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The Infamous Marantz SLT-12 (again)...

Tubologic

Tubologic

Well-Known Member
Well, I have a couple of these early Marantz passive linear tracking turntables unused in storage since many years. I really like the look and the drive (belt driven 12 lb platter...) seems to be very well built with some potential and good quality materials and visibly a lot of engineering went into its design. I know the linear arm is critical to adjust and has some structural design flaws, but still... why has the SLT-12 such a bad reputation ? I've read many horror stories like it never worked even when new and spent more time in the service dept. than at the user's home which almost pushed Marantz close to bankruptcy, unable to track properly, damaging records, etc... Is it really such a hopeless situation ? Aren't any possible tweaks/mods/upgrades to the linear arm system to correct (or improve) his deficiencies or are any attempts doomed to failure and leaving the SLT-12 only good as a (cool) conversation/ display piece ? Or maybe do you have a different (positive) experience with this turntable ? (like using it with an outboard conventional arm ?) . Any thoughts ?
Though the SLT-12 was contemporary to the famous 7C/8B/10B combo due to its bad reputation it has a very low value ( $150 to 300 at best) even by hardcore Marantz collectors, which is a shame. I still maintain the SLT drive is much better than most vintage turntables in the same price range and very quiet: I can't hear any mechanical noise, rumble... on my (unrestored) sample and speed is rock solid. But the arm...
 
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I just had one on the bench, had to replace the caps and adjust the arm, with the supplied Shure cartridge the table sounded very very good. I guess most users did not know how to work the arm and table, it is quirky and took a bit to figure out the workings and design of the table, not the same old basic table design one is used to. Wouldn't mind having one in my collection.
 
I have a 12U. Allows for using a cartridge of your choice. I bought mine 6 or 7 years ago with an original, nearly impossible to find, dustcover. . Cleaned it and aligned the arm and it's been rock solid. I think the table was too complicated for adjustments for the average user so they bad mouthed it and the reputation follows it. I'd like another 12U as a backup.
 
Then from your above reaction it seems it doesn't look so bad... maybe time has come to invest into a good quality spirit level.
I didn't know there was an (original) dust cover available for the SLT-12 and have never seen one. (not even in Marantz ads)
 
I had one in my shop back in the 70s and even contacted Marantz about it. It was a mechanical tracking problem where the arm system would hang up randomly as it tracked across the lp. What I recall from dinking (a technical term!) with it was that it had to be dead-level for the arm suspension system to float freely enough to move back and forth. It was completely dependent upon the force exerted by the stylus falling into the center of the lp to pull the cartridge and floating arm along with it.

I still recall the Marantz advice of replacing all the bearings and they even shipped me a bunch of them. The problem was that I didn't have the shop tools to drift out and press in the new ones. By then, the customer decided to trade it in and we set it off on the high shelf of the storage room.

I left in about '77 and it was still there. I always wondered what happened to all those Fisher, Scott and HK tube amps that lay there with it. Dang, that was a long time ago.

Cheers,

David
 
I have one that I'm trying to restore, but it's missing a few key pieces. I'd love to find a working one, or one that's mostly working and use mine current one for parts.
 
SHKnapp said:
I have one that I'm trying to restore, but it's missing a few key pieces. I'd love to find a working one, or one that's mostly working and use mine current one for parts

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Welcome to the AK turn table forum.

Concentrate your efforts on Ebay.

Best of luck with your search. :)
 
Thanks! I've been keeping my eyes peeled on eBay and Craigslist for a few months... but I'm good with the long game. I might even be able to fabricate the missing parts. All the really critical parts seem intact. The obvious missing pieces are the cover plate that the serial number is attached to as well as the metal brace that attaches to said plate and the queuing mechanism. The motor isn't running either.

I'll dig into it after my speaker rebuild. Super fun hobby!
 
I'd just like to see one in person someday. Esp if operating. Wonder if the Revox guys had one in their offices at one point.
 
Studer ReVox acquired the rights to the Linatrack arm and designed their own turntable around it. Linear tracking is the only thing it has in common with the Marantz SLT-12. The Linatrack arm unit has much more in common with the Rabco SL-8E arm, tho' the cart carrier is very different.
 
People that bought systems back in the days of the SLT were not as sophisticated or willing to spend the time some of us are willing to spend today. Customers appreciated the SLT, but they expected it to work and didn't want to become jewelers to keep their TT running. I didn't like the V-15 with its resonant high end, but then the universal TT model came along. We have a dust problem in this part of the world and the issue caused big issues with the SLT. Folks back when didn't have clean rooms for their hi fi equipment. And there wasn't one technician with the expertise to keep one running. We took on the Marantz line after the SLT was long gone. Our competition lost their shirts on the 6 or 7 they sold. When we took on the line it was with the understanding we would repair 10 B's and model 18's as we had been for years any way, but that the SLT would be returned to the factory or their repair facility they recommended by the owner with no participation by us. Oh we would help out an old customer with minor issues, but some one off the street, No way. Personally I would take an Empire with a SME arm any day of the week at the time. The Revox TT wasn't that bad, I preferred B&O 4000/4002/8000, but didn't like the MMC cartridges. The B&O was the best with warped records.
 
There's one on Chico CA CL again. Probably the same. Question: Is this table limited in the carts that can be used. I've read that that is the case
 
wanders said:
There's one on Chico CA CL again. Probably the same. Question: Is this table limited in the carts that can be used. I've read that that is the case
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SLT-12 has a dedicated Shure cart as part of the arm, the SLT-12U has a 1/2" universal mount.
 
Wonder why? She's a beaut. I am a fan and have a minty 12U with the next to impossible to find original dust cover. I love playing that table. Posted pics of it a few years back in this forum.
 
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Selmerdave said:
Has anyone ever removed the arm assembly and mounted a "traditional" arm on an SLT?
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That's what makes this such a unique table. If I were considering that I'd just move on to a different table unless the arm on the table was beyond any help or repair at all.
 
MRL_Audio said:
That's what makes this such a unique table. If I were considering that I'd just move on to a different table unless the arm on the table was beyond any help or repair at all.
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Understood, however it seems that the drive and platter are not so shabby, if the arm were the only redeeming element of the table I'd go with a less finicky linear tracker.
 
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