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Put my "new" Technics SL-1700MKII into play today

soundweasel

soundweasel

Super Member
I purchased the unit several months ago from a fellow AKer. Overall the unit was in OK condition, but, as usual, I wanted to make it a little better than OK. Wet sanded the dustcover several times over the course of three or four weekends (I lost count), multiple applications of plastic polish, and hours of buffing later...it looks pretty good IMHO. The deck had wear marks where the dustcover rested on it after the rubber bumpers wore off the bottom corners of the dustcover. Rather than attempt to paint the edges -- matching the silver color would likely be impossible -- I went to my local auto parts store and purchased some 1/4-inch pinstriping tape, and applied it around the edges of the deck. A nice, neat solution to what could have been a painting/color-matching nightmare.

On a separate, but related note, I lost the left channel on the "phono" setting of my PSE Model 1 preamp. Until I can finish fixing up my spare Amber 17 preamp and put it into service, I needed an interim solution to the left-channel issue on the PSE, so I purchased a Rolls VP29 phono preamp, plugged it into the "Aux 2" jacks, plugged the 1700 into it and wow! For a sub-$50 item (on sale), it really delivers the goods! Sound is clear, uncolored and detailed. I'm hearing details I'd never heard before.

Oh yeah, one other thing. I am finally able to use my Grado cartridge without any hum at all! I'm grounding the turntable on the Rolls instead of the PSE pre and the buzz is GONE! :yes:

Question: Does anyone know what kind of finish was used on the Technics decks? Paint? Anodizing of some kind? The 1700 has a few scratches on one side that I'l like to reduce or eliminate. Would a mild auto body rubbing compound work? Has anyone tried it or found something else that works?

Please let me know.

Thanks!

Doug
 

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I love mine, and good call on the Rolls pre. I have no answers for you, but is that dust cover original?
 
Many years ago I bought one of these and completely stripped it down and repainted. I still have it today. The upper deck is aluminum and painted silver. Nice work on the dustcover, mine is a little bit marked up but yours is great. I'll see if I have a pic when I get home tonight.
 
That pin-striping looks cool!

You want your Grado to really sing? Install a KAB fluid damper on that arm. It made a huge - and I mean HUGE - difference in how my Gold1 performs on my SL-1200. The soundstage opened up wide and deep.
 
Dustcover

speedle said:
I love mine, and good call on the Rolls pre. I have no answers for you, but is that dust cover original?
Click to expand...

It is the original cover, and while not perfect, it looks better than before. It still has micro fine scratches visible when held up to the light, but heck, how often does anyone do that while spinning an LP? Looking forward to spinning some vinyl this week.

:-)
 
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That is a nice table. I am soon going to refurbish one I picked up recently and will be refinishing it somehow. I got ideas...;)

The pinstripe stuff looks pretty good. What I sometimes do is use those little adhesive silicone bumpers. I have some that are about 6mm in diameter and they don't fit on the lid but I put them on the plinth at the corners. They both act as a cushion and a cover for the scratches.
 
Do carefully consider beatcomber's suggestion, or make your own. Damping that arm can make a very big difference. And not just with Grados.
.
 
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Nice work and a very nice table. I've been going through turntables like socks but have pretty well settled on the SL-1600 MK2 I now have. No complaints at all.

As has been mentioned, the base is painted so rubbing compound might remove the scuff, assuming they aren't too deep. What it will absolutely do is increase the luster of the areas where you use the compound so you'll pretty much have to do the whole thing for it to look right. And be very careful not to rub through to the primer. I don't think the paint is very thick.

John
 
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