PL-550 ...on the bench...

[jleon92f]

My next repair is a PL-550 manual tt.:scratch2: Mostly cosmetic repairs, plays great!:thmbsp:


PL-550 in for restore.. by jleon92f, on Flickr

Thanks,
John.

 

[hakaplan]

That's a winner of a tt, John. Can't wait to see your cosmetic miracles.

 

[boreas]

Ditto what Howard said!

I've been thinking about that vinyl Parts Express sells for recovering speakers. It's wide enough that it'll cover the entire base on a PL-530/550/570 in a single piece. The method I would use would be to remove the top layer of vinyl and leave the bottom toffee colored layer as a substrate for the new vinyl, even leaving the surface tackiness from the old top layer since it actually helps the new material to adhere.

I've done this with several receivers that have that same 2-layer vinyl. I used regular Contact Paper brand shelf paper. I've done a PL-514 too, leaving the old silver vinyl in place as a substrate. An advantage of that is that the process is totally reversible. The initial results were quite good on all of these but the thin Contact Paper is even less durable than the old Pioneer top layer. The PE stuff is MUCH thicker and ought to hold up well.

John

 

[hakaplan]

Ditto what Howard said!

John

John, are you stalking me.

 

[mr.jones]

That should be real purty when it's finished. The way you are cranking the TT repairs looks like you must be working in the"zone" . Very impressive!

 

[tybrad]

Good times, John. I veneered my 530 a few months ago. Mine did not have the veneer printing that yours does. How are you going to handle that (assuming you're veneering)?, Or are you just going to lose the printing?

Tyler

 

[boreas]

John, are you stalking me.

Gosh, I guess it does sorta look like that!

I don't know.

Maybe.

John

 

[jleon92f]

I like the way it works, too bad it is a manual, not my favorite type..

Thanks,
John. Thats John # 3...LOL

 

[jleon92f]

That should be real purty when it's finished. The way you are cranking the TT repairs looks like you must be working in the"zone" . Very impressive!

Thanks, having fun...

I have too many TT's and need to move some out..to make room.

Thanks,
John.

 

[saunadog]

I Happen to own that same table and love it. Found it at a local thrift, and my first AK post was an inquiry as to what cartridge to use with it (thanks for the advice, Howard! Still using the AT-95E, although I'll upgrade at some point).

The veneer was peeling off in places (obviously not uncommon) and I also used some woodgrain contact paper to help conceal those spots. Doesn't look too bad, and not too noticeable from a distance. I'm not real handy, but I'd like to re-veneer it at some point. I think that there is actually a peel and stick veneer on the market (3M?)

 

[boreas]

I Happen to own that same table and love it. Found it at a local thrift, and my first AK post was an inquiry as to what cartridge to use with it (thanks for the advice, Howard! Still using the AT-95E, although I'll upgrade at some point).

The veneer was peeling off in places (obviously not uncommon) and I also used some woodgrain contact paper to help conceal those spots. Doesn't look too bad, and not too noticeable from a distance. I'm not real handy, but I'd like to re-veneer it at some point. I think that there is actually a peel and stick veneer on the market (3M?)

There are indeed peel & stick veneers on the market and 3M may well be one source. Never having done that on a PL-530 I can't say so from experience but I think applying the veneer is perhaps the easiest part of the job. The table should be completely stripped of all the components for the best and easiest application of the veneer. On some turntables that's pretty easy to dead simple but the PL-530 is full auto and has mechanical componentry installed and interconnected through four separate openings in the base. Getting all of this stuff entails a fair amount of disassembly.

Clearly many people have undertaken this project so it's far from impossible. If you decide to go for it I'm sure there will be plenty of help available here and probably some old threads detailing the process on that particular table.

John

 

[Balifly]

I like the way it works, too bad it is a manual, not my favorite type..

Thanks,
John. Thats John # 3...LOL

I am using a Thorens end of play tone arm lift in conjunction with my Pioneer PL-550 in lieu of a Pioneer PL-570 for now.

 

[jleon92f]

I am using a Thorens end of play tone arm lift in conjunction with my Pioneer PL-550 in lieu of a Pioneer PL-570 for now.

That sounds cool, any picures?:scratch2:

Thanks,
John.

 

[Stanton681EEES]

John I don't know what looks worse the big scar running down the middle of my chest or that Pioneer. I know you'll give it a new lease on life..............

Good Luck

 

[jleon92f]

John I don't know what looks worse the big scar running down the middle of my chest or that Pioneer. I know you'll give it a new lease on life..............

Good Luck

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:

It is going to be a challenge but that is the fun part. I have already tested the mechanical part and it plays fine. Very stable and quiet.

Thanks,
John.

 

[Balifly]

That sounds cool, any picures?:scratch2:

Thanks,
John.

It is a pretty neat device.

The price on them have gone up quite a lot since a couple of years ago.

 

[ETI_5000]

Good luck! What were they doing to get it in that state - playing football with it? Some people need some stern guidance in how to look after things.

 

[jleon92f]

Hi, has anyone taken this model apart before? Anything I should know before I start? I bought a set of feet for it too.:thmbsp:

Thanks,
John.

 

[jleon92f]

It is a pretty neat device.

The price on them have gone up quite a lot since a couple of years ago.

That is a very interesting device.:scratch2: How does it know when the record has come to the end of play?

Thanks for the picture.
John.

 

[Lwrs10]

Hi, has anyone taken this model apart before? Anything I should know before I start? I bought a set of feet for it too.:thmbsp:

Thanks,
John.

Recable it. The stock cables sound terrible.