Sell or beautify current AT LP-120?

[Rococo]

Hi all,
Sorry for long winded post...
Became more serious about vinyl about four years ago and got myself in an AT LP120. It has served me well and from my perspective sounds really good with the mod I've made, rubber mat, not using internal preamp, upgraded counterweight, and using a Nagaoka MP – 110 cartridge.

My question or a request for opinions...should I sell this TT and look to upgrade to a next level deck. Will I really gain much from doing so?Considering sinking some money into some aesthetics I'm interested in with existing deck. I am the kind that always asks "what am I missing by not upgrading"...without spending the dough it's often difficult to answer though.

I've got a pretty good set up with some good Klipsch KG 3.2 and KG 1 speakers running through a mint Marantz 2238b and I think this sounds pretty sweet.

The look of my setup is pretttyvintage minus the TT and was looking at creating a plinth for my AT to make it match the WC-22 and Klipsch walnut veneers but I'm waffling and questioning whether or not money into the cost of this project is worth it.

Some turntables I've been looking to upgrade to include a restored Dual 1229 or Marantz 6200 or 6350q ( if I can find the latter). All upgraded decks will cost at minimum an additional $250 more on top of envisioned plinth mods planned.

Maybe another way of asking is...am I putting lipstick on a pig (lp120) even if it's a pig I find attractive? Do I need to take my beer googles off if I find this attractive? Or should I sink some money into an upgraded deck?

 

[Mister Pig]

Maybe another way of asking is...am I putting lipstick on a pig (lp120) even if it's a pig I find attractive?

Hey Hey Hey! Why do we gotta go there? Lipstick on a pig can be a good thing.

I wouldn't spend money on a 120. If I want better performance from my vinyl rig I would sell the 120, and buy a table that was a meaningful upgrade. And I wouldn't make a small step, but rather save a decent amount of coin and buy a quality table such as a Thoens, VPI, Clearaudio, Systemdeck, SOTA, Oracle, one of the TOTL Japanese drive units...and so on.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[bobins08]

I Agree with Mr. Pig.

Save money on 120 "upgrades". Save money and make a two step upgrade. Check Barter Town.

The good sound you hear is the MP-110. Good choice on a fine entry level cartridge.

EDIT: Nice looking cabinet too!

 

[hi*ball]

Those pigs are chick magnets!

Another vote to sell the AT LP120.

 

[onwardjames]

Yup, don't waste time. Get a nice table in Bartertown.

There's a Linn Sondek on BT right now I'd eat my shirt to own.

 

[savatage1973]

Another vote for selling the AT LP120 and moving "up the food chain". Regardless of what you do to it, it is always going to be an LP120 with its inherent limitations and categorization as an "entry level" deck.

 

[Rococo]

Yup, don't waste time. Get a nice table in Bartertown.

There's a Linn Sondek on BT right now I'd eat my shirt to own.

Wow, talk about consensus!!!

What is this "Barter Town" you speak of? Is this the barter town preview board? One and the same?

 

[Rococo]

Hey Hey Hey! Why do we gotta go there? Lipstick on a pig can be a good thing.

I wouldn't spend money on a 120. If I want better performance from my vinyl rig I would sell the 120, and buy a table that was a meaningful upgrade. And I wouldn't make a small step, but rather save a decent amount of coin and buy a quality table such as a Thoens, VPI, Clearaudio, Systemdeck, SOTA, Oracle, one of the TOTL Japanese drive units...and so on.

Regards
Mister Pig

No disrespect Mr Pig. Lipstick application in that manner is highly encouraged.

 

[Mister Pig]

Wow, talk about consensus!!!

What is this "Barter Town" you speak of? Is this the barter town preview board? One and the same?

Bartertown is a optional forum that AK subscribers get. It is a venue for members to buy and sell amongst themselves.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[savatage1973]

Wow, talk about consensus!!!

ROFL--I saw this coming from the first time I saw this post--no disrespect intended. But my analogy is putting a $4K set of wheels and tires and $10K custom paint job on a Ford Focus (not picking on the Focus, they are very reliable cars), but in the end, it is still a Ford Focus--nicer, certainly--but still a Focus.

 

[Rococo]

ROFL--I saw this coming from the first time I saw this post--no disrespect intended. But my analogy is putting a $4K set of wheels and tires and $10K custom paint job on a Ford Focus (not picking on the Focus, they are very reliable cars), but in the end, it is still a Ford Focus--nicer, certainly--but still a Focus.

No worries, saw it coming but I needed the push.

 

[Rococo]

Bartertown is a optional forum that AK subscribers get. It is a venue for members to buy and sell amongst themselves.

Regards
Mister Pig

Thanks, always wondered. Going to look into gaining "status" among the community. This forum has been a massive help.

 

[ranch 22b]

Wow, talk about consensus!!!

What is this "Barter Town" you speak of? Is this the barter town preview board? One and the same?

It will cost you $25 to subscribe to AK and have access to Bartertown.

 

[ranch 22b]

Do you have a Craigslist near you?

 

[savatage1973]

If you post your general location, there may be other local AKer's that can help you find a deck that you might like--or perhaps even have one they are willing to part with. CL is a good option (depending on your area), but Ebay is a HUGE gamble, since most people don't know how to properly pack and ship a TT, and proper shipping isn't cheap, so it eats into your budget really quickly.

 

[Rococo]

If you post your general location, there may be other local AKer's that can help you find a deck that you might like--or perhaps even have one they are willing to part with. CL is a good option (depending on your area), but Ebay is a HUGE gamble, since most people don't know how to properly pack and ship a TT, and proper shipping isn't cheap, so it eats into your budget really quickly.

Thanks , I'm smack dab in the middle of the Charlotte,NC and Columbia, SC CL markets.

 

[majick47]

I wouldn't sink one more penny into your AT LP120, no matter how much lipstick you put on it it's still a poorly done cheap knockoff of the Technics 1200.

 

[Mister Pig]

Thanks , I'm smack dab in the middle of the Charlotte,NC and Columbia, SC CL markets.

There are a few Technics tables to choose from on the Charlotte CL if thats your thing. Nothing to get a full on chubby over though IMHO.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

[mprince]

Thanks , I'm smack dab in the middle of the Charlotte,NC and Columbia, SC CL markets.

I am also in the Charlotte area and the CL listings are OK from a turntable perspective. One other source is record stores. Underdog Records in Winston-Salem (a bit of a drive for you, but not too far) often has good gear for sale, and a few weeks back had a Pioneer PL-630 in mint condition for something like $350, which is a steal. Also, Lunchbox Records in uptown Charlotte advertises some good turntables from time to time, the last one I remember seeing was a Technics SL-1200 MK2 for a decent price (both shops have Facebook pages which is where I saw both of these advertised). Seems like most of the decent turntables I see on Charlotte CL tend to be in the Greenville or Lexington areas. So, you have options near you. If I had a turntable to sell at the moment I'd try to hook you up, but I've just completed "thinning the herd" so I don't currently have one available. Good luck with your search.

 

[Rococo]

There are a few Technics tables to choose from on the Charlotte CL if thats your thing. Nothing to get a full on chubby over though IMHO.

Regards
Mister Pig

Agreed, chubs withheld. I've been on lookout and haven't seen anything that strikes me. Really really like the Thorens 126 or 160 and Marantz 6350q.. Not sure how much of a step up they are...