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My TD124

targeteye

targeteye

Super Member
I've had mine "down for maintenance" For quite some time. I've installed new motor bearing, new main bearing thrust plate and pad, new o-ring based aluminum idler wheel. new belt.

The plinth (birch) and the Arm board (walnut) are from Jim Campbell. The were bought raw and finished in gloss black lacquer.

I've changed the arm from a SME 3009 improved w/v15 shure to a Jelco SA-750L currently running a Vintage SPU GT with the original cantilever and diamond.

I'm currently gathering parts to build a SUT setup with vintage RCA microphone transformers and will be setting up the DL-103R for main use (to save the SPU for special occasions only).

I'll be setting up a early Shure and/or Elac for MM cart as well.

Part of the reason I chose the Jelco over another SME was its ability to more easily switch between carts.

Anyway i'm please with the results and it does run much quieter now. The old bearings were in desperate need of attention.

It definitely adds to the vinyl playback experience as a whole and does impart a particular character to the music that is very enjoyable.

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That one came out really nice Steve , bet it sounds as good as it looks , yet another TT resurrected to go with your sweet collection of equipment .
 
very nice 124, I love the headshell it looks so period correct. really wish I accepted my dads offer of his 124 back in the day, but he was broke and getting ready to retire and I told him to take the money.
BTW if that is a SL-1100 on the lower shelf then you should join the SL-1100 owners club, I just bumped it up for you..
 
68custom said:
very nice 124, I love the headshell it looks so period correct. really wish I accepted my dads offer of his 124 back in the day, but he was broke and getting ready to retire and I told him to take the money.
BTW if that is a SL-1100 on the lower shelf then you should join the SL-1100 owners club, I just bumped it up for you..
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yes that is an SL-1100. Its serving as an auditioning tt for used records inbound. I like it lot as well. It is a very substantial platform and may eventually serve duty as a Mono only player.
 
Now sporting the new dl103r running thru rca microphone trannies. I forgot to listen to the spu just prior to the swap but memory says the sound Is very similar. I can't imagine ever needing to upgrade this. The v15 equipped Denon direct drive doesn't get used much these days.

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Great looking set-up targeteye. What model radio (the small one) on the shelf? I hope to join the 124 gang one day.
 
drtool said:
Great looking set-up targeteye. What model radio (the small one) on the shelf? I hope to join the 124 gang one day.
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Thank you.. thats a crosley Model 165 "travette". It a metal table top with a very deco geometric designed case.
 
How are you liking that arm, compared to the SME? I currently have an unimproved 3009 II on the same table, and have been thinking about replacing it with the 12" Jelco. I love the looks of the SME, and think it sounds great, but the Jelco just seems like it would be so much easier to dial in, if I wanted to use a different cartridge. Have you found that to be the case?

Great looking set up, by the way!
 
+1 on the above question. I recently read another thread suggesting that arm as an alternative to the super expensive SME (new and old) versions. I am just going to pick up my first Thorens and its a 124 as well. I have been thinking hard about what arm to use and I too have pretty much decided on the 12" route. Don't mean to threadjack. Great looking deck! I need a plinth and armboard and your armboard treatment has me re-thinking going that way instead of the wider plinth. Looks awesome!
 
gmccaughey said:
How are you liking that arm, compared to the SME? I currently have an unimproved 3009 II on the same table, and have been thinking about replacing it with the 12" Jelco. I love the looks of the SME, and think it sounds great, but the Jelco just seems like it would be so much easier to dial in, if I wanted to use a different cartridge. Have you found that to be the case?

Great looking set up, by the way!
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Its hard to compare the arms as they are polar opposites in regards to cartridges they should be used with. You can't really put a high compliance cartridge in both and expect it to be a fair comparison. To me its more about the differences in cartridge types and making sure they are attached to the appropriate arm.

That being said i prefer the Denon/Jelco combo and the Ortofon/Jelco combo over the Shure/SME combo I was using previously. There seems to be less "artifacts" and "flaws" in the music. I attribute it to the less accurate but more forgiving conical stylus coupled with the lower tracking error 12 inch arm.

As for ease of swapping carts. This is the main reason i bought the arm over a 12 inch SME. It would take my 30+ ounce SPU cartridge with the included heavy weight and switching to the denon is a 3 minute operation. Doing the same thing with an SME would be quite involved.

I also find the build quality of the Jelco very good. However, they do seem to have a problem with the mounting collars. I installed an aftermarket ammonite audio mounting collar from the start.

You can nab these off of ebay for 600 or less and although not cheap by any measure they are affordable and i would say a bargain.


YMMV
 
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