SL-1200MK2 hum...

[cleveland66]

I'm sure this is a topic that's been covered a multitude of times, but I can't find anything that specifically addresses my problem. On top of that, I am not wildly proficient with home stereo components (or electronics in general), so go easy on me, and pretend that I'm pretty dumb, because I am.

I have an SL-1200 Mark 2 that I use for casual listening. Nothing serious. However, when I am not actually playing a record, there's an audible hum through my speakers. Same thing happens whether it's through my cheap Radio Shack tuner or my old Denon, so it has to be the turntable. When I touch the the plinth, platter, tone arm, etc., above the hum, there's a buzz. I assume it's a grounding issue, but as I stated I know next to nothing about this. Can any of you good folks diagnose this, and maybe guide me to a cure?

 

[grillebilly]

Move the cables and ground around and see if the intensity changes. If it does, they need replaced. Common problem on vintage tables.
If not check the tiny wires on the cart

 

[cleveland66]

Do you have ground wire on the 1200?

Here's where my ignorance shines through: I see no ground wire on the turntable, nor do I see a place for one.

 

[majick47]

Vinyl Engine, sign up, download/printout owners manual for the Technics SL-1200Mk2. Numerous illustration/directions re all parts/functions/settings. If missing/broken/disconnected shouldn't be difficult to fix.

 

[WaynerN]

The ground wire is part of the interconnect, molded in with the left and right RCA jacks. If it's not there, someone must have removed it. It should be its own wire with an open spade on the end.

Wayner

 

[iLUVanalog]

Here's where my ignorance shines through: I see no ground wire on the turntable, nor do I see a place for one.

the SL-1200 comes hard wired with a turntable interconnect and thin black ground wire. if the ground wire is missing or has been cut off (i can't imagine why someone would do that), hopefully there's enough left that you can splice some wire of the same gauge. in any event, your ground wire must be connected...that will get rid of the hum.

 

[cleveland66]

Thanks...

Thanks for all the input. The ground wire has either been removed purposely, or just got ripped off sometime in the past 20-odd years. Looks like I'll have to find out if I have the sand to open 'er up and fix it, or find someone that can.

Thanks again.

 

[WaynerN]

If you have a typical 5 gallon bucket, take off the mat and platter, lock the tonearm in the rest and maybe remove the headshell. Put an old bath towel across the opening of the pale and set the turntable upside down, on the platter location (be careful of the arm) and that will nicely hold the table for you while you take off the bottom cover. If you have any soldering skills at all, you can easily replace the groundwire.

If you are not a DIY kind of guy, Kevin at www.KABUSA.com is a Technics expert and I'm sure he can fix it and do any other mods that he has on his website, for a not unreasonable amount of money. He can bring the table into specs and make it as new.

Wayner

 

[cleveland66]

If you have a typical 5 gallon bucket, take off the mat and platter, lock the tonearm in the rest and maybe remove the headshell. Put an old bath towel across the opening of the pale and set the turntable upside down, on the platter location (be careful of the arm) and that will nicely hold the table for you while you take off the bottom cover. If you have any soldering skills at all, you can easily replace the groundwire.

If you are not a DIY kind of guy, Kevin at www.KABUSA.com is a Technics expert and I'm sure he can fix it and do any other mods that he has on his website, for a not unreasonable amount of money. He can bring the table into specs and make it as new.

Wayner

Thanks!

 

[Roivas]

Thanks for all the input. The ground wire has either been removed purposely, or just got ripped off sometime in the past 20-odd years. Looks like I'll have to find out if I have the sand to open 'er up and fix it, or find someone that can.

Thanks again.

Hey, if you live in Cleveland Ohio (just a hunch from the name) there are a few places you could go to try and fix it. The one that springs to mind is Play it Again Sam in Lakewood, but there are a few others. You can PM if you want some others...