Looking for insight on MCS 6401

[JustHere]

Hello all!

Was able to score a MCS 6401 for under $20. It's in really good condition! Plugged it in and it spins so that's a plus.

It is missing its antiskate weight and its headshell/cart/stylus though.

Was thinking of getting the Amazon gemini/at3600L special just to get her started.

With this being my first turntable is anyone able to give me some direction on the value, if it's worth putting time and $ into, if the antiskate is necessary/what weight to use? Does headshell/cart/stylus have an effect on what weight to use?
General tuneup advice?

Thanks a ton in advance!

 

[Crab33]

I don't know this turntable but can probably give you some reassurance. It looks a reasonable budget turntable from the 70s and probably better than most budget turntables today.

The AT3600L would be a nice economical cartridge to get you going, so is a good decision. You should track it at 3g. Be sure to zero-balance the arm and set the tracking force correctly before playing a record. You should also align the cartridge - move it to the most appropriate position in the headshell slots (which can be determined with a tool).

The anti-skating is usually set to the same value as the tracking force. Anti-skating isn't absolutely necessary - some turntables don't have it - but it would be useful to have at least some. I see that your turntable is one with an anti-skate weight on the end of a wire. You could make one with some cotton and plastercine, but you don't know the weight. Probably, a small pea-size ball of plastercine would suffice to give you some force.

 

[JustHere]

I don't know this turntable but can probably give you some reassurance. It looks a reasonable budget turntable from the 70s and probably better than most budget turntables today.

The AT3600L would be a nice economical cartridge to get you going, so is a good decision. You should track it at 3g. Be sure to zero-balance the arm and set the tracking force correctly before playing a record. You should also align the cartridge - move it to the most appropriate position in the headshell slots (which can be determined with a tool).

The anti-skating is usually set to the same value as the tracking force. Anti-skating isn't absolutely necessary - some turntables don't have it - but it would be useful to have at least some. I see that your turntable is one with an anti-skate weight on the end of a wire. You could make one with some cotton and plastercine, but you don't know the weight. Probably, a small pea-size ball of plastercine would suffice to give you some force.

Thanks for all the info! I appreciate it! It's nice to know that it's a good starter tt. I'll see if i have some plastercine lying around. In the meantime I'll google how to do the rest of the upkeep you mentioned. Thanks a ton!