Member
Daunia 70
Lunatic Member
The GL-75 really took me by surprise last year when I found one with an Ortofon Black cart/stylus attached.It's an excellent sounding TT,with real nice build quality too.
Although it's not surprising,back in 1969 it would've cost £44 with fitted plinth and another £4 for the optional lid according to my August 1969 Goldring hi-fi UK price list,which would be equivalent to around £720 today.
If they're in good condition with lid,and original Lenco sprung plinth they can fetch around £200 over here nowadays.
Although it's not surprising,back in 1969 it would've cost £44 with fitted plinth and another £4 for the optional lid according to my August 1969 Goldring hi-fi UK price list,which would be equivalent to around £720 today.
If they're in good condition with lid,and original Lenco sprung plinth they can fetch around £200 over here nowadays.
mfrench
Addicted Member
In euros it makes sense: $135 = 100€, $122 = 90€
Apologies. I didn't realize.
It did strike me as an odd offer; but with that explanation,…
FWIW,.. I do presently own four heavy platter Lencos, and have rehab'd another three or four more. They're really nice decks, and the sky is the limit for building them into great decks.
pamfletty
Active Member
Haha, no worries! The seller accepted my offer. Now in the process of arranging a date to meet.
mfrench
Addicted Member
Congrats.
I'd strongly suggest to you to join up over at the lencoheaven site (LH) that I posted a few posts up.
An L75 is a 40 year old deck, and will need some lubrication and tuneup to get the most out of it. Its all fairly straight forward, but, necessary due to age. Its all well documented at LH.
Where are you from?
People over at LH will want to know this as well, as there are some local main grid power supply issues that will need to be addressed. Its also helpful in finding other Lenco owners in your area, who could very well be helpful to you.
One thing that might need to be addressed is the stock tonearm. The tonearm has what are called v-blocks that provide the vertical lift for the arm. The stock v-blocks are typically worn out or disintegrated by now, and will likely need to be replaced. They are available from members at LH, as are quite a few other parts in the after-market.
Some people restore the stock arms, other people replace them. I don't have a lot of experience with the stock arm (I'm a replacer), but have restored one stock arm, and found it to be a nicely functioning, nice sounding arm.
To-do list:
~ Lube motor - detailed instructions with photos at LH
~ Lube main platter spindle and bearing, and idler wheel bearing
~ Clean platter underside and clean idler wheel (Does it have a metal rimmed wheel?)
Again, congrats.
I'd strongly suggest to you to join up over at the lencoheaven site (LH) that I posted a few posts up.
An L75 is a 40 year old deck, and will need some lubrication and tuneup to get the most out of it. Its all fairly straight forward, but, necessary due to age. Its all well documented at LH.
Where are you from?
People over at LH will want to know this as well, as there are some local main grid power supply issues that will need to be addressed. Its also helpful in finding other Lenco owners in your area, who could very well be helpful to you.
One thing that might need to be addressed is the stock tonearm. The tonearm has what are called v-blocks that provide the vertical lift for the arm. The stock v-blocks are typically worn out or disintegrated by now, and will likely need to be replaced. They are available from members at LH, as are quite a few other parts in the after-market.
Some people restore the stock arms, other people replace them. I don't have a lot of experience with the stock arm (I'm a replacer), but have restored one stock arm, and found it to be a nicely functioning, nice sounding arm.
To-do list:
~ Lube motor - detailed instructions with photos at LH
~ Lube main platter spindle and bearing, and idler wheel bearing
~ Clean platter underside and clean idler wheel (Does it have a metal rimmed wheel?)
Again, congrats.
pamfletty
Active Member
I've been reading up at Lenco Heaven, thanx for the tip! I learned about the V-blocks, and that they will most likely need replacement. I know that it will need lubing and cleaning. Don't know if it's a metal rimmed wheel... All this don't scare me off, as long as soldering is not required. I like working on a turntable and making it better. Did the same with my Dual 1228 and Technics SL1200.
I'm meeting the seller on saturday, fingers crossed! I'm from Belgium btw.
Thanx for all the input and info people! I will keep you all updated!
pamfletty
Active Member
Hi everyone!
This morning I went to pick up the Lenco. The seller actually had 4 Lencos for sale. Only 2 of them were in good condition, cosmetically and operationally.
I got the one that looked the best. According to the seller, it's hardly been used. It will need a new set of V-blocks, for sure. The other one I looked at had still intact V-blocks, but it had some scratches around the tonearm, and some paint came off. So I went for the one that looked the best, but that will need some work and cleaning.
What do you guys think?
This morning I went to pick up the Lenco. The seller actually had 4 Lencos for sale. Only 2 of them were in good condition, cosmetically and operationally.
I got the one that looked the best. According to the seller, it's hardly been used. It will need a new set of V-blocks, for sure. The other one I looked at had still intact V-blocks, but it had some scratches around the tonearm, and some paint came off. So I went for the one that looked the best, but that will need some work and cleaning.
What do you guys think?
BEAUTIFUL! That looks like a very nice example. That cable is a DIN phono cable, not an XLR connector. You'll have to unsolder it and solder in regular RCA cables. I know you said soldering isn't your forte, so maybe you have a friend who can?
pamfletty
Active Member
Yeah, I don't have any solderingskills... But I have found that there's an adaptor for this kind of cable (pictured below). Do you think this will do the trick, or will the quality decrease or something? Thanx for any input, really appreciate it :tresbon:
jancumps
iRock
edited out, strange previous posts did not show in my browser?: That's a european DIN cable.
You can buy convertors to RCA, or do the conversion yourself.
Converting from DIN to RCA is not difficult. You'll ave to split the grounds of left and right thoug, because with DIN they are put together.
Split them at connector side and inside the TT.
Yes, that convertor will most likely do. Post here if you have hum.
The V-blocks can be made out of a piece of hard rubber or synthetic material. I've made them for my L-75 myself.
You can buy convertors to RCA, or do the conversion yourself.
Converting from DIN to RCA is not difficult. You'll ave to split the grounds of left and right thoug, because with DIN they are put together.
Split them at connector side and inside the TT.
Yes, that convertor will most likely do. Post here if you have hum.
The V-blocks can be made out of a piece of hard rubber or synthetic material. I've made them for my L-75 myself.
mfrench
Addicted Member
congrats!
Soldering is a fairly easy task, and this is the type of project where you can learn.
I'd be glad to offer assistance in how to do it, as I'm sure others would as well.
What are your intentions with this deck?
Are you going to build it out? leave it stock??
I see that you joined up at LH.
There are quite a few members there from Belgium. The Lenco decks were very popular there.
At any rate, some of the membership there would probably be willing to help you out with some of these rehab tasks, such as soldering.
Put your name and location in your profile, or in your sig-line, so that people know where you're from, and you might find someone that can handle this sort of task (if you don't feel up to it).
Some easy mods and rehab steps:
~ take the platter brake off. Its a source of noise and vibration, and is not necessary.
~ Lube the idler arm speed changing carriage. It looks dry, and needs some grease.
~ take the idler arm off, and wrap it in teflon tape; reduces vibration.
~ remove spindle and put a few drops of oil into the bearing housing. There is a screw in the bearing housing that retains the spindle. remove it, and the spindle lifts out freely.
~ read up on the motor, and disassembly/assembly, and look into lubing it. The 40 year old grease should be cleaned out and refreshed.
again, congrats!
Soldering is a fairly easy task, and this is the type of project where you can learn.
I'd be glad to offer assistance in how to do it, as I'm sure others would as well.
What are your intentions with this deck?
Are you going to build it out? leave it stock??
I see that you joined up at LH.
There are quite a few members there from Belgium. The Lenco decks were very popular there.
At any rate, some of the membership there would probably be willing to help you out with some of these rehab tasks, such as soldering.
Put your name and location in your profile, or in your sig-line, so that people know where you're from, and you might find someone that can handle this sort of task (if you don't feel up to it).
Some easy mods and rehab steps:
~ take the platter brake off. Its a source of noise and vibration, and is not necessary.
~ Lube the idler arm speed changing carriage. It looks dry, and needs some grease.
~ take the idler arm off, and wrap it in teflon tape; reduces vibration.
~ remove spindle and put a few drops of oil into the bearing housing. There is a screw in the bearing housing that retains the spindle. remove it, and the spindle lifts out freely.
~ read up on the motor, and disassembly/assembly, and look into lubing it. The 40 year old grease should be cleaned out and refreshed.
again, congrats!