Technics SL 1200 first generation - thoughts?

[swissvalemac]

Folks,
Any thoughts on the first generation Technics SL 1200? There is one available locally and I've been wanting a Technics direct drive for a while. Price is in my budget but I'm not sure about the history of these, knowing that there are tons of SL 1200 mkII and the like out there too.

Pros and cons? Thanks in advance.

 

[thedelihaus]

Here's a recent thread on them- nice tables.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=297518

 

[swissvalemac]

Thanks tdh! Wasn't sure if the SL-1200 was considered mkI or just SL 1200.

 

[thedelihaus]

We refer to it as a MK I but it's really just the SL-1200.

Neat tables!

 

[swissvalemac]

It seems great to me. I'm not a DJ but I love the ruggedness of the SL1200mkII. Looks like the Mk I is more suited to home listening anyway.

 

[beatcomber]

The MK2 is the better machine, but the original has more 'cool' factor. Both are great turntables.

 

[swissvalemac]

Ok so I've lined up the guy to take a look at the original 1200, tomorrow night. Looking forward to the (highly) probable purchase.

Will update on my findings.

 

[beatcomber]

Ok so I've lined up the guy to take a look at the original 1200, tomorrow night. Looking forward to the (highly) probable purchase.

Will update on my findings.

That is not the original headshell, for what that's worth to you. Maybe you can use that as a bargaining chip.

This is what the original headshell looks like:

 

[Stanton681EEES]

That is not the original headshell, for what that's worth to you. Maybe you can use that as a bargaining chip.

This is what the original headshell looks like:

Well your half rite. The original shell didn't have the 3 small holes in it. It was later changed to the one in the picture. It was that way on both the SL1110A and the SL1200

 

[beatcomber]

Well your half rite. The original shell didn't have the 3 small holes in it. It was later changed to the one in the picture. It was that way on both the SL1110A and the SL1200

I didn't know that. My SL-1200 was released on 8/15/79, making it one of the last of the original SL-1200s. (I was given that date by Panasonic customer service based on the serial number.)

 

[whell]

Here's the SL-1100 sporting a similar tonearm as the original 1200, and showing the original headshell that was common to both tables.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/TECHNICS/SL1100A/SL1100A.html

 

[beatcomber]

I love those models with the "spider web" in the corner. Gorgeous.

 

[swissvalemac]

Here's the SL-1100 sporting a similar tonearm as the original 1200, and showing the original headshell that was common to both tables.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/TECHNICS/SL1100A/SL1100A.html

Beautiful, thank you! I'm headed over to demo the unit after dinner tonight. May use the headshell as a bargaining tool but I think his price is already reasonable, and in my budget. Sometimes I feel like haggling is bad karma unless I work it out in advance. I use CL to sell stuff too, and generally try to give a good price to buyers up front, to avoid the haggle.

 

[Daniel Walte]

There is a nice sl-1100 on ebay right now for sale good price to!

 

[swissvalemac]

Question for 1200 owners - Does the lack of a ground wire make a difference?

Thanks!